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Effective Health Care Management Strategies For Increasing Employee Engagement And Productivity, Erica L. Hurd Feb 2025

Effective Health Care Management Strategies For Increasing Employee Engagement And Productivity, Erica L. Hurd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective strategies to increase employee engagement and productivity can negatively impact business operations. Human resources (HR) and business leaders in the health care industry who lack effective strategies to increase employee engagement and productivity risk business stability. Grounded in self-determination theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore effective strategies HR and business leaders in health care use to increase employee engagement and productivity. The participants were six health care HR and business leaders who had effectively implemented strategies to increase employee engagement and productivity. Data were collected by conducting semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis …


Hurricane Irma's Impact On Mortality Among The Chronically Ill Populations In Florida, Cody Ray Thornton Feb 2025

Hurricane Irma's Impact On Mortality Among The Chronically Ill Populations In Florida, Cody Ray Thornton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Natural disasters pose significant risks to individuals with chronic diseases, exacerbating health disparities through disruptions in healthcare access and systemic vulnerabilities. This study investigated the association between chronic disease-related mortality occurring within 2 months of Hurricane Irma, and whether demographic variables, including age, sex, race, Hispanic ethnicity, poverty, urbanicity, and educational attainment, modified this relationship. This cross-sectional study used the social-ecological model to analyze secondary mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression revealed that deaths from chronic illnesses, occurring between September 2017 and October 2017, were 2.694 times higher, compared to the same period …


Training Staff To Improve Medication Adherence Among Outpatient Mental Health Patients, Josephine Nada Bondje Feb 2025

Training Staff To Improve Medication Adherence Among Outpatient Mental Health Patients, Josephine Nada Bondje

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medication adherence is a practice issue in the treatment of patients suffering severe mental illness. A suburban outpatient clinic in the Eastern United States did not have standardized staff education regarding medication adherence strategies for treating psychiatric patients diagnosed with major depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. The purpose of this project was to enhance the staff’s knowledge regarding methods for helping patients achieve medication adherence. The clinical question that guided the project was: Will staff education regarding medication adherence strategies related to mental health conditions in an outpatient clinic increase the knowledge of the staff? Data were collected from …


Leadership Strategies To Address Employee Turnover In Therapeutic Foster Care Within The Southeastern United States, Angelique Allen Feb 2025

Leadership Strategies To Address Employee Turnover In Therapeutic Foster Care Within The Southeastern United States, Angelique Allen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study addresses the problem of low staff recruitment and retention rates in therapeutic foster care, resulting in staff burnout and reduced program performance and affecting the program’s targeted population and their communities. A case study allowed for a holistic view of the problem through the unique perspectives of behavioral health leaders within the program selected, which is based in the southeast United States and serves children within the foster care system. The study is grounded using the Baldrige excellence framework. Data were obtained through semi-structured interview with three of the program’s behavioral health leaders. The data were analyzed using …


Staff Education On Advantages Of Administering Phq-9 Screening To Adolescents And Young Adults Receiving Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Tms) Therapy In An Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Florence O. Gbadehan Feb 2025

Staff Education On Advantages Of Administering Phq-9 Screening To Adolescents And Young Adults Receiving Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Tms) Therapy In An Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Florence O. Gbadehan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

page This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) study filled a practice gap in an outpatient mental health clinic by increasing staff understanding of the PHQ-9 screening tool for teenagers and young adults undergoing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy. The project sought to answer the following practice-focused question: will teaching staff about the PHQ-9 increase knowledge? A staff education program was developed and implemented to address this gap, with professional persons examining and approving the content before it was distributed. Twelve voluntary clinical staff members attended a sixty-minute in-person educational session, which was followed by a ten-question multiple-choice pre/post-test to assess …


Solutions To Retaining Leaders In Behavioral Health Organizations, Kelly Murphy Feb 2025

Solutions To Retaining Leaders In Behavioral Health Organizations, Kelly Murphy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Retaining qualified behavioral health leaders is critical to the success of the behavioral health organization. Continually exploring solutions and strategies helps the organization to assess and improve its effectiveness in meeting its mission, vision, and values. This study focused on the development and execution of the strategic plan as a tool for the organization to successfully meet its goals. The problem addressed in this study is the leadership turnover rate and how this change impacts progress toward achieving the mission, vision, and values of the organization. The Baldrige Excellence Framework was used in this study to evaluate processes of hiring, …


Implementation Of An Educational Program To Improve Nurses’ Knowledge Of Basic Ostomy Care, Angela Trajcevski Feb 2025

Implementation Of An Educational Program To Improve Nurses’ Knowledge Of Basic Ostomy Care, Angela Trajcevski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project aimed to determine if an educational program would improve nurses’ knowledge of basic ostomy care in a surgical unit. Nurses in the surgical unit lack the knowledge and skills to perform proper ostomy care. Regardless of the years of experience, nurses may lose skills over time if they do not refresh their knowledge on basic ostomy care. The PICO (population, intervention, comparison, and outcome) question for this project was as follows: Does participation in an educational program focused on basic ostomy care improve the ostomy knowledge of staff nurses working on a surgical unit? This project …


Reducing Patient No-Show Rates In A Mental Health Outpatient Clinic, John K. Kamau Feb 2025

Reducing Patient No-Show Rates In A Mental Health Outpatient Clinic, John K. Kamau

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project is a quality improvement initiative to enhance staff knowledge and confidence through expert feedback validating educational interventions at a mental health outpatient clinic. The practice problem highlighted staff preparedness gaps to effectively address patient-specific barriers, impacting patient engagement and care delivery, resulting in high appointment no-shows. Addressing this issue within nursing practice was essential, as consistent care was critical for managing psychiatric conditions effectively. The question guiding the project was as follows: How does implementing a specialized staff training program impact staff knowledge and confidence in reducing no-shows? This project aimed to equip staff with evidence-based tools …


Management Strategies And Processes For Improving Product Returns, Marcus Thornton Feb 2025

Management Strategies And Processes For Improving Product Returns, Marcus Thornton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inadequate returns management (RM) capabilities among supply chain and logistics managers can lead to inefficiencies in handling product returns, increasing operational costs and reducing overall profitability. Without effective RM strategies, managers may struggle to minimize the financial impact of product returns on business performance. Grounded in the resource-based view theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was used to explore how supply chain and logistics managers implement RM strategies and processes to effectively and efficiently handle product returns. The participants were two senior supply chain managers with over five years of experience in reverse logistics and supply chain management, …


Gad-7 Screening Tool Implementation, Charity Allwell Feb 2025

Gad-7 Screening Tool Implementation, Charity Allwell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this doctor of nursing practice (DNP) project was to provide a staff education program to improve staff knowledge about the use of the GAD-7 screening tool. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) remains an underdiagnosed condition, often due to inadequate use of standardized tools in clinical settings, leading to delayed treatments and suboptimal outcomes for patients experiencing anxiety disorders. The identified gap in practice necessitated an educational intervention to equip healthcare providers with the skills to effectively use the GAD-7 screening tool. To address this gap, a 2-hour staff education program was delivered via in-person sessions and online modules. …


Factors In Teacher Turnover Within A Nonpublic Special Education Setting, Sarah Wilson Feb 2025

Factors In Teacher Turnover Within A Nonpublic Special Education Setting, Sarah Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The persistent turnover among special educators poses significant challenges to the quality of education provided to students with disabilities. The problem addressed in this study was the significant rate of turnover of special education teachers in a nonpublic special needs school on the east coast of the United States. Guided by Maslow’s theory of motivation and hierarchy of needs, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate the experiences of special education teachers and factors that influenced their decision to remain within the classroom environment. Eight special educators participated in semistructured interviews sharing the experiences they perceived as …


Stratgies Used By Small Fashion Retail Business Leaders To Survive Beyond 5 Years, Lakeshia Nicole Chaney Feb 2025

Stratgies Used By Small Fashion Retail Business Leaders To Survive Beyond 5 Years, Lakeshia Nicole Chaney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small fashion retail business leaders face survival challenges due to rapidly shifting consumer spending patterns and growing demands for social responsibility. The leaders care deeply about addressing these challenges to maintain profitability, protect jobs, and ensure sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive market. Grounded in strategic contingency theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to explore strategies small fashion retail business leaders use to survive beyond 5 years in South Central United States. The participants were six small fashion business leaders from a retail sector entity who successfully implemented survival strategies for at least 5 years. Data …


Perceptions Of Nurse Preceptor Program Structure, Process, And Outcomes, Shinto Thomas Feb 2025

Perceptions Of Nurse Preceptor Program Structure, Process, And Outcomes, Shinto Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Precepting is crucial in successfully onboarding nurses in healthcare organizations, yet challenges remain in ensuring effective preceptor development. Well-structured preceptor programs contribute to consistent and safe nursing practices, enhance job satisfaction and competency among new nurses, and improve preceptor effectiveness while minimizing turnover. This quality improvement Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project evaluated a structured nurse preceptor program's structure, process, and outcomes, focusing on its impact on clinical and critical thinking skills development through enhanced training and support. A key gap in understanding the program’s effectiveness was the lack of outcome data. This study explored participants’ perceptions of the preceptor …


Reducing Disparities In Breastfeeding Among African American Women Through Professional Support, Latonia Feagin Feb 2025

Reducing Disparities In Breastfeeding Among African American Women Through Professional Support, Latonia Feagin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project involved developing a toolkit and implementing a staff education program to increase provider self-efficacy and knowledge concerning breastfeeding, increase provider understanding of the importance of a toolkit for addressing the gap in breastfeeding among African American women, and increase the intention of providers to use the toolkit by a minimum of 20%. The clinic reported breastfeeding in only 21% of African American patients, attributing this mainly to provider lack of breastfeeding self-efficacy and knowledge. It is essential for providers to deliver evidence-based, culturally sensitive breastfeeding information. This project involved evaluating provider self-efficacy, knowledge, understanding the importance of a …


Experiences Of Former Foster Youths With Learning Disabilities Who Transitioned Into Adulthood, Phyllis J. Phillips Feb 2025

Experiences Of Former Foster Youths With Learning Disabilities Who Transitioned Into Adulthood, Phyllis J. Phillips

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Foster youths with learning disabilities face numerous challenges as they transition out of care, including housing instability, unemployment, and mental health issues. Despite these barriers, research focusing on this specific population is limited. Guided by Taormina’s adult personal resilience theory, this qualitative case study explored the experiences and perceptions of former foster youths with learning disabilities to inform interventions and improve service delivery and policy improvements. The research questions addressed the experiences of former foster youths with learning disabilities transitioning out of care, the unique challenges associated with transitioning out of foster care as experienced by former foster youths with …


Allostatic Load And Incident Dementia Among Older Adults In The United States, Mohammed Usman Kabeto Feb 2025

Allostatic Load And Incident Dementia Among Older Adults In The United States, Mohammed Usman Kabeto

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Allostatic load (AL), the cumulative physiological burden of chronic stress, is a significant health problem, and it has been associated with adverse health outcomes, including cognitive functioning. There is a paucity of literature examining associations between AL and incident dementia in the United States. This quantitative study used data from the United States Health and Retirement Study cohort (2016-2020) to examine the association between AL quartile and incident dementia among participants who were aged 56 and older at baseline. Dementia status was determined measuring immediate and delayed recall, serial seven subtraction, and backward count, as well as self-report conditions for …


Staff Education On Medication Nonadherence For Patients With Bipolar Disorder, Julius Chick Abam Feb 2025

Staff Education On Medication Nonadherence For Patients With Bipolar Disorder, Julius Chick Abam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary From both the literature and the staff observation in this private practice, bipolar disorder (BD) patients who do not comply with medication are at a higher risk of hospitalization and poor quality of life. The purpose of the project was to implement staff training focused on adherence strategies, including motivational interviewing and psychoeducation to improve medication adherence rates among BD patients. The project question was: Does providing an interactive education program using case studies improve staff knowledge and self-confidence? Different studies support the effectiveness of both psychoeducation and motivational interviewing in improving adherence and functionality in BD. An interprofessional …


Therapists’ Experiences In Cases Of High-Conflict Divorce Among Individuals With Personality Issues, Tamara Soal Feb 2025

Therapists’ Experiences In Cases Of High-Conflict Divorce Among Individuals With Personality Issues, Tamara Soal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High-conflict divorce (HCD) involves prolonged conflict exceeding 2 years, persistent hostility, and extensive court involvement. Mental health professionals often participate as court-appointed expert witnesses or provide therapy at parental request. Therapists' roles become more complex when parents exhibit challenging personality traits. This descriptive qualitative study explored therapists’ experiences in treating children and families in HCD cases where one or both parents displayed complex personality issues or disorders. Greenberg and Gould’s model on mental health professionals in court cases and Freud’s countertransference theory provided the study’s conceptual framework. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with nine therapists, and thematic analysis was …


Teachers’ Instructional Strategies In Teaching English Language Learners English Writing In A Dual Language School, Courtney Mae Henson Feb 2025

Teachers’ Instructional Strategies In Teaching English Language Learners English Writing In A Dual Language School, Courtney Mae Henson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

It is the responsibility of educators to provide quality instruction for all students, including English language learners,. The problem that was addressed through this study is that teachers at Missionary Elementary School were struggling to implement appropriate instructional practices when teaching English writing to English language learners (ELLs) enrolled in a dual language program. The purpose of this study was to examine the instructional methods and to understand the support and/or resources needed for teachers to be successful. The writing observation framework provided the conceptual framework that guided this research. Data for this qualitative case study were collected through observations …


Training Needs Of Pre-Kindergarten To Second Grade General And Special Education Teachers To Include Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rosana Camargo Feb 2025

Training Needs Of Pre-Kindergarten To Second Grade General And Special Education Teachers To Include Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rosana Camargo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is that general and special education teachers are not trained to include pre-kindergarten (Pre-k) through second grade students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in general education classrooms. The purpose of this study was to explore the training the teachers requested when including Pre-k through second grade students with ASD. The study was grounded by Vygotsky’s theory of the zone of proximal development. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with five general education and five special education teachers who teach in an inclusion setting. Both the general education and special …


Impact Of Medication Adherence On Patients With Bipolar Disorder, Vero Lum Fon Feb 2025

Impact Of Medication Adherence On Patients With Bipolar Disorder, Vero Lum Fon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project was aimed at improving registered nurses’ (RNs) knowledge on the impact of medication adherence in patients with bipolar disorder. Up to 60% of patients fail to take their prescriptions as recommended, which increases the risk of recurrence and hospitalization and lowers quality of life. The practice-focused question is: Does comprehensive and targeted staff education improve knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding how to optimize medication adherence among patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder? I sought to provide RNs with evidence-based medication adherence and patient care measures to close the knowledge gap. Pre and post-tests were used to assess …


The Role Of Leadership In Improving Discharge Planning For Complex Cases In A Healthcare System, Philmaris Miranda Rodriguez Feb 2025

The Role Of Leadership In Improving Discharge Planning For Complex Cases In A Healthcare System, Philmaris Miranda Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Behavioral health organizations face significant challenges in managing psychiatric hospital readmissions, often influenced by social determinants of health (SDOH) such as poverty, education, social support, housing, and food security. This study examines the perspectives of behavioral health leadership on discharge planning in psychiatric hospitals in the southeastern United States, exploring how leadership strategies impact patient readiness for discharge and reduce the risk of readmission. Using the Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework, key performance categories, including leadership, strategy, measurement, and operations, were evaluated to inform actionable improvements in discharge planning and transitional care. Evidence was collected through interviews with healthcare leaders and …


A Narrative Policy Review Of Asthma Education Programs In North Carolina Schools, Rosemary Moody Feb 2025

A Narrative Policy Review Of Asthma Education Programs In North Carolina Schools, Rosemary Moody

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Asthma remains one of the most common chronic conditions affecting school-aged children, posing significant challenges to their academic performance and overall well-being. However, the literature indicates that there continues to be barriers to successful implementation of asthma education policies in the public schools, particularly in the elementary levels. Using Maxwell’s interactive design for qualitative research, this study investigated how educators and stakeholders perceived the impact of state legislation on asthma education criteria and outcomes for student in grades K-5, as well as their recommendations for policy. Guided by Jones and McBeth’s narrative policy framework, semi structured interview data were collected …


Strategies For Improving Phlebotomy Training Programs In Midwestern Nonprofit Acute Care Hospitals, Zaid Naima Feb 2025

Strategies For Improving Phlebotomy Training Programs In Midwestern Nonprofit Acute Care Hospitals, Zaid Naima

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Preanalytical errors in laboratory testing represent a significant challenge in healthcare delivery, accounting for most laboratory errors. Inadequate and inconsistent phlebotomy training has been identified as a major contributor to high rates of preanalytical errors and specimen rejection in nonprofit acute care hospitals within multihospital health systems in the U.S. Midwest region. The aim of this integrative review was to identify best practices and strategies for improving on-the-job phlebotomy training programs in Midwestern nonprofit acute care hospitals within multihospital health systems, using the Donabedian model as a framework to enhance specimen quality, reduce rejection rates, and increase patient satisfaction. A …


Strategies Hospital Leaders Use To Reduce Cost While Improving The Quality Of Care, April Taylor Feb 2025

Strategies Hospital Leaders Use To Reduce Cost While Improving The Quality Of Care, April Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hospitals in the United States spend more on healthcare than other modernized countries, yet the nation has a lower life expectancy. Some U.S. healthcare leaders lack effective strategies to balance cost reduction and quality care, leading to financial strain, declining net patient revenue, and compromised patient outcomes. As a result, hospitals face increased risks of closure, which negatively impacts access to care and overall healthcare system sustainability. Grounded in the complex adaptive system and Lean Six Sigma, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective strategies healthcare leaders in the United States use to improve …


Heart Failure Education For Medical Assistants In A Transitions Clinic, Kelly S. Kirk Feb 2025

Heart Failure Education For Medical Assistants In A Transitions Clinic, Kelly S. Kirk

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This capstone project is an educational improvement intervention for medical assistants (MAs), in the transitions clinic for heart failure patients. This capstone was designed to assess baseline heart failure (HF) knowledge of the MA and provide education on HF sign symptoms and urgency of provider notification as well as a postintervention assessment of knowledge. The terminal outcome was to improve the recognition of urgent symptoms that should be reported to providers so that providers can intervene early to prevent a possible exacerbation of heart failure. In order to assess the improvement in education of the MAs before and after the …


The Roles And Motivation Of Volunteers In State Correctional Facilities, Sherlyn Kimberly Harris Feb 2025

The Roles And Motivation Of Volunteers In State Correctional Facilities, Sherlyn Kimberly Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have demonstrated that volunteers play a vital role in supporting the needs of those incarcerated in state correctional facilities, but the researchers fell short of elaborating on what stimulates the volunteers’ motivation, chosen roles, and selected areas for their contributions. Understanding the motivation of this group is valuable to ensure ongoing commitment for this important community role. The purpose of this study was to explore lived experiences of community state prison volunteers to better understand what motivates them. Dutta-Bergman’s theory of unified responsibility formed the framework for this generic qualitative study. Narrative data from interviews with six participants were …


Residence, Education, Wealth, And Hiv/Aids Prevention Knowledge Among Nigerian Adults, Chinedu Nwaobia Nwaru Feb 2025

Residence, Education, Wealth, And Hiv/Aids Prevention Knowledge Among Nigerian Adults, Chinedu Nwaobia Nwaru

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

HIV has remained the most prevalent and deadliest epidemic affecting humanity. It is pertinent to note that, despite the number of years since the first case was reported in the early 1980s in the United States, and concerted efforts by local, national, and international governmental and nongovernmental agencies at curbing it, the level of knowledge of HIV transmission and the disease prevention, especially among Nigerians, is still not encouraging. Nigeria, the most populous country in Sub-Saharan Africa ranks second globally as the country with the highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS, which is currently estimated at 3 million. In …


A Qualitative Exploration Of Urgent Care Clinic Providers’ Experiences With Patients With Mental Health Concerns, Teresa L. Hodges Feb 2025

A Qualitative Exploration Of Urgent Care Clinic Providers’ Experiences With Patients With Mental Health Concerns, Teresa L. Hodges

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With mental health concerns on the rise in the United States and around the world, there has been a call for non-traditional avenues for the treatment of patients with mental health needs. Existing research indicates that in the current post-pandemic era, urgent care clinic providers have begun playing a pivotal role in the treatment of patients with mental health concerns. However, there is a lack of research currently available on the lived experiences of urgent care clinic providers treating of patients with mental health concerns. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of urgent care …


Medical Laboratory Technologist Labor Market And Industry Initiatives To Address Labor Shortages, Jarvis John Surriga Feb 2025

Medical Laboratory Technologist Labor Market And Industry Initiatives To Address Labor Shortages, Jarvis John Surriga

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The demand for laboratory testing has increased, requiring more medical laboratory technologists/scientists (MLTs/MLSs) in the United States. However, the supply of qualified MLS workers has decreased, which has caused a critical labor shortage. The purpose of this integrative review was to determine the best practices and strategies for improving the staffing and retention of clinical laboratory staff (CLS) given the growing demand for laboratory services. A search of empirical and nonempirical literature published between 2019 and 2024 yielded 1,935 articles, and exclusions resulted in 66 articles that addressed the problem. The additional examination resulted in 26 articles chosen for further …