Journal of Undergraduate Research

Torrie Robinson and Stacie Hunsaker, College of Nursing This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of compassion fatigue and burnout in emergency department (ED) nurses along the Wasatch Front, as well as what influenced these rates. Compassion fatigue (CF) and burnout is a serious issue in the medical field and interferes with the quality […]

Kalene Mears and Bret Lyman, College of Nursing Introduction The purpose of this study was to understand how a health system learns and adapts in order to progress and refine itself. Through this, we can gain a better understanding of how healthcare improves over time. Improving quality and safety in healthcare is a challenging task. […]

Brianna Berg and Katreena Merrill, College of Nursing Introduction This project is phase two of a larger intervention study on the function, effectiveness and group power of nursing shared governance councils. In 2011, three hospitals (Dixie Regional Medical Center, Garfield Memorial Hospital and Valley View Hospital) implemented nursing shared governance councils. As part of this […]

Alli Simmons and Lacey Eden, College of Nursing During 2012, there were 48,277 reported cases of pertussis including 20 pertussisrelated deaths. While the lack of pertussis immunization causes illness in children and adults, infants are at greatest risk for suffering severe pertussis symptoms and death from disease. As a result, in 2012 the Advisory Committee […]

Braidee Adams and Katreena Merrill, College of Nursing Introduction Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs) are the most common healthcare acquired infection. One quarter of all hospitalized adults will have an indwelling catheter at some point during their stay and half of all catheterized patients test positive for bacteria in their urine within one week. […]

Adelynn Schafer and Janelle Macintosh, College of Nursing Introduction College students typically live immunologically vulnerable lifestyles, which often includes sleep deprivation and malnutrition (Buckworth & Nigg, 2004; Nieman, 2003). Additionally, they live in an environment that is densely populated and where infections spread quickly (Yang, 2012). Due to these risk factors, college students are at […]

McKenna Hughes and Karen Whitt, College of Nursing Introduction Previous research has correlated electronic health record (EHR) use with adverse patient events. While EHRs can improve patient safety due to enhanced legibility of patient records, reduced duplication, expanded access, and availability of clinical decision support reminders, if they are not configured and utilized correctly, errors […]

Emma Robinson and Karen Delacruz, College of Nursing Introduction The purpose of this qualitative pilot study was to understand the coping strategies used by hospice nurses to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue. Hospice Registered Nurses (RNs) provide the primary care throughout the dying process for patients and their families with a goal to relieve suffering […]

Kelsie Pead and Julie Valentine, College of Nursing Introduction Unfortunately, sexual assault (SA) is a highly prevalent problem. In Utah, rape is the only Violent Crime Index offense higher than the national average (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2013). One in six women report being raped, and one in three women report being sexually assaulted throughout […]

Jamie Cassinat and Renea Beckstrand, College of Nursing Results Identified Obstacles End of life care is an extremely sensitive time. Understanding variables, factors, and conditions that contribute to negative experiences makes it possible for interventions to be developed and implemented to ease an already stressful time. In addition to identifying obstacles, frequency of these obstacles […]