Dr. Rebecca D Toothaker

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depressive disorder that occurs in specific times of through, typically seen in the fall and winter months, due to less daylight hours in the northern hemisphere.
This temporal pattern strongly suggests that environmental light exposure plays a key role in the pathophysiology of SAD, likely by disrupting circadian rhythms and reducing serotonin and melatonin regulation. SAD significantly impacts daily functioning, work productivity, and overall quality of life. Individuals with SAD frequently report increased sleep, weight gain, social withdrawal, and feelings of hopelessness. As such, effective treatment strategies are crucial to mitigate its psychosocial and occupational burden. This review of evidence aims to address this gap by evaluating the individual and combined impacts of vitamin D supplementation and light therapy on functional status and quality of life in individuals diagnosed with SAD.

Shift length is a pivotal factor influencing nurse performance, patient safety, and quality of care. Research has shown that longer shifts, particularly those exceeding 12 hours, are associated with increased fatigue, cognitive impairment, and higher rates of adverse events (Battle & Temblett, 2018; Hussien et al., 2025; Varghese et al., 2023). While 12-hour shifts are commonly implemented to improve staffing efficiency and continuity of care, studies suggest they may compromise both nurse well-being and patient outcomes due to reduced recovery time, increased burnout, and greater likelihood of medical errors. Conversely, 8-hour shifts may support better nurse recovery, sustained vigilance, and lower fatigue-related errors, though they may require more handovers, which can introduce communication risks and disrupt continuity (Webster et al., 2019). Understanding the comparative effects of 12-hour versus 8-hour shifts is essential to inform evidence-based staffing models that balance operational needs with the safety, satisfaction, and long-term health of both patients and nursing staff.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) double the chance of patient mortality, increase the likelihood of needing time in the ICU by 60%, and make patients over 5 times more likely to be readmitted to the hospital (Canseco et al., 2021). SSIs effect roughly 158,000 patients annually in the United States. This uses significant hospital resources, costing health care systems between $3.5 and $10.1 billion dollars annually (Canseco et al., 2021). Current evidence based guidelines recommend beginning antibiotics within 1 hour of the first incision, stop antibiotics after the incision is closed, and to dose antibiotics based on the patient's weight to maximize antibiotic concentration and prevent infection (Calderwood et al., 2023). Despite these guidelines, many facilities are not adhering to these practices.

Burnout is a critical concern among healthcare professionals, across all specialities. Symptoms of burnout include emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment, which negatively impact patient care, safety, and provider well-being. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a structured, evidence-based program designed to reduce stress and promote resilience through meditation, body awareness, and yoga. Growing evidence supports the use of MBSR as an intervention to reduce burnout and enhance mental health among healthcare workers (Talebiazar, 2024).

Effective pain control is essential after surgery to promote healing and client comfort. Opioids and non-opioid medications are commonly used but carry risks such as side effects, tolerance, and dependence. This is particularly impactful now as 16 million people globally are reported to have opioid use disorder and are projected to rise by 39% for females and 49% of males over the next 20 years (Wang et al., 2025). Non-pharmacological methods such as relaxation, music, heat/cold therapy, guided imagery, and cognitive reframing therapy offer alternatives to opioids for pain reduction. Exploring these options may reduce these potential complications while managing pain and client satisfaction.

Burn wound care, especially dressing changes and therapy, is extremely painful and anxiety inducing, often delaying healing and rehabilitation while increasing distress. With over 450,000 burn injuries treated annually in the U.S., this remains a major clinical challenge. Opioids, though standard for pain control, have limited effectiveness and carry risks of sedation, respiratory depression, and dependency. Immersive virtual reality offers a promising non-drug alternative by engaging patients in interactive environments that redirect attention. Research shows VR can significantly reduce pain and distress, improve treatment tolerance, and lower opioid use enhancing comfort and recovery.

Active parental participation improves neonatal comfort but is often limited by institutional barriers (Feng et al., 2025). NICU infants experience 7–17 painful procedures daily, increasing stress and risk for altered neurodevelopment (Lopes et al., 2024). Non-pharmacologic methods such as skin-to-skin contact, oral sucrose, and breastfeeding effectively reduce pain and promote brain development (Lopes et al., 2024; Sánchez-Infante et al., 2024). Ongoing research highlights their safety and neuroprotective benefits (Chen et al., 2024).

Research has shown that extended lengths of stay and hospital readmission exacerbates or creates psychological disturbances in patients, thereby emphasizing the importance of addressing mental well-being as part of a holistic approach to care (Alzahrani, 2021). The project aims to evaluate the impact of social engagement activities on the mental well-being of adult patients hospitalized, compared to standard therapeutic care.

Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a common and preventable complication in hospitalized adult patients, often leading to prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and patient discomfort. The financial burden of pressure ulcers is substantial, with annual cost estimates ranging from $3.3 billion to $26.8 billion (McAuliffe et al., 2023). This poster presentation explores literature for the effectiveness of alternating pressure mattresses (APMs) compared to standard foam mattresses in reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers among hospitalized adults. A comprehensive literature review of recent studies examines the role of APMs in promoting pressure relief and improving blood circulation by continuously alternating pressure points, which helps prevent the development of pressure ulcers in diverse populations. These mechanisms are critical in preventing the development of pressure ulcers, especially across diverse patient populations.