Digital Commons Network^™

The Challenges Faced By Postrelease Offenders In Rural Mississippi, Whitney Starks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Reintegration after incarceration has long been a subject of scholarly inquiry, particularly regarding barriers to employment, housing, and mental health services. However, limited research addresses the reintegration experiences of postrelease offenders in rural regions, where access to essential resources is often restricted. This qualitative single case study is an exploration of the challenges and service needs of formerly incarcerated individuals living in rural Mississippi. Using purposive and snowball sampling, six participants were selected based on residency in rural counties, a nonviolent criminal history, and at least one year of successful community reentry. The conceptual framework was guided by the assess, …

The Experience Of Living With Infertility Among Women Of Color, Claudia Calvario

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Infertility affects individuals across all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds; however, the lived experiences of women of color navigating infertility remain underrepresented in research, health care, and policy. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was to explore the lived experiences of infertility among women of color. The specific aims of the study were to (a) understand the significance of cultural values in shaping these experiences, with a focus on cultural norms surrounding motherhood and fertility, and (b) gain insight on the ways in which women of color seek assistance. The conceptual framework integrated the biopsychosocial model, stress and …

Development Of A Clinical Practice Guideline For Trauma-Informed Care In Interprofessional Health Care Settings, Ngwi Rita Etiendem

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Developing a standardized Clinical Practice Guideline for Trauma Informed Care was a central objective of this Doctor of Nursing project. This project followed an evidence-based, collaborative, and structured methodology that prioritized interdisciplinary input, organizational alignment, and rigorous appraisal using the AGREE II instrument.

Relationship Between Processing Speed And Perceptual Reasoning Index Scores In Contact Vs Noncontact Child Sex Offenders, Mylena Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Child sexual offending remains a critical societal issue with complex psychological and behavioral underpinnings. Although prior research has emphasized recidivism and risk assessment, there is limited information regarding neurocognitive functioning and its potential role in terms of differentiating contact versus noncontact offender subtypes. This quantitative cross-sectional study involved examining whether cognitive functioning, measured using the Processing Speed Index (PSI) and Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI) via the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale predicted offender subtype among 90 adult males who completed psychosexual evaluations. Additionally, the study involved testing whether age moderated the relationship between cognitive indices and offender subtype classification. Guided by …

Staff Education To Same Day Surgery Nurses, Katherine Lutman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The aim of this doctor of nursing practice staff education project was to provide a staff education program to the same day surgery staff at the practicum site on the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) evidence-based approach to surgical care to improve patient outcomes. ERAS includes multiple modalities designed to optimize a patient’s condition before, during, and after surgery. When implemented correctly, ERAS can reduce the need for narcotics, shorten recovery time, and improve surgical outcomes. The practice gap identified was that the only ERAS modality being actively implemented and tracked was nutrition in colorectal surgical patients and that the …

Beyond The Individual: Community Socioecological Correlates Of Mass Shootings In A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Barbara (Basia) E. Lopez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mass shootings represent an urgent and persistent threat to public safety in the United States, yet most research has focused on individual-level characteristics, leaving community-level socioecological conditions comparatively underexamined. This study addressed this gap in knowledge through an examination of the statistical correlations between community-level characteristics and mass shooting incidence using Ostrom’s social-ecological systems theory as a guiding framework. A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed using secondary data from The Violence Project, the U.S. Census Bureau, Neighborhood Atlas National Data Archive, and publicly available law enforcement and policy records. Multiple regression analysis was performed to test both main and interaction …

Relationship Between Doctor Communication And Patient Satisfaction In Inpatient Units In California, Sandra Viehoever

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Effective doctor communication is an important determinant of patient satisfaction in inpatient units. The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey measures patient satisfaction and influences reimbursement rates under the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program. The purpose of this retrospective quasi-experimental quantitative study was to examine the possible relationship between doctor communication and patient satisfaction in inpatient units in California. The Donabedian framework provided the theoretical framework to examine possible relationships between the variables. Publicly available data were collected from 290 hospitals in California that participated in the HCAHPS survey between July 2022 and June 2023. Results of …

The Treatment Experiences Of Female Domestic Violence Offenders Who Have Completed Court-Mandated Counseling Programs, Chelsea S. King

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Domestic violence is a significant societal problem. However, aspects of domestic violence (DV) perpetrated by women are often overlooked or inadequately addressed in existing counseling and intervention programs, leaving counselor educators ill-equipped to effectively train counselors to treat this specific population. The research question addressed the treatment experiences of female DV offenders who completed court-mandated counseling programs. Given the limited current research on female domestic violence offender treatment, Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was employed to further understand the perspectives of participants, potentially identifying areas of improvement and addressing the needs of female program participants. Semistructured interviews were completed with six …

Lived Experiences Of Police Officers With Vicarious Sexual Trauma, Resiliency, And Departmental Support, Joseph Schreiner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study involved addressing lived experiences of police officers who investigate sex crimes. Vicarious sexual trauma experienced by officers can lead to both short- and long-term issues for these individuals, particularly if they are left unaddressed. The constructivist self-development and resiliency theories were used to examine these experiences. Specifically, this study involved investigating how police officers perceived vicarious sexual trauma and viewed the accessibility and practicality of mental health and wellness resources provided by their departments. It was guided by two research questions, which were addressed through 12 semistructured interviews, which were thematically analyzed and interpreted. Five themes emerged …

Minority Female Political Representation In Westchester County Politics: A View From Minority Female Elected Office Holders, Dwanita Michelle Crosby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women have historically been underrepresented in political leadership, a disparity largely attributed to the persistent absence of structured support systems—particularly mentorship—that promote advancement across federal, state, and local levels. Existing literature highlights gender and racial disparities in political trajectories but often overlooked the specific role of mentorship in shaping leadership outcomes for African American women at the municipal level. This gap was particularly critical given the increasing civic engagement and influence of African American women in local governance. The purpose of this general qualitative study was to examine how mentorship shaped the political journeys of African American women …

Strategies To Reduce Waiting Times In A Hospital Emergency Department, Gillian Denise Browne-Farrell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders of the emergency departments (EDs) globally, especially in the United States face persistent challenges addressing staffing issues in the ED and increased wait times. The purpose and review question for this integrative review was to investigate strategies and best practices to decrease waiting times in a hospital ED. The Theory of Constraints framework served as the theoretical foundation for this review. An examination of the literature published within the past five years identified 101 relevant articles. From these articles, 30 empirical and non-empirical articles were selected for further analysis using the Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice model and six major …

Enhancing Communication Among New Nurses Using Scenario-Based Education, Anita Clark Chambers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project was designed to enhance communication among new nurses with 2 years or less of experience in a Level One trauma center emergency department (ED). The aim of this project initiative was to enhance learners’ communication strategy knowledge and confidence by using scenario-based education via a web-based format. When ineffective communication exchanges occur with healthcare personnel, such as with new nurses, negative patient care outcomes can occur such as sentinel events. Transitional challenges such as lack of prioritization, clinical decision-making skills and low confidence can affect the new nurse’s ability to appropriate effective communication strategies into their …

Prediction Of Collegial Relationships And Teachers’ Commitment To Stay In A Compulsory Swedish School, Chermaine Clunie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was the high annual teacher turnover rate of 30% in a Swedish compulsory school, which significantly exceeded national averages. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between the quality of collegial relationships, as measured by emotional support, task-related support, and feedback from colleagues which are subscales of the workplace social support (WSS) scale, and Swedish teachers’ commitment to stay in their current teaching positions in a Swedish compulsory school, measured on a continuous scale, using a 5 point Likert scale. The study was grounded in Blau’s social exchange theory, which …

Staff Education To Enhance The Use Of Alternatives To Restrictive Interventions When Managing Aggressive Behaviors, Anthony Obinna Madu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This is a DNP staff education project executive summary aimed at increasing staff knowledge on the use of alternatives to restrictive interventions when managing aggressive behaviors in an inpatient psychiatric unit.

Formation Of Inclusive Competence Of Future Special Education Teachers, Gulbanu Ashimkhanova, Akbota Autaeva, Anar Rakhmetova, Gulmira Tussupbekova, Kanat Sadykov

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: This study aims to explore the phenomenon of inclusive competence as an integral trait of today’s educators.

Methods: The scientific research involved surveying students from pedagogical universities as well as using methods of analysis and synthesis, generalization, systematization, comparison, and classification.

Results: The concept of inclusive competence is understood as the degree of skills and knowledge required to fulfil pedagogical responsibilities within an inclusive educational environment. Key elements of inclusive competence, such as cognitive, motivational, reflexive, and operational components, have been identified and have the following functions:

• · Cognitive elements enable teachers to develop a comprehensive understanding of pedagogical …

Central Lines And Peripherally Inserted Central Line Reeducation, Monica Lyn Gallik

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Objective: Will a central line and peripherally inserted central line reeducation program increase the nurses’ knowledge pertaining to dressing changes, cap changes, and chlorohexidine baths? Method: 26 nurses on an observation unit were sent a power point presentation. Of the 26 nurses that received the power point 18 nurses participated. The power point presentation had a pretest and posttest embedded into it. Both the pretest and posttest consist3ed of the same 10 questions. The average of the pretest and posttest were used to calculate the normalized learning gained. Results: The average pretest score was 60, the average posttest score was …

Postpartum Experiences Of Arab Women And The Educational Role Of The Mother, Diana Ikki

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women in the Arab world traditionally observe a 40-day postpartum rest period, during which they rest, follow specific rituals, and learn to care for their newborn under the guidance and care of a family matriarch, typically their mother. Despite the prevalence of this practice, there is limited empirical research exploring the educational role of Arab mothers during their daughters' postpartum period; this qualitative study addressed this gap. Foundational to this study’s theoretical framework was Ramona Mercer’s theory of maternal role attainment. The study addressed two research questions: how Arab women describe their postpartum experiences and the educational role their mothers …

Exploring The Perceptions And Lived Experiences Of African American Women With Past Criminal Histories, Georgett Tracyann Kerr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the reintegration experiences of African American women with prior criminal histories, focusing on how they navigated systemic barriers and demonstrated resilience. These women often face compounded challenges stemming from systemic racism, gender discrimination, and economic hardship, which hinder successful reentry into society following incarceration. Historical policies such as the War on Drugs and the Welfare Reform Act disproportionately impacted African American women, contributing to higher arrest rates and increased stigma within the criminal justice system. Upon release, many encounters significant barriers to employment, housing, mental health care, and social acceptance. Despite these adversaries, some African …

Associations Between School-Based Arrests And High School Graduation Status Of African American Female Students In Florida, Rannisha Missick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Zero tolerance school discipline policies, originally intended to address serious threats such as weapon and drug possession, have increasingly been applied to minor behavioral infractions, disproportionately affecting African American students, particularly females. These exclusionary practices, including school-based arrests, have been linked to adverse educational outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine associations between school-based arrests due to zero tolerance policy violations and high school graduation status of African American female students in Florida. The study was guided by the intersectionality theory, which posits individuals who belong to multiple marginalized groups experience compounded forms of discrimination. Archival …

Fathers’ Experiences With Reunification With The Massachusetts Child Welfare System, Phernel Joseph Manigat

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study focused on fathers’ experiences with the Massachusetts child welfare system (MCWS) or the Department of Children and Families (DCF) during the reunification process with their children, particularly those fathers who received sole custody of their children during this process. Researchers have demonstrated that fathers are minimally engaged and mostly ignored in the child welfare system (CWS). A research gap was identified regarding the experiences of fathers who received sole custody of their children through the CWS. The purpose of this study was to explore these fathers’ experiences with the MCWS or the DCF during the reunification process with …

Staff Education On Culturally Tailored Hispanic Diabetes Management In A Primary Care Community Clinic, Robyn Elizabeth Reeves

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Hispanic population is the fastest-growing ethnic minority in the United States, and they have a 66% chance of developing Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Less than half of Hispanic patients with diabetes achieve optimal glycemic control due to cultural barriers and dietary issues. At the project site, a primary care practice in the southeastern United States regarding cultural competency training in diabetes management for Hispanics was identified. The practice-focused question was: Does providing education to primary care staff improve their knowledge of diabetes management among Hispanic patients with diabetes, as evidenced by pre- and post-surveys? In the project, I …

Equal Access To Justice: A Case Study Of Eviction Victims Without Legal Aid And Post Criminality In Houston, Texas., Okanlawon Jamiu Akinwonmi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The unending increase in eviction rates and existing housing problems in the United States of America is not an exaggeration. Heterogeneity of requirements or eviction laws is a pervasive phenomenon across the states nationwide. These fundamental issues require immediate attention and must be addressed. The purpose of this study is to explore the dynamic gap in our criminal justice system, the lack of legal aid, and potential criminality resulting from eviction and housing problems. Moreover, the psychological, physical, and emotional effects of these problems on the victims in relation to the roles of social workers, community advocates, and housing policy …

The Problem With Consumer Affordability Of Prescription Medications In The United States, Valerie E. Bell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Consumer affordability of prescription drugs is an ongoing problem in the United States. This study was undertaken to research the financial, physical, and economic effects of drug prices on consumers and the methods used by consumers to address such effects. Rational choice and power and politics theories were used to explain the decisions consumers make when they could not afford their medications and the role policies and politics play in drug pricing. The research questions concerned the relationship between consumers’ perceptions of drug pricing and their ability to purchase medications. The quantitative nonexperimental study involved the administration of a survey …

Effective Strategies For Artificial Intelligence Adoption In The Healthcare Industry, Josias Talom Sop

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare organizations face challenges in implementing artificial intelligence (AI) to manage complex data and personalize care amid rising costs and growing patient volumes. This research is critical for healthcare leaders seeking to address inefficiencies in AI implementation, which could otherwise hinder competitiveness and the quality of patient care. This qualitative pragmatic inquiry study explored strategies healthcare leaders use to integrate AI into their business model innovations. Six U.S. healthcare leaders with at least 3 years of leadership experience who had successfully led AI projects participated in semistructured interviews. Grounded in Osterwalder and Pigneur’s business model innovation theory and their Business …

A Qualitative Case Study Exploring The Decision-Making Criteria Of Policymakers In The State Of Michigan To Reinstate A Universal Helmet Law, Eberley Nicole Adams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Policymakers are elected to create, amend, or repeal legislation that impacts public welfare; however, little is known about the specific criteria used when making public health and safety decisions, particularly regarding motorcycle helmet laws. In 2012, Michigan repealed its universal helmet law (UHL) after 35 years, replacing it with a partial helmet law specifying requirements for helmetless riding. Despite an increase in unhelmeted fatalities, the UHL has not been reinstated, raising questions about the legislative decision-making process. Prior research has found that factors such as budgeting, statistical data, interest groups, education, income, political stability, and public opinion may guide these …

Shared Themes Among Teachers And Students On The Impact Of Teacher Well-Being On Student Wellbeing And Academic Success, Brian Duncan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teachers have experienced increasing burnout and high attrition rates, alongside a parallel decline in student well-being and academic success. Prior research has linked teacher well-being to student outcomes; however, little is known about whether teachers and students perceive this relationship similarly. This phenomenological qualitative study explored the shared perceptions of teacher well-being’s impact on student well-being and academic success among 10 high school teachers and 10 students from public schools in the southwestern United States. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and Bowlby’s secure base theory, the study employed semistructured interviews and Saldana’s two-cycle coding to identify themes across both …

Staff Education To Increase The Number Of Continuous Glucose Monitors (Cgms) Prescribed At An Adult Primary Care Clinic For Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes., Josephine Opara

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quality improvement project focused on increasing the use of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in primary care for patients with type 2 diabetes. Its goal was to enhance providers' ability to prescribe and manage CGMs effectively. A review of existing literature and a provider survey identified key barriers, such as limited time and insufficient provider education on CGMs. The survey emphasized educational needs related to initiating and prescribing CGMs. Educational materials, including a PowerPoint presentation on prescribing, monitoring, and management, were developed and shared with clinic staff. Consequently, CGM prescriptions increased over the three-month period. The project aimed to improve …

Guardian Perceptions Of Living In Group Homes Versus Family Homes For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilties, Gail Roberts Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The living environment of group homes and family homes offer different qualities of life for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Guardian perceptions may shed light on how individuals with intellectual disabilities perceive their experiences, environments, and daily lives. Exploring and examining this social problem may positively impact policies, processes, and procedures, and have an impact on the lives of parents, families, and individuals with intellectual disabilities while driving positive social change. The purpose of this qualitative study using narrative inquiry was to explore, examine, and better understand guardian perceptions. The quality-of-life theoretical framework and Saldana’s process of color coding were used …

Nursing Turnover Based On Age, Race, And Gender In Community Hospitals In Michigan, Laura Lawhorn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hospitals struggle to maintain nursing staff to meet patient needs for a population that requires continuous care and experiences multiple illnesses. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the variations in reasons for leaving the nursing profession (dependent variable) based on age, race, and gender (independent variables) within community hospitals in Michigan. The theoretical framework for this study was the Nursing Neuman Systems Model, which posits that nursing comprises four key components: environment, individual, nursing practice, and health. A correlational research design was utilized to address the research question and analyze the relationships between the variables. The secondary …

Experiences Of Women In K–12 Educational Technology Leadership Positions, Natalie M. Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was the lack of women in K–12 educational technology leadership positions in the United States. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of women in K–12 educational technology leadership regarding the challenges and successes they encountered in achieving and maintaining their positions. Feminist standpoint theory formed the framework for this study. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 women who were active or former K–12 educational technology leaders in public schools across the country. Open and pattern coding were used to support thematic analysis. An overarching theme of gender bias …