Digital Commons Network^™

Implementation Of The Clinician’S Guide To Spiritual Recovery From Fetal Loss, Donald K. Eckhardt Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Obstetricians and midwives care for a surprising number of patients experiencing perinatal loss each year, yet they lack formal training in grief support. Lack of training heightens their stress, anxiety, and burnout, especially when chaplain support is unavailable. Miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death profoundly affect families, and healthcare providers share in their pain as they deliver the deceased baby and offer comfort, counseling, and hope. This project’s creator hypothesized that enhancing providers’ knowledge of grief support and biblical Scripture as well as highlighting how God’s grace and love can ease guilt, grief, anxiety, and depression would reduce provider burnout while …

Reflections: The Journey Continues, Jerry L. Pitts

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Reflections: The Journey Continues is a deeply moving memoir of faith, loss, love, calling, and the quiet strength that carries a life forward when everything familiar has been shaken. In this powerful continuation of Reflections: My Personal Journey, Dr. Jerry L. Pitts invites readers into the chapters that followed his first book—the ones marked by profound suffering, unexpected grace, and a renewed sense of purpose.

This memoir traces the season when Jerry’s life was transformed by his late wife Janice’s four‑year battle with cervical cancer. With honesty and tenderness, he recounts the surgeries, treatments, setbacks, and moments of courage …

Walking With The Wounded: Chaplains As Agents Of Christ’S Healing Ministry, Fred Okechukwu Anucha

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Doctor of Ministry action research project evaluated the effectiveness of an eight-week Christ-centered training intervention designed to strengthen hospital chaplains’ confidence and clarify sacramental boundaries in end-of-life care at AdventHealth Celebration. Hospital chaplains frequently encounter situations in which patients and families request sacramental or spiritually significant practices during moments of crisis, yet chaplains often lack structured training that addresses how to respond with both pastoral sensitivity and theological clarity within a multifaith healthcare environment.

The project implemented an eight-week training program that integrated theological reflection, case-based discussion, and practical ministry applications intended to strengthen chaplains’ confidence in providing spiritual …

Exploring The Impact Of Cultural Beliefs On Death Anxiety: A Qualitative Study To Inform Healthcare Education And Practices, Sharon Sonnilal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A hermeneutic phenomenological approach framed this qualitative study, examining how cultural beliefs, spiritual traditions, and relational contexts shape death anxiety and meaning-making among adults from diverse backgrounds. Terror Management Theory and Culturally Sensitive Grief Treatment guided the conceptualization of death anxiety as a culturally mediated and relational phenomenon rather than an isolated psychological response. A purposive sample of 13 adults aged 18 and older represented diverse cultural, racial, gender, and spiritual identities. Recruitment occurred via Instagram, and participants completed an open-ended demographic and narrative survey. Participants who provided rich survey narratives received invitations to complete semi-structured Zoom interviews to deepen …

Reducing Burnout And Compassion Fatigue: Chaplain-Led Peer Support Group Among Clinical Staff At Choices Healthcare, Matthew Lehman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this Doctor of Ministry action research project was to help reduce burnout and compassion fatigue among the clinical staff at Choices Healthcare. Burnout and compassion fatigue are becoming a healthcare crisis, and hospice agencies are no different. The study was open to any member of the clinical staff, which included chaplains, social workers, nurses, home health aides, and the team leaders of each team in the organization. The study aimed to reduce burnout and compassion fatigue through a series of chaplain-facilitated group education and processing sessions. Humans are relational beings, and getting together to share experiences in …

Preserving Life In An Age Of Autonomy: A Critique Of Physician-Assisted Suicide, Adeline Holcombe

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis critiques physician-assisted suicide (PAS) as a reflection of Western thought’s shift from a biblical sanctity-of-life ethic toward autonomy and relativism. Through analysis of biblical and historical foundations, major cases, and state PAS laws, it argues that legalization weakens the state’s interest in preserving life, normalizes suicide, and exposes vulnerable populations to coercion, inadequate safeguards, and legal expansion. The thesis concludes that PAS laws should be repealed and that palliative care, hospice, and mental health treatment provide more compassionate and ethically sound alternatives.

Dementia Caregiver Support: Offering Spiritual And Emotional Guidance To Loved Ones Filling The Gap, William Reid Bishop

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem at Tremont Church of God is that members offering caregiver support to their loved ones with dementia are unaware of the coping skills needed for support. The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to provide an 8-week training program to teach caregivers techniques for managing their emotional and spiritual needs. The sample population for this project is church members over the age of 18 who are actively caregiving for a spouse or close relative with dementia. The sample size is between 10 and 15 participants. The training is located at Tremont COG. The training is in …

A Phenomenological Study Describing The Lived Experiences Of Fire Chaplains With Clinical Pastoral Education (Cpe) Training Within The Federation Of Fire Chaplains’ Organization, Chaplain Cooper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of fire chaplains with CPE training who used CPE competencies when caring for firefighters. The foundation of spiritual care was based on the ten identified competencies used in CPE. The gap addressed in this research was the lack of spiritual care training for fire chaplains. Dr. Alan Wolfelt’s model of companioning served as the theoretical foundation guiding this research. This model of care emphasized a human-centered, heart-based approach, including active listening, empathy, and the practice of presence, which were essential components for fire chaplains providing spiritual care. This …

Navigating Life And Death: A Moral Critique Of Euthanasia Practices Worldwide, Brooke Fuzie, Rachel Joseph

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

Euthanasia and physician-assisted death remain deeply debated ethical issues shaped by history, law, and cultural values. This narrative review explores how diverse ethical frameworks, shifting global legislation, and cultural perspectives inform current discourse, with special attention to the role of nurses guided by the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics. Drawing on peer-reviewed studies, legal documents, and recent case analyses published between 2013 and 2025, the review identifies three key insights. Ethical frameworks influence whether society accepts or opposes euthanasia; robust legal safeguards are needed to protect autonomy and prevent misuse; and palliative care and advance care planning, including …

Volume 3, Issue 2 - Complete Issue

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

No abstract provided.

Extended Post-Discharge Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis After Colorectal Resection: A Marketscan Analysis Of 2017–2021 Surgical Outcomes, Bright Agbotui, Chelsea Mazonde, Grace Sibert, Great Onyedika Okereke, Ifeoluwanimi Shobayo, Maame Yaa Okrah, Michael Ago Tetteh, Miebaka Favour Roberts, Nfn Dangpa Wandji Nana, Prince Osei Sarpong, Rebecca Martha Nantale, Raymond Suonyir

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a major cause of preventable postoperative morbidity following colorectal surgery, with a substantial proportion of events occurring after discharge. Although professional guidelines recommend considering extended post-discharge prophylaxis (EPPx) for high-risk patients particularly those with malignancy, substantial comorbidity, or prolonged hospitalization national adoption remains inconsistent. Emerging real-world studies suggest that EPPx utilization is low; however, these investigations have largely focused on cancer-only cohorts or earlier time periods and may not reflect contemporary surgical practice, including increasing use of minimally invasive approaches and wider availability of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). As a result, there is limited understanding …

Critical Decisions Regarding Retirement, Philip Zettlemoyer

Senior Honors Theses

Many retirees in America do not understand the variables and important decisions that go into a retirement plan. These variables, however, have a significant effect on any retiree’s financial wellbeing. This case study explains such variables and decisions, as well as the various rules and regulations from the United States Government around the decisions. It then applies this knowledge of variables and regulations in a practical manner by analyzing a specific case study of a middle-class couple nearing retirement. This analysis includes in-depth projections for the couple’s specific situation which would traditionally be created with the expertise of a financial …

Teaching Multiculturalism With A Christian Worldview To Influence Perspectives: Combating Emotions And Challenging Presuppositions Of Counselors, Steven Brooks

Faculty Publications and Presentations

In counseling education, teaching multiculturalism is a critical curricular component. Today, counselors (more widely defined as various caregivers) are more likely to encounter people whose race or culture differs from their own. Therefore, to be the most effective counselor, a solid and unapologetic curriculum in multiculturalism should be required. Because the education component of multiculturalism is often subordinate to a trainee’s reluctance—or even inability—to confront the difficult concepts, it is necessary first to address the reluctance; hence, my thesis. Multiculturalism presented and discussed on an academic plane is more likely to assuage trainees’ fears and spur them to cultural competence. …

Evaluating Theories On End-Of-Life Dreams And Visions With Similar Phenomena In Trauma-Related Populations, Christopher Channy Vinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A grounded theory approach was used to conduct a study on participants (N=24) who were veterans with trauma-related dreams or who had a near-death experience. Research questions were designed to qualitatively examine the lived experiences of dreams and visions in a non-end-of-life setting. This allowed the data to give greater insight into the end-of-life phenomenon and deepen the body of knowledge on dreams and visions in general. A survey consisting of the PTGI-SF, LuCiD, NExS, and the Greyson NDE, along with open-ended survey questions designed to record dream narratives for a thematic analysis, was used. The dream narratives were coded …

Ethical And Legal Aspects Of Ai Use For Self-Care For Counselor Educators And Counselors, Jessica Ellen Kuehne, Jody Vernam

Faculty Publications and Presentations

This presentation explores the ethical and legal implications of using AI to support the self-care of counselors and counselor educators. While counselor self-care has been studied, the use of AI as a tool to promote this professional obligation remains largely unexamined. Counselor educators must consider how to navigate AI-generated self-care recommendations they may disagree with and how to maintain professional autonomy when AI offers guidance or predictions based on current behaviors. Identifying these challenges is essential for developing tools and innovations that reduce emerging ethical and legal risks in counseling and higher education. The session will examine these issues through …

Music’S Transformative Power: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Christian Music’S Role In Enhancing Human Development, Crystal Ann Hubbell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Music is one of the most fundamental expressions of art, communication, and worship, linking to the conscience and personalities across cultures. Music provides a pathway to human emotions where music manifests as a therapeutic component for psychosomatic change. Furthermore, Christian music has not been explored as a therapeutic component for individuals struggling with mental health or cognitive challenges. The purpose of this study was to investigate how Christian music may serve as a therapeutic component of wellbeing in everyday lives of individuals. Using a transcendental phenomenological approach, this study investigated the lived experiences of 10 individuals who have experienced Christian …

Sacred Lessons In The Last Moments: Faith Integration And Holistic Nursing, Meredith Lemmi

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

No abstract provided.

Advancing Holistic Nursing: Bridging The Gap In Spiritual Care, Rachel Joseph

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

No abstract provided.

Volume 3, Issue 1 - Complete Issue

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

No abstract provided.

An Evaluative Study On The Relationship Between Caregiver Stress Of Adult Caregivers For Aging Parents With Chronic Medical Conditions And Life Satisfaction Moderated By Self-Compassion, Cristal Byrd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As of 2015, in the United States alone, approximately 34.2 million Americans have provided unpaid (informal) care to an adult age fifty or older in the past twelve months Forty-two percent of these individuals are caring for a parent including 31% for a mother, and 11% for a father (Jones, 2015). Frequently, the impending challenges correlated with the aging process are discovered in concordance with each other; to which obligation or onus for caregiving of this demographic falls on the shoulders of their adult children. According to recent studies, approximately 1 in 3 adult children in the United States provide …

Enhancing Collaborative Care: A Training Manual For Improving Veterans Affairs Mental Health Chaplaincy, Eddie L. Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In 2010, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) launched a study to investigate the integration of chaplains in mental health care. This research expands on that study by focusing on the critical need for enhanced collaboration between chaplaincy and mental health services at local VA facilities. While existing literature affirms the integral role of chaplains in addressing the spiritual and emotional needs of individuals, significant gaps in awareness and effective collaboration practices were identified at the Marion, IL VA Health Care System (VHCS). This study aimed to assess and address the specific training …

Child Protective Service Workers And Burnout: A Phenomenological Study Exploring Various Types Of Factors That Contribute To Burnout In Rural Virginia, Laurel A. Parks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study aimed to describe the job difficulties that contribute to burnout for child protective service (CPS) workers at social service centers in Virginia. The theory guiding this study was the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, proposed by Arnold Bakker and Evangelia Demerouti. The JD-R model states that the more demands one has on the job and the fewer resources available to fulfill those demands, the more likely one is to experience burnout. This study utilized semi-structured interviews to answer the three research questions. Ten child protective service workers from three of the five regions of Virginia participated in …

A Chaplain-Specific Care Plan For Addressing Moral Injury And Promoting Holistic Well-Being In Nurses That Have Transitioned From Hospital Care To Hospice Care, Franklin Hicks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project, “A Chaplain-Specific Care Plan for Addressing Moral Injury and Promoting Holistic Well-Being in Nurses That Have Transitioned from Hospital Care to Hospice Care,” addresses the lack of chaplain-led interventions for nurses suffering from moral injury. Many nurses who transitioned from hospital to hospice care reported ongoing moral residue from ethically distressing events in acute settings. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a spiritually grounded care plan, developed and facilitated by a board-certified chaplain, to address these moral wounds and promote holistic well-being among hospice nurses.

Twelve hospice nurses in West Tennessee participated …

The Meaning And Essence Of Depression And Loneliness In Widowhood: Discovering The Healthy Construct Of Self-Efficacy, Christine M. Ward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study will be to describe the lived experience of widows aged 65-80 who lost their husbands within the past five years in one of three counties in Washington State: Pierce, Kitsap, or Mason. The two theories guiding this study will be Bowlby’s Attachment Theory and Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, (SLT), as they relate to post-loss identity and mourning. Both serve as vital tools for surviving and recovering from the impact of losing a spouse. When these affectional attachments are lost, a widow’s quality of life can be lessened or even damaged. A widow will go …

Review: The Door In The Wall, Janice Delong, Rachel Schwedt

Ages 10-12

Courage, Determination, Kindness, Inspiration, Resilience, Self-respect

Hope As A Source To Strengthen Chaplain Resiliency In The Christian And Missionary Alliance, Javier M. Torres-Chinea

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research project intends not only to assess the levels of hope of the population of chaplains of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, but also to educate on how hope can strengthen resilience. Using Snyder's Theory of Hope (2000) provides a theoretical framework that allows a positive vision of the social and employment situation of millions of people. Snyder's Adult Hope Scale measures the hope trait in the chaplains, both male and female, between the ages of 25-65. For the participants, a questionnaire called the Hope Questionnaire was used. The SurveyPlanet website, to be distributed, answered, and collected data through …

Remind: Raising Awareness Of Nurse Burnout Using An Educational Intervention, Emily Louise Missimer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Burnout is an international occupational phenomenon that can negatively impact one’s physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Although burnout affects all occupations, professionals working in the healthcare field are known to be at high risk for occupational burnout secondary to factors such as high-stress environments, critically ill patients, increased patient care requirements, frequent exposure to mortality, and shiftwork with long hours, among other factors. Of the subgroup of healthcare providers, it is also widely known that nurses who have a high exposure to death, such as hospice nurses, are at an even higher risk for occupational burnout. At a hospice care …

Emotional And Spiritual Support Assessment For Clinical Outpatient Staff At Lower Cape Fear Lifecare, Jamie Champion

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This action project in the field of pastoral counseling is designed to assess the level of emotional and spiritual support that clinical outpatient workers receive at Lower Cape Fear Lifecare. The problem is that clinical outpatient workers do not utilize spiritual care services for themselves, and the purpose of this study is to create and implement tools to increase chaplain utilization amongst team members. This action project utilizes qualitative and quantitative methods to collect data including surveys and interviews and a workshop, newsletters, and videos to disseminate to team members for education and encouragement. This project will help to identify …

Exploration Of The Congruence Between Environmental Concerns And Eco-Spirituality Programming At Retreat Centers As Experienced By Participants, Jean Golicz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple-embedded case study was to explore the role of environmental awareness and concerns in influencing engagement in retreat practices that were organized around the theme of eco-spirituality and the impact on organizational leadership and program development at two retreat centers in the northeastern region of the United States. Roman Catholic retreat centers were the focus of the study as they endeavored to fulfill leadership directives reflected in the papal encyclical Laudato si’. The centers examined offered immersion in nature, reflection on the interdependence of organic systems, and the development of action plans to address environmental issues. …

Care And Resource Support For Surrogate End-Of-Life Decision-Makers, Evelyn L. Globe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Surrogate end-of-life decision-makers are family members facing the emergent task of making end-of-life care decisions for their loved ones many times without prior knowledge of what their family members would want. Afterward, the surrogate decision-maker is often without support to process their experience and grief. The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to provide a faith-based support group for those who have had the experience of being a surrogate end-of-life decision-maker and through an advance care planning and advance directives seminar and workshop provide an informational resource for individuals who have not had the experience and want to …