Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Staff Education On The Importance Of Using Sequential Compression Devices To Prevent Venous Thromboembolism In A Hospital Medical Surgical Unit, Roxanne Rose Beckman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli, can lead to disability, loss of limbs, or even death. VTEs are preventable and can affect anyone at any age, race, or gender. In the United States, it is estimated each year that as many as 900,000 people are affected by VTEs. Risk factors for developing blood clots are immobilization, surgeries, pregnancy, obesity, history of blood clots, and trauma. Hospital-acquired VTE is a patient safety indicator, and mechanical prophylaxis should always be used to lessen the risk unless contraindicated. Sequential compression devices (SCDs), a preferred method of VTE prophylaxis, …

The Effectiveness Of Naloxone Staff Education In Reducing Opioid Overdose Mortality Among Young Adults In An Outpatient Behavioral Clinic, Taiwo Oguntade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Naloxone Staff Education Project was implemented within an outpatient behavioral health practice to address the critical issue of insufficient staff education regarding Naloxone use in opioid overdose responses. Opioid overdoses, particularly among young adults, have become a leading cause of preventable death, with nearly 108,000 deaths recorded in 2022, 76% of which involved opioids. The project aimed to assess the impact of Naloxone education on staff knowledge, competency, and confidence in responding to opioid overdoses among patients aged 18 to 35. Utilizing pre- and post-education assessments, including surveys and interviews, the project evaluated staff readiness to administer Naloxone. Results …

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 …

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 …

Principal Perceptions Of Advising For The Adoption Of Social Media As An Instructional Application, Ben Hudson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Secondary school principals are seeking to meet students where they are by integrating social media into school curricula to enhance student learning. However, little has been published about principals’ perceptions of the value of social media as an instructional tool or the advising processes they employ to facilitate the adoption of social media as an instructional application. The problem this study addressed was principals’ perceptions of social media as an instructional application and how those perceptions influence decisions to advise for the adoption of social media for instructional purposes. Guided by Rogers’s diffusion of innovations theory and Davis’s technology acceptance …

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 …

Perspectives Of Residential Treatment Center Staff On Organizational Climate And Rehabilitation, Erika Drayton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Residential treatment centers (RTCs) within the juvenile justice system (JJS) are commonly used as an out-of-home placement for adjudicated youths who require more individualized care. Several researchers studied the JJS; however, few explored RTCs or the direct care staff. Probation officers and detention facility staff have been the focus of previous studies. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of RTC staff on organizational climate and rehabilitation of adjudicated youths. The participants included 12 direct care RTC staff age 18 and older who had worked with adjudicated youths for one year or more. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological …

Development Of An Evidence-Based Program To Increase Burnout Knowledge Among Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners In An Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital, Christianah Agunanne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this staff education project, I addressed burnout prevention among psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) in an inpatient psychiatric hospital. Burnout can cause strain on mental health nurses and reduce patient satisfaction, impair quality of care, and increase medical errors. In this project, I developed and applied an evidence-based program (EBP) on burnout for PMHNPs, educating them about the problem and helping identify, avoid, or at least prevent burnout symptoms. I addressed how an EBP staff education program could affect knowledge and recognition of burnout for PMHNPs working in an inpatient psychiatric hospital. The purpose of the project was …

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 …

Perceptions Of Clinically Depressed Individuals: Social Media Use, Depressive Symptoms, And Interpersonal Relationships, Rachel N. Fullen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent literature has shown an association between social media usage and depressive symptoms, but there remains a gap regarding the perceptions of individuals with clinical depression on their social media usage and their interpersonal relationships. This qualitative study was conducted to uncover how people view social media and their clinical depression as well as the quality of their interpersonal interactions through social media platforms. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 individuals who were diagnosed with clinical depression, used social media for 2 hours daily, and lived with their significant other/partner. The theory applied to this study was Blumler and Katz’s …

A Document Analysis Of School Shooting On College Campuses, Kevin Lavelle Childs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite media outcry and societal outcry, gun violence on college campuses in the United States continues to be an unresolved problem. Prior to on-campus shootings, college campuses were safe locations that were conducive to learning. Sadly, this is no longer the case. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the key characteristics of mass shootings on college campuses so that officials would be provided with information that would enable them to create safer campuses. Using a rational choice theory as the conceptual framework, which focused on the perpetrator’s behavior, a document analysis was conducted to identify and understand …

Lived Experiences Of Police Use Of Force In Western Utah, Kenny Augustin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The use of force by police officers toward African Americans has been a tense subject in the United States Although statutory law grants the police officers the right to use force, the level and the type of force used by police officers can be seen as problematic. In this study, the lived experiences of African Americans and police officers’ use of force were explored. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore whether the lived experiences of African Americans differ from police officers concerning the use of force in Utah and how fear, trust, and confidence influenced behaviors. A …

Staff Education On Medication Adherence Teaching For Psychiatric Patients In The Outpatient Setting, Ernestina Akosua Ohene-Agyakwah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary The type of doctoral project was staff education. The aim was to address the practice gap of lack of standardized staff education on medication adherence in the outpatient psychiatric care setting. The practice-focused question was "Will staff education on medication adherence for psychiatric patients in the outpatient setting result in an increase in staff knowledge?" To provide staff with the information and abilities they needed to consistently deliver patient education that supported evidence, the project created, carried out, and assessed a structured staff education program. Knowledge changes among the 10 participants were evaluated and measured using the mean difference …

Relationship Between Motivation, Job Satisfaction, And Company Performance In Virtual Teams In The U.S. Insurance Industry, Rena Lois Roundtree

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Information technology (IT) leaders in the U.S. insurance industry are concerned with sustaining employee motivation in virtual teams, as it is a key challenge in managing virtual employees. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the purpose of this quantitative ex-post facto study was to examine the relationship between achievement, recognition, and company policy with job satisfaction and company performance. The participants were 54 U.S.-based insurance companies listed in Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance (2021), with data sourced from publicly available financial reports and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR system. The result of the multiple linear regression …

Staff Education Program To Reduce Burnout Using Mindfulness Techniques In A Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic, Miriam Ambe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Burnout is becoming more common among nurses, which has a negative impact on the well-being of nurses, patients, and organizations. The practice problem for this DNP project was the need for more awareness about burnout and associated strategies to address nurse burnout among outpatient nurses in a psychiatric clinic. This DNP project was a staff education program to teach nurses how to identify burnout in themselves while offering them mindfulness techniques to prevent or mitigate burnout. This project’s guiding practice-focused question and framework was, “Will a staff education program on mindfulness techniques to prevent burnout lead to nurses’ identification of …

Increasing Knowledge And Awareness Of Colorectal Cancer Among Nursing Staff, Joelle Woodruff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, colon cancer rates have dropped since the 1980s as more people are being screened for colorectal cancer. However, despite an increase in screening, rates are expected to increase through 2035. Patients who have a good relationship with their providers are more likely to complete colorectal cancer screening. However, providers rely on support staff to educate patients on the screenings. The local organization has struggled to improve cancer screening rates among its patients. Thus, the purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to determine whether an education intervention focused on colorectal cancer and screening …

Relationship Between Self-Silencing And Self-Neglect Behaviors And Disordered Eating And Stigma Toward Seeking Behavioral Health Support Among Black Women Who Adopt The Superwoman Schema, Veanda Hemphill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Self-silencing and self-neglect behaviors, key dimensions of the superwoman schema (SWS), function as protective coping mechanisms in response to psychosocial stressors. However, these behaviors often perpetuate self-sacrifice, leading to an increased risk of physical and mental health decline. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between self-silencing and self-neglect behaviors (independent variables) and disordered eating and stigma toward seeking support from behavioral health services (dependent variables) among Black women who adopt the SWS. The theoretical and conceptual frameworks of silencing the self and intersectionality guided this study. The 78 participants who self-identified as Black and …

Internet Addiction And Academic Fatigue, Engagement, And Performance Among Undergraduates In Southwestern Universities In Nigeria, Mensah Prince Osiesi, Olutoyin Olufunke Fajobi, Sikeade Mercy Adegboyega, Abiodun Adesope Fadiya, Olaitan Titilayo Akinola, Folasade Oluyemisi Olayinka, Muyiwa Sunday Ajimuse, Sunday Nnamdi Okocha, Tolulope Oluwatoyin Olayiwola-Adedoja, Oladipo Adeyeye Olubodun Phd, Atinuke Titilope Babalola, Valentina Grion

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: Internet addiction among university undergraduates may deeply impact their academic lives. This study investigated the association between academic fatigue, academic engagement, academic performance, gender, and internet addiction and how the variables jointly and relatively predict internet addiction among undergraduates in southwestern universities in Nigeria.

Method: The correlational research type of the non-experimental research design was adopted for this study. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 1,157 students. The main variables were the Internet Addiction Test (r = 0.82) and the Academic Fatigue Questionnaire (r = 0.85; both adapted), as well as the Academic Engagement Scale …

Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Completion Rate Among African American Patients By Staff Education, Sloan Mccoy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and disproportionately affects the African American population with a higher incidence and mortality rate. This DNP project was implemented in a suburban primary care practice which is part of a large metropolitan health care organization. I implemented staff education about the CRC completion disparity with the African American population and communication strategies found to help improve this. My goal was for the primary care practice staff to increase their knowledge and change their practice behavior with recommending CRC screening to improve CRC screening rates amongst …

Individual And Community-Level Factors Influencing Hiv Testing Among Malawian Women, Miniratu Coker Lawal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The HIV/AIDS epidemic poses a significant public health challenge in Malawi, where women aged 15-49 years experience a higher HIV prevalence (10.8%) compared to men (7.0%). Despite free testing services, 17% of Malawian women have never been tested for HIV, hindering early diagnosis and treatment that could reduce transmission rates. Using Anderson's framework for health service utilization, this study examined how demographic factors (age, marital status, ethnicity, residence) and socioeconomic factors (education, wealth, employment) influence HIV testing among Malawian women aged 15-49 years. Two research questions guided this investigation: 1) the association between demographic factors and HIV testing after controlling …

Staff Education To Increase Substance Use Screening And Treatment For Adolescents In An Outpatient Primary Care Mental Health Facility, Surekha Gorantla

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quality improvement staff education DNP project addressed the practice issue relating to adolescent substance abuse in the project mental health facility. The facility does not have a uniform process for addressing this problem. Follow-up care for adolescents treated in the clinic is a challenge because each provider uses a screening tool of their preference, creating inconsistencies in care and missed care opportunities. Therefore, identifying, reducing, and preventing the negative consequences related to adolescent substance abuse in this clinical setting is vital and needs to be prioritized. I developed and implemented a staff education program using screening, brief intervention, and …

Nurse Experiences Of Caring For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Los Angeles Pediatric Intensive Care Units, Makenna Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

One in 22 California children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In combination with sensory considerations, healthcare costs, and increased healthcare utilization, these children face a lesser quality of care and poorer health outcomes. The literature addresses healthcare needs and experiences from various viewpoints, but does not address the experiences of nurses (RN) caring for children with ASD in the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU). The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of RN’s challenges, and the helpful strategies utilized in practice. A qualitative, grounded study approach, centered on the patient-and-family centered care conceptual framework, was …

Executive Summary: Educating Staff On The Use Of The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, Muktar Trawalley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Suicidal ideation is a serious public health concern among individuals, especially in the United States. The Columbia-Suicide severity rating scale (C-SSRS) is the tool used to assess the severity and frequency of suicidal ideations. The gap in practice at this site is that mental health providers lack knowledge of using the C-SSRS. This evidence-based educational project aimed to improve nursing knowledge on using the C-SSRS in a psychiatric mental health facility. A practice-focused question was developed: Among psychiatric nurses in an outpatient mental health facility, does staff education on C-SSRS improve their knowledge of its application over 8 weeks, as …

Exploring The Use Of Student-Led Conferences In A Title 1 Elementary School, Camille Renee Harris-Wilmot

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parental engagement is a critical factor in student academic success, yet traditional parent-teacher conferences often fail to achieve meaningful collaboration. This study explored how teachers and parents described the influence of student-led conferences on parental engagement at a public elementary school in southeastern Virginia. Grounded in constructivist theory, particularly the works of Piaget and Vygotsky, the study focused on student-centered learning. A basic qualitative design was employed with purposeful sampling used to recruit 10 teachers and parents with direct experience of student-led conferences. Semistructured interviews were analyzed through open-coding and thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns. Findings revealed that student-led …

Accessing Local Health Programs For Afro-Caribbean Families In The Greater Tampa Bay Area, Michelle Jacqueline Swift

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Access to quality healthcare is essential for the well-being of immigrant families, especially Afro-Caribbean immigrants in the Greater Tampa Bay area. Disparities in use and satisfaction with health services are known. Guided by Andersen’s healthcare utilization model, a quantitative cross-sectional design employing multiple linear regression analyzed the relationships between self-reported income, education, years since immigration, and health-seeking behaviors (IVs) and satisfaction with care, measured by the PSQ-18 (DV). This study involved 92 English-speaking Afro-Caribbean migrant families with minors residing in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties. The IVs did not emerge as significant variables in the model output F(14, 68) = …

Staff Education On Accurate Blood Pressure Monitoring, Amy Wink

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hypertension is a prevalent diagnosis in the United States and a significant contributor to adult mortality. The annual burden of high blood pressure in the United States is approximately 131 million dollars, accounting for health care services and medication expenses. This educational project was initiated because the metric for the patient population at the veterans’ outpatient clinic exceeded the national hypertension indicator of 140/90. The facility’s data metric results were above the national average, necessitating addressing an identified gap in practice, performing blood pressure screenings accurately. The purpose of this educational project was to develop a module for nurses to …

Hispanic Family Caregivers’ Experiences With Dementia Patients During The Covid-19 Emergency, Vivian Arroyo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted caregiving dynamics, particularly for Hispanic family caregivers of dementia patients. This qualitative study explored the experiences, challenges, and coping strategies of these caregivers during the pandemic. The theoretical framework was systems theory. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 participants to collect data. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling and responded to open-ended questions regarding their caregiving experiences. The collected data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis The findings revealed four themes: (a) caregiving strategies, including time management, collaboration, and reliance on religious faith; (b) self-care experiences, which highlighted the balance between personal …

Skill Development Approach For Poverty Alleviation In India, Sameer Chandra

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

India’s Poverty Profile revealed that over 65% of the poor reside in rural areas. This study examined the effectiveness of the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) skill development program in alleviating poverty in Uttar Pradesh, India. Guided by Sen’s capability approach, a quantitative cross-sectional design employing logistic regression analyzed the relationships of candidate qualifications and trade categories, predicting the likelihood of successful job placement. The study analyzed 4,789 randomly selected cases from 14 high-poverty districts in DDU-GKY’s database. The job placement rate within cases was 28.2%, with 71.8% not placed. Candidate qualification significantly predicted the likelihood of job …

The Relationships Between Social Stress, Anxiety, And School Attendance/Absenteeism Among Middle School Students With High-Incidence Disabilities, Rebecca Caroline Canady

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chronic absenteeism has been on the rise across the United States since schools fully reopened to in-person learning after COVID-19-related closures. Historically, students with disabilities are more likely to experience increased rates of absenteeism. However, there is a lack of research on specific psychosocial factors related to school attendance/absenteeism (SA/A) for students with disabilities. The purpose of this quantitative study of archival data was to examine through analyses of variance what extent the relationship between anxiety and SA/A is moderated by social stress among middle school students with high-incidence disabilities. Additionally, trends in the relationship between variables from before and …