8224 research outputs found
Sort by
Three Poems: Chicano Dropout; Not knowing, in Aztlán; Now That I\u27m in Spain
No full textTINO VILLANUEVA, who was born in Texas, is a Ph.D. candidate at Boston Uni- versity and teaches Spanish at Wellesley College. He has published in periodicals such as Caribbean Review, El Grito, Hispam erica, Revista Chicano-Riquena, and Magazín, and is the author of Hay Otra Voz Poems {1972). Chicano Dropout and Not Knowing, in Aztlán have been selected for a Houghton Mifflin anthology of Chicano literature
The Experience of BIPOC Participants in Wilderness Therapy
No full textWilderness therapy is an alternative to residential treatment for adolescents and young adults. Although these programs predominantly serve White-identifying individuals, a proportion of participants identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (BIPOC). Research has shown that race and ethnicity shape individuals’ experiences with mental health treatment; however, no studies to date have specifically explored the experiences of BIPOC individuals in wilderness therapy programs. This qualitative study addresses that gap by examining the experiences of BIPOC individuals who participated in wilderness therapy during adolescence. Using an interpretive phenomenological approach, nine themes emerged from the data. Findings suggest that participants’ levels of identity awareness and development shaped how they experienced the program. Participants also reported significant pre-treatment struggles and vulnerabilities. Wilderness therapy was frequently described as coercive and controlling, and many participants perceived a lack of cultural sensitivity. Long-term repercussions were reported, including difficulties navigating life post-treatment. Finally, participants often re-evaluated their wilderness therapy experiences over time
Implementation of Medication Administration Education to Increase Medication Technician Knowledge and Confidence
No full textProblem: Medication technicians have minimal formal training and education in medication administration. Insufficient knowledge and a lack of confidence present safety concerns, such as medication errors, which decrease the quality of patient care.
Context: The setting is an assisted living facility in the San Francisco Peninsula that provides around-the-clock patient care, promoting independence in a safe and home-like environment for 53 patients.
Interventions: The proposed intervention involves implementing a quality improvement (QI) project to educate medication technicians on medication administration safety. The educational sessions, completed in two in-person sessions, include a PowerPoint lecture, interactive case studies, and group discussion.
Measures: Pre- and post-education surveys were used to measure the medication technicians’ knowledge and confidence. The survey consists of 16 to 18 questions, and the technicians rate their confidence in administering medications properly.
Results: The post-education surveys showed an increase in knowledge from 72% to 92% and confidence levels from 7.5 to 9.5 out of 10, which led to the project’s aim being met.
Conclusions: Providing educational training to med-techs in assisted living facilities increases their confidence and knowledge in medication administration, which enhances safety and patient care. Implementing an educational training program for med-techs is beneficial, and further evaluation can be done to determine how effective the training is over a longer period
Improving Pressure Injury Prevention with Educational Programs for Caregivers and Nurses
No full textProblem: Pressure injuries are preventable with adequate interventions and knowledge by healthcare staff; however, skilled nursing facilities struggle with pressure ulcer prevention (PUP). Patient suffering and associated costs with treating these injuries are considerable.
Context: Staff education in knowledge regarding PUP is lacking, and annual PUP education is ineffective in reducing the number of pressure injuries in these facilities.
Interventions: Staff education on prevention strategies includes education, pre- and post-knowledge assessments, return demonstration and product use will be implemented
Measures: Results from the baseline knowledge of appropriate PUP in caregivers, pre- and post-test for knowledge retention, teach back techniques to assess competence, and monitoring the incidence of pressure ulcer injury will be measured for positive and negative outcomes.
Results: Before the educational program, the pretest score average of 70%. After the educational programs and return demonstrations, the posttest increased to 90%. The pressure injury prevalence has decreased from two individuals to a total of one resident.
Conclusions: Pressure injury prevalence has decreased from six individuals to a total of two residents. Ongoing education regarding evidence-based practice for the prevention of pressure injuries will reduce the prevalence and optimize positive patient-centered outcomes
SOS (SAVE OUR SKIN)- A Hospital Acquired Pressure Injury Reduction Quality
No full textProblem: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are a significant source of preventable harm. Often associated with increased patient morbidity, reduced quality of life, and substantial financial costs. In 2023, a Northern California level II trauma center reported 44 HAPI cases, with 25% occurring in the telemetry units. Despite a hospital-wide reduction in HAPIs in 2024, telemetry units accounted for 33% of the cases in the first quarter of 2025, highlighting a need for targeted intervention.
Context: The project was conducted in four adult inpatient telemetry units of a 241-bed level two trauma center. The units faced challenges with inconsistent adherence to pressure injury prevention practices, including appropriate bed surface selection, two-RN skin assessments with baseline posterior photos on admission/transfer, and patient repositioning every two hours.
Interventions: The SOS (Save Our Skin) program was launched to address these gaps using a multi-pronged approach. Key interventions included the implementation of a simplified bed surface selection algorithm, standardization of skin assessment documentation, deployment of wall-mounted monitors to improve repositioning compliance, and enhanced leadership oversight with real-time data monitoring.
Measures: The primary outcome measure was the quarterly incidence of HAPIs, with a goal of reducing telemetry unit cases from two to one or fewer by June 30, 2025. Process measures included compliance with every-two-hour repositioning, completion rates of two-RN skin assessments within eight hours of admission or transfer, and documentation of baseline sacrococcygeal photos. Balancing measures included monitoring staff injuries related to patient mobility.
Result: Early implementation of the SOS program resulted in increased awareness, improved documentation practices, and stronger interdisciplinary collaboration. Process compliance rates showed upward trends during the first Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle. Initial cost analysis projected potential first-year savings exceeding $100,000 by preventing HAPI cases and reducing related treatment expenses.
Conclusions: The structured, evidence-based SOS initiative demonstrated promising early results in reducing HAPI incidence and improving nursing practices. This project illustrates how transformational leadership, frontline staff engagement, and standardized workflows can align to enhance patient safety and organizational outcomes. Continued evaluation and sustainability planning will be essential to long-term success and potential hospital-wide expansion.
Keywords: Hospital acquired pressure injuries, skin bundles, repositioning, and pressure injury preventio
Improving Self-Care in Nursing Professionals
No full textAbstract
Background: Nurses in high-acuity settings like telemetry units face intense physical and emotional demands, often leading to burnout and secondary traumatic stress. This project aimed to integrate self-care into nursing culture through leadership and evidence-based strategies to support resilience and well-being.
Problem: At a telemetry unit in Stanislaus County, 67% of nurses reported burnout or secondary traumatic stress despite institutional focus on well-being. Barriers like high patient acuity and lack of standardized self-care practices persist. In addition, the unit has consistently scored below the 65% benchmark on the Glint People Pulse “Culture of Health Index,” with survey engagement dropping from 85% in 2022 to 73–75% in 2024.
Interventions: The initiative began with a survey to assess baseline well-being. Nurses then participated in educational sessions on self-care and stress management. Leadership supported the initiative by modeling healthy behaviors, promoting open dialogue, and ensuring access to mental health resources. The goal was to create a supportive environment where self-care is embedded into daily routines.
Outcome Measures: Reduce burnout from 67% to 50% or less by July 2025. Secondary measures included improving the “Culture of Health Index” and increasing engagement in the People Pulse survey. These metrics aimed to evaluate both individual well-being and broader cultural change.
Results: Reduction in burnout (from 67% to the target of 50%) and (a reduction in) secondary traumatic stress, and an increase in compassion satisfaction.
Conclusion: Embedding self-care in nursing practice fostered resilience and reduced burnout. Leadership-driven strategies enhance nurse well-being and improved patient care.
Keywords: Self-care, nursing, job satisfaction, stress management, burnout
The Politics of Being Heard: Communication and Power Struggles in Hunters Point Naval Shipyard
No full textThe environmental and public health challenges in Bayview-Hunters Point have catalyzed widespread community activism, as residents and advocates respond to the ongoing fallout from radiological contamination at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. Communication plays a vital role in bridging the gap between affected communities and government entities throughout the cleanup process. This research asks: how have the communication strategies of advocacy groups influenced government actions and policies during the Bayview-Hunters Point Shipyard cleanup? To explore this question, I conducted semi-structured interviews with three community advocates, two former members of a non-partisan civil jury, one independent researcher, and one government official. Included in this study are representatives from Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, the Center for Public Environmental Oversight, the Civil Grand Jury, a sitting member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and an independent historian/scientist.
While originally centered on analyzing communication strategies, this research evolved into a broader critique of institutional power and its role in marginalizing community voices. Despite public-facing claims of engagement, federal agencies such as the Navy continue to exercise unchecked authority over the remediation process, with little meaningful oversight. These findings suggest that the most effective advocacy combines insider engagement with sustained outsider pressure, challenging the illusion of reform and calling for structural change. The paper concludes with best practices for advocacy and policy recommendations aimed at increasing the impact of community efforts and strengthening government accountability
PHOTO ESSAY: Two Fates of the Statue of Peace
No full textThis photo essay examines the contested cultural and political landscapes surrounding the Statue of Peace, a bronze sculpture by Kim Seo- kyung and Kim Eun-sung that commemorates the victims of wartime sexual slavery,commonly referred to as the“comfort women.”Better known to South Koreans as the “Statue of a Girl,” this public art piece has served more than a memorial as it has become a flashpoint of grassroots activism, vandalism, and international controversy. Through visual analyses of multiple iterations of the sculpture, the essay traces its divergent trajectories—both as a target of iconoclastic threats and as a focal point of civic engagement
BOOK REVIEW: William Nelson Lovatt in Late Qing China: War, Maritime Customs, and Treaty Ports, 1860-1904, by Wayne Patterson
No full textSustainability in Sports: Exploring Scope 3 Emissions, Transparency the Need for Standardized Frameworks
Full text linkProfessional sports leagues contribute to environmental impacts through large-scale travel and event-related operations, particularly from fan and team transportation. While many leagues have made public commitments to sustainability, there is limited consistency in how those efforts are tracked or reported. Scope 3 emissions, which include fan and team travel, are often overlooked despite being a significant part of a sports organization’s carbon footprint. For example, in the 2024 season, the MLB, NBA, and NFL collectively took an estimated 7,502 flights to away games. This number does not account for the millions of fans who travel to stadiums each season, often by car due to convenience or lack of public transit options. This study uses GIS analysis to assess transit accessibility to four California stadiums, compares 4 sustainability frameworks used across professional sports, and evaluates the transparency of select teams sustainability reporting. Findings suggest that even when public transit is available, many fans choose to drive, indicating that convenience plays a stronger role than distance in shaping travel behavior. While some teams cite sustainability frameworks, there is little consistency in how goals are defined, or progress is tracked. Few teams provide third-party verification or clear emissions metrics making it difficult to measure real impact. The lack of standardized reporting increases the risk of greenwashing and limits accountability. To address these issues, the study explores the potential of more structured approaches, including the adoption of alternative frameworks such as Certified B Corporation standards and recommends partnerships with academic researchers