Academic Showcase.
Course: NURS 6286 – Foundations of Health Care Informatics Created by: Marissa Young, BSN, RN As part of my graduate coursework, I developed a comprehensive evaluation rubric for digital health tools to guide clinicians, educators, and patients in selecting evidence-based, user-centered technologies. This tool rates digital platforms, such as mobile apps, patient portals, or online trackers, across seven critical domains: - Credibility: Assesses whether the tool is medically sound and supported by expert sources - Usability: Evaluates ease of navigation and accessibility for diverse users - Moderation: Reviews how well the tool manages user content and misinformation - Engagement Features: Examines built-in supports like reminders, trackers, or gamification - Accessibility: Considers cultural sensitivity, ADA compliance, and multilingual support - User Feedback: Measures responsiveness to patient input and continuous improvement - Privacy & Security: Ensures patient data is protected and HIPAA-compliant Each domain is scored on a 0–5 scale. The total score helps determine whether a tool is high-value, needs improvement, or lacks critical elements for safe and effective use. This evaluation framework is intended to promote digital literacy, equity, and evidence-based adoption of e-health tools in clinical and community settings. Click "Digital Evaluation Tool." to see the tool and what the number rating equates to.
Course: NURS 6286 – Foundations of Health Care Informatics Created by: Marissa Young, BSN, RN This clinical workflow outlines the step-by-step process for evaluating and managing a pediatric patient presenting with difficulty breathing, with a focus on asthma assessment and care coordination. Using the foundational knowledge gained in Advanced Pathophysiology, the tool supports structured clinical decision-making by guiding providers through: - Initial Evaluation: Gathering symptom history, identifying triggers (e.g., allergies, smoke, exercise), and assessing for respiratory distress through physical exam and vital signs - Triage & Testing: Determining the need for emergency management, spirometry, or referral to specialists - Diagnosis: Classifying asthma severity (intermittent, mild, moderate, severe) and assessing risk based on ED visits or hospitalizations - Care Planning: Creating an individualized Asthma Action Plan, prescribing medications, and determining if referral to an asthma or allergy specialist is needed - Family Education: Teaching caregivers about medication use (daily vs. rescue), device setup (spacer, nebulizer), and sharing care plans with schools - Follow-Up: Setting personalized follow-up plans and documenting all care in the EHR This workflow improves clinical consistency, supports patient-provider collaboration, and emphasizes family-centered education and specialist integration for optimized asthma care.
Course: NURS 6070 – Policy and Politics of Health Author: Marissa Young, BSN, RN This policy brief advocates for urgent reform of Colorado Medicaid’s Private Duty Nursing (PDN) program, which fails to meet the needs of medically fragile children due to low reimbursement rates and a flawed hour determination process. Families often face unsafe gaps in care and increased hospitalizations as a result. Key issues addressed include: - Rigid Utilization Review: Third-party reviewer (KEPRO/Acentra) routinely denies hours despite provider-certified medical necessity via the 485 plan of care. - Nursing Shortage Crisis: Colorado ranks near the bottom nationally for PDN reimbursement, exacerbating workforce shortages and leaving approved hours unstaffed. - Cost Inefficiency: Providing PDN at home saves up to 57% compared to hospitalization, yet underfunding leads to avoidable ER visits and admissions. - Family & Systemic Impact: 36% of families report extended hospital stays due to PDN shortages, and 25% of children are discharged without home nursing in place. Call to Action: The brief urges Colorado lawmakers to: - Increase Medicaid PDN reimbursement rates to match national medians - Reform the authorization process to better reflect individual child complexity and provider expertise - Prevent avoidable hospitalizations and promote cost-effective, family-centered care at home
Course: NURS 6859 – Advanced Professional Roles Author: Marissa Young, BSN, RN This timeline outlines the critical steps and regulatory milestones involved in transitioning from a Registered Nurse (RN) to an independently practicing Doctorally-prepared Pediatric Nurse Practitioner–Primary Care (CPNP-PC) in Colorado. Key Milestones: - Renew RN License: Required every two years; next renewal in September 2025 - MSN Graduation: Completion of 25 didactic and 12 clinical credits, totaling 540 clinical hours - Board Certification: Take the CPNP-PC exam through PNCB - Apply for APRN & RXN-P: Colorado APRN license and Provisional Prescriptive Authority (RXN-P) - Begin Mentorship: Complete 750 hours of supervised prescriptive mentorship with a qualified APRN or physician - Start Working: Begin practicing as a Certified Pediatric NP - DNP Program: Begin Fall 2027 and graduate December 2028 (540 additional clinical hours, 14 didactic credits) - Full RXN: Apply for Full Prescriptive Authority after mentorship completion - Title Earned: Officially transition to DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC upon graduation
Course: NURS 6109 - Evidence-Based Practice: Evaluating the Evidence Authors: Cayla M. Anderson, BSN, RN, Deborah C. Holloway, BSN, RN, and Marissa M. Young, BSN, RN This evidence review examines the relationship between fetal exposure to nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and the risk of developing childhood asthma. Using a structured PICOT framework, current human, animal, and mechanistic studies were systematically reviewed and synthesized to evaluate prenatal nicotine exposure, lung development, and long-term respiratory outcomes. Findings suggest a consistent association between in-utero nicotine exposure and increased asthma risk, despite limited longitudinal data isolating vaping alone. This project highlights important gaps in the evidence and reinforces the need for cautious clinical counseling and targeted public health interventions during pregnancy.
Course: NURS 6009 - Theory Foundations for Advanced Nursing Author: Marissa M. Young, BSN, RN Young’s Philosophy of Compassionate and Equitable Care is a pediatric primary care–focused nursing philosophy developed to guide the PNP-PC role in the assessment, diagnosis, and management of children with acute, chronic, and complex health conditions. Grounded in evidence-based nursing theory, this work emphasizes comprehensive developmental assessment, culturally responsive communication, family-centered decision-making, and continuity of care across settings. The philosophy supports the PNP-PC scope of practice by prioritizing early identification of health disparities, coordination of multidisciplinary services, caregiver education, and advocacy for medically complex and vulnerable pediatric populations. This model reflects core PNP-PC competencies, including health promotion, chronic disease management, care coordination, and ethical, developmentally appropriate primary care delivery in partnership with children and their families.
Ongoing updates will reflect my transition into advanced practice and the evolving scope of my doctoral nursing work. Please check back regularly to view new projects, coursework, and scholarly contributions as they are added.
