Digital Commons Network^™

A Comparison Study Of Vocational Factors Influencing Academic Satisfaction For Marginalized And Majority Students, Sara Driver

Dissertations

Marginalized college students experience increased rates of discrimination resulting in poorer academic outcomes whereas majority students are often afforded more privilege and access to resources allowing them to be more successful (Bardhardt et al., 2017; Milkman et al., 2015; Hanson, 2021). Psychology of Working Theory (PWT; Duffy et al., 2016) posits that experiences of discrimination and marginalization can negatively impact the chances for one to be successful in the world of work. PWT argues that decent work is a desired outcome by marginalized individuals and research confirms that securing future decent work is important to marginalized college students (Ma et …

Phenomenological Research Examining Administrators And Special Education Teachers' Perception, Experience & Knowledge Of The Mississippi Special Education Growth Rubric, Tricia Pittman

Dissertations

In the current era of accountability, public school administrators’ responsibilities may include evaluating special education teachers and providing them with feedback and support to improve their effectiveness. The problem that exists is that administrators who do not have a background in special education are charged with the responsibility of evaluating special education teachers, resulting in special education teachers not getting the support or feedback necessary to improve their instructional practice.

In addition to administrators not having the background knowledge necessary to effectively evaluate and support special education teachers, the problem of developing an effective evaluation model to evaluate special education …

Second Victim Syndrome: Nurses Suffering In Silence, Matthew Riehm

Dissertations

Medication errors are inherent in health care due to human fallibility and inherent systemic complexities. Nurses are often unjustly blamed after committing a medication error despite the multitude of contributing factors. Formal education and healthcare organizations focus on preventing medication errors, but little has been done to support nurses involved in these tragic incidents. Recent cases, including RaDonda Vaught and Kimberly Hiatt, demonstrated the victimization of nurses after committing medication errors that plague the healthcare system potentially causing profound psychological trauma, often known as Second Victim Syndrome, SVS. There is limited research on the phenomenon of SVS in nursing due …

Impact Of Social Determinants Of Health On Skill Of Involvement: Differences In First Year Adn And Bsn Nursing Students In Rural Oklahoma, Cynthia Brown

Dissertations

The impact of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) on Skill of Involvement (SOI) has not been adequately studied in nursing education. The skill of involvement is defined by Benner (2022) as necessary to expert-level nursing and it brings humanity, meaningfulness, acute situational awareness, and rapid thinking required for strong clinical decision-making in crisis management of the deteriorating patient. It is important for nurse educators to understand how SDOH impacts SOI on nursing students in order to transform the delivery of nursing education. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of SDOH on SOIs in first-year nursing students …

Night Shift Acute Care Nurse Narratives: Exploring Collaborative Solutions To Reduce Burnout, Increase Morale And Engagement, And Improve Retention, Melissa Queen-Lomas

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on nurse recruitment and retention in the United States exacerbated the problem of nurse shortages, particularly for acute care nurses on the night shift. Long hours, heavy workloads, stressful work environments, high patient-nurse ratios, and dissatisfaction with administration are causing nurse burnout at an alarming rate. Burnout leads to low morale, exhaustion, intent to leave, and turnover. Moreover, exhausted night shift nurses compromise patient safety and care with unintentional medication errors or tasks left undone due to rigorous hours and little support or resources. Teambuilding, camaraderie, mentoring, and shared learning opportunities are scarce on night shift, …

Collective Memory And Place Attachment Expressed As Communicative Constitution Of Community, Amy Jo Ellefson

Dissertations

Twenty-six residents of Ralston, Nebraska recorded oral histories for use in the city library’s 100-year anniversary celebration. The recordings build a limited history of the city and expose residents’ collective memories as a conduit to place attachment in a changing community. By positioning the City of Ralston as an organization using the Four Flows approach to the communicative constitution of organization [CCO], I examined communication by members of the organization as maintaining the city. Qualitative coding of the city’s Facebook page and narrative analysis of the oral history recordings produced identifiable categories related to collective memory, place attachment, and the …

P-12 School Administrators' Experiences, Opinions, And Perceptions Of Speech-Language Pathologists In Written Language Instruction And The Response To Intervention, Alison Webster

Dissertations

Many speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are employed in public school systems as part of the special education department to work with students with deficits in oral and written language skills. The literature shows a direct relationship between oral language development and early literacy skills. SLPs can provide a preventative role through the multitiered systems of support (MTSS) or response to intervention (RTI) programs. However, many SLPs report barriers to accessing students in the general education setting. One of these reported barriers is a lack of administrative support. Therefore, this research explored factors that impact a P-12 school administrator’s experiences, opinions, and …

The Emerging Impacts Of Tourism On The Economy Of The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia: A Comparative Study Of Oil And Tourism, Dania Abu Jabal

Master's Theses

Saudi Arabia was heavily dependent on oil, which caused an economic crisis due to the collapse of global oil prices. In 2016, the Saudi government launched Vision 2030 to diversify the Saudi economy and avoid dependence on oil revenues. One aim of Vision 2030 is to initiate numerous tourism initiatives to boost the tourism industry's economic impact, elevating its contribution from 3% of GDP to 10% by 2030.

This paper provides the necessary assessment to understand tourism's role and contribution to the Saudi economy and to determine whether the industry's growth is on the right track. Also, this paper also …

Psychiatric Clinicians' Perspectives On Pharmacogenetic Testing In An Inpatient Setting And A Proposal Of A Guideline For Patients With Extended Hospitalization, Michelle Dickerson, Jessica Lewis

Doctoral Projects

The purpose of this doctoral project is to enhance the understanding and application of pharmacogenetic testing among inpatient psychiatric clinicians. In addition, it proposes a guideline for PGx use in patients who have been hospitalized for a duration exceeding 90 days. In modern mental health care, psychotropic medications are extensively prescribed in the treatment of numerous mental health conditions. However, the use of psychotropic medications raises concerns among patients regarding their effectiveness and possible adverse reactions, leading to a lack of adherence to therapy. Over the past two decades, researchers have been exploring the effects that genetic variants have on …

Examining The Career Path Of Certified Public Accountants In Audit And Tax Services: Perceptions Of Accounting Graduates' Competencies, Steven Mulhollen

Dissertations

Accounting professionals claim there is a deficiency of individuals with the appropriate competencies to enter the accounting workforce (Pasewark, 2021; Richardson, 2020; Sandifer, 2018; Thomson, 2017). Also, recent trends indicate a need to increase the number of qualified accounting professionals who can pass the Certified Public Accounting Exam (CPA Exam) and enter the public accounting workforce (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants [AICPA], 2021a; Dawkins, 2023). This quantitative, causal-comparative study expands existing studies by analyzing the impact of CPA's chosen career path of audit or tax on their perception of the required and attained accounting competencies. This study contributes to …

The Association Between Emotional Intelligence, Empathy, And Social Determinants Of Health Among Accelerated Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Students: A Multi-State Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study, Kwanza Thomas

Dissertations

This study investigated the association between emotional intelligence (managing and understanding), empathy, and social determinants of health (SDOH) among accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) students. Despite the exponential increase in ABSN programs in the United States, little is known about the association between these variables among this nursing student population. A cross-sectional, correlational descriptive design was used to survey 104 students completing ABSN programs in Georgia, Mississippi, Philadelphia, and Texas. Participants self-reported their socioeconomic and programmatic characteristics using a researcher-developed questionnaire. Emotional intelligence (managing and understanding) was measured using two instruments, including the Situational Test of Emotional Management …

The Lived Experiences Of K-12 Instructional Technology Leaders During Covid-19, Robin Jackson

Dissertations

This study examines the lived experiences of K-12 Instructional Technology Leaders in rural schools and school districts throughout Mississippi. It sought to explore the challenges that were encountered, the strategies they were employed, and the lessons that were learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, as traditional classroom teaching and learning was abruptly transitioned to 100% online or remote teaching and learning. Five participants were recruited. Only one participant holds the actual title of an instructional technology leader of their school district, while the other four assumed the role and responsibilities of an instructional technology leader for their schools or school districts. …

Camp À La Campagne: Francis Poulenc’S Les Animaux Modèles, C.J. Everett

Dissertations

Francis Poulenc’s ballet Les Animaux modèles [The model animals] premiered in 1942 at the Paris Opéra during the German occupation of Paris to favorable reviews from prominent voices in the Parisian musical scene. Set in the French countryside (la campagne) in the seventeenth century, the ballet is a seemingly honest depiction of quaint rural life. To create the short vignettes that comprise the work, Poulenc (1899–1963) adapted well-known fables of the poet Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95). Existing discussions of Les Animaux modèles primarily focus on the ballet’s conception during World War II and the political implications of …

Coworkers And Leaders: The Relationship Between Trustworthiness, Trust, And Employee Engagement, Lianne Young

Dissertations

A highly engaged workforce provides numerous organizational and individual benefits (Shuck et al., 2016), the culmination of which leads to a competitive advantage difficult to emulate (Burke et al., 2013). It remains challenging to understand how engagement develops, with little research available explaining the process (Shuck, 2020). High employee engagement levels provide a competitive advantage, but stagnant engagement levels remain a significant obstacle (Shuck, 2020).

Shuck (2020) recommends further research focusing on methods to increase engagement. Trustworthiness and trust are antecedents and drivers of engagement (Chughtai & Buckley, 2008; Federman, 2010; SHRM, 2017). A lack of trust has negative impacts …

Exploring Local Elected Officials' Capacity To Govern Effectively, Mario King

Dissertations

A successful local government exemplifies inclusivity, innovation, and deliberate decision-making, all advancing responsible management of taxpayers' resources. In this qualitative investigation, a phenomenological approach is employed to delve into the lived experiences of local elected officials. The aim of this study was to gain insights into the capacity of these local elected officials for success in governance. Subsequently, the insights from these local elected officials' experiences are harnessed to evaluate their influence and impact on municipal performance.

The management of municipal performance encompasses the provision of social services, the maintenance of fiscal operations, and adherence to statutory obligations (Avellaneda, 2008). …

Relationship Between School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports, Student Achievement, And Teacher Efficacy In High Poverty Rural Alabama Elementary Schools, William Combs

Dissertations

The purpose of this research study is to determine if relationships exist between the level of School-wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports implementation, student academic achievement, and teacher self-efficacy in high-poverty rural Alabama elementary schools. The research encompassed a comprehensive analysis of existing literature, incorporating historical and policy-related context, theoretical underpinnings, relevant studies, and expert viewpoints. Additionally, the research involved the gathering and examination of data, presentation of findings, establishment of conclusions, and suggestions for prospective research directions. The primary objective of this study is to investigate potential correlations between the extent of SWPBIS (School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) …

Revitalizing The Middle-Skill Talent Pipeline: Exploring The Decision To Enroll In A Postsecondary Career And Technical Education Program, Felicia Hall

Dissertations

A workforce shortage exists within occupations requiring educational training beyond high school but less than a 4-year degree, known as middle-skill occupations. Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs offered at community colleges throughout the United States equip graduates at the middle-skill level. Although affordable CTE programs are readily available, little is currently known about what makes students consider and ultimately enroll in postsecondary CTE programs. This qualitative phenomenological study investigated the decision to enroll in a postsecondary CTE program as experienced by current students at a North Alabama community college to identify enablers and barriers faced during the decision to …

Employee Experiences With Leaders’ Influence On Autonomous Motivation: A Mixed Methods Study, Melissa Wheat

Dissertations

Organizational performance and success require employee motivation (Delaney & Royal, 2017; Devarapalli & Hinkes, 2016; Good et al., 2022; Howard et al., 2016; Mohamud et al., 2017; Olafsen et al., 2018; Ryan & Deci, 2017; Van den Broeck et al., 2021; Wiley, 1997). However, organizational leaders fail to effectively motivate employees to engage in the workplace and achieve high performance (Delaney & Royal, 2017; Fisher, 2009; Good et al., 2022; J. D. Jensen, 2018; Pappas, 2021; Webb, 2007; Workers Are Motivated by Different Drivers and Needs, 2022). This study explored employee experiences with leaders’ influence on autonomous motivation to …

Mentor Teacher And Administrator Attitudes And Beliefs Toward Mentoring Programs In K-12 Education In South Mississippi, Krystle Womack

Dissertations

The teaching profession relies heavily on mentor programs to promote teacher retention, to reduce attrition and to increase the quality of new teachers. Teachers grow professionally through gaining knowledge. Mentor teachers show professional growth through knowledge gained from mentoring programs and serving as mentor teachers.

There is a significant gap in mentoring research in that the mentoring literature is limited in perspective. Research focuses solely on the perspectives of the beginning teacher or the person being mentored, but the perspective of more than one stakeholder is needed to give the full picture of induction and mentoring. This study uses a …

Power-Up With Emotional Intelligence: Exploring Flight Attendant Leadership And Crew Resource Management In A Dynamic Post-Pandemic Travel Environment, Carlin Laviolet Clarke

Dissertations

In the post-pandemic travel environment, disruptive passengers fail to accept flight attendants’ leadership and cause unruly incidents that compromise flight safety, damage airlines, and present behavioral challenges that can lead to physical harm (Al-Arshani, 2021; Albert, 2016; Araiza, 2022; Albert, 2016; FAA, 2021; Inspire Academy, n.d.-a.; International Air Transport Association [IATA], n.d.-b; James, 2022; Pederson et al., 2021; Ramona & Anbro, 2017; Timmis et al., 2018; TSA, 2021; Wong & Neustaedter, 2017). Flight attendants rely on Crew Resource Management (CRM) skills to manage inflight incidents; however, CRM promotes team effectiveness and flight attendants are often dispersed throughout the cabin and …

Perceived Power By Nurse Managers In Dialysis Units: A Qualitative Case Study, Janie Griner

Dissertations

Nurses comprise the largest workforce in health care but lack power despite their numbers. Nurses have suffered short-staffing, burnout, job dissatisfaction, unsafe work settings, and cumbersome technology for decades. The dialysis nurse manager is an important component of the dialysis unit and plays a role in the retention and recruitment of nurses. Using a case study approach this qualitative, thematic analysis described dialysis nurse managers’ perception of power in dialysis units. A review of the current research revealed a gap involving dialysis nurse managers’ perception of power in the dialysis unit. The following research question was developed: • How do …

Teacher Evaluations, Pbis Implementation, And Student Outcomes, Kasey Catherine Keith Boyd

Dissertations

This study explored the relationship between the Mississippi Department of Education’s (MDE) Professional Growth System school-wide Teacher Growth Rubric (TGR) score averages by standard and student academic and behavioral outcomes (i.e. state assessment scores, discipline referrals, suspensions, attendance.). The study also examined the relationship among Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) implementation fidelity, MDE TGR scores, and student outcomes. Twenty-seven schools were selected to participate in the study. Fifteen of the schools were implementing with fidelity during the 2021-2022 school year, as measured by the Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI), and twelve schools were not implementing SWPBIS during the 2021-2022 …

Perceptions Of Stress In Community Clinic Nurses During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jomeka Smith

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the largest healthcare crises that has affected the entire healthcare industry. Community health nurses in the front-line roles are greatly threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic that has decimated healthcare systems. The well-being of nurses is vital to perform their full potential of adequate patient care. Increased demands and pandemic related stressors can increase the risk of mental health problems. Nurses work in a variety of healthcare settings, however, the expectations, the fear of the unknown, and changes in demands have largely contributed to the unprecedented stressors that accompany nurses in clinical settings. Stress among …

The Leadership Experience Of Academic Chief Nurse Administrators In The State Of Georgia During The Covid-19 Pandemic Upon Return To Campus After Full Virtual Instruction: A Qualitative Study, Susie Jonassen

Dissertations

The impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic has been rated as the highest factor of intent to leave the profession in nurses serving in a leadership role. During the pandemic, crisis leadership swept across academia partly because nursing academia was not prepared for the rapid transition to virtual instruction. The reopening of nursing programs, while pandemic restrictions were still required, caused unprecedented disruptions and stress for academic leaders. One-third of nursing faculty anticipate retirement within the next two years. With the present burnout and shortage of nursing academia leaders, there was a need to explore the lived experience of academic …

Arturo Rodriguez: A Mexican Mosaic. A Discussion Of His Life And Selected Works, Jorge Gonzalez

Dissertations

Arturo Rodríguez (b. 1976) is a Mexican composer living in Los Angeles, California. His music has gained tremendous popularity in México within the last ten years and is being performed regularly by some of the most prestigious professional orchestras in México and abroad. One of the most interesting aspects of his career is that he writes music for both the concert hall and motion pictures. His compositional output is abundant and covers a variety of genres including music for symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, chamber music, and piano. Rodríguez has focused on the art of symphonic composition for the past fifteen …

Perioperative Chest X-Ray Interpretation For Anesthesia Providers, Kaitlyn Brown, Jessica Parsons

Doctoral Projects

Currently, a knowledge gap exists among anesthesia providers regarding perioperative chest x-ray (CXR) appropriateness and interpretation (Collins, 2022). The Council on Accreditation (COA) requires that students graduating from a nurse anesthesia program (NAP) interpret a minimum of five CXRs before program completion (Council on Accreditation [COA], 2020). This DNP project aimed to address the knowledge gap by offering an easily accessible online forum that guides anesthesia providers on CXR indications in surgical patients, and in identifying pathologies and invasive line and tube placement using CXR.

The authors created four learning modules regarding perioperative CXRs using Microsoft PowerPoint presentations with animation …

Surgical Fire Prevention And Management: An Objective Structured Clinical Examination For Nurse Anesthesia, Tate Fazio, Kaleb Killens

Doctoral Projects

Sentinel events in health care are rare events, often corresponding with permanent injury or death. Fires in the operating room (OR) are one type of sentinel event. Although rare due to possible life-threatening injuries to patients and staff, appropriate surgical fire education is critical in nurse anesthesia education, as anesthesia providers play a significant role in surgical fires (Wunder et al., 2020). The development of simulation exercises has the potential for students to experience and become competent in managing high-acuity, low-frequency events, such as surgical fires (Wunder et al., 2020). The Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) at The University of Southern …

Implementing Low-Dose Ct Scans To Screen For Lung Cancer In The Primary Care Setting, Monifa Ri'ana Beal

Doctoral Projects

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in both men and women in the United States. By the end of 2023, lung cancer will have been diagnosed in approximately 238,000 Americans and claimed the lives of about 127,000 of those that are diagnosed.(American Cancer Society, 2023) Currently lung cancer accounts for more deaths among Americans than breast, prostate, and colon cancers combined (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2019). Despite being one of the most preventable cancers in the world, lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related death among Americans and more so in …

A Survey Of The Comparative Performance Demands Of Performing Mozart’S Fourth Horn Concerto On The Natural Horn And Modern Horn, Brandon Garrison

Doctoral Projects

The four horn concertos by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart are fundamental standards of horn repertoire. Since the production of Dennis Brain’s early recordings in 1953, many virtuoso horn players have recorded these concerti on the modern horn. However, there are few professional recordings made on the natural horn. Though Mozart’s four horn concertos are prominent in horn study across the world, they are rarely executed with correct performance practice techniques. In my presentation, I will demonstrate passages from Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 4 to survey the challenges when performed on natural horn versus the modern horn. It is important to understand …

Preventing Diabetes Through Prediabetes Screening And Treatment In Primary Care, Dewona Beal

Doctoral Projects

Diabetes is an epidemic in the United States. There are three types of diabetes: type 1, 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most common type of diabetes. This type of diabetes can be prevented or delayed. In persons with T2DM, the body cannot use insulin well to keep blood glucose within normal limits. Several factors, including genetics, lifestyle such as poor diet and physical inactivity, obesity, insulin resistance, hormones, and certain medications, can cause it. A precursor to T2DM is prediabetes. Prediabetes is when blood sugar levels are elevated but not elevated enough to be …