Diane Berry Research Day — Undergraduate and STTI Posters

*Sruthi Anne

Emma Brady

Educational Interventions to Improve Menstrual and Hormonal Health Literacy Among Adolescents: A Scoping Review

Advisor: Rhonda K Lanning, DNP, CNM, IBCLC, LCCE, FACNM, RN

Why did you choose nursing?

I chose nursing because I want to make a meaningful, hands-on impact in people’s lives during some of their most vulnerable moments. I am passionate about being a voice for patients who may not be able to advocate for themselves, ensuring they feel heard, respected, and supported. I find purpose in helping others through difficult times, offering both compassionate care and reassurance. Nursing allows me to combine empathy with action while standing beside patients when they need it most.

Melaney Caudill

Confusion Assessment Method Accuracy and Nurse Competency in the Face of Delirium: A Scoping Review

Advisor: Michael D. Bury DNP, MSN, RN, CCRN

Why did you choose nursing?

I chose to go into nursing to advocate for pediatric patients and their families in North Carolina. Nursing allows me to have a meaningful impact in a person’s life while also allowing me to pursue my interests in science and human connection. I am extremely excited to collaborate with an interprofessional team and utilize clinical knowledge to deliver holistic care for North Carolinians!

Jenifer Field

Cultural Ears, Clinical Eyes: Global Perspectives of The Lived Experiences of Multilingual Nurses in Dominant-Culture Health Systems

Advisor: Lisa Woodley, PhD, MSN-Ed, RN, CNE, CHPN, ANEF

Why did you choose nursing?

As an international student who has lived in different countries, I have developed a strong awareness of how language, culture, and access shape the way patients experience care. Nursing allows me to engage directly with that reality at the bedside, where how care is communicated and understood matters most for patients and their families. It requires strong clinical judgment, but also the responsibility of advocating, educating, and helping patients navigate complex situations. I am drawn to both the clinical reasoning behind nursing, and the role nurses play in guiding patients and families through vulnerable moments. I strive to bring clinical strength, clear advocacy, empathy, and a steady, grounding presence to every patient I care for.

Samantha Krupa

Enteral Nutrition Management and Feeding Interruptions in Adult Intensive Care Units: A Scoping Review

Advisor: Krystal Pendergraft-Horne, DNP, RN-FNP-C, CNE

Why did you choose nursing?

My dad’s death pushed me to pursue the high calling that is nursing. Throughout his hospitalization, I witnessed the commitment and dedication of the nurses on my dad’s care team who remained optimistic toward improving his health. At the time, I had no idea what good patient care looked like, but I have always remembered how the nurses treated my dad and my family with great compassion and empathy. This experience has led me to understand that nursing is more than the practice of advancing health but is also a way to heal through how you make others feel.

Jailene Lemus Hurtado

The Silent Epidemic: Sugary Beverages and the Rise of Chronic Disease in Hispanic Populations

Advisor: Natalia Villegas Rodriguez, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, FAAN

Why did you choose nursing?

I chose nursing because I was raised in a family where strength was quiet but constant. As a first-generation Mexican American, I watched my family navigate challenges, often without feeling fully heard or understood in healthcare settings. Those experiences shaped how I see care. I notice the small things. I listen with intention. I step in when someone feels overlooked. For me, nursing is not only a career, it is a responsibility to show up with awareness, respect, and consistency. It allows me to turn my background, my family’s sacrifices, and their support into meaningful care for others.

Veronica Matheson

Time-Restricted Feeding and the Circadian Clock in Women: A Scoping Review of Chrononutrition and Health Outcomes

Advisor: Krystal Pendergraft-Horne, DNP, RN-FNP-C, CNE

Why did you choose nursing?

Lydia Peevy

Evaluation of Code Blue Simulations Within A Prelicensure Critical Care Course Among New Graduate Nurses

Advisor: Michael Bury, DNP, MSN, RN, CCRN

Why did you choose nursing?

I chose nursing because it combines my passion for science and caring for others. I’d always had an interest in nursing, which was further strengthened by the compassion, advocacy, and patient-centered care I witnessed from nurses throughout my clinical experiences, both before and during my nursing education. Being able to support and care for patients and their families during some of the most challenging moments of their lives is an incredibly sacred role, and I couldn’t imagine a more meaningful way to fulfill this than through the nursing profession.

*Ashley Schroder

STAND UP to POTS: A Qualitative Study of Determinants of Access to Effective Care for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

Advisor: Isabel Roth, DRPH, MS

Why did you choose nursing?

Early exposure to the healthcare system through my diagnosis of POTS, gave me a close look at how much nurses truly shape the patient experience. Living with an invisible illness showed me the importance of nurses as listeners and advocates. Growing up, values like respect, resilience, and teamwork were always emphasized in my family, and I saw those same values reflected in the nurses who cared for me. After that, I knew I didn’t need to look any further as nursing allows me to carry those values forward while supporting patients on some of their hardest days.

*Alaisha Tobias

“Evaluating the Accuracy of Artificial Intelligence to Answer Laypersons’ Questions About Home Blood Pressure Monitoring”

Advisor: Leslie Davis, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, FAAN, FAANP, FACC, FAHA, FPCNA

Why did you choose nursing?

I chose nursing because I have seen how easily patients can feel overlooked or unheard in healthcare. I want to be someone who listens closely, shows empathy, and speaks up for patients when they need it most. Nursing allows me to build meaningful relationships while making a true difference in people’s lives. I was also drawn to the variety the career offers, with opportunities to explore different specialties and continue growing over time. It is a career that aligns with my values and allows me to care for others in a purposeful and impactful way.

Katherine Yu

Nonpharmacological Interventions for Caregivers of Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review

Advisor: Ya-Ke Wu, PhD, RN

Why did you choose nursing?

I chose nursing because I have always been told I have a positive personality that elevates others, and I want to use that to make a difference in someone’s day, especially when they may be going through a difficult time. I am drawn to the meaningful connections nurses build with patients and their families and remaining by the patient’s side in their most vulnerable moments. Being able to support, comfort, and truly listen is what fulfills me. More than anything, I want to be someone my patients can trust and count on, and to always advocate for them when they need it the most.