About Dying And Death: Thanatology's Place In Medical Curriculum, Jill Dombroski

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study explored how healthcare providers engage in advance care planning and end-of-life care conversations. The research explored what shapes their understanding and the extent to which concepts from thanatology they intuitively bring in, explicitly bring in, and maybe fail to recognize. To achieve this, constructivist grounded theory (CGT) methodology guided the design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation of the findings, which allowed for iteration across interviews and analysis with existing theories and data in the literature. The CGT design encouraged further engagement with the literature in an ongoing iterative fashion as well as with the analysis of the data. …

Decentering Whiteness In Nursing Education: The Pitfalls, Tensions, And Opportunities, Ivy Tran

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Statement of Research Problem: The Truth and Reconciliation 94 Calls to Action (TRC) (2015) calls for the implementation of accessible and appropriate Indigenous health education. Schools of Nursing are increasingly implementing various approaches to teach Indigenous health. Limited research exists for Canadian nursing students' experiences of learning Indigenous health. This study explored undergraduate nursing students' experiences of learning Indigenous health from four Schools of Nursing across Canada. Particular attention is paid to the factors that shaped student and faculty experiences of learning and teaching Indigenous health, respectively, the facilitators and challenges, and what constitutes a safe and effective learning environment. …

Balancing Nurture And Rigour: Seeking Effective Support For Nursing Students In Distress, Marti Harder

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

As higher educational institutions face a growing demand to graduate more nurses, and mental health and life stresses are recognized as increasing obstacles to student success, the timing is right for nursing programs to evaluate their traditionally rigorous program cultures. At Sunrise University in Western Canada, nursing students make up a large population seeking support services, and there is an increasing need for capacity building in faculty to support learners who are in distress. In this organizational improvement plan (OIP), I explore what can be enhanced or further developed to create more effective support for students who are in distress …

From College To University: Nursing Students' Experience Of Transition, Mary Anne Krahn

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

Increasingly complex healthcare systems require nurses to have a greater depth of knowledge and theory application to care for patients safely and competently. To prepare nurses for rapidly changing health care systems, the baccalaureate degree was accepted by the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) as the standard for entry to Registered Nurse practice across Canada and became the entry-to-practice requirement starting in 2005 (Wood, 2011).

In Ontario, this entry-to-practice standard required the development of college and university collaborative partnerships to respond to the resulting implementation and capacity challenges in nursing education (MacMillan & Mallette, 2004). Although these partnerships have been in …

(Re) Evaluating Critical Care Nurse Support Program(S) In A Tertiary Care Hospital: Intersecting The Art And Science Of Nursing, C. Patricia Mazzotta

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

There is a growing critical care nurse staffing shortage with increases in nurse vacancy rates. Moral distress has been exacerbated by the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic and, in particular, impacting critical care nurses. COVID-19 is a significant contributor to staffing shortages and continued nursing crisis. Thus, the impetus for the Problem of Practice (PoP): the lack of support to address the psychological, emotional, and spiritual distress suffered by critical care registered nurses in a tertiary care hospital in Central Ontario. To comprehend the realities of working in the intensive care units, leaders must first understand nurses’ lived experiences, narratives, and what …

Improving Sexual Violence Reporting In Higher Education Institutions, Karen D. Kennedy Ms

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

Abstract

This Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) addresses the lack of sexual violence (SV) reporting at an undergraduate university (Coastal U; a pseudonym) where values of equity, diversity, and inclusion are espoused. Nonetheless, students from diverse cultures at Coastal U report a lack of visibility, unclear pathways for reporting, poor student and staff education, and numerous reporting fears, culminating in a lack of SV reporting. A critical and intersectional feminist lens frames this issue as one of social injustice, wherein inequity and lack of inclusion are problematic. Institutional context, capacity, and readiness, together with consideration of external factors, led to three …

Reforming Nursing Education To Support Nursing Leadership, Carlyn Tancioco

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

Abstract

This Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) examines the lack of effective education to support the development of nursing leadership amongst nurses in a Canadian province. The nursing profession represents a substantial portion of the health-care workforce in this specific Canadian province, and nurses play a central role in patient care as primary providers and by advocating for patients. Nursing care is a critical component of the overall patient experience and has the potential to be one of the most important contributors to positive patient outcomes. Accordingly, it is critical to ensure that nurses develop the leadership mindset required to contribute …

Development Of An Academic-Service Alliance To Address New Graduate Registered Nurses’ Practice Readiness, M. Dianne Norman

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

New Graduate Registered Nurses’ (NGRN) lack of practice readiness is a Problem of Practice (PoP) impacting hospitals. Stemming from the evolving complexity of today’s healthcare environment and the generalist nature of the baccalaureate nursing program, the lack of NGRN practice readiness increases hospital-based orientation costs, patient safety risks, and NGRN attrition. There is currently no formal structure in which key stakeholders can address the NGRN lack of knowledge, skills and judgment and the associated implications for the safety and quality of patient care. This Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) examines NGRN practice readiness within the organizational context of the Health Centre …

Exploring Resiliency During The Nursing Student Clinical Experience, Natalie N. Mcmullin

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

In nursing programs, it is common for students to not complete their degree (Van Hoek et al., 2019). This problem is perpetuated as students who experience high stress and lack resiliency are more likely to be unsuccessful or take longer to complete their nursing degree (Van Hoek et al., 2019). Resiliency is not only important for students during their degree, it is essential to continuously strengthen it throughout their nursing career (Turner & Kaylor, 2015). The aims of this organizational improvement plan will be to empower nursing students to be more resilient in the clinical setting so that they are …

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Saudi Students Enrolled In Canadian Graduate Nursing Programs, Aisha Namshan Aldawsari

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Despite the increased number of students in the field of nursing, there is a great shortage of Saudi nurses in Saudi Arabia (SA). Cultural issues in SA have influenced the development of the nursing profession. For instance, it is not culturally acceptable for female nurses or nursing students to work for long hours and night shifts in a mixed-gender practice environment in SA. Thus, a large proportion of nursing students tend to look for positions other than working in hospital settings upon completion of their undergraduate degree. Pursuing graduate nursing education overseas is also viewed as a viable option. To …

An Exploration Of The Nursing Leaders’ Experiences Addressing Indigenous Health In University Undergraduate Nursing Programs In Ontario, Danae Coggins

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction. Although there are serious health inequities experienced by Indigenous people compared to non-Indigenous people in Canada and racism and discrimination continues to be rife in health care environments, there remains a general lack of attention to Indigenous health (IH) in health professional education programs. In response, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has recommended this be addressed within health profession education, including nursing (Truth and Reconciliation Canada, 2015). However, there is a paucity of evidence describing the challenges and facilitators to incorporating IH into nursing education.

Methodology and Methods. This qualitative study employs interpretive description approaches informed by …

Relationships Among Authentic Leadership, Manager Incivility And Trust In The Manager, Ohood Ali Alkaabi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

There have been growing concerns about manager incivility toward new graduate nurses which hinders their adaptation to the workplace environment. Manager incivility impairs the relationship between managers and their staff. Furthermore, nursing managers have a significant responsibility to facilitate new graduate nurses' transition into the nursing profession. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to examine the relationships among authentic leadership of managers and new graduate nurses’ experience of manager incivility and their subsequent degree of trust in their managers. Secondary analysis of the baseline data using a non-experimental, correlational design was conducted. A random sample of 1020 new graduate …

Supporting Indigenous Students: A Critical Analysis Of The Sociocultural Context Of Nursing Education, Kay E. Vallee

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of this study was to critically examine the sociocultural context of nursing education as an institution. Using a postcolonial feminist theoretical framework and institutional ethnography, I illuminated the institutional complex of nursing education. This study addressed the following research questions: 1) How do practices, programs, and policies coordinate social relations within the institution of nursing education; and 2) How are Indigenous students’ everyday lives shaped by the institution of nursing education?

Multiple methods were used to collect data, including: interviews, observations, and text analysis. Interviews were conducted with students, educators, and administrators and others involved in nursing education. …

Nursing Practice During A Mission In Nepal: Ethics And Leadership, Lorena M. Bonilla

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The ability of nurses to reflect or critically examine the impact of professional standards of practice, legal guidelines, and ethical frameworks that influence and guide their practice is essential to help patients achieve quality of life and wellness. Regardless of the location and setting where nursing takes place, contextual factors such as the benefits and potential harm resulting from the care provided, availability of resources, the nurse’s scope of practice, and evidence-based practice guidelines, all affect a nurse’s ability to practice in a safe, ethical, competent, caring, and compassionate manner.

Using an exploratory case study to investigate nurses’ (n=9) view …

Undergraduate Nurse Educators’ Perceived Structural Empowerment, Self-Efficacy For Teaching, And Perceptions Of Uncivil Classroom Behaviours In Academic Settings, Molly A. Hunter

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: This study examined the relationship among structural empowerment in academia, nurse educators’ self-efficacy for teaching, and their perceptions of the types and frequencies of uncivil classroom behaviours.

Methods: 56 participants, registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), responded to a mail-out survey package containing four tools corresponding to each study variable. The analysis includes study descriptives, ANOVA analyses, correlations of total and subscales, and mediation analyses of the major study variables.

Results: A moderate level of structural empowerment and a high level of self-efficacy for teaching was found within the study. A significant indirect relationship was seen …

Fall Prevention In An Acute Care Hospital: The Challenges Encountered By Patients, Staff And Administrators, Barbara J. Watson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Abstract

Falls are frequent and often serious events that take place in hospitals. Healthcare providers find it challenging to minimize fall risk factors. In fact, just being in a hospital is a risk factor in itself! The aim of this thesis was to investigate the reasons behind patient falls, identify gaps in prevention strategies and suggest additional recommendations to improve patient safety. A mixed method approach was used to interpret the data and uncover the reasons for falls.

The first study was a secondary data analysis where 7,721 patient falls were examined. The data were taken from the hospital’s central …

The Effects Of Empowerment On Role Competency And Patient Safety Competency For Newly Graduated Nurse Practitioners, Elsie Duff

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction: Role competence and patient safety (PS) competence among healthcare professionals are rapidly developing issues due to increasing patient acuity and complexity in the healthcare system. Upon graduation, nurse practitioners (NPs) provide autonomous healthcare for populations with complex health needs, thus role and PS competence is imperative. In Canada, few studies have examined NP education and role development specific to NP role competence and PS competencies. This study addresses this gap in the research examining educational experiences of new NP graduates.

Aim: The aim of this study is to test a hypothesized model of the relationships between educational structural empowerment, …

Learner Anxiety And Professional Practice Self-Efficacy In Nursing Education, Joanna Pierazzo

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of this study was to examine the affective component of learner engagement (Linnenbrink & Printrich, 2003); more specifically students’ perceptions of learner anxiety and self-efficacy for professional practice in clinical nursing education. This study identified the factors in clinical learning contexts that contribute to learner anxiety, the differences among these factors in real and simulated learning contexts, and finally, the teaching and learning strategies that minimize learner anxiety and positively enhance self-efficacy for professional nursing practice. A convenience sample of 186 students from three university nursing programs in Ontarioparticipated in a two-phased mixed methods study, reflecting a response …

Interprofessional Socialization And Dual Identity Development Amongst Cross-Disciplinary Students, Hossein Khalili

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of this study was to develop and test an interprofessional socialization (IPS) framework through assessing the impact of an IPS-based interprofessional education program on interprofessional socialization and dual identity development among health professional students. Although health professional educational programs have been successful in equipping graduates with skills, knowledge and professionalism, the emphasis on specialization and profession-specific education has enhanced the development of a uniprofessional identity, which has been found to be a major barrier towards Interprofessional Person-Centered Collaborative Practice (IPCPCP). Despite the growing acknowledgment of IPS in the current IPE and collaborative practice literature, there is a lack …