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  BEST PRACTICES IN NEONATAL MICROBIOME DEVELOPMENT

  Hicks, Trysha Kaden (The University of Arizona., 2018)

  This thesis proposes best practice recommendations for healthcare professionals to encourage optimal microbiome development in full-term neonates through a variety of elective influences. Newborn care practices immediately following delivery are dependent on the setting, maternal decisions, prior education, and risks specific to each family. The effects of proper microbiome are important not only for a full-term infant’s health, but also for the child’s longterm growth. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Articles were narrowed to those published from 2007 to 2017. A total of 16 articles were reviewed in this thesis. The proposed best practice model for postnatal practice include vaginal birth when not medically contraindicated, exclusive breastfeeding, delayed bathing for up to 24 hours, use of skin-to-skin contact immediately following delivery, and limiting antibiotic exposure to the infant. Through education to both the nursing staff and the expecting families, hospitals will be able to implement these practices when it is safe to do so. Educating the healthcare professionals through a protocol recommendation is pivotal to implementing this change, as they have a responsibility to inform the expectant parents on the evidence supporting these interventions.
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  The Experience of Male Nursing Students in Professional Entry-Level Programs

  Harvison, Brandon Michael (The University of Arizona., 2018)

  The topic of this thesis is the male nursing experience. It was chosen due to the knowledge that the United States has a rapidly changing population that will eventually require the most diverse nursing population possible. This means that priority should be given to retaining male nursing students, as the majority of males in nursing identify with minority groups rather than as white or Caucasian. To do this, nursing programs must address the level of belongingness that their male students feel. The research study in this thesis was meant measure the level of belongingness of male student nurses in a College of Nursing compared to their female counterparts. This was completed through a survey with a questionnaire. It answered: Do male and female nursing students feel a sense of belonging within their nursing program?, Do male and female nursing students have a difference in experience in reference to their feelings of belonging?, and Do nursing students feel that male nursing students in professional entry-level programs at the College of Nursing are treated differently? Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics and concluded that although male nursing students scored lower levels of belonging, it was not statistically significant.
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  EVIDENCE INFORMED STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE THE USE AND EXPERIENCE OF HEALTHCARE BY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS

  Oh, Jessica Hyunjung (The University of Arizona., 2018)

  The purpose of this thesis was to provide evidence informed strategies through online modules and in-class testimonial for healthcare providers treating the homeless individuals. There has been an increase of 0.7% of homeless population in the last year in America (“Homelessness in America: Overview of Data and Causes”, 2018). Additionally, the individuals facing homelessness have greater risks for morbidities and mortalities due to the lack of safe environment. Many individuals find it difficult to obtain medical attention from lack of intimate care in the hospital and lack of resources, such as transportation and insurance. The health care providers, too, feel that they do not know enough about homelessness to educate the individuals on further treatment. Implementing online training programs for nurses working in the emergency department to utilize resources and referrals and to educate on background of homelessness would provide nurses with necessary evidence-based information needed to guide them in providing care to homeless individuals.
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  PREVENTING CHILDHOOD OBESITY THROUGH HEALTH PROMOTION: A BEST PRACTICE APPROACH

  Merchant, Samantha Zepeda (The University of Arizona., 2018)

  The purpose of this thesis was to create a primary prevention program based on best-practice recommendations for addressing childhood obesity in school age children. In the United States that are currently 12.7 million children and adolescents who are considered to be obese based on standard BMI measurements (CDC, 2017a). This has continued to increase over time. Obesity in childhood has also been shown to continue into adulthood, so preventing obesity in children may help to reduce obesity across the life span (CDC, 2017b). There are current educational materials and programs to prevent childhood obesity, but each have varying results. There are identified strengths and weaknesses to these programs that limit their full potential. Synthesizing the strengths from current childhood obesity prevention programs for school-age children will result in a best practice primary prevention program. The theoretical implementation of this program aims to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity by educating children on nutrition and physical exercise, and forming healthy habits.
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  EXPERIENCES OF FATHERS DURING CHILDBIRTH: KEY ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

  Tran, Connie Tunhi (The University of Arizona., 2018)

  The aim of this paper is to develop evidence-informed best practices for improving the experiences of fathers present during childbirth. Historically, fathers were sometimes not present during the births of their children for several reasons. Fear of infection, detraction from physician autonomy, and the strong female support system during childbirth are all reasons why husbands were not traditionally involved in the child-birthing process. With the movement of childbirth into hospitals and the medicalization of childbirth, partners of pregnant women eventually were included during the labor and delivery of their children, which was found to promote better health outcomes for the mother, as well as neonatal growth and development (Brandao & Figueiredo, 2012; Leavitt, 2010; Poh, Lin Koh, Seow, & He, 2014). Unfortunately, many fathers report feeling out of place, uninvolved, uninformed, and without a clearly defined role (Brandao & Figueiredo, 2012; Inglis, Sharman, & Reed, 2016; Longworth & Kingdon, 2011). Thus, best practice recommendations for the inclusion of fathers in the child-birthing process should include male oriented antenatal education, labor and delivery staff support and encouragement, information provided to fathers about birth progress and complications, and the maintenance of the family unit.

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