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The Relationship Between Knowledge Management Tools And Interprofessional Healthcare Team Decision Making, Lisa Simon Jan 2016

The Relationship Between Knowledge Management Tools And Interprofessional Healthcare Team Decision Making, Lisa Simon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rising costs and continued risks in patient care indicate that knowledge management (KM) tools have not been fully recognized in healthcare. A case study was conducted to determine how KM tools might support the decision-making process of interprofessional teams. The study was predominately qualitative with a quantitative supplemental component. A questionnaire was used to collect data; this questionnaire contained open-ended questions along with Baggs' Collaboration and Satisfaction about Care Decisions and Anderson & West's Team Climate Inventory instruments. Responses to open-ended questions were reviewed, categorized, and coded as part of the qualitative analysis. Descriptive statistics were completed from Likert scale …

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How To Help Students Develop Projects Independently For Self-Directed Learning, Evelyn Kerstein Sears Jan 2016

How To Help Students Develop Projects Independently For Self-Directed Learning, Evelyn Kerstein Sears

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Experiential learning in adult education is on the rise. A small private college in the southeast United States initiated a program that required 3 experiential learning projects to be completed in addition to coursework. The problem was that less than 8% of students had independently developed their first project. Instead, they completed a project proposed by faculty. This situation resulted in student dependency on faculty rather than promoting self-directed learning. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding about how to help students develop independent projects for the self-directed learning program. Experiential and self-directed learning theories formed the …

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Making A Difference: Evidence Based Palliative Care Education For Neonatal Nurses, Sherry Elaine Pye Jan 2016

Making A Difference: Evidence Based Palliative Care Education For Neonatal Nurses, Sherry Elaine Pye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The death of a neonate is a life-changing and tragic experience for the individuals involved in the final moments of the infant's life. As the frontline provider in this clinical scenario, the bedside nurse supports the patient and family through their individual journey of loss. If the nurse does not possess the palliative care educational background and communication skills to support this unique care delivery process, the journey of death can evolve into a particularly negative experience for the parents and the nurse. This specific delivery of care concern was identified and gleaned from a parental bereavement exit interview after …

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Relationships Between Business Planning And Reaching Forecasted Sales Objectives For New England Farmers, Kenny Roberts Jan 2016

Relationships Between Business Planning And Reaching Forecasted Sales Objectives For New England Farmers, Kenny Roberts

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over the last 100 years, more than 3 million small farming operations have been replaced by large factory farms in America. This shift toward food production by conglomerations has led to severe environmental issues, food security hazards, and economic hardship in farming communities nationwide. This study investigated the extent to which a written business plan could help small farming operations meet their sales objectives and ultimately continue to operate; this study also examined the perceptions of farm owners regarding the ability of a business plan to affect sales objectives. The sample consisted of 71 Maine Farms for Future (FFF) recipients …

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Factors Involved In Successful Second-Generation Legacy Perpetuation In Independent Insurance Agencies, Christina Marie Rosensteel Jan 2016

Factors Involved In Successful Second-Generation Legacy Perpetuation In Independent Insurance Agencies, Christina Marie Rosensteel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors involved in successful second-generation legacy perpetuation in independent insurance agencies. This study examined the role of parent and child throughout the process in an effort to thwart the current high failure rates. This research aims to promote healthy business activity, improve success and sustainability, and add positive social stewardship in communities. Education and preparation of successor, timing of transition, financial considerations, and processes of succession were addressed. Two frameworks guided this study: Bertalanffy's systems theory and Bandura's theory of self-efficacy. Nonrandom, purposeful samples of 3 profitable, second-generation agency owners of …

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The Impact Of Free Healthcare On Hospital Deliveries In Sierra Leone, Salifu Salito Samura Jan 2016

The Impact Of Free Healthcare On Hospital Deliveries In Sierra Leone, Salifu Salito Samura

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Improving maternal health has been a challenge for developing nations with very high rates of maternal mortality. Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Sierra Leone, has some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. In an attempt to improve on this, the Sierra Leonean government enacted free maternal healthcare services in 2010. The Sierra Leone Free Healthcare Initiative (SLFHCI) provides free healthcare for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under 5 years old. This research explored the impact of the free healthcare on hospital deliveries. The determinant of health model was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the SLFHCI program, and …

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Hearing Parents Of Children With Hearing Loss: Perceptions Of The Iep Process, Robin Fern Stegman Jan 2016

Hearing Parents Of Children With Hearing Loss: Perceptions Of The Iep Process, Robin Fern Stegman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This phenomenological study investigated the nature and extent of the support parents received during IEP development. The study was informed by Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory. Participants, located in a Northeastern state, were 10 hearing parents of children who had been diagnosed with hearing loss at birth and were between ages 5 and 12. Data were in-depth interviews that were analyzed, coded, and organized into themes using an inductive approach to analysis informed by Hatch. Results indicated that parents believed they needed more guidance on what to expect during the first IEP meeting, that advocating for appropriate accommodations for their child …

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A Collaborative Approach To Budgeting And The Impact On The Budgeting Process: A Case Study, Michael Van Roestel Jan 2016

A Collaborative Approach To Budgeting And The Impact On The Budgeting Process: A Case Study, Michael Van Roestel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Corporations budget and strategize to set targets for planning purposes. Review of the literature indicated that methods of budget creation, including input from operational employees, are not fully understood by corporate budget officers. The problem addressed in this study was whether a collaborative approach to budgeting would improve implementation of the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles of relevance and reliability within the budgeting process. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the benefits of a collaborative approach to budgeting since non-inclusive budget preparation could alienate members of the operations team. Participative leadership was the conceptual framework guiding this study …

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An Integrative Review Focusing On Accuracy And Reliability Of Clinical Thermometers, Julie Black Black Jan 2016

An Integrative Review Focusing On Accuracy And Reliability Of Clinical Thermometers, Julie Black Black

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Technological advances in clinical thermometers have resulted in a variety of minimally invasive devices that give rapid results but may not have the accuracy necessary for use in acutely ill adults. Inaccurate temperatures can result in missed opportunities for the early identification and treatment of infection and sepsis. Following the methodology outlined by Whittemore and Knafl, the purpose of this project was to conduct an integrative review of the research on the accuracy of clinical thermometers used for acutely ill adults. The evidence was categorized using the Hierarchy of Evidence for Interventional Studies, and the quality of the studies was …

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Practice Preparedness In New Graduates: Exploring The Education-Practice Gap, Wendy L. Batch-Wilson Jan 2016

Practice Preparedness In New Graduates: Exploring The Education-Practice Gap, Wendy L. Batch-Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As newly licensed registered nurses enter their first nursing role, their perceived preparation for practice may vary. This descriptive study addressed the education-practice gap that exists as nurses transition into nursing practice. The use of Benner's skill acquisition model offers a structure for connecting theory to practice. New graduate nurses responded to the Casey-Fink Graduate Nurse Experience Survey-© to identify gaps in preparedness for novice practice. A convenience sample of nurses within the first 12 months of hire (n = 35) was sent the survey link by educators from the chosen sites. Anonymity was maintained with 18 total responses and …

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Best Practices In Literacy Achievement To Address Reading Failure For Elementary Schools In One School District, Roxanne Boyd-Williams Jan 2016

Best Practices In Literacy Achievement To Address Reading Failure For Elementary Schools In One School District, Roxanne Boyd-Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The local district in this study has not made adequate yearly progress in the past several years in language arts literacy on state assessments. Particularly problematic were poor reading skills among district students. Poor literacy skills negatively affect student learning across the curriculum. The purpose of this case study was to identify teachers' and administrators' perceptions of best literacy practices, professional development, and administrative decisions regarding literacy learning for primary students in reading at a strong performing elementary school in the district. The target school was selected to help address reading failure for the low-performing schools in this district. Bloom's …

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An Obesity Needs Assessment With African American Adults In Central Virginia, Nicole Michelle Brown Jan 2016

An Obesity Needs Assessment With African American Adults In Central Virginia, Nicole Michelle Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The risk for obesity is especially prevalent among African American adults in Central Virginia, who have one of the highest rates of obesity in the nation. Efforts to address obesity in African American adults through diet, weight reduction, and increased physical activity in settings such as schools, worksites, healthcare organizations, churches, and communities, are among the initiatives of Healthy People 2020. The objective of this project, conducted with 91 African American adults (33 females and 58 males) in central Virginia, was to complete a community needs assessment that related to obesity among members of an African American church. The needs …

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Professional Learning Communities In A Juvenile Correctional Facility, Altarene Wagner Brown Jan 2016

Professional Learning Communities In A Juvenile Correctional Facility, Altarene Wagner Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is little evidence concerning the impact of professional learning communities (PLCs) at juvenile correctional facilities. This qualitative case study explored the implementation of a PLC at a juvenile correctional facility school that housed students 10 to 19 years of age in southeastern United States. The purpose of this study was to understand the perceptions of teachers and paraprofessionals about how the PLC supported their work as they designed, constructed, and delivered instruction at the correctional facility. The social interactions among engaged educators through collaboration, collective inquiry, reflections, and communication derived from constructivist learning theory. Qualitative methodology included document review …

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A Community's Perception Of Pregnancy And Sexually Transmitted Infections And Prevention Programs, Felecity Nicole Burns Jan 2016

A Community's Perception Of Pregnancy And Sexually Transmitted Infections And Prevention Programs, Felecity Nicole Burns

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States has the highest rates of teenage pregnancies, births, abortions, and sexually transmitted infections in the industrialized world. African American teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections are on the rise in many rural southwest school districts in the State of Georgia where the sex education curriculum is nonexistent or solely focuses on abstinence. Georgia ranked 4th in cases of primary and secondary syphilis, 6th in AIDS, 12th in gonorrhea, 14th in teen pregnancies, and 17th in chlamydia in the United States in 2012. The purpose of this qualitative study was to evaluate the perceptions of residents of a …

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Nurses' Experiences Transitioning From Staff Nurse To Management In A Community Hospital, Jennifer Sylvia Buffenbarger Jan 2016

Nurses' Experiences Transitioning From Staff Nurse To Management In A Community Hospital, Jennifer Sylvia Buffenbarger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project study addressed the problem of frequent turnover of nurse managers at a Northeastern community hospital. The lack of retention of nurse managers has led to attenuated support for the nursing staff who continued to hold the front line in patient care. The purpose of this qualitative bounded case study was to explore nurse managers' experiences with turnover in order to identify strategies for enhancing retention. Work empowerment and servant leadership theories served as the frameworks for the study. Research questions focused on nurse managers' perceptions of empowerment and servant leadership characteristics that were important in decisions to assume …

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Providing Optimal Nutrition In Critical Care, Jo Anne Foley Jan 2016

Providing Optimal Nutrition In Critical Care, Jo Anne Foley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malnutrition among hospitalized patients is prevalent and associated with adverse outcomes. At the health care facility for which this quality improvement (QI) initiative was developed, patients were not consistently fed within the nationally recommended 48 hours. The purpose of this project was to facilitate the early initiation of enteral feedings to prevent malnutrition in a vulnerable patient group by development of an evidence-based enteral feeding policy, algorithm, and nursing education module. The find, organize, clarify, understand, select, plan, do, check, and act model provided a systematic approach for development of the project. Validation of the QI initiative was through the …

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Preparing Faculty To Teach Online: Promoting Success In The Online Classroom, Julia Babcock Hamilton Jan 2016

Preparing Faculty To Teach Online: Promoting Success In The Online Classroom, Julia Babcock Hamilton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Distance learning students at a community college in the southeast United States were not completing their coursework as well as were students enrolled in traditional courses. This disparity was negatively affecting the institution's state performance measures, putting at risk the institution's state-based funding under the state's performance model. The purpose of this qualitative, bounded case study was to explore faculty experiences with online course professional development and faculty's teaching practices related to successful student online course completion. Chickering and Gamson's 'Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education' served as the study's conceptual foundation. Distance learning faculty (n = 10), …

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The Effect Of A Constructivist-Based Approach On Fifth Grade Reading Achievement, Lori Mcgough Harkness Jan 2016

The Effect Of A Constructivist-Based Approach On Fifth Grade Reading Achievement, Lori Mcgough Harkness

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem investigated in this quantitative study was that schools in a small, rural East Texas town were falling below acceptable ratings in reading on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) and the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR). Researchers have found that constructive-based learning environments (CBLEs) can improve student achievement. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between length of time enrolled in a CBLE and reading achievement. Based on the framework of constructivism, 2 research questions were examined. To answer Research Question 1, an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) calculated the difference …

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Health Care Professionals' Perceptions Of Media Influence On Eating Disorder-Related Factors Among African American Women, Erica Hudson Jan 2016

Health Care Professionals' Perceptions Of Media Influence On Eating Disorder-Related Factors Among African American Women, Erica Hudson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Little is known about health care professionals' perceptions of eating disorder etiology among African American (AA) women. The purpose of this quantitative research study was to examine the associations among health care professionals' race, cultural awareness, and perceptions of media influence on eating disorder-related factors in AA women. Festigner's social comparison theory; Bandura's social learning theory; and Garcia, Cartwright, Winston, and Borzuchowska's transcultural integrative model served as the theoretical frameworks for this study. Specifically, this study examined whether race and cultural awareness of health care professionals relate to their perceptions of the extent to which media influences AA women's eating …

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Prevalence And Predictors Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine Use Among Lebanese College Students, Lama Jizi Jan 2016

Prevalence And Predictors Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine Use Among Lebanese College Students, Lama Jizi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Lebanon, estimates of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use among college students are not available. CAM practices are not well regulated and some products contain unsafe substances. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and predictors of CAM use among Lebanese college students using the health belief model. A quantitative cross sectional research design was used. An online survey was administered to 126 Lebanese college students with the aim of determining the most important predictors of CAM use. A majority (89%) of surveyed students reported the use of CAM in the last 12 months. Based on …

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Nurses' Occupational Trauma Exposure, Resilience, And Coping Education, Sherry Lynn Jones Jan 2016

Nurses' Occupational Trauma Exposure, Resilience, And Coping Education, Sherry Lynn Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nursing education courses and professional development (PD) do not include coping and resilience training for registered nurses (RNs) who work in emergency departments (EDs). Exposure to traumatic events, death, and dying may lead to health issues, substance abuse, stress symptoms, nursing staff turnover, and compassion fatigue among ED RNs. Without training, the pattern of adverse outcomes may continue. The purpose of this study was to explore ED RNs' experiences with occupational traumatic stress (OTS), and their recommendations for change to nursing PD programs, using a qualitative bounded intrinsic case study. The conceptual framework for this study included social learning and …

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Exploring Craft Brewery Owners' Success Though Stakeholder Involvement, Daniel M. Leland Jan 2016

Exploring Craft Brewery Owners' Success Though Stakeholder Involvement, Daniel M. Leland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2014, 547 new breweries opened in the United States and more than 2 million barrels of beer were produced by American homebrewers. Craft brewery owners face challenges in increasing profit because of intense competition from existing breweries, new ventures, and homebrewers. The purpose of the study was to explore the strategies that craft brewery owners used to increase profits by collaboratively working with internal and external stakeholders, such as employees, distributors, customers, suppliers, lending groups, and community organizations. The conceptual framework of this multiple-case study was the stakeholder theory. The basic tenet of the stakeholder theory is that a …

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Strategies For Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises To Engage Third-Party Logistics Providers, Masoud Malakoti-Negad Jan 2016

Strategies For Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises To Engage Third-Party Logistics Providers, Masoud Malakoti-Negad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) managers struggle to stay competitive. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies SME managers located in Canada use to engage third-party logistics (3PL) providers to improve their supply chains. Porter's value chain theory formed the conceptual framework for this study. Data collection included semistructured interviews with 3 managers from 3 different SMEs in the province of Ontario and a review of the documents related to the use of 3PL providers. Member checking was conducted to enhance credibility of interpretation of the data collected. Data analysis was used to identify key …

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Evaluation Of Low Immunization Coverage Among The Amish Population In Rural Ohio, Christine Marie Kettunen Jan 2016

Evaluation Of Low Immunization Coverage Among The Amish Population In Rural Ohio, Christine Marie Kettunen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Amish communities have persistently low childhood immunization rates. Prior to this study, reasons for low rates had not been clearly identified. Researchers have speculated that access to health care, religious factors, and fear might be reasons that Amish parents refuse childhood immunizations, but more empirical evidence was warranted.The purpose of this study was to gather that empirical evidence regarding the knowledge, attitudes, opinions, and beliefs of Amish parents residing in Ashtabula County Ohio, an additional purpose was to examine how these factors influence timely immunizations of Amish children. The theoretical framework was the PEN-3-Cultural Model, focusing on cultural influences, beliefs, …

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Gender And Self-Care Behaviors In The Burnout Of Mental Health Professionals, Kafy-Ann Martin-Johnson Jan 2016

Gender And Self-Care Behaviors In The Burnout Of Mental Health Professionals, Kafy-Ann Martin-Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Difficulties experienced at work can cause feelings of burnout that become prolonged and intensified without acts of self-care. The intense nature of mental health workers' jobs may make them, more vulnerable to burnout than other professionals. Because mental health professionals' mental and emotional wellness can significantly affect their work, adequate self-care is critical to both their well-being and that of their clients. Previous researchers have investigated the self-care behaviors of mental health professionals, but little was known about how gender affected the use of these behaviors in burnout prevention among mental health professionals. The purpose of this quantitative study was …

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Hiv-Positive Status Disclosure Barriers In Stable Heterosexual Partners In Warri, Nigeria., Edith Nkechinyere Ogbozor Jan 2016

Hiv-Positive Status Disclosure Barriers In Stable Heterosexual Partners In Warri, Nigeria., Edith Nkechinyere Ogbozor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nondisclosure of positive status drives the secondary transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This cross sectional quantitative survey study grounded by the consequence theory evaluates fear of stigma, lack of social support, and level of HIV-related knowledge as barriers to self-disclosure of HIV-positive status to stable heterosexual partners. A sample of 303 HIV-infected respondents (111 men and 192 women) accessing antiretroviral therapy at 4 designated centers in Warri, Nigeria, completed the self-administered questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between these factors and spousal HIV-positive status disclosure. Results demonstrated: (a) social support availability significantly predicted HIV …

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University Presidents And The Role Of Fundraising At Private Liberal Arts Universities, Greeley Robert Myers Jan 2016

University Presidents And The Role Of Fundraising At Private Liberal Arts Universities, Greeley Robert Myers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the last decade, private liberal arts universities have experienced financial difficulties requiring the need to raise private funds. The financial viability of these universities depends on the ability of university presidents to raise money; however, challenges remain to carry out this task. To increase fundraising effectiveness at the university being examined, this case study identified skills and practices of 10 university presidents who achieved fundraising success during their tenure, such as the completion of a capital campaign or the growth of the university's endowment. Transformational leadership style traits were considered to determine their alignment with the successful fundraising behaviors …

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Outcomes Of Aggression Replacement Training For U.S. Adolescents In Residential Facilities, Coral Ann Ondrus Jan 2016

Outcomes Of Aggression Replacement Training For U.S. Adolescents In Residential Facilities, Coral Ann Ondrus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A National Survey indicated that 1.6 million adolescents in the U.S. were arrested in 2010 and 1.5 million in 2011 for erratic aggressive behaviors, thus showing a decline from the 2.18 million adolescent arrests in 2007. Residential facilities in the state of Pennsylvania offer a group intervention called Aggression Replacement Training (ART) to help adjudicated adolescents regain control of erratic behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which level of group participation in ART and certain demographic factors (age, gender, ethnicity, family socioeconomic status, parental involvement, and education) predict decreased aggression and increased anger control …

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Teacher Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Inclusion In Elementary Classroom Settings, Delicia Peacock Peacock Jan 2016

Teacher Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Inclusion In Elementary Classroom Settings, Delicia Peacock Peacock

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inclusion classrooms were introduced in the United States in 1990 when the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act required that special education students be instructed in a general education setting. Ensuing changes in instructional formats have caused role confusion for special and general education teachers, resulted in mixed attitudes toward teacher responsibilities, and lowered teachers' sense of efficacy about being able to teach their students. Guided by Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory, this bounded case study design in a rural elementary school in a southeastern state was used to understand the perceptions of general and special educators regarding their work in …

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The Successful Implementation Of Electronic Health Records At Small Rural Hospitals, Daniel Richardson Jan 2016

The Successful Implementation Of Electronic Health Records At Small Rural Hospitals, Daniel Richardson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Electronic health records (EHRs) have been in use since the 1960s. U.S. rural hospital leaders and administrators face significant pressure to implement health information technology because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. However, some leaders and managers of small rural hospital lack strategies to develop and implement EHRs. The focus of this descriptive phenomenological study was to explore lived experiences of hospital leaders and administrators who have used successful strategies to implement EHRs in small rural hospitals. Diffusion of innovation theory shaped the theoretical framework of this study. Data were collected through telephone interviews conducted with participants …

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