Digital Commons Network^™

Promoting Healthy Development: Educating Somali Mothers And Children On The Importance Of Outdoor Physical Activity, Rebecca S. Wawra

Theses and Graduate Projects

This paper describes an educational program that was designed to provide education and awareness for Somali mothers and children about the importance of outdoor physical activity on healthy child development. The program is based on Margaret Newman's nursing theory of Health as Expanding Consciousness and Hartrick-Doane & Varcoe's concept of walking with. A comprehensive literature review was completed to exemplify the need for outdoor physical activity education in the immigrant population.

Uab Nursing - Summer 2008, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

UAB Nursing magazine

No abstract provided.

Spirituality And Symptom Self Management Of Osteoarthritis, Lois M. Kannan Phd

Dissertations

Healthcare providers need to identify holistic self-care techniques that are endorsed by patients as effective strategies for symptom management of osteoarthritis, which is the single most common cause of disability in older adults. Research in this area may direct the development of interventions to ensure that older adults are afforded every opportunity to remain active and productive, with an improved health related quality of life, despite age related musculoskeletal conditions. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationships among symptom experience, symptom management, and symptom outcome based on spiritual well-being. A quantitative, descriptive, correlational, and noninterventional study design, …

Psychometric Properties Of A Modified Version Of A Worksite Harassment Tool—Preliminary Findings, Hanan Al-Modallal, Lynne A. Hall, Debra Anderson

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

This study examined the psychometric properties of a modified version of a worksite harassment tool. Data were collected from 180 long-haul female drivers. Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess internal consistency. Principal components analysis was used to investigate the tool’s dimensionality, and correlation analysis was used to investigate construct validity. Cronbach’s alpha for the tool was 0.88. Principal components analysis indicated the presence of two factors. Two items were eliminated due to low factor loadings. Cronbach’s alpha for the short version (7 items) was 0.86. Higher abuse scores were associated with poorer health and greater levels of stress. The greater …

Transformations With Tai Chi: The Experience Of Community-Dwelling Tai Chi Practitioners, Sunny Yim Alperson Phd

Dissertations

While Tai Chi practice has dramatically increased across the U.S., its mechanism is unknown, and overall understanding of the phenomenon is lacking. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of community-dwelling Tai Chi practitioners through a qualitative study, detailing its social and personal appeal, the reasons for their continued involvement, its symbolic meanings, and its impact on their lives. Utilizing the grounded theory method and dimensional analysis, in-depth interview data from 23 practitioners, aged 49-82 were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded and analyzed to derive a grounded theory. A theoretical model, transformation with moving meditation was developed, reflecting the …

It's What We're Here For: Nurses Caring For Military Personnel During The Persian Gulf Wars, Patricia Rushton, Lynn Clark Callister, Jared E. Scott

Faculty Publications

Military nursing service during wartime represents significant contributions to a unique type of health care. The purposes of this study were to: (1) generate themes that elucidate combat nursing experiences, (2) honor nurses who served by sharing their stories, and (3) permanently archive accounts of nursing personnel who served during the Persian Gulf Wars during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Eleven military nurses who provided health care to American troops in the Persian Gulf participated in a historical study as part of the ongoing Nurses at War oral history project documenting the experiences of nurses during times of …

Effect Of Outside Employment On Academic Success Among Full-Time Associate Degree Nursing Students, Julian A. Moore

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Large portions of the United States are experiencing a shortage of nurses in the workplace. In 2001 the American Hospital Association reported that there were 126,000 vacancies for RNs nationwide. Sixty percent of all U.S. educated RNs who entered the field in 2000 received their education at the associate degree level and 79% of these associate degree recipients graduated from a community college. Improving completion rates in nursing programs is one major strategy in the effort to relieve this shortage of nurses.

The intent of this research was to study the effect of various factors on the academic achievement of …

Identifying Determinants Of Physical Activity In Maritime Union Members Using The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Susan Atkinson Tweed

Health Services Research Dissertations

This study examined the usefulness of the Theory of Planned Behavior to predict how attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and intention are associated with physical activity in longshoremen from the Hampton Roads Shipping Association-International Longshoreman's Association (HRSA-ILA). The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, five focus groups were conducted to elicit information about the health behaviors of longshoremen. From the results of these focus groups, a 90-question, theory based, self-reported questionnaire was developed to identify beliefs, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intentions that contribute to longshoremen engaging in physical activity. In the second …

Closing The Research Gap: Enhancing Cambodian Participation In Clinical Research, Elsa C. Carlson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Obtaining proper sampling of a heterogeneous population remains a concern in research studies. Many studies have examined the low numbers of African-Americans recruited to clinical trials. Other studies have also focused on Latino-Hispanic disparity in research. However, there remains paucity in research involving Asian participation. This project aims to develop a nursing model of cultural immersion in the Cambodian community's culture that will foster deeper understanding, acceptance, and trust. In so doing, a research-friendly milieu of collaboration by the Cambodian community and the research community will be established. Madeleine Leininger's Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality is the theoretical …

The Lived Experience Of A Patient While Receiving Treatment On An Orthopedic Unit After A Hip Fracture: Integrating Research And Theory To Improve Patient Care, Margaret A. Kaser

Theses and Graduate Projects

A hip fracture is a devastating injury for an older person, often resulting in long-term or permanent loss of mobility and independence. Although research has been conducted on various aspects of hip fractures, little research has described the experience of a patient with a hip fracture. This phenomenological study explored the lived experience of a patient receiving treatment on an orthopedic unit after a hip fracture. A purposeful sample of two participants who were hospitalized at Saint Mary's Hospital following a hip fracture were interviewed after surgical repair of the fracture. The interviews were analyzed using Giorgi's descriptive phenomenology. The …

Giving Voice To Lived Experience Of Children Affected By Hiv/Aids In Namibia, Annie Retter

Theses and Graduate Projects

Namibia is one of the top five countries where HIV/AIDS is at epidemic proportions and thousands of Namibian children have become innocent victims of the disease. Research on children's lived experience of HIV/AIDS in Namibia is needed in nursing literature. The purpose of this project is to answer the question: What is it like to grow up in a society where AIDS is the leading cause of death and HIV infection rates are at epidemic proportions? Madeleine Leininger's Culture Care Theory will guide the research. An ethnonursing methodology that incorporates hermeneutic phenomenology will be used to answer the research question …

Commencement Program 2008, Loma Linda University

Commencement Programs

CONTENTS

2 | 2008 Events of Commencement

3 | The Academic Procession

4 | Significance of Academic Regalia

5 | The Good Samaritan

6 | The Speakers

14 | The University Honorees

24 | The School Honorees

35 | The Programs

36 | School of Medicine

47 | School of Pharmacy

52 | School of Dentistry

62 | School of Science and Technology and School of Religion

70 | School of Nursing

76 | School of Allied Health Professions - Physical Therapy

82 | School of Allied Health Professions

91 | School of Public Health

Online Teaching Self-Efficacy Of Nurse Faculty Teaching In Public, Accredited Nursing Programs In The State Of Michigan, Kristi Adair Robinia

Dissertations

Nurse educators are being challenged to adapt to rapidly changing educational and health care environments. Higher education is under pressure to facilitate more web-based learning courses to reach wider markets of students. Nurse faculties are also being pressured to incorporate more technology into theory courses as a possible solution to a looming nation-wide nurse and nurse faculty shortage. Some faculty have enthusiastically embraced the new technology behind online teaching, while others remain concerned about online teaching effectiveness and course quality.

The purpose of this study was to examine variables that affect nurse faculty self-efficacy levels and participation in online teaching. …

Keeping The Moral Imperative To Care In The Nurse/Patient Relationship: A Survey Of Nurses Regarding Caring Practices, Attitudes And Interests, Cynthia M. Leas

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study examines the caring relationship between nurses and their patients. The purpose of the study is to enhance the development of a new nursing class about caring relationships. A survey was done to obtain feedback from nurses directly caring for patients. Practices, attitudes, and interests regarding nurse/patient relationships were evaluated.

A Proposed Teaching Module For Senior Undergraduate Nursing Students To Counteract Bullying Among Nurses, Sue M. Odegarden

Theses and Graduate Projects

Despite a plethora of literature on the potentially devastating effects of bullying, the behavior continues among professional nurses. Nurses who engage in the behavior jeopardize the nursing profession because of the negative impact bullying has on recruitment and retention. Bullying behavior is unprofessional, unethical and compromises patient safety. The purpose of this graduate field project was to design a learning module for senior undergraduate nursing students focused on bullying. New graduates are vulnerable to bullying behavior. The knowledge and skills acquired from the module enable undergraduate students to recognize and respond appropriately to bullying when it occurs and improves nurse …

Feeling Overwhelmed: The Lived Experience Of Nurse Managers., Teresa Potter England

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Multiple studies have addressed registered nurse turnover in recent years. There is little research specifically addressing nurse manager turnover. The nurse manager is addressed in current research as being in a pivotal position to affect nurse retention. Research has focused on the skills necessary for nurse managers to affect turnover; however, there is little research addressing the pressure placed upon the nurse manager as he or she struggles to maintain the nursing workforce. This qualitative study explored the lived experience of feeling overwhelmed by 6 nurse managers currently working in an inpatient hospital environment. Interviews were analyzed using a modified …

Reducing Inpatient Falls And Fall Related Injuries In Acute Care Settings, Channing Williams, Nikita Lewis, Victoria Thomas

McCabe Thesis Collection

Falls are a continually rising issue in today's healthcare. In acute care settings, patient falls make up 38% of all adverse events in which include physical injury, undesirable emotional and financial outcomes for the client (Angn, Mordiffi, Wong, Devi, & Evans, 2007). Falls in the hospitals lead to fear, pain, decreased healing, longer in-patient stays, further health-related complications. Falls may also cause patient discomfort and affect quality of life. Prevention of falls is an important goal of hospitals world-wide. Research has been conducted to determine the clinical effectiveness and implementation of a fall prevention. Although falls in hospitals cannot always …

An Ethnography Study Of Hiv Positive Midlife Black Women, Charlotte Stoudmire Phd

Dissertations

Black women, ages 45 and older, are disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In 2001, Black women comprised 11% of all older women in the United States; however, they accounted for more than 50% of AIDS cases and more than 65% of HIV cases (Winningham et al., 2004). The literature review reflected little research specifically looking at the reason(s) for the increase in HIV in Black women, ages 45 to 60. Furthermore, few research studies focused on HIV patient health beliefs and their experiences in living with HIV. This study was conducted with an ethnography research method coupled with the …

Evaluating The March Of Dimes Nicu Family Support Program: Parent Support For Neonatal Transport, Kimberly J. Morrone

Honors Scholar Theses

The purpose of the pilot study was to work in collaboration with the March of Dimes Family Support Team and the University of Connecticut Health Center (UCHC) to develop an evaluation instrument for the assessment of the Transport Module implemented by The March of Dimes Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Family Support Program initiative at the UConn Health Center. A literature review of the topic illustrated the need for continuing research of successful family support interventions for parents experiencing the transport of their high-risk infant to a tertiary care NICU immediately after delivery. NICU staff members and the March of …

Predictors Of African American Women's Perceived Health Status In The Context Of Caring For A Relative With End Stage Renal Disease, Dina Jo Byers

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The purposes of this study of African American women who were family caregivers of persons with end stage renal disease (ESRD) were to: (1) identify their perceived health status and changes in perceived health status since assuming the caregiver role, (2) document the association between objective health status and caregiver age, (3) document the relationship between age and perceived health status, (4) identify demographic and subjective and objective health factors that predict perceived health status, and (5) identify their health promotion behaviors. The design for this study was a cross-sectional, descriptive correlational secondary analysis of data obtained from 75 African …

Time-Related Centile Ranges For Quality Of Life Outcomes In Renal Transplantation, Katy Garth

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to create time-related centile ranges that could be
used as benchmarks for evaluating and monitoring quality of life (QoL) following kidney transplantation. QoL is commonly viewed as an important indicator of successful outcomes in chronic disease including kidney transplantation. Despite extensive research documenting the value of QoL, routine measurement of QoL outcomes in clinical practice as a means of patient evaluation to augment clinical care has not been widely accepted. Lack of benchmarks for interpreting QoL scores may contribute to the reluctance to incorporate QoL measures into clinical care. The research question and study …

Predictors Of Depressive And Anxiety Symptoms Among African American Hiv-Positive Women, Nina Katherine Sublette

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

This descriptive correlation study had four purposes: describe depressive and anxiety symptom levels in pregnant and non-pregnant African American (AA) HIV-positive women, examine the association between underlying vulnerabilities and depressive symptoms in HIV-positive AA women, determine the association between underlying vulnerabilities and anxiety symptoms in AA HIV-positive women, and determine the predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms among African American HIV-positive women. A convenience sample of 80 African American HIV-positive women was recruited from university-based obstetrics/-gynecology and infectious disease practices in a large metropolitan city in the Mid-South. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale …

Factors Associated With Perceived Burden, Resourcefulness, And Quality Of Life In Female Family Members Of Adults With Serious Mental Illness, Jaclene Zauszniewski, Abir K. Bekhet, M. Jane Suresky

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

BACKGROUND: Each year, 54 million American adults are affected by serious mental illness. Most of these persons depend on female family members for support or assistance, and unless these women are resourceful, they may experience considerable burden, stigma by association, depressive thoughts, and poor quality of life. OBJECTIVE:In this study, we examined the associations between characteristics of female family members (age, race, education), adults with serious mental illness (age, diagnosis), and the family situation (relationship, living arrangements, care provided) and caregivers' burden, stigma, depressive cognitions, resourcefulness, and quality of life.STUDY DESIGN:In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, a convenience …

Refinement Of The Shared Care Instrument-Revised: A Measure Of A Family Care Interaction, Margaret Sebern

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

This study’s purpose was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Shared Care Instrument-Revised (SCI-R) in a sample of family care dyads. The SCI-R was developed to measure the construct of shared care, which is a system of three constructs (communication, decision making, reciprocity) used in family care to exchange support. An important aspect of evaluating the SCI-R was to create a measure that is statistically sound and meaningful for patient and caregivers. Surveys were mailed to randomly selected home health dyads, which included 223 patients and 220 caregivers. Reliability and confirmatory factor analysis, and concurrent validity were examined. Internal …

The Experience Of Volunteering For Hurricane Katrina Relief / Theoretical Explanations For Nurses’ Involvement As Volunteers In Global Disasters, Deborah Ulmer

Theses and Dissertations

This study is about the nature of nurses' decision making related to volunteering to provide humanitarian aid in a major national disaster. Additionally, it is about the lived experience of nurses who volunteered in that disaster. It is a transcendental phenomenological study using the approach of Clarke Moustakas and the purpose of the study was to describe the experiences of the nurses, their reasons for volunteering, and the impact of their experience on their lives several years later.

The Importance Of Play: Well Vs. Hospitalized Children, Rouba Taha

School of Nursing Scholarly Works

Play is an important part of children’s growth. It contributes to the development of physically healthy and emotionally stable children. When a child’s health is compromised and leads to hospitalization, play is used as both a distraction and recreational tool. It helps the child understand, accept, and deal with the hospitalization. It also contributes to healthy growth and development. The role of play in well children is compared to those in hospitalized children.

A Literature Review: Current Trends In Holistic Nursing, Angela J. Wolf

Senior Honors Theses

There is scarcity of documentation that seeks to define spirituality relating to holistic nursing; consequently, a literature review was formulated to define spirituality and guide nursing practice towards recognizing the importance of and implementation of spiritual care. By researching the current trends in peer-reviewed journals from the past three years and analyzing associated articles, this paper addresses the need for a comprehensive definition of spirituality. Key concepts such as belief, values, interconnectedness with self, others and God, energy, hope and transcendence will be analyzed, and the accumulated data will be complied into a framework that is easy for a nurse …

Searching The Collective Knowledge: Finding Evidence In The Medical, Nursing And Psychology Literature, Stephanie Wiegand

University Libraries Publications

Attendees will learn tips and tricks for search medical, nursing, and psychology literature. Discussion will include types of literature, reliability of literature, and approaches to gathering evidence to support healthcare change. Manage your time, know your librarian, construct a research question, know where to search, determine best search terms, and put your hands on (access) the evidence. Learn the difference between keyword and subject term searching and how to take advantage of these tools in various literature databases.

Stressors And Supports For Baccalaureate Nursing Students Completing An Accelerated Program, Marilyn L. Weitzel, Cheryl P. Mccahon

Nursing Faculty Publications

This study examined stressors and resources for nursing students in an accelerated program. The research questions asked what the stressors and coping strategies are for accelerated option students. It also asked which learning strategies help or hinder accelerated option students in meeting the program objectives. The sample included students from an accelerated nursing program in an urban Midwestern university school of nursing. Participants completed a quantitative questionnaire and an interview. Findings suggested that nearly half of the students preferred the lecture format for classroom presentations. Clinical experiences were perceived as the most important component of the program. Resources included peers, …

Predictors Of Re-Hospitalization For Home Healthcare Patients, Brenda Fischer Phd, Msn, Mba, Rn, Cphq

Dissertations

The overall purpose of this study was to examine the predictive capability of OASIS admission data for acute care re-hospitalization of home healthcare patients. Secondary data analysis using logistic regression was conducted on retrospective data from OASIS collected during the time period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007. This study was conducted in a Medicare certified Home Health organization that is part of the largest public health system in California. The sample of 1802 patients with complete episodes of care was derived from a data set of 5,523 patients. All patients were included in the analysis and logistic …