Digital Commons Network^™

The Experience Of Transition By Baccalaureate Nursing Graduates, Linda R. Pettersen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate the transition experience of new baccalaureate-prepared graduates entering nursing practice as registered nurses. Participants were a convenience sample of six graduates from a midwestem university who were employed as registered nurses from eight to twelve months in acute care nursing practice. Transition theory was used as a guide in designing interview questions. Participants were interviewed and the audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and then analyzed for codes, categories, and themes.

Four themes emerged from analysis of the data. Theme One: Lack of experience contributes to self-doubt for the new graduate nurse. Although …

Ogimah Ikwe: Native Females And Their Path To Leadership, Denise K. Lajimodiere

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative interview study was to discover leadership patterns in the paths of Native female leaders and their experiences. The study explores the path that current Native female leaders walked on that lead them to their positions of leadership. The study speaks to the challenges, conflicts and obstacles faced by Native women working toward professional goals that demand a balance of traditional and contemporary leadership strengths and roles and focuses on the experience, perceptions, beliefs and meaning of the women interviewed. The study gives a voice to five of today’s Native female leaders—five Brave-Hearted Women.

The participants’ …

Roadblocks To Success: What Is Preventing The Literacy Achievement Of Mexican-American Students?, Barbara J. Ross

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Funny Ha-Ha Or Funny Strange: The Structure And Meaning Of Laughter In Conversation, Linda Houts-Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Although laughter has been studied for centuries, the work has occurred in several different fields, and the lack of an interdisciplinary approach has hindered the integration of results. Work in philosophy has focused on why we laugh but has lacked a basis in empirical data, resulting in ungrounded theories. Studies in neuroscience and linguistics rest on empirical data, but stop short of a full description of the phenomenon of laughter, focusing on when and how we laugh, but not why. This study seeks to describe the phenomenon of laughter more fully, to describe both the nature of the laughable and …

The Lived Experiences Of Three Student Teachers In A Birth-Third Grade Teacher Licensure Program, Kathleen A. Sonsteng

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover themes in the experience, behavior, and attitude of three students in a Birth-Third Grade Teacher Licensure Program, at a specific midwestern university, as the students were involved in their primary-level student teaching experience. In looking at the lived experiences of these three student teachers, the focus was on their level of confidence and preparedness before, during, and after student teaching.

This qualitative study used a phenomenological research approach. The phenomenon in this particular study is the primary-level student teaching experience. This study sought understanding of what this student teaching experience was for …

Challenging Gender Stereotypes In The Classroom: How Students Respond To "Dreamworlds", Angela Bailly

Theses and Dissertations

Students do not arrive in our classrooms as blank slates. When we, as Iructors, attempt to challenge them with a new wav of thinking about a topic, it's often difficult to know the impact of that exposure. It is even more difficult to cjliscover how students integrate the new information. This study explores the integration of Dreamworlds II: Desire/Sex/Power in Music Video into the lives of nineteen undergraduates. Dreamworlds II is a film concerning music videos and how they present images of women. It challenges the viewer to think about the cortsequences of these images and the alternatives that could …

Autocad/Art: A Happy Medium, Christopher Grisby

Theses and Dissertations

Many artistic students struggle in computer-aided drafting (CADr) courses because they are unable to relate to the software and/or assignments, while technical students miss out on their own design and inventiveness because of the same software and assignments. This independent study is a project design with the purpose to demonstrate how AutoCAD® can be used as an artistic tool in creating two-dimensional portraits. Auto Desk's AutoCAD® is a standard program used in drafting courses to produce mechanical and architectural drawings. The specific goal of the study was to produce a practical model outlining the details of the AutoCAD@/art project so …

Volume 44, Number 26: November 16, 2006, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Boron In The Regulation Of Inflammation: Studies In Vivo And In Vitro, Kelly Ann Durick

Theses and Dissertations

I demonstrated here that the presence of physiological amounts of boron was able to prevent the onset of and ameliorate ongoing collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). I also show a mechanism for boron's anti-inflammatory properties, in that boron was able to down regulate a number of pro-inflammatory mediators, all of which are under transcriptional control of NF-κB. Boron-supplemented diets, 2.0 mg B/kg and 12 mg B/kg, rendered CIA susceptible mice significantly more resistant to the onset of clinical arthritis, compared to mice fed boron-deficient chow, or commercial rodent chow. Dietary boron supplementation was also shown to prevent the onset of experimental autoimmune …

Regulation Of Vascular Smooth Muscle Actin Polymerization: Pathophysiological Implications And Relations To Portal Hypertensive Conditions, Xuesong Chen

Theses and Dissertations

Chronic portal hypertension is an end-state clinical condition associated with cirrhosis and other diseases that elevate portal vascular resistance. An intriguing vascular consequence of chronic portal hypertension is impaired vasoconstrictor function which favors a chronically vasodilated condition. This vasoconstrictor dysfunction has been linked to prolonged activation of protein kinase A (PKA). However the cellular mechanism(s) responsible for the altered vasoconstrictor function is still not clear. The present studies tested my hypothesis that PKA mediates impaired vasoconstrictor function by affecting the actin filament dynamics via two small heat shock proteins, HSP20 and HSP27. Studies were conducted in isolated small mesenteric arteries …

Volume 44, Number 25: November 14, 2006, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Vol. 31, No. 4: Fall 2006, School Of Medicine & Health Sciences

North Dakota Medicine Archive

No abstract provided.

Volume 44, Number 10: September 21, 2006, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Volume 44, Number 09: September 19, 2006, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Volume 44, Number 01: August 22, 2006, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Volume 43, Number 59: August 03, 2006, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Nutrition On Cognitive Performance In Young Versus Elderly Community-Living Adults, Brian Vanfossen

Theses and Dissertations

Several variables such as verbal ability, age, gender, level of depression and vitamin B12 deficiency have been found to moderate memory performance on cognitive tasks. The current study examined the above variables, plus also looked at levels of magnesium and zinc for their probable moderating effect on memory performance. Examined were 38 adults: 27 younger (between 21-35 years) and 11 oider (between 60-85 years), to identify those factors that moderated memory performance for this community-dwelling sample. The results of the current study replicated previous work reported in the literature that examined age-related changes in prose recall, word list recall and …

Making A Difference, Making Connections: Perspectives Of College Faculty And Practitioners Leading A Service Experience Abroad, Wanda Berg

Theses and Dissertations

The Asociacion Nuestros Ahijados or the GOD'S CHILD Project, is a service organization founded in 1991 by a North Dakota native to help Guatemalan children who were poor or abandoned. The Project focuses on health, education and human rights for children in Guatemala. The University of Mary is a small Catholic Benedictine college in North Dakota. Currently, educators from the University of Mary travel with groups of students to provide services in Guatemala, in collaboration with the GOD'S CHILD Project. The purpose of this qualitative study was to learn about aspects of culture, spirituality, and leadership as it relates to …

Attitudes And Perceptions Regarding Hypnosis Of North Dakota Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Michelle L. Resler

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to identify North Dakota certified registered nurse anesthetists’ (CRNAs) attitudes and perceptions of hypnosis and if they believe it would be realistic to use hypnosis in the surgical setting. A voluntary descriptive, cross sectional study design was used to obtain accurate and current information. The population of the study consisted of all the North Dakota CRNAs, who v/ere 2005-2006 members of the NDANA (North Dakota Association of Nurse Anesthetists); more than 90% of North Dakota CRNAs are members of NDANA. A current list of NDANA CRNAs was obtained (N=182). All current members were invited …

Volume 43, Number 56: July 25, 2006, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Ligand-Induced Conformational Changes Of Extracellular Loop Two In The Dopamine Transporter, Jon D. Gaffaney

Theses and Dissertations

The dopamine transporter (DAT) is a transmembrane spanning protein responsible for the clearance of dopamine from the dopaminergic synapse. Uptake blockers such as cocaine inhibit transport resulting in elevated levels of dopamine in the synapse. DAT is predicted to contain twelve transmembrane spanning domains (TMs) connected by alternating intra- and extracellular loops, however, the spatial arrangement of these regions is unknown. Extracellular loop 2 (EL2) is composed of approximately 80 amino acids and connects TM3 and TM4, two regions associated with uptake blocker binding. Using limited proteolysis we analyzed the aqueous accessibility of EL2 in the presence or absence of …

The Characterization And Distribution Of Renshaw Cells In The Rat Spinal Cord, Richard A. Zaruba

Theses and Dissertations

There is an abundance of electrophysiological and pharmacological data describing Renshaw cells (RC), however comparatively little is known about their distribution, metabolism, ionic regulation, modulation or exact role in motor behaviors. In this dissertation enzyme histochemistry and immunohistochemistry in conjunction with light, fluorescent and confocal microscopic methodologies were used to address the hypothesis that "the distribution of RC is contingent on their functional role in specific α motoneuronal pools and their unique electrophysiological and functional characteristics are reflected by their neurochemistry and synaptic inputs." The highest concentration of RC (number of RC per mm2) was found in the thoracic region …

Volume 43, Number 35: May 5, 2006, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Entry Level Graphic Design Students: Influences Of Sketching On The Development Of Creativity, Elizabeth A. Becker

Theses and Dissertations

Artists and designers typically utilized sketching for brainstorming because it provides them with a means to transfer their initial ideas from their head onto paper or a computer. Sketching is regarding by research in the field of design to be an essential part of the design process and is believed to be related to creativity and innovation in design. This study explored the role sketching played in the development of graphic design student's creativity. Participants in this study were recruited from six different sections of entry-level, graphic design courses. Their experiences, perceptions of creativity, and attitudes, bout sketching in graphic …

The Needs Of Patients In A Rural/Frontier Setting With Renal Insufficiency, Nancy A. Carda

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify any needs patients with renal insufficiency living in a rural/frontier setting may have. A chart review was conducted in a rural health care facility of all patients with diagnostic code 593.9. The following questions were asked: What are the characteristics of the patients in this rural/frontier setting? What is the difference in their levels of renal insufficiency? What risk factors are related to the level of renal insufficiency? In what ways do their risk factors compare with those identified in literature? The results of this study were compared to what is stated …

Impact Of Assistive Technology Devices And Services For Students With Learning Disabilities And An Academic Need In Writing, Carol Hankins Olson

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the impact of assistive technology (AT) devices and services on 165 students (134 male, 31 female) with learning disabilities who had needs in the academic area of writing. Outcomes data collected through the Assistive Technology Infusion Project (ATIP) were analyzed to explore demographics of students in this population, relationships between various factors on writing goals, and differences in contributions of various interventions prior to and after attainment of the AT devices. Two classifications of AT devices were developed for use in this study. The first was used to determine the most common AT devices used (word prediction …

Volume 43, Number 33: April 21, 2006, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Using Games To Promote Girls' Positive Attitudes Toward Technology, Richard Van Eck

Teaching, Leadership & Professional Practice Faculty Publications

Studies show that women make up only 35% of the IT workforce, and the schism between boys' and girls' interests in math and science is well documented. Richard Van Eck suggests that providing girls with more positive experiences with technology may impact their overall attitudes toward technology and perhaps even toward math and science. Van Eck chose games, naturally engaging experiences, as the basis of a two-semester study involving 92 fifth- and sixth-graders participating in game playing and authoring experiences in the classroom. He analyzes the differences in experience, attitude, and interest level between boys and girls. His results suggest …

Volume 43, Number 24: February 17, 2006, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Volume 43, Number 20: January 20, 2006, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.