Digital Commons Network^™

Condom Use Among Urban African American Adolescent Females, Jaquetta M. Reeves

Dissertations

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are one of the most common global health problems, having a profound impact on sexual and reproductive health worldwide. The CDC estimates that approximately 20 million new infections occur each year in the U.S., and almost half of them are among adolescents age 15-24. Despite government initiatives on STI prevention programs for adolescents, there is dearth of knowledge regarding the lack of condom use among adolescent high school students, especially concerning African American females who live in urban areas.

The purpose of this research was to explore attitudes towards condoms, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control …

American Nursing Faculty's Experiences With International, Ell, And Esl Nursing Students In Bsn Degree Programs, Rosalynn Williams Thyssen

Dissertations

This basic qualitative dissertation research study addressed the question of how American nursing faculty describe their experiences with international, English language learner (ELL), and English as a second language (ESL) baccalaureate degree nursing students. There is a call to increase the number of diverse nursing graduates to meet the need of a globalized nursing profession.

The Impact Of Health Literacy, Culture And Psychological Factors On The Pap Testing Behaviors Of African Immigrant Women In The United States, Joycelyn Cudjoe

Dissertations

African immigrant (AI) women have low Pap testing rates. Limited health literacy is a barrier to cancer screening among racial/ethnic minority populations. Sources and types of health information can shape health literacy. However, how health literacy, sources and types of health information along with cultural and psychosocial correlates impact the Pap testing behaviors of AI women remains unknown.

To examine how sources and types of health information impact health literacy and health information exchange, and in turn, how health literacy, culture and psychosocial (cancer knowledge, self-efficacy, decisional balance, cultural beliefs) factors influence the Pap testing behaviors of AI women.

How Intensive Care Unit Nurses Conceive Of Personal And Professional Risk When Exercising Clinical Autonomy, William Albert Randall

Dissertations

Nurses are often encouraged to work to their fullest potential, including exercising clinical autonomy--a factor known to decrease morbidity and mortality. Nonetheless, nurses endure historical, societal, and professional barriers to be respected and independent. In the intensive care unit (ICU), critically ill, often unstable patients require nurses to respond quickly and adapt to each unique situation, which may mean migrating outside of formal rules, norms, and policies, or "rule-bending." However, as inherent subordinates of hospital administrators and physicians, rule-bending, no matter how well-intended, necessary, or benign, often cause nurses to function in a grey zone of vulnerability and risk.

I …

The Relationship Of The Work Environment To Compassion Satisfaction And Compassion Fatigue In Critical Care Nurses, Tara L. Sacco

Dissertations

Due to an increased demand for nurses and high attrition, a deficit of 260,000 nurses is expected by 2025. One contributing factor to the current shortage is nurses' exposure to unhealthy work environments. Nurses who work in such environments may be at higher risk for low levels of compassion satisfaction and high levels of compassion fatigue. Empirically, and when examined as separate constructs, the nurses' work environment, compassion satisfaction, and compassion fatigue have been linked to retention. Researchers have theorized that the nurses' work environment may promote the experience of compassion fatigue, while others have indicated that the positive aspects …

Acculturative Stress, Psychological Flexibility, And Cardiovascular Health Behaviors Among Second Generation Arab Americans In The Greater Washington Dc Region, Randa Merizian

Dissertations

Arab Americans are under-represented in cardiovascular (CV) research, but recent evidence reveals they are at disproportionate risk for poor CV health behaviors when compared to the overall United States of America population. The proposed study is designed to measure the impact of two factors, acculturative stress and psychological flexibility, on CV health behaviors among second generation Arab Americans in the Greater Washington DC region. The outcome variable will be measured using the CV Health Behaviors Questionnaire adapted from the American Heart Association Life's Simple 7 (LSS). Participants will be recruited from five local churches and mosques and George Mason University …

Moderate-Intensity Risk Reduction Counseling And Acquisition Of Sexually Transmitted Infection, Cindy M. Farina

Dissertations

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a public health problem in the United States, with adolescents and young adults to age 25 bearing a disproportionate burden of infection. Risk reduction counseling (RRC) as a strategy to decrease STI incidence has been a focus of scholars. Research examining RRC efficacy has suggested that RRC is effective for 6 to 12 months after treatment. However, study samples have varied by age, ethnicity, race, gender, and geographic location. Whether RRC is effective for more than 1 year is unknown. The purpose of this post hoc chi-square study was to examine the efficacy of moderate-intensity …

The Experiences And Expressions Of Compassion Among Critical Care Nurses, Mark S. Walker

Dissertations

Compassion is a core attribute of nursing practice and is associated with improved patient satisfaction and outcomes. For the last several decades, nurse researchers have been focused on the concept of compassion fatigue. Only recently has compassion appeared in nursing literature. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the experiences and expressions of compassion among critical care nurses.

This dissertation includes a literature review of compassion within nursing education and practice, how it is currently defined, and a review of the empirical data. Next, two interpretative phenomenological qualitative studies were conducted. One study explored the experiences of compassion …

Exploring Mentoring Relationships Among Novice Nurse Faculty: A Grounded Theory, Katie Ruth Busby

Dissertations

The growing and aging population has created an increased demand for health care, resulting in a need for hundreds of thousands more nurses across the United States. As a result, additional nurse faculty are needed to teach the next generation of nurses. However, nurses who enter the faculty role in academia often come from various professional backgrounds with different educational preparation that may not equate to success with the tripartite faculty role of teaching, scholarship, and service. As a way to retain and develop novice faculty, mentoring relationships and programs are promoted as an intervention for career and psychosocial development …

Faculty Perceptions Of Nursing Student Retention In Community College Associate Degree Programs: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Lauri Jones

Dissertations

Understanding the factors that influence nursing students to stay or leave a nursing program is vital to ensure our population has prepared nurses to care. Low student retention leads to fewer nurse graduates, negatively impacting the nursing shortage. Although several factors contribute to the nursing shortage, with many well beyond the influence of nursing education programs, student retention is a factor where nurse educators can play a pivotal role. Research indicates that students perceive faculty relationships as influential to their success, satisfaction and retention in education programs. However, a gap in the literature exists on faculty perspectives of student retention, …

Preceptor Education Program Impact On Implementation Of The Preceptor Role, Nancy Bohnarczyk

Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify potential benefits and gaps in an academic-based preceptor education program offered to long-term care facilities in New Jersey. Preceptors are experienced nurses who provide guidance, support and instruction to new nurses transitioning from student to professional. Through an online survey and individual interviews, preceptors who participated in the program reflected on to what extent and in what ways the program impacted their understanding of key concepts critical to the preceptor role, as well as their ability to effectively apply these concepts in the work setting. Informed by Rogers' Diffusion of …

Health Information Security And Privacy: A Social Science Exploration Of Nurses' Knowledge And Risk Behaviors With Security And Privacy Issues Focusing On Mobile Device Usage, Keith Richard Weiner

Dissertations

This dissertation examines characteristics related to cybersecurity practices of new nurses a year following graduation from nursing school where they may have been prepared to work in environments with EHRs. The study will explore their understanding of cybersecurity as it relates to use and protection of the sources of information in the EHRs, and their own personal risk behaviors with mobile technologies that may put them at risk to outside hacking or misuse of information. The questions that drive the study are the associations with nurses' knowledge of information system security, risk behaviors specifically with mobile device use, and their …

Substance Use Treatment Providers Perspectives On Barriers And Facilitators To Treatment, Recovery, And Returning To Work For Healthcare Professionals With Substance Use, Heidi L. Mcneely

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

The overall purpose of the study is to help identify barriers and facilitators to SU treatment, successful recovery and return to work for HCPs with SU.

Sleep Loss And Its Health Impact Among Family Caregivers Of Persons With A Primary Malignant Brain Tumor, Jean D. Pawl

Dissertations

Sleep impairments for caregivers are multifactorial. Assumptions are that caregivers of those with primary malignant brain tumors (PMBT) are similar to caregivers of persons with dementia as cognitive impairments are present at diagnosis. The shorter trajectory of PMBTs and rapid deterioration of recipients' health may influence sleep in caregivers of persons with a PMBT. The purposes of this study were to use a sleep impairment model to characterize caregiver sleep using objective and subjective measures, and to examine sleep loss effects on psychosocial and physiologic health outcomes.

A secondary data analysis using baseline data from a larger study of mind-body …

Factors And Processes That Influence E-Professionalism Among Pre-Licensure Baccalaureate Nursing Students When Utilizing Social Media, Julie Skrabal

Dissertations

There is limited research related to nursing students' social media use. Because of this, there was a need to further explore how they were using social media and their ability to maintain e-professionalism. This study discovered that pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing students are actively using multiple social media accounts on a daily basis. Nursing is considered a trusted and respected profession, therefore, nursing students are held to a high professional standard. This includes maintaining privacy boundaries when managing professional and personal information during social media use.

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to explore the processes pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing …

Suffragettes For Cesareans: "Every Woman Should Have A Choice", Julia B. Imanoff

Theses

Patient choice for caesarean delivery (CD) is complex. This choice poses a challenge to Health Care Providers (HCPs) in terms of resource allocation, economics, and surgical risks. Yet, women's understanding of choice is poorly understood. This study answers the question: how HCPs might understand women's choice for CD? Four primiparous women who chose a CD were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were used to generate data. The interpretation followed a hermeneutic approach.

The Effect Of Patient Activation On Transition Clinic Adherence, Megan S. Mcgraw

Theses

Heart failure (HF) affects more than five million Americans and is one of the most commonly occurring reasons for admission to the hospital among adults aged 65 and over. Evidence is growing that the higher amount of patient engagement or activation, the better the health and cost outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between a higher patient activation score, as determined by the PAM-10, and completion in the heart failure transition clinic. The design for this study was a quantitative descriptive study. The patients were given the questionnaire prior to discharge from …

Academic Nurse Educator Attitudes Regarding Their Role Educating Ethnically And Racially Diverse Nursing Students: A Focused Ethnography, Melissa Lillian Weir

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to explore academic nurse educator attitudes, specifically beliefs and values, regarding their role educating ethnically and racially diverse students through the lens of culturally relevant pedagogy. Focused ethnography methodology was applied through all phases of this research. Interviews with 14 academic nurse educators provided insight into a subculture of nursing. Themes that emerged from data analysis included strengths perspective, teacher-student relationships, diversity as an asset, crucial or difficult conversations, and ethnicity and race setting the narrative. In addition, assimilation and white privilege were discussed due to compelling and varied responses from participants.

Experiences Of Self-Reported Bullying In Minority Nurses Within Acute Care Hospital Workplace Settings, Ekta A. Srinivasa

Dissertations

The Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI) defines workplace bullying (WPB) as the repeated mistreatment of a person(s) in the work environment by one or more perpetrator(s) that is detrimental to the health of the targeted individual(s). WPB is considered a universal phenomenon prevalent throughout the world and the United States across a variety of professionals and non-professionals with severe consequences to individuals, groups, and organizational morale. Thirty-five percent of all the known workforce in the United States, across all genders, races, and ethnicities are bullied at work. Racial/Ethnic minority female nurses, as a significant subset of nurses, may be bullied at …

Graduate Nurse's Perspective Of Simulation To Address The Theory-Practice Gap In Nursing, Joset E. Brown

Dissertations

Graduate nurses are being employed to provide care in high acuity care areas, and this becomes a problem of significance as the literature suggests that graduate nurse's experience a deficit in integrating theoretical concepts in the clinical environment, described as the theory-practice gap; which can result in a risk to patient safety and the potential for negative outcomes. Cognitive constructivism was the conceptual framework that guided this study. A qualitative phenomenological design was used to explore the lived experiences of 13 graduate nurses employed at a community hospital in northern New Jersey. After recruiting the participants through purposive sampling, semi …

Minority Nursing Students' Perceptions About Help-Seeking When Under Stress: A Basic Qualitative Study, Marjorie Attis-Josias

Dissertations

Nursing students experience many situations that lead to stress. Stress can have many adverse effects on students, including attrition, and minority nursing students often grapple with a unique set of stressors related to their status as minorities. This study was conducted to close the gap in the literature about minority nursing students' beliefs and attitudes about help-seeking for stress. A basic qualitative design was utilized to answer one research question, How do minority nursing students describe their experiences with help-seeking when under stress? Individual interviews were conducted with 12 ethnic and racial minority students enrolled in their third or fourth …

[Excerpt From] Evidence-Based Practice In Action (2nd Ed.), Laura Cullen, Kirsten Hanrahan, Michele M. Farrington, Sharon J. Tucker

Sigma Publications: Book Excerpts

This item record pertains to an excerpt from Evidence-Based Practice in Action, Second Edition, which is provided free of charge by the publisher.

About this book:

The biggest barrier to effective evidence-based practice (EBP) is the failure to effectively translate available knowledge, research, and clinical expertise into action. This failure is rarely due to lack of information, understanding, or experience. In fact, it usually comes down to a simple lack of tools and absence of a clear plan to integrate EBP into care.

Problem solved: Evidence-Based Practice in Action, Second Edition, is a time-tested, application-oriented EBP resource for any …

[Excerpt From] Nursing Leadership During Crisis, Carolyn Miller Reilly, Barbara Kaplan, Tim Porter O'Grady

Sigma Publications: Book Excerpts

This item record pertains to an excerpt from Nursing Leadership During Crisis, which is provided free of charge by the publisher.

About this book:

In times of crisis, like the Covid-19 pandemic, nurse leaders must act immediately but also effectively. Previous disasters, emergencies, and healthcare concerns have taught us distinct lessons and forced managers to adapt—but how do you become a successful leader while battling an extreme crisis that brings fluctuating information every day?

Nursing Leadership During Crisis guides nurse leaders from the Covid-19 pandemic to a mature perspective, integrating theoretical frameworks, ideals, processes, and reflections from those on …

[Excerpt From] A Nurse's Step-By-Step Guide To Transitioning To An Academic Role: Strategies To Jumpstart Your Career In Education And Research, Mercy Ngosa Mumba

Sigma Publications: Book Excerpts

This item record pertains to an excerpt from A Nurse's Step-by-Step Guide to Transitioning to an Academic Role, which is provided free of charge by the publisher.

About this book:

Starting any new professional endeavor can be as challenging and overwhelming as it is exciting. Moving from practice to education can further amplify the uncertainty. Academia is a whole different world, which means a unique new culture, different priorities, and a complete change in your day-to-day work life. Lucky for your soon-to-be students, you already know what it takes to be a strong, competent clinician. You just need to transfer …

Examining Nurse Educators' Stages Of Concern About The Teaching Innovation Of Simulation As Clinical Experience, Lynnette Marie Schreiner

Dissertations

There exists a critical need to boost the overall number of baccalaureate-prepared registered nurses to accomplish goals for providing high-quality healthcare for all United States citizens (Institute of Medicine, 2011). Given the limited number of sites needed to facilitate clinical learning experiences for pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing students, using simulation as a technologically modern innovation in nursing instruction is an approach to help overcome the lack of traditional clinical opportunities. The purpose of this study was to examine the nurse educators' concerns about using simulation by determining 1) the intensity of nurse educators' stages of concern about using simulation as clinical …

An Evaluation Of A Shared Leadership Training Program, Lavonda Ann Allen

Dissertations

The purpose of the quantitative quasi-experimental equivalent time series study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a work based shared leadership training program in a less than 200 bed hospital in rural, south-central United States. Nursing shortages and the current emphasis on quality are factors that make recruitment and retention of nurses important to healthcare organizations. Organizational support for bed side decision making can improve staff nurse satisfaction, thereby facilitating recruitment and retention of nursing staff. Work based action learning training programs are a mechanism to improve team members' use of shared leadership and decision making. A review of literature …

Drawing My Story: Children's Experiences In The Hospital, Christy Marguerite Gifford Solorio

Dissertations

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, Crossing the Quality Chasm recommended an increased focus on patient-centered care to improve patients' experience in health care; however, patient-centered care aimed directly at children remains elusive. While the IOM report states that health care cannot be improved without the direct engagement of patients, few studies directly engage children, as patients, to better understand children's experiences in health care from the child's point of view.

The Changing Of Ambulatory Care: Provision And Utilizations As Influenced By The Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act, Heather Marie Brom

Dissertations

Nurse practitioners (NPs) represent a growing healthcare provider workforce, which is poised to assist with the shortages of physicians and growing demand for healthcare services driven by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Restrictions to NP scope of practice may present a barrier to meeting this need. This research sought to determine if NP scope of practice laws were altered in response to passage of the ACA and to examine changes in the number of NPs, to test for differences in the delivery of ambulatory care in the United States, and to characterize ambulatory practice by state-level NP scope of practice …

The Relationships Among Job Satisfaction, Length Of Employment, And Mentoring Of Nursing Faculty, Zelda Suzan

Dissertations

The shortage of faculty in nursing education programs has been well documented by the National League for Nursing. Job satisfaction is important in retaining nurse educators, and one New York nursing program was interested in examining the potential impact of mentoring on satisfaction. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine job satisfaction, measured by the Job Descriptive Index/Job in General scale (JDI/JIG), between nurse faculty participants in formal mentoring programs compared to participants receiving an informal type of mentoring. In addition, the length of employment was examined as a possible factor in predicting job satisfaction. The theoretical framework …

How Persons With Schizophrenia Experience Connecting With Mental Health Professionals, Susan V. Brammer

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a substantive theory that explains how persons with schizophrenia (PWS) experience connecting with mental health professionals (MHPs). Nine PWS, clients from two community mental health centers, were asked to recount their interactions with MHPs. The interview transcripts were analyzed through the grounded theory methodology of Strauss and Corbin (1998). The interactional problem between PWS and MHPs stems from the stigma associated with schizophrenia. The central concept emerged from the data analysis as Connecting Through Humanness. Connecting Through Humanness is a three-part process where PWS identify whether MHPs stereotype them as schizophrenics or …