Presentations and awards highlight the College of Nursing and Specialties’ annual research show
of Nursing colleges and specialties We recently held our annual Research and Scholarship Day online with Memorial Union. Following my visit last month, Shannon ZenkThe CNPD student, director of the National Institute of Nursing Research, had the opportunity to showcase how research in his field can have an impact in both clinical and preventive ways.
At the May 1st event, 80 students presented an impressive body of research. And much of what they showed could have important and surprising real-world applications.
Lindsey Glass, Sr. human nutrition Students studied the effectiveness of salt substitutes in reducing high blood pressure and heart disease in patients. She said she and her research partner Brett Kelzenberg have a personal connection to their work.
“We wanted to focus specifically on hypertension because we both have family members with hypertension and knew how important and difficult it is to manage.”
They considered potassium an attractive alternative due to the fact that potassium is important to the body and is commonly lacking in the typical American diet.
“Potassium is present in all tissues of the body and is important for many functions of the body, including muscle contraction and fluid balance,” she said. “The daily intake of potassium is 4,700 milligrams, but many Americans don’t meet that amount because many of their diets consist of processed foods.”
She said using potassium-based salt substitutes may reduce high blood pressure and improve patients’ overall health. However, convincing patients to adopt salt substitutes is difficult, and one of the biggest challenges is the high cost of the substitutes.
“Salt substitutes are more expensive than conventional table salt, which can be a barrier for patients. This is important for nutrition professionals to know when discussing salt intake with patients. ” she said. “The good news is that with increased awareness, patients may be drawn to these alternatives as tools to help heart health and reduce the risk of high blood pressure.”
In another unique area of research, graduate student Jacob Nelson social workpublished a research proposal regarding a treatment strategy for adults with autism spectrum disorders and substance use disorders: a role-playing game similar to Dungeons & Dragons.
“The basic idea here is to provide them with a structured group environment that’s a little more predictable than a typical social gathering like a party. In this environment, there are clear rules and It’s a small group of people with expectations and trying to achieve a common goal,” Nelson said. They know what’s going to happen, but there’s also spontaneity involved. ”
Nelson has noticed that many adults with autism spectrum disorders use substances in problematic ways to reduce stress and anxiety associated with large social gatherings. said. The structure of role-playing games helps you develop tools for navigating complex social situations.
One reason this therapy is so effective is that by taking on the character’s persona, it gives the hypothetical patient enough distance to assess how they are handling the situation without any level of self-scrutiny. It’s about being able to give.
“A few years ago, I took an online course on Therapeutic Game Mastery, and from the limited information currently out there, we know there are benefits to this type of therapy,” Nelson said. Told. “A lot of that is because it’s a more friendly and accessible environment, which helps reduce the stigma of discussing and treating substance use disorders in particular.”
Nelson added that a group debriefing and processing session will be scheduled at the end of the therapy session for participants to consider how what they experienced in the game can be applied to real-world scenarios. Ta.
“I’m talking to cognitive behavioral therapists who use this as their primary treatment,” Nelson said. “The idea of role-playing a character and applying it to these situations is appealing and helps me apply the lessons learned in therapy to real life.
graduation nurse Student Alexis Schauer Gilson presented her project, which is a support project for students in the School of Nursing. She completed the project with partners Kristin Cacunio and Ashley Souders. Their efforts focused on increasing awareness about the certified nurse anesthetist (CNRA) career.
“I was interested in becoming a CRNA because I love one-on-one patient care. I knew I wanted to gain advanced hands-on skills, but this would allow me to continue providing patient care at the bedside. It can be done,” Schauer-Gilson said.
CRNAs provide essential support in hospitals. They can administer anesthesia without supervision and monitor patients during surgery, giving them more autonomy in their work. However, this professional is struggling to fill the employment gap created by the current aging population of CRNAs.
“There is currently a growing need for anesthesia services in the United States, with up to 5,600 CRNAs expected to be needed in the country by 2023,” she said. “They play an important role in the medical field, so we need to have a succession plan in place.”
Their study consisted of an information session with 58 undergraduate students. They used pre- and post-presentation surveys to gauge student awareness and interest in CRNA careers.
Their presentation included information about potential benefits for anesthetists, including higher average pay and greater professional autonomy, as well as a slideshow that included simulated scenarios for bedside intubation, an essential role in the profession. was included.
They observed increased interest among the undergraduate students surveyed and found, in particular, that the simulation significantly increased students’ confidence in performing intubation. The results were promising enough that the researchers are considering replicating the study in other populations.
“In the future, we may be able to offer something similar to high school students or target specific programs such as: rain,” she said. “Most of the general public, and even some medical professionals, don’t fully understand what a CRNA is. I hope we can address the workforce aspect.”
Scholarships and Research Day Awards
After the event, CNPD recognized each department’s presentations through awards voted on by faculty and attendees. Those presentations are listed below.
Faculty Favorites
Nurse: “Nurse Anesthesia: A Hidden Gem,” Kristin Cacunio, Alexis Schauer Gilson, Ashley Souders.
Nutrition and Dietetics: “Preventive effects and impact of Mediterranean and MIND diets on the development of Alzheimer’s disease”, Maggie Darvis and Skyler Singbold.
social work: “Strengthening Mental Health Support for Refugee Youth at Grand Forks High School” Nshimirimana Aline.
crowd favorite
Nurse: “The Benefits of Acupuncture for Menopausal Women” Natalie Johnson, Mikayla Leach, Caitlin Longerborn, Kipton Pintok, Alexis Thomas.
Nutrition and Dietetics: “The Effects of Time-Restricted Eating (TRE) on Metabolic and Cognitive Function”, Autumn Thompson, Ashley Chase, Tristan Daland, Bjorn Shiles, Dmitri Poltavsky.
social work: “Facilitating re-entry: The critical role of social support for newly released Indigenous prisoners” by Alyssa Alberts.
faculty award
As part of the event’s welcome, Dean Maridy Shogren We also announced the recipients of the Faculty Research and Scholarship Contribution Award. The award was presented by the CNPD Research and Scholarship Committee and recognized tenured and clinical track full-time faculty at various stages of their careers.
The recipients are as follows.
Experienced (more than 6 years of experience)
tenure track: Xie YipingAssociate Professor of Social Work.
Clinical course: Karen SemmensClinical Assistant Professor of Nursing.
Beginner (0-6 years of experience)
tenure track: Jeffrey Anvari Clarkassistant professor of social work.
clinical track: Ann BodensteinerClinical Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Complete faculty biographies are available at: Announcement posted on CNPD web page.
