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Executive Summary: Development Of An Evidence-Based Prevention Bundle To Reduce Falls On An Inpatient Psychiatric Detoxification Unit, Ramatu Dougrey Jalloh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Following a 16% increase in patient falls from 2023 to 2024 in an inpatient psychiatric detoxification unit, a quality improvement education project was implemented to assess the impact of an evidence-based fall prevention bundle on fall rates and nursing compliance. Nurses received education through a PowerPoint presentation to enhance understanding and implementation of the bundle, which included Edmonson reassessments after high-risk medication administration, ISHAPED bedside shift handoffs, care plan updates, and SWIFT daily safety huddles. Posttests identified that the objective score of 80% knowledge for nurses was met. During the 10-week implementation, the goal was 100% compliance with all bundle …

Staff Education On Medication Reconciliation, Ivana Priscilla Adwoa Antwiwaa Buamah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice education project focused on improving staff knowledge of medication reconciliation through an evidence-based educational intervention in an outpatient clinic. Medication reconciliation is crucial for ensuring accurate and consistent medication lists across care transitions, helping to prevent errors, such as omissions, duplications, dosing mistakes, and drug interactions. The project’s central question was whether staff education on an evidence-based approach to medication reconciliation would improve staff knowledge. A pre- and post-education survey was used to measure changes in staff knowledge after a PowerPoint presentation. Results showed a significant increase in staff knowledge after the intervention; the participants’ …

Strategies For Identifying Entrepreneurial Opportunities In Small Business It Consulting, Oluwatosin Ogun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of effective strategies for identifying opportunities threatens the survival and growth of small IT consulting businesses. Without these strategies, owners risk struggling to sustain their businesses in a highly competitive market. Grounded in the theory of planned behavior, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies that IT consulting small business owners use to identify business opportunities for growing their business. The project participants were six IT consulting small business owners in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States who led or significantly contributed to successfully recognizing business opportunities in firms at least 5 years …

The Overlooked Experience: Black Females Seeking Mental Health Services On Hbcu Campuses, Shanta' Atkinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have identified a variety of invisible barriers, including Strong Black Woman (SBW), stigma, and religion, that exist for Black females who would be seeking mental health services. There is minimal qualitative data to identify the treatment barriers that Black females experience when seeking mental health services. The experiences of Black females seeking mental health services on HBCU campuses have not been the sole focus of research. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to fill the gap in the literature by exploring the lived experiences of Black females on HBCU campuses who have sought mental health services on …

Insights Into School Administrators' Perceptions: Navigating The Role Of School Counselors Through Lived Experiences, Veronica Renee Martin-Perkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The role of school counselors in K-12 education is critical to fostering student success; however, their effectiveness is frequently undermined by role ambiguity, administrative misperceptions, and the misalignment of duties with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model. Few studies have explored the lived experiences of K-12 school administrators and how these experiences shape perceptions of counselor roles and responsibilities. This qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological study examined how administrators' perceptions influence school counselors’ deployment, responsibilities, and collaboration within school settings. The research was guided by two questions: (1) How do K-12 administrators make meaning of their lived experiences with the …

Effective Professional Education And Training Program In A Long-Term Acute Care Hospital, Matthew Hamilton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The determinants contributing to successful professional development programs in long-term acute care (LTAC) facilities, which enhance clinical staff performance and healthcare outcomes, remain unclear. Guided by Bandura’s social learning theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore clinicians’ perspectives on the key determinants of an effective professional education and training program in an LTAC hospital in a Northeast U.S. metro area. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 clinicians who were recruited from an LTAC facility. Thematic analysis, following Saldaña’s framework, identified institutional barriers, financial constraints, time limitations, and unmet training needs as major challenges. Participants emphasized the …

Strategies To Improve Recruitment And Retention Of Nurses In Rural Emergency Departments, Thomas Allen Ortiz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders of rural emergency departments (EDs) in the United States face persistent challenges in recruiting and retaining RNs. The aim of this integrative review was to identify strategies to mitigate these challenges. The review question focused on best practices leaders can implement to decrease problems with the recruitment and retention of rural ED nurses. A review of the literature published within the past five years yielded 31 empirical and non-empirical articles, which were analyzed using the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice (JHNEBP) appraisal tool. Overarching themes and subthemes were subsequently identified. The Dynamic Capabilities and Strategic Human Resource Management frameworks …

Baccalaureate Nursing Students’ Beliefs About Peer Feedback In The Nursing Skill Lab: Value, Quality, And Importance, Danielle Elizabeth Fleming

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Peer feedback is an instructional method used in nursing education to support student success in the nursing program and professional practice. While a large body of evidence supports the merits of peer feedback as an instructional method, there is limited research on its use in nursing students, especially within the skill lab. The purpose of this study, guided by the feedback intervention theory, was to examine nursing students’ beliefs about peer feedback in the nursing skill lab and how those beliefs change over time. Archival data from the Beliefs About Peer Feedback Questionnaire (BPFQ) from a public midwestern university was …

Strategies For Integrating Data Analytics In Accounting, Alisa C. Disalvo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increased need for data analytics proficiency requires accounting program directors and faculty to explore strategies to reduce the technology skills gap between education and professional requirements. Grounded in the technology acceptance model, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies that program directors use to integrate data analytics into the accounting program curriculum. The participants were 8 program directors and 2 faculty with over 2 years of program change experience in the accounting department. Data were collected through semi structure interviews with 10 participants and comparative data analysis with the AICPA & NASBA report. Through a …

Faculty Perceptions Of Using Technology To Facilitate Virtual Debriefing In Graduate Health Sciences Education, Kelly Anne Chamberlain Layne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Simulation, with face-to-face debriefing, has been widely used in occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) education to provide realistic experiences for students without harming clients. However, researchers have not studied technology acceptance by graduate entry-level (EL) OT and PT faculty with virtual debriefing. Virtual debriefing has become more common in recent years; thus, it is essential for universities to understand faculty adoption of this effective teaching and learning technology. Guided by the technology acceptance model framework of Gu et al., the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore faculty perceptions of using technology to facilitate virtual debriefing …

Experiences Of Bhutanese Refugees Receiving Services From Outpatient Mental Healthcare Centers In The United States, Kul B. Dahal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Refugees coming to the United States may encounter difficulties when receiving mental healthcare services from outpatient mental healthcare centers because of lack of awareness about services. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore experiences of Bhutanese refugees involving receiving services from outpatient mental healthcare centers in the United States. The health belief model was used as a conceptual framework to provide insights regarding Bhutanese refugees’ perceived benefits and barriers to increase awareness. Using convenience sampling, 10 Bhutanese refugees aged 18 or above who received outpatient mental healthcare services currently or in the past and lived in the midwestern …

Location Tracking Applications And Emerging Adult Relationship Quality: Moderated By Rejection Sensitivity, Michelle Lee Hayes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Location-tracking applications promise increased connection, safety, and closeness among romantic partners. However, persistent monitoring in romantic relationships has been associated with heightened feelings of intrusion and mistrust, particularly among individuals with insecure attachment. Such surveillance can exacerbate rejection sensitivity, leading to jealousy, conflict, and deteriorating relationship quality, or monitoring may alleviate fears of rejection and enhance relationship satisfaction. From the lens of attachment theory, this quantitative research study examined whether rejection sensitivity moderates the relationship between the use of location-tracking applications and relationship quality among emerging adults. I collected information from an online survey using four instruments to collect data …

Exploring Potential Correlation Of Resiliency And Multifamily Support With Psychological Distress Among Hispanic Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Eliz Marie Centeno Ortiz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hispanic parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were found to have lower psychological distress in comparison with other ethnicities or races despite having additional challenges such as immigration issues, language barriers, or others. However, research on why Hispanic parents of children with ASD tend to have less psychological distress is lacking. This study addressed the extent to which multifamily support and resiliency affect psychological distress among parents of children with ASD, as explained by the family system theory. For this study, 75 Hispanic parents of children with ASD were recruited via Facebook posts. The participants were directed to …

Effective Strategies For Improving Inventory Management In High-Growth Companies, Abhishek Sharma

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inefficient inventory management is a leading cause of lost revenue, operational disruptions, and customer dissatisfaction in high-growth industries. Business leaders of small and medium-sized enterprises face these challenges as rapid scaling makes accurate demand forecasting difficult, leading to overstocking, stockouts, and supply chain inefficiencies. In this qualitative case study, the strategies that leaders of a small- to medium-sized business used to enhance operational efficiency, workforce engagement, and sustainability practices were explored. The Baldrige excellence framework and stakeholder theory served as the conceptual foundation for the study. Semistructured interviews were conducted with six business leaders in the sporting goods industry in …

Employee Perception Of Organizational Commitment And Culture During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Mireille A. M. Doumbia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The decline in human capital during the COVID-19 pandemic reflected local agencies’ and organizational policy responses to the pandemic. These policies could factor into why Americans, in recent years, have quit their jobs in record numbers. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore how employees perceived organizational culture and commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study involved Meyer and Allen’s organizational commitment model, which identifies affective, normative, and continuous commitment as key dimensions of employee loyalty, and Ramdhani et al.’s organizational culture framework, which emphasizes communication, teamwork, and reward systems as core elements shaping workplace dynamics. Data …

Strategies To Mitigate The Effects Of U.S.-Imposed Limits On Imports, Edmond Vincent Gray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some U.S. manufacturing managers lack strategies to mitigate the effects of U.S.-imposed limits on imports. Import restrictions have created significant challenges for manufacturing organizations, increasing costs, supply chain disruptions, operational inefficiencies, and increasing the cost to the consumer. Grounded in disruptive innovation theory (DIT), this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was an exploration of the strategies that U.S. manufacturing managers use to mitigate the effects of U.S.-imposed limits on imports. The participants were four manufacturing managers who had implemented strategies to mitigate the effects of U.S. import limits. Data were collected using an interview protocol and semistructured questions. Through thematic analysis, seven …

Staff Education On Evidenced-Based Approaches To Lifestyle Modification Teaching For Diabetic Patients, Chinenye Acho

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A notable gap existed in the healthcare staff's knowledge of evidence-based lifestyle modifications for patients with diabetes within outpatient internal medicine (OP IM) settings. The increasing prevalence of Type 2 diabetes emphasizes the urgent necessity for a structured educational framework to enhance staff understanding. In this project, I evaluated the efficacy of organized staff education in enhancing healthcare providers' confidence related to diabetes management. I conducted a thorough literature analysis and identified 18 peer-reviewed studies classified according to the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model. The findings reveal that Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) programs are associated with significant reductions …

Staff Education On The Use Of The Teach-Back Method To Decrease Nonadherence To Psychotropic Medications Among Inmates, Moradeke Okunoye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project focused on improving nurses’ and mental health clinicians’ knowledge about the teach-back method (TBM) to improve psychotropic medication adherence. The practice problem was psychotropic nonadherence among inmates in a county jail in the Southeast region of the United States. The practice project question for this project was the following: For nursing staff and mental health clinicians in the jail, will training on the use of the TBM increase knowledge toward the goal of decreasing nonadherence to psychotropic medications among inmates? Psychotropic nonadherence is a significant issue in the jail that can lead to serious consequences including …

High School Teachers' Perspectives On The Components Of A Quality Online Structure For Remote Learning In Digital And Media Art Classes, James E. Marone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that there were inconsistencies in the research literature and a gap in practice regarding teachers' perspectives on the components of a quality online structure in a digital and media art class during the post-COVID-19 era. Despite evidence of the benefits of remote learning, there was a gap concerning implementation of improved quality online structures. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of digital and media art teachers on their needs for a quality online learning structure in the post-COVID-19 era. The conceptual framework was Davis’s technology acceptance model. …

Strategies To Sustain Small Business Beyond 5 Years, Ashly Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business failures have a detrimental effect on both business owners and the communities they support. Small business owners are especially concerned with ensuring the sustainability of their enterprises beyond the first five years—a pivotal milestone for long-term success. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore sustainability strategies business owners use to remain operable beyond 5 years. The participants were six business owners of small businesses located in the Midwest of the United States who have operated successfully beyond 5 years. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, Small Business Administration (SBA) data, …

The Impact Of A National Crisis On Academic Research Productivity: Experiences Of Program And Department Heads In Israel, Emanuel Tamir

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The research examined the impact of a national crisis on the research output of academic program and department heads in Israel, investigating how these leaders functioned in the face of prolonged uncertainty and exploring whether their administrative role resulted in personal costs.

Methods: Data were drawn from interviews with 27 heads; then 133 heads answered a questionnaire.

Results: The findings revealed factors restricting research during the crisis: overload relating to students, overload relating to administration, family difficulties, and inaccessible research infrastructure. Some heads developed successful strategies to sustain their research during the crisis.

Conclusions and Implications: Critical insights into …

Improving Knowledge Regarding The Use Of Long-Acting Injections In The Management Of Schizophrenia In Psychiatric Providers Using Focused Staff Education, Mutiat Popoola

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary Despite the potential benefits of long-acting injections (LAIs) in schizophrenia treatment, current literature reveals a severe knowledge gap among psychiatric practitioners about their use. This knowledge gap may also contribute to underutilizing LAIs in clinical practice and at the project site, reducing patients' access to this effective treatment therapy. This staff education project was developed and conducted to determine if focused education about the use of LAIs in the management of schizophrenia in psychiatric providers improved provider knowledge of their usage. Medication nonadherence in psychiatric patients can result in increased relapse rates and hospitalizations, poor medication adherence, increased healthcare …

Strategies To Improve Patient Satisfaction In Colorado Nursing Homes, Shahnoz Yusufbekova

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient satisfaction is a key performance indicator in nursing homes, influencing organizational success, clinical outcomes, and compliance with regulatory standards. This integrative review was conducted to identify strategies for improving patient satisfaction in Colorado nursing homes. By analyzing trends in patient care deficiencies and exploring evidence-based business strategies, the goal of this study was to enhance residents’ quality of life while fostering a patient-centered approach to care. An integrative literature review was conducted, in which peer-reviewed articles, government reports, and quality assessment tools published between 2019 and 2024 were analyzed. Lawton’s quality-of-life framework was used to assess factors influencing patient …

Effective Strategies To Mitigate Supply Chain Disruptions In Manufacturing Organizations, Michael S. Heard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Supply chain disruptions threaten organizational performance by causing production delays, increasing costs, and diminishing customer satisfaction. Supply chain disruptions are a critical concern to supply chain leaders, operations managers, and business executives, as excessive disruptions can weaken operational resilience, competitive advantage, and stakeholder trust. Without effective mitigation strategies, organizational leaders face heightened financial risk and long-term value erosion, making developing robust supply chain practices essential for sustained business continuity and profitability. Grounded in the resource-based view theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore practical strategies that some business leaders use to forecast manufacturers’ distribution …

Unlicensed Assistive Personnel’S Attitudes, Knowledge, And Perceptions Of Alternatives To The Application Of Physical Restraints, Gale Marie Knight

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The use of physical restraints in mental health care settings is a common practice, yet it poses significant risks to patients’ physical and psychological well-being. The issue of excessive restraint use was addressed through this doctoral project by designing an educational program aimed at promoting alternative strategies. The practice-focused question was: How can an educational program for unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) impact their knowledge and attitudes towards alternatives to physical restraints? The purpose of the project was to develop and evaluate an education program to improve UAP knowledge and attitudes to reduce reliance on physical restraints. The project was informed …

An Educational Intervention Focused On The Importance Of Nurse Leader Rounds, Shantelle Mobley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurse leader rounding (NLR) is essential in most healthcare organizations as NLR has been associated with improved nurse recruitment and retention, increased patient satisfaction, and increased quality of care. In the local organization, leadership identified that there was a lack of knowledge and awareness of NLR among nurse managers and charge nurses. Thus, the purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to determine if an education intervention focused on structured NLR increased knowledge and awareness among charge nurses and nurse managers. Thirty-seven individuals were invited to participate in the educational intervention. With the support of leadership, 34 …

Staff Education For Cardiovascular Nurses, Krupa Desai

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary The goal of this staff education project is to increase patient awareness of early detection and self-management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) through the education of staff in an Arkansas cardiovascular clinic. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Arkansas and the fourth highest in the country. The practice-focused question was: Does effective education for nursing staff regarding early detection and self-management of heart disease in adults help improve staff knowledge and willingness to educate patients as measured by pretest and posttest? Increasing patient knowledge in improving modifiable factors (e.g., physical activity, nutrition, monitoring of BMI, and cholesterol) …

Hegemonic Masculinity: Exploring How Asian And Pacific Islander Emerging Adult Males Describe Masculinity, Eman'on Wanderer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The phenomenon of hegemonic masculinity presents a significant mental health concern among diverse emerging adult males. This generic qualitative study was an exploration of the perspectives of Asian and Pacific Islander emerging adult males regarding their descriptions of masculinity. Gender schema theory (GST) is the foundational framework of this study. Rooted in social cognitive theory, GST exemplifies how environmental factors shape the initial development of gender identity and the enduring effects this gendering has on cognitive processes throughout an individual's life. The primary research question in this study was: How do Asian and Pacific Islander emerging adult males describe masculinity? …

Alternative Solutions For Leadership To Attract Qualified Behavioral Health Professionals In Rural Areas, Jerilyn Ann Durst

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The challenge of attracting qualified behavioral health professionals to positions in rural areas has been widely recognized. Underserved population segments, issues unique to clinicians practicing in rural areas, and a lack of effective recruitment incentives impact not only an organization but also the community it serves. The subject of this qualitative case study was a private behavioral health office located in a rural community. Semistructured interviews were held with five behavioral health leaders of this organization in addition to a review of organizational records. The Baldridge Performance Excellence Program was the conceptual framework that grounded this study. Qualitative analysis, including …

Organization Change Process Initiative Recurrent Emergency Room Visits By Mental Health And Substance Use Patients, Julie Marie Tucker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rising rates of patients diagnosed with mental health and substance use disorders (MHSUD) signify a critical national crisis, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, as reported by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. This increase has reduced access to essential resources and treatment options, resulting in overcrowded emergency rooms (ER) and extended wait times. Addressing these issues is vital for nursing practice, as they significantly influence patient care and health outcomes, especially for vulnerable populations. This doctoral project explores whether an organizational change designed to raise awareness of updated community resources impacts MHSUD patient visits to the …