Nine Fairfield University nursing majors presented their senior capstone projects at the 74th annual convention of the National Student Nurses’ Association in Houston, Texas.
Students attended the event with support from the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies and Club Operations and Student Organizations, a board within the Fairfield University Student Association (FUSA). It was the largest delegation to attend the event in Egan School history.
Proposing and Polishing Presentations
The Fairfield seniors’ presentations covered such diverse topics as canine therapy, tracheostomy decannulation readiness, and skin-to-skin contact between new mothers and newborns.
The students worked with Professor Jenna LoGiudice, PhD, CNM, RN, CNE, FACNM, FAAN, director of the Nurse Midwifery Program, to prepare for the conference. As faculty liaison, Dr. LoGiudice mentored students as they submitted conference abstracts and created visually engaging posters for their sessions.
All nine students who proposed a poster session were accepted to the conference.
Showcasing the Research Projects
The theme of this year’s convention was “Grounded in Purpose and Destined for the Stars.” The Fairfield delegates presented the following capstone projects:
- Caroline Carnes ‘26 – “Determining Patient Acuity on a Stepdown/Intermediate Care Unit”
- Paige Fulton ‘26 – “Patient Discharge Education on Oral Anticoagulant Safety Practices to Reduce Bleeding Complications”
- Madison Muoio ’26 – “The Importance of Canine Therapy to Improve Emotional Well-Being in Inpatient Older Adults”
- Olivia Petzold ’26 – “Enhancing Nurse-Driven Alcohol Withdrawal Management Through an Evidence-Based Care Bundle”
- Peyton Rivers ’26 – “Promoting Nursing Actions that Protect the Blood-Brain Barrier to Prevent Secondary Brain Injury After Stroke”
- Caitlin Scacchetti ’26 – “Skin-to-Skin Contact and Its Effects on Neonatal and Maternal Health”
- Jennifer Schiffel ’26 – “Improving Inpatient Nurse Confidence in Managing Cardiac Arrest Emergencies Through Mock Code Education”
- Ella Tanis ’26 – “Promoting Emotional Readiness During Tracheostomy Decannulation in Respiratory Care Patients”
