Information Literacy Excellence Award Runner-Up

STUDENT: Claire Taylor

ADVISOR: Khalid Almasloukh

ABSTRACT:

Keywords: labor, food, interventions, fasting, food restriction, fatigue, Mendelson syndrome, aspiration

Abstract: Since 1946, after Lester Mendelson released an article talking about the risk of aspiration of stomach contents under anesthesia, hospital policies have been strict on what the laboring mothers’ diet should be (Salik et al, 2020). Since then, research has shown that there is a decrease in the use of general anesthesia being used during birth, and yet there are hospital policies that enforce NPO status of the laboring patient (Bouvet et al, 2020). Research suggests that it is best to let the laboring patient decide what is best for them and listen to the needs of their body in that moment, as long as the patient is at low risk for cesarean birth and the food is easily digested (Huang et al, 2020). The research that will be discussed will include the effect of food against no food on the laboring patient, and if there is an effect of food fatigue and aspiration.

Second Place in Poster Category – Nursing: Prenatal and Pediatrics

STUDENT: Johnnah Carr

ADVISOR: Khalid Almasloukh

ABSTRACT:
Keywords: breastfeeding, neonatal abstinence syndrome

The article is determining what the impact of breastfeeding on withdrawal symptoms in infants who are diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome is in comparison to bottle feeding. The objective is to determine the effectiveness of breast feeding as an intervention for infants neonatal abstinence syndrome rather than bottle feeding. The method of research is a literature review of academic articles relating to the topic. The academic articles were found using various database searches using the keywords breastfeeding and neonatal abstinence syndrome and were limited to articles published in the last five years. The preliminary results of this study are that breastfeeding is an effective intervention for an infant with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Breastfeeding is an effective intervention as it helps to reduce the symptom severity of neonatal abstinence syndrome and decreases the infant’s length of stay in the hospital. Breastfeeding can also reduce the need for pharmacological intervention in some cases. Overall, breastmilk and breastfeeding are powerful and can help infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome in many ways.

STUDENT: Jennifer Robinson

ADVISOR: Khalid Almasloukh

ABSTRACT:
keywords: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, ECMO, infants, respiratory failure, intubation, venovenous

Considering there are many infants with respiratory failure that require artificial ventilation, it is important to evaluate all options for the infant and chose the most effective method. The intervention being examined in this paper is extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) versus other modes of artificial ventilation in infants, premature to 12 months, with respiratory failure. ECMO “is a modified form of heart-lung bypass”, meaning it can do the work of both the heart and the lungs (Smith, 2021, What is Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) section, para 3). The placement of the cannulas, or small tubes, in the infant determines if ECMO will perform as both the heart and the lungs or just the lungs. A veno-arterial (VA) ECMO is used to maintain blood flow to the organs and tissues for the heart, as well as perform the gas exchange abilities of the lungs (Esper, 2017, Types of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuits section, para 1). In this paper VA ECMO is not going to evaluated, rather veno-venous (VV) ECMO will be examined for its effectiveness in ventilation in infants. With VV ECMO, deoxygenated blood is removed from a large vein, has carbon dioxide removed and becomes oxygenated in the ECMO machine, and then the blood is returned to the body (Esper, 2017, Fig 1). VV ECMO is used for only respiratory issues and functions as artificial lungs. This paper will compare the effectiveness of VV ECMO in comparison to other artificial ventilation strategies, such as bedside mechanical ventilators, in infants needing artificial ventilation due to respiratory failure. After placement of the ECMO, the infant will be monitored to determine when the infant can safely be weaned off the machine. Once the infants lungs are able to function on their own, the machine will be removed (Smith, 2021, What to Expect While Your Child is on ECMO section, para 4). The length of time infants is on ECMO vary “depending on each child’s condition” (Smith, 2021, What to Expect While Your Child is on ECMO section, para 4). This paper will help to determine if ECMO is an effective form of ventilation for infants with respiratory failure in need of artificial ventilation. Research from the past ten years will be evaluated to determine the effectiveness of ECMO in comparison to other forms of artificial ventilation in infants.

STUDENT: Nicole Zasada

ADVISOR: Khalid Almasloukh

ABSTRACT:
In 2017, in the United States alone, about 862,000 abortion procedures were performed, and the ratio of women who obtained an abortion to those who did not was about 18 in every 100 women (Nash and Dreweke, 2019). According to more current research done by the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 73 million total abortions obtained throughout the world in one year (2021). Additionally, the number of reported abortion clinics in 2017 was close to 808 (Nash and Dreweke, 2019). Even with a large number of abortion clinics available throughout the country, there are restrictions for a woman who wishes to obtain an abortion, such as the trimester she is currently in and the gestational age of the fetus (White et al., 2018). The conflict occurs when the woman who wishes to obtain an abortion cannot do so. The desire for an abortion without the approval to receive one can lead to an unsafe abortion. The unsafe abortion can cause complications for not only the mother, but also the fetus (WHO, 2021).

STUDENT: Isabella Calabrese

ADVISOR: Khalid Almasloukh

ABSTRACT:
The purpose of this proposed study is to determine if there is a link between hormonal contraceptives and an increased risk of cancer. The specific targeted population and inclusion criterion for this study is females who have taken hormonal contraceptives. Exclusion criteria include women who have a family history of cancers and those who have previously had cancer without the use of hormonal contraceptives. There have been several studies performed that have studied the link between oral contraceptives and increased cancer risks. This project will study if dosage, duration, and type of contraceptive influence the increased risk of cancer. Through this research medical personnel will be better equipped to discuss the risks of hormonal contraceptives before prescribing this type of contraceptive. If through this research there is a significant connection between hormonal contraceptives and increased cancer risks, healthcare professionals can focus on educating women of these risks before prescribing this type of contraceptive.

First Place in Poster Category – Nursing: Prenatal and Pediatrics

STUDENT: Megan Lucey

ADVISOR: Khalid Almasloukh

ABSTRACT:
Studies have shown that women have concerns about using hormonal birth control. Many concerns about hormonal birth control are related to side effects. The alternative to hormonal birth control is using nonhormonal methods. A popular nonhormonal contraceptive is the copper intrauterine device (IUD). Both hormonal and nonhormonal birth control methods can have side effects on the user, so it is important to ask which contraceptive method can result in less side effects. This study will compare the copper IUD to hormonal IUD to see which one results in less side effects, specifically less bleeding and discomfort. In order to compare the devices and see which intervention can have less side effects, a literature review will be conducted to find scholarly articles on the subject. This research will conclude which type of IUD results in less bleeding and discomfort side effects, as this information could help to inform women’s decisions regarding which contraceptive method to use. The findings will be significant for nurses because it will help nurses better educate their patients who are using these contraceptive methods.

STUDENT: Marisa Milton

ADVISOR: Khalid Almasloukh

ABSTRACT:
Black women ages 18 to 50 in America are 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy related complications and are twice as likely to experience severe maternal morbidity when compared to white women in the United States (Canty, 2021). Maternal mortality is defined as the death of a woman during pregnancy, at delivery, or soon after delivery (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Despite advances in public health, large racial and ethnic disparities in the US in relation to maternal mortality remain a critical problem (MacDorman, 2021). From 2016-2017 leading causes of death for non-Hispanic Black women were eclampsia, preeclampsia and postpartum cardiomyopathy (MacDorman, 2021). A deeper look must be taken at the preventable causes of death that can be addressed promptly intrapartum and postpartum. Growing research indicates that a continuum of care from preconception through postpartum care may be a critical catalyst for improving outcomes for racial and ethnic minority women (Howell, 2018).