Dominican University of California

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) has become an increasingly recognized challenge in critical care as more patients survive prolonged mechanical ventilation and lengthy ICU stays. Although lifesaving interventions support recovery from the primary illness, many patients develop new or worsened physical, cognitive, or psychological impairments after discharge. These complications often limit independence, slow recovery, and create long-term burdens for both patients and families. Research shows that early, consistent nursing interventions, such as delirium prevention, early mobility, mental health support, and family communication, can reduce the risk of PICS. The absence of a unified and standardized approach results in inconsistent practices and missed opportunities for early intervention. This study proposes a structured, nurse-driven early intervention bundle integrated into Epic documentation to promote early assessment, strengthen continuity of care, and reduce PICS incidence among mechanically ventilated ICU patients.

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Childbirth is often described as one of the most meaningful experiences in a woman’s life. During this time, effective pain management is essential not only for reducing discomfort, but also for improving maternal satisfaction and minimizing unnecessary obstetric interventions. While childbirth is frequently approached as a purely physical process, it is inherently holistic, influenced by cultural, social, psychological, and emotional factors. Growing evidence highlights the value of incorporating and educating patients and providers on non-pharmacologic strategies such as breathing techniques, massage, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, positioning ,ambulation, and continuous emotional support. For example, a study in Sweden that found that a group that received continuous midwife-led labor support was associated with lowered cortisol levels, shorter active labor, higher rates of spontaneous vaginal birth, and a significantly lower emergency cesarean rate than compared to the control group which received standard care(Stjernholm et al., 2021). Integrating standardized education for both healthcare providers and expectant mothers promotes safe, effective pain relief options that empower women and help reduce avoidable interventions which ultimately lead to a more positive birthing experience.

Background: Premature birth and serious neonatal conditions frequently require infants to obtain care in the NICU, producing psychological and emotional obstacles for families. Despite the fact that skin-to-skin contact has been extensively researched for its strengths in encouraging stability and bonding, there persists restricted importance and understanding on paternal participation in routine caregiving tasks such as feeding, diapering, temperature checks, and swaddling. Purpose: This study aims to evaluate paternal participation in daily NICU caregiving tasks to address gaps in comprehending how these experiences impact bonding and emotional well-being among fathers of hospitalized infants. Methods: This study will employ a quasi-experimental design conducted across two NICUs to assess how paternal engagement in daily caregiving activities affects attachment and emotional well-being among fathers of hospitalized infants. A total of 100 fathers will be randomly allocated to either an organized caregiving group or a standard care group with a lack of caregiving opportunities. Data will be retrieved through validated instruments including the Paternal Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS:NICU), the Paternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (PPAS), and a brief Confidence in Caregiving Questionnaire. Statistical evaluation will incorporate independent t-tests and continuous measures utilizing analysis of variance to compare changes in bonding, confidence, and stress between groups over a period of time. Results: It is anticipated that fathers in the organized caregiving group will display higher bonding and confidence scores and reduced stress levels compared to those receiving routine care. Conclusion: This study acknowledges a substantial gap in neonatal nursing research by exploring the impact of paternal caregiving engagement on emotional well-being, confidence, and father-infant connection. The findings may provide evidence-based techniques that encourage nurses to promote paternal engagement as a crucial element of family-based care.

Children undergoing cancer treatment often experience pain and anxiety during cancer treatment, including chemotherapeutic invasive procedures such as frequent port access or peripheral catheterization. Nurse-led distraction techniques, including virtual reality and play therapy, have emerged as promising non-pharmacologic interventions to reduce levels of pain and anxiety in pediatric oncology patients. This thesis analyzes existing data through a close examination of primary and secondary research articles that prove the effectiveness of virtual reality and play therapy on reducing pain, anxiety, and psychosocial distress in pediatric oncology patients receiving cancer treatment. Using the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Symptom Management Theory, the following study proposes a quasi-experimental design involving 90 pediatric oncology patients aged 6-12 years diagnosed with leukemia. Participants will be placed in either a nurse-led VR distraction, play therapy, or standard care group. Pain and anxiety levels will be measured before and after each invasive procedure using the standardized tools of the Wong-Baker FACES Scale, Numeric Rating Scale, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC). It is anticipated that both distraction groups will show statistically significant reductions in pain and anxiety levels compared to standard care. Findings may support the implementation of nurse-led distraction techniques in routine nursing care to promote a more holistic approach to symptom management. Limitations of the study include a non-randomized design, short-term assessment, and a single-site setting. This study supports the central nursing role in symptom management in pediatric oncology.

The emergence of drug-resistant malaria underscores the urgent need for novel, well-tolerated antimalarials with multistage activity and distinct mechanisms of action. Here, we report the design and synthesis of 54 new prodiginine (PG) analogs through systematic modification of the B and C rings of the core scaffold. This effort led to the identification of lead compound PG102 (6), which demonstrated curative oral efficacy in the erythrocytic Plasmodium yoelii murine model at both 25 mg/kg × 4 days and 80 mg/kg × 1 day dosing regimens. PG102 also provided protection against liver-stage Plasmodium berghei sporozoite-induced infection at 20 mg/kg × 3 days and retained high potency against artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains. Profiling of PG102 demonstrated a medium parasite-killing profile. Notably, PG102 exhibited low potential for genotoxicity and cardiotoxicity. This study provides the first demonstration of robust single-dose antimalarial efficacy within the prodiginine class, paving the way for the development of next-generation antimalarial agents.

Members of the Transcultural Nursing Society (TCNS) mobilized a Migration Special Interest Group (MigSIG) to address the rising reports of human rights abuses and lack of basic resources for migrants worldwide. Migrants are some of the most vulnerable populations. This paper outlines the role of nurses as a "voice" or advocate for the most vulnerable. The paper identifies the challenges health providers face in caring for migrants and offers resources, strategies, and toolkits for nurses and providers who care for and intersect with those who migrate.

ABSTRACTSulfidic caves are harsh and extreme environments characterized by limited oxygen, low pH, and the presence of hydrogen sulfide. Amazingly, animals can live in sulfidic caves, one such animal being Asellus infernus, a representative of the Asellus aquaticus species complex, originating from Movile Cave and from old wells that represent windows of access to a sulfidic groundwater ecosystem located in southeast Romania. Little previous work has been done on lab‐reared populations of A. infernus as they have been historically difficult to raise in the lab. Here, we develop resources for A. infernus, examining questions of timing of morphological differences in cave versus surface individuals, whether the environment (lab‐bred vs. wild‐caught) influenced size characteristics, and the genes and pathways showing differential expression between cave and surface samples. We found that A. infernus did not develop pigmentation embryonically, and juveniles had increased body length and longer antenna II as compared to surface individuals. Furthermore, we found that some of these measures differed between wild‐caught and lab‐reared juveniles for a given population, indicating that environmental differences can also influence these size characteristics. In addition, differential expression between cave and surface samples and allele‐specific expression studies within F1 hybrids identified multiple genes, including those involved in sulfide metabolism and phototransduction. Strikingly, molecular convergence of genes involved in sulfide detoxification was observed between A. infernus and previous work on a fish that lives in both cave and sulfidic environments, Poecilia mexicana. In sum, we were able to develop embryonic and genomic tools for A. infernus, a model for understanding cave adaptation and adaptation to sulfidic environments.

This essay develops a revolutionary post-Holocaust theological framework that moves beyond the intellectual limitations of traditional responses to Auschwitz toward what I term an "anti-theology of embodied absence."While engaging critically with major post-Holocaust thinkers-Jonas, Levinas, Celan, Levi, Rubenstein, and Fackenheim-this work demonstrates that their intellectual approaches, however sophisticated, remain trapped within theological categories that the Holocaust has rendered fundamentally problematic.Drawing on suppressed currents within Jewish mystical tradition, particularly the radical theology found in Rabbi Jonathan Eybeschutz's "Va-avo ha-Yom el ha-'Ayin," this study shows how Jewish tradition itself contains resources for transcending conventional theological discourse.However, the Holocaust presents qualitatively different challenges that require evolution beyond even the most radical historical precedents toward forms of spiritual practice that can engage ultimate reality without requiring theological explanation.The methodology is experiential rather than textual, grounding theological insight in embodied experiencespersonal loss, observing dancers unknowingly performing on sacred ground, inheriting epigenetic imperfection from a Holocaust survivor father.This "somatic hermeneutics" reveals that authentic divine encounter occurs not through intellectual resolution of theological paradox but through sustained embodied presence to the dialectical tensions that constitute human existence after Auschwitz.The work articulates practical frameworks for post-Holocaust Jewish life, including liturgical practice that operates through "dialectical davening," community formation based on "interrogative solidarity," and spiritual pedagogy that cultivates comfort with theological uncertainty.Medical practice emerges as a paradigmatic space for "dialectical presence" where healer and patient encounter mystery together without requiring intellectual mastery.This anti-theology concludes not with systematic doctrine but with invitation to embodied practice that can sustain authentic Jewish spiritual life while remaining fully present to irreparable historical trauma.The approach demonstrates how genuine theological innovation emerges not from abandoning Jewish tradition but from engaging tradition's most radical possibilities in response to unprecedented spiritual challenges, providing therapeutic resources for communities seeking authentic Jewish existence in a post-Holocaust world.