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Redefining Latine Identity Through Conversations With Those Who Live It
Full text linkThe institutionally created label “Latino/a/e” has long been a point of frustration among people who are placed under this pan-ethnic umbrella term. Many Latines feel that their unique cultures, national identities, traditions, and histories become ignored and melted together by this broad label. This label effectively erases the differences that exist between this heterogenous group of people. Ignoring the intricateness of Latine identity diminishes our individuality and to some extent our humanity. Viewing Latine identity as homogeneous makes it easier to generalize and create negative stereotypes that further enhance the idea that all Latines are the same. Throughout my thesis I argue that Latine identity has to be understood at a deeper level by going beyond our broad, outermost layer of identity that is Latine. I also argue that in order to advance people’s understanding of the true complexity of Latine identity, representation of Latines must be more diverse and all-encompassing of the experiences Latines live. The main avenues through which I argue these points are through research and causal conversations with fellow self-identifying Latines, that center around our lived experiences and opinions. Along this journey, people should come to understand that although as Latines we have a lot of love and appreciation for the things that connect us all, we are even more proud of our distinctions and we celebrate what makes us unique. I challenge the media and others to better represent Latine identity by considering how we, Latines, actually experience our identities and cultures
Improving Cardiometabolic Health in Individuals Taking Antipsychotic Drugs at Burnaby Primary Care Clinic
Full text linkAbstract
Metabolic syndrome is a common health issue in individuals with mental health diagnoses and taking antipsychotic drugs. In this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) pilot project, a nurse practitioner (NP) at mental health specialty primary care clinic in British Columbia, Canada, implemented an eight-week evidence-based program to motivate clients to initiate healthy behaviors. The project set the PICO question as Do individuals with mental health illness being treated with antipsychotic drugs (and receiving treatment via telehealth visits) (P) who perform regular self-abdominal circumferences measurement and receive patient education about risks for metabolic syndrome (I) initiate more lifestyle-changing behaviors (O) than prior to these interventions? (C) .
The project recruited five mentally and physically stable participants receiving antipsychotic drugs associated with metabolic syndrome from the clinic. All the participants received education on the risks of metabolic syndrome and healthy behaviors from the NP via telephone. The participants were also encouraged to measure their abdominal girth and followed up every two weeks, up to eight weeks. Additionally, health-related quality of questionnaires (HRQOL) were administered at weeks one and eight to see if their health perception improved. Although HRQOL scores and abdominal circumference measurements did not change with statistical significance, the mean of abdominal circumference measurements declined at week eight. Furthermore, the participants who completed the program, initiated and maintained healthy behaviors in week eight. Although the results were limited to this clinic, this project suggests a potential for the future application of such a cardiometabolic program in the clinics in a similar setting in the region.
Keywords: DNP Project, Cardiometanolic, Metabolic Syndrome, Mental Health, Primary Car
Utilizing an Educational Intervention to Increase Advance Directive Completion Rates for African Americans in a Family Practice Clinic in Louisiana
Full text linkAbstract
Advance care planning (ACP) is a process that allows for an individual to document ahead of time the medical treatment they want if they are unable to communicate after an unexpected life-threatening situation. The legal forms used to document these wishes are called advance directives (ADs). Since African Americans (AAs) develop chronic disease at younger ages and often experience shorter lifespans than other racial groups, it is imperative that they have a clear understanding of the pros and cons of ACP. Regrettably, because AAs seldom complete ADs, more aggressive, and often, ineffective medical care is provided at the end of life. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project was to promote patient autonomy by equipping and empowering these individuals with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions regarding end-of-life care (EOLC). The intervention utilized educational resources to engage patients in meaningful discussion and dialogue on the advantages and disadvantages of ACP during regularly scheduled clinic visits over a one-week time frame. The average number of patients aged 50 years and older who were seen in the clinic during a one-week timeframe was calculated and multiplied by 0.80 two weeks prior to the project being initiated. These calculations determined the number of chart audits that were required for pre- and post-study implementation. Sixty-five patients met the study criteria and received AD education. Fifty-six of the 65 patients agreed to be counted for the study. Fifteen ADs were executed during the intervention. This represents 27% of those who agreed to be counted.
Keywords: advance directive, advance care planning, end-of-life care, African American
THE NEUROSCIENCE OF ART: AN EXAMINATION OF UNIQUENESS
Full text linkThe field of Neuroaesthetics has an overwhelming potential for helping us to understand the world and human behavior through consideration of both neuroscience and art. Looking at the production of art across human history, it is clear we have evolved with art as every culture has developed some style and desire for art without influence of other peoples. The intriguing and undeniable psychological phenomenon of pareidolia raises the question of why the visual system might be set up in a way that leads to illusions and visual suggestions. The amygdala is also involved as the nuclei’s reaction to perceived or imagined threats causes intense body changes. Art, as a rewarding experience, could then be seen as biologically necessary to offer some release of dopamine and a “feeling good” response. I argue that the human brain was evolutionarily designed for art. Many animals can be taught to make human-styled art using both painting and drawing techniques. Animals also make their own style of art as it is clear there is deliberate choice in the spider’s web when it comes to spatial design. In most species of birds, nest building is a learned behavior and this, coupled with the variation in nest structure, reveals the high levels of choices birds make in the design of their nest. And finally, when looking at bees and the construction of their hives, their abilities far surpass what we commonly think possible. Thus, when looking at the products of spiders, birds, and bees, these animals have aesthetic composition preferences in the design of the structures they make. Therefore, while art is not unique only to humankind, art is necessary to humankind
Chasing Traps in Tiny Worms: Uncovering the Presence of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Caenorhabditis elegans
Full text linkSince 2020, the immune system has become humankind’s most powerful weapon to the challenges we have faced during the Covid-19 pandemic. Subsequently, scientists throughout the world have combined their brilliant minds to explore how spectacular our immune system is, and we have found new components of its mechanism(s) and pathways. Among those components, Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) stand out for their important contribution to humans’ innate immune system. NETs have revolutionized the way scientists approach treatments for viral and bacterial infections. To understand NETs, I experimented with the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to provide a better explanation and evidence on why these traps could become a key factor for modern medical treatments. A crucial topic covered in this thesis is the importance of the nematode C. elegans as a research model in medicine. I explained the advantages of choosing this organism over others, and why it could be exploited in the research community to perform research studies. Some advantages are, its simplicity and genetic tractability make it an excellent organism for genetic studies, while its transparency allows for the visualization of cellular processes and signaling pathways. C. elegans also has a well-characterized nervous system and shares many genetic and physiological similarities with humans, making it a relevant model for studying human diseases and drug discovery.
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Additionally, C. elegans is inexpensive and easy to maintain in the laboratory, making it a valuable tool for large-scale genetic and chemical screens. Overall, C. elegans has become a widely used model organism in various fields of research, contributing to our understanding of biological processes and disease mechanisms. NETs are important for providing a more personalized approach to medicine. In this research, I aimed to investigate the presence of NETs in the model organism C. elegans. Although the study was limited in scope due to time constraints, the findings presented in this thesis provide valuable information that can aid future researchers in this area of study. The study of NETs has emerged as an important area of research, and the information presented in this thesis may serve as a foundation for further investigations into the role of NETs in C. elegans and their potential implications for broader biological processes
Reshaping Incentivization: An Examination of California’s Gas Powered Vehicle Ban
Full text linkCalifornia\u27s decision to ban the sale of new gas powered vehicles (GPVs) was a landmark decision because California\u27s market power has the potential to shift global car production towards cleaner vehicles. As the market for electric vehicles is relatively new, supporting policies will have to be crafted to incentivize the development of this market. This paper looks at the California Solar Initiative for prior examples of how California has handled early green technology adoption policies to see if they focused on equity or efficiency. Additionally, potential re-imaginings of the subsidization and pricing of the Mexican electricity market were looked at to understand potential targeting policy methods
MS Environmental Biology Capstone Project
Full text linkChapter 1. Effects of altered flow regimes on the Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius) and implications for its recovery
Chapter 2. Creating and testing the efficacy of a habitat scorecard for juvenile Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius)
Chapter 3. Relationship of aquatic fauna occurrence and water quality parameters to groundwater prevalence in a network of short-grass prairie streams
Chapter 4. The Upper Colorado River Basin’s Nonnative and Invasive Aquatic Species Control Strateg
Robotic Team High Reliability Organization’s Communication Evaluation Tool
Full text linkMultidisciplinary team communication in robotic surgery presents several safety considerations for the intraoperative surgical patient. It is an important consideration since the surgeon and the operating room team are geographically distanced with the surgeon at the console, and the other team members situated at the patient bedside. Scrubbed team members are performing such functions as positioning the robotic arms as well as exchanging instruments, while the remaining interprofessional team members are coordinating multiple patient care activities. It therefore becomes imperative that the recognition of the potential for miscommunication is of paramount importance, and strategies need to be generated that will provide data to keep our patients safe. A Robotic Team High Reliability Organization’s Communication Evaluation Tool was formulated by incorporating a previously purchased High Reliability Organization’s (HRO) program at a North-East Level 1 Trauma Center in New Jersey and combining and implementing a previously valid reliable Interpersonal and Cognitive Assessment for Robotic Surgery or ICARS tool to construct a communication program that would improve the robotic team’s safety culture. The project population sample included 11 gynecologic surgical residents and 12 robotic staff team members consisting of 2 surgical technicians, 5 nurses and 5 Registered Nurse First Assistants (RNFA’s). Each participant provided demographic data via a questionnaire, a 15-question multiple choice pretest, observed and participated in an educational power point presentation, completed a posttest which consisted of the same 15 question pretest, and was evaluated by both the DNP student and surgeon who scored the participants on an ICARS tool Likert scale by recording 28 components of observational data from a provided scenario. A t-test was run for both residents and staff to document aggregate pre/posttest documentation indicating a statistically significant improvement in mean scores for both populations. Reliability statistics provided high Cronbach’s Alpha scores for the Pre/posttest tool, and a high interrater reliability between the DNP student and surgeon evaluator. Paired samples t-test for the ICARS aggregate were split for staff robotic cases to compare the DNP student or Principal Investigator (PI) and the Surgeon Co-Principal Investigator (Co PI). The staff t-test that was run on number of robotic cases which indicated that the number of robotic cases completed by the staff was statistically significant since all staff completed 21 or more cases. A split t-test on the ICARS for the residents for years in program and number of robotic cases revealed a statistically significant difference. This was run on year two residents only due to number of cases. Since ICARS staff evaluation was performed first on a Wednesday and the residents on Friday by PI and Co-PI, results indicated improved interrater reliability between the testing of staff and residents. Thematic analysis revealed themes related to interprofessional teamwork and communication, safety measures unique to robotic surgery, and the importance of an HRO program. Limitations of the study included sample size, use of a simulated operating room (OR) rather than live surgery, only gynecologic surgical residents, all of the robotic OR staff who had participated in the project had been involved in 21 or more robotic cases, as opposed to the residents who had a varied number of cases, SPSS only analyzing residents in year 2 of the program, and finally, in the ICARS observational evaluation, an anesthesia provider was not part of the team participating in the study. The findings of the project supported instituting a formalized program on robotic team communication utilizing this project since it’s statistically significant data, along with evidence-based practice supporting education, has provided proactive solutions to eliminating communication barriers leading to best practices
Nurse Leader Burnout: A Pre-Survey/Post-Survey Quality Improvement Project
Full text linkTitle of the Project: Nurse Leader Burnout: A Pre-Survey/Post-Survey Quality Improvement Project
Objective/Purpose of the project: The objective of the project was to provide time for inpatient nurse leaders to take time to visit the resiliency room and or cart. The purpose of the study is to determine if scheduled use of the resiliency room and or cart can help improve nurse leaders’ ability to clear their mind and decrease burnout. Methods: Sample size of 17 inpatient nurse leaders at Sky Ridge Medical center were sent via Survey Monkey, a pre-survey using the Occupational Fatigue Recovery scale (OFERs). After six weeks of utilization of the recharge/resiliency room and or cart, a post-survey was sent to the participants. The pre/post survey data was compared to determine the overall impact of the resiliency/recharge benefits. Results: The results data show that leaders utilizing the recharge/resiliency room were positively impacted in decreasing nurse leader fatigue/stress and burnout. The mean OFERs score revealed statistical significance (t=7.584, p=
Conclusions/Application to practice:
This quality improvement, quasi experimental project, was found to be statistically significant. The PICO question, “does visiting the resiliency room allow nurse leaders time to step away from work demands, decrease nurse leader burn out”? Scheduling time in the resiliency/recharge room made a positive impact on the inpatient nurse leaders and should be spread throughout hospital leadership teams.
Keywords: nurse leader, burnout, resiliency room, nurse leader fatigue, leader fatigue, nurse leader burnout in healthcare, nurse leader resiliency, and nurse leader turnover rat
Stress Reduction Programming for Nurse Educators
Full text linkAbstract
This DNP project was created to implement mindfulness training and programming to nursing school educators within the East Texas regional area to increase their recognition and the importance of self-care through mindfulness. This DNP project entailed the crucial aspects of concern from the DNP student’s perspective regarding the significant increase in nursing academic faculty stress levels, along with burnout, and the detrimental causes that would occur if left unexamined. This project utilized a convenience sampling style approach gathered via snowball procedures of nursing school educator participants within the East Texas regional area. Participants were provided with mindfulness education and training and the ability to implement this into their daily routines to alleviate levels and symptoms of stress. The DNP project followed a pre and post intervention quality improvement design investigating the influence of the integration of a mindfulness-based stress reduction program within the individual. Results showed that mindfulness-based stress reduction programming had a very influential effect on nurse educators while also expanding their knowledge and heightening the attentiveness and importance of self-care and personal wellness.
Keywords: stress, self-awareness, self-efficacy, nursing educators, mindfulness-based, programming, nursing, burnou