Digital Commons Network^™

Discovering Strategies To Lead Teams Abruptly Forced Into Virtual Environments Due To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Shonelle Maria Ramserran

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

COVID-19 was an unprecedented time in the global economy, causing a massive shift for many organizations conducting business. The speed at which organizations needed to implement World Health Organization’s restrictions and transition their teams from face-to-face to virtual environments was unpredictable. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore what leaders prepared for an organization to cope with situations like COVID-19 when abruptly moving employees from face-to-face to virtual environments. A conceptual framework based on the organizational change theory and the team adaptation theory was used to direct this study. The research question address what strategies leaders …

Nurses' Perceived Sense Of Self-Efficacy And Communication In Domestic Violence Screening, Claudette Arlene Richardson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurses working in health care settings, especially nurses working in emergency rooms and urgent care settings, play a crucial role in the identification, prevention, and management of domestic violence. However, nurses with lower self-efficacy relative to communication about this role may face increased challenges in job performance. Grounded in Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, the goal of this quantitative study utilizing a survey design was to investigate the relationships between nurse education and training and their perceived sense of self-efficacy in screening for domestic violence. Participants included a convenience sample of 86 registered nurses aged 18 and above holding state licenses. …

Discovering Strategies To Lead Teams Abruptly Forced Into Virtual Environments Due To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Shonelle Maria Ramserran

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

COVID-19 was an unprecedented time in the global economy, causing a massive shift for many organizations conducting business. The speed at which organizations needed to implement World Health Organization’s restrictions and transition their teams from face-to-face to virtual environments was unpredictable. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore what leaders prepared for an organization to cope with situations like COVID-19 when abruptly moving employees from face-to-face to virtual environments. A conceptual framework based on the organizational change theory and the team adaptation theory was used to direct this study. The research question address what strategies leaders …

The Relationship Among Emotional Intelligence And Leadership Styles Of Female Law Enforcement Executives, Durriyyah Drummond

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Effective leadership within police organizations has contributed to challenges in retention, recruitment, and increased negative public attention. While researchers have proposed a relationship between emotional intelligence (EI), leadership effectiveness, and leadership styles, limited research has explored these dynamics within law enforcement, particularly among female law enforcement executives. This study utilized transformational leadership theory, the full-range leadership model, and trait EI theory as its theoretical frameworks. The primary objective of this quantitative research was to assess the relationship between gender, EI, and leadership styles, building on previous studies that examined similar correlations among African American and Caucasian law enforcement executives. The …

Streamlining The Discharge Process On The Telemetry Units To Improve Overall Hospital Throughput, Michelle Corder

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This evidence-based staff education project was implemented to address the problem of ineffective discharge processes and delayed discharges within the hospital setting that leads to poor patient flow impacting overall hospital throughput. There was an overall lack of knowledge by registered nurses (RNs) on effectively implementing changes that affect a standardized discharge process that could help improve patient flow and hospital throughput. This staff educational project aimed to improve the staff nurses’ knowledge of the standardized discharge process and its impact on hospital throughput. The practice-focused question that guided this project was as follows: “What is the impact of a …

Strategies For Articulating Information In Disaster And Emergency Response Common Operating Pictures, Donald Leon Mccue

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emergency management leaders face challenges building common operating pictures (COPs) to display and share critical information, foster collaboration, and improve decision-making among response teams during crises. Without evidence-based strategies to help curb those challenges, poorly implemented COPs can impede situational awareness, decision making, and undermine efforts to get critically needed resources to populations in need. Grounded in a multi-theory model conceptual framework that leveraged the formulation of SA, decision making, and cognitive load psychology, this pragmatic qualitative inquiry explored the strategies that emergency management leaders use to implement the display and sharing of data in COPs to enhance the effectiveness …

Strategically Addressing Transportation Barriers To Primary Care In Rural Clinics, Regina L. Atkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many rural primary care clinics have limited transportation resources, and this affects patients’ ability to receive health care services. The purpose of this integrative review was to synthesize findings and recommendations to solve existing patient transportation barriers in rural clinics. Levesque’s conceptual framework supported this review through exploration, assessment, and measurement of access in primary care clinics. A search of empirical and nonempirical sources was conducted to determine themes and subthemes that could provide solutions and best practices related to rural transportation needs. Over 100 articles were initially chosen, and 23 articles were deemed appropriate for further analysis. As a …

Evaluating The Impact Of Semiglutide On Weight Loss In Overweight Adults, Justina 0. Umweni-Oyiboke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a pressing health issue. By 2030, it is estimated that nearly half of all adults in the United States will be obese. This trend has serious consequences for both physical and mental health. Obese individuals face an increased risk of conditions like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, and even depression. In this Doctor of Nursing Practice Project, I evaluated the effectiveness of a quality improvement (QI) initiative at the project site that addressed the practice problem of inadequate weight loss management caused by relying solely on diet and exercise as treatment strategies. The QI …

Closing The Gaps: Optimizing Emergency Department Protocols For Vaping-Related Respiratory Illnesses, Dominique Roy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rising prevalence of vaping-related illnesses poses significant challenges for healthcare systems worldwide. Hospitals increasingly encounter patients with symptoms related to vaping, such as respiratory issues and lung injuries, which strain emergency departments (EDs). Addressing these challenges requires the development and implementation of effective standard operating procedures (SOPs) to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of vaping-related illnesses. This integrative review examined how SOPs can enhance clinical practices within hospitals by identifying gaps in current approaches and providing recommendations to improve patient care. The review, analyzing literature from 2016 to 2023, highlighted several important themes, including the necessity of standardized protocols …

Concealed Cognitive Disabilities, Bullying In The Workplace, And The Americans With Disabilities Act, Craig Darrell Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study uniquely explores the perceptions of individuals with concealable cognitive disabilities (CCDs) regarding Titles I–III of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its amendments (ADAAA). The research addresses a significant gap in understanding this population’s views on workplace experiences, particularly in the context of harassment, privacy, self-identification, and labeling. Using Schneider and Ingram’s social construction framework to examine societal power dynamics, the study analyzed interviews with eight participants, employing rigorous thematic coding. The analysis revealed four key themes: social construction (perception in the workplace and the power of employment protections), disability (cognitive disabilities and the challenges of disclosure …

Association Between Adults’ Perceptions Of Their Parents’ Parenting Behaviors During Youth And Resulting Attachment Dimensions In Adulthood In The Native American Community, Christine Marie Summering

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Forced assimilation of Native American peoples has led to the destruction of their traditional ways of life and contributed to heightened rates of Native American children in foster care, increased domestic violence, substance abuse, alcoholism, and poverty. The purpose of this study was to understand associations between perceived parenting behaviors and current adult attachment within Native American communities and whether those associations were moderated by historical loss. The attachment theory and historical trauma theory were used as theoretical foundations for the study. Research questions for this nonexperimental quantitative study involved associations between warmth and involvement and anxious and avoidant attachment …

Concealed Cognitive Disabilities, Bullying In The Workplace, And The Americans With Disabilities Act, Craig Darrell Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study uniquely explores the perceptions of individuals with concealable cognitive disabilities (CCDs) regarding Titles I–III of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its amendments (ADAAA). The research addresses a significant gap in understanding this population’s views on workplace experiences, particularly in the context of harassment, privacy, self-identification, and labeling. Using Schneider and Ingram’s social construction framework to examine societal power dynamics, the study analyzed interviews with eight participants, employing rigorous thematic coding. The analysis revealed four key themes: social construction (perception in the workplace and the power of employment protections), disability (cognitive disabilities and the challenges of disclosure …

Educator Perceptions Of The Use Of Technology To Teach Digital Literacy In Urban High School Classrooms, Jessica Erin Dennis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

To engage interests and connect with 21st-century learners, educators must be able to effectively use technologies in their classrooms. The problem this study addressed was the limited understanding that language arts educators in urban school districts have of effectively using technological tools while teaching digital literacy. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore high school language arts teachers’ perceptions of the use of technology to teach digital literacy in urban school classrooms. The technology acceptance model was the conceptual framework used for this study, which aided in the discovery of how language arts educators gauge the usefulness …

Discovering Strategies To Lead Teams Abruptly Forced Into Virtual Environments Due To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Shonelle Maria Ramserran

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

COVID-19 was an unprecedented time in the global economy, causing a massive shift for many organizations conducting business. The speed at which organizations needed to implement World Health Organization’s restrictions and transition their teams from face-to-face to virtual environments was unpredictable. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore what leaders prepared for an organization to cope with situations like COVID-19 when abruptly moving employees from face-to-face to virtual environments. A conceptual framework based on the organizational change theory and the team adaptation theory was used to direct this study. The research question address what strategies leaders …

The Relative Strength Of Populist Attitudes, Religiosity, And Locus Of Control In Predicting Climate-Change Denial, Ryan Reynaldo Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As climate change becomes an increasingly urgent global issue, the persistence of climate denial presents a significant barrier to progress. Despite overwhelming scientific evidence from NOAA and NASA, many individuals continue to deny the reality or severity of climate change. Previous studies have examined factors like anti-elitism and anti-egalitarianism in climate skepticism; however, no known research has assessed the relative strength of populist attitudes, religiosity, and locus of control in predicting climate denial. This quantitative, cross-sectional survey was conducted to fill that gap. Locus of control theory, which focuses on how individuals perceive events as within or beyond their control, …

Concealed Cognitive Disabilities, Bullying In The Workplace, And The Americans With Disabilities Act, Craig Darrell Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study uniquely explores the perceptions of individuals with concealable cognitive disabilities (CCDs) regarding Titles I–III of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its amendments (ADAAA). The research addresses a significant gap in understanding this population’s views on workplace experiences, particularly in the context of harassment, privacy, self-identification, and labeling. Using Schneider and Ingram’s social construction framework to examine societal power dynamics, the study analyzed interviews with eight participants, employing rigorous thematic coding. The analysis revealed four key themes: social construction (perception in the workplace and the power of employment protections), disability (cognitive disabilities and the challenges of disclosure …

Clarifying Ethical Dilemmas Of Using Artificial Intelligence In Research Writing: A Rapid Review, Ndubuisi Friday Ugwu Phd, Adewumi Segun Igbinlade Phd, Raphael E. Ochiaka Phd, Ugoma Deborah Ezeani Phd, Nnaemeka Chijioke Okorie Mr, Jacob Kehinde Opele Phd, Toyin Segun Onayinka Phd, Obinna Iroegbu Phd, Ogechi Kate Onyekwere Phd, Adijat Bolanle Adams Dr, Precious Aigbona Ms, Folasade Busayo Ojobola Phd

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: The purpose of the study was to clarify, through the lenses of experts and frontline publishers, ethical dilemmas related to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research writing.

Method: We conducted a rapid review of expert opinions and publishers’ policy statements on ethical considerations in using AI for research writing. We included articles published in journals indexed by academic databases that met the criteria. We also included the policy statements and guidelines of seven reputable publishers.

Result: The use of AI in scientific writing is acceptable, contingent on addressing ethical considerations bordering on plagiarism, transparency, and disclosure. While …

Perceptions Of Teachers About The Factors That Contribute To Recurring Chronic Absenteeism In Grades K-8, Jamie Routhier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Even with federal and state interventions, the number of K-8 students labeled as chronically absent continues to increase. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate teacher perceptions about the increasing student absences at Central Maine School District, and suggestions to reduce the number of student absences in Grades K-8. The conceptual framework for this study was Bronfenbrenner’s socioecological theory, which states that humans are affected by the people in their daily lives, from home and school. A basic qualitative study was used, gathering data through semistructured interviews with twelve K-8 classroom teachers through purposeful sampling. Data were …

Relationship Between Counselor Educators’ Intrinsic Religiosity, Multicultural Counseling Competence, And Spiritual Competence, Theresa Lynn Brixius

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Religion and spirituality are vital components of multicultural competence, which are key ethical guidelines outlined by the American Counseling Association and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. Clients have reported that religion and spirituality are important in their lives; however, counseling students commonly feel unprepared in their training to address the topic with clients. Grounded in multicultural counseling theory (MCT) and namaste theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to describe the relationship between counselor educators’ intrinsic religiosity (IR), multicultural counseling competence (MCC), and spiritual competence (SC). Participants included fifty-six doctoral-level counselor educators recruited …

Educating Project Site Hospital Nurses On The Code Lavender, Jennifer Swendsen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With this staff education project, I aimed to educate nurses at the project site hospital about the Code Lavender program, a mental health intervention designed to address nurse burnout. Nurse burnout has risen significantly post-COVID-19 pandemic, contributing to high turnover rates and compromising patient care. Nurses are experiencing increased levels of stress, depression, and suicidal ideation, which has led to feelings of being overwhelmed, overworked, and quitting the profession, exacerbating staffing shortages and patient care hazards. The central question of this project was whether staff education on the Code Lavender program would increase nurses’ knowledge, as evidenced by improved posttest …

Staff Education To Improve Medical Adherence Among African American Males With Hypertension, Veronica Ebere Ani

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hypertension (HTN) is the chief cause of cardiovascular disease in the United States. Due to the mortality and morbidity and the increased healthcare costs associated with HTN, nursing staff need to have knowledge to control and help patients manage the condition. HTN disproportionately affects African American men due to non-adherence to medication, lifestyle issues, and health disparities. Nurses can only support patients managing HTN if they have current evidence-based knowledge. Staff knowledge deficit was a significant issue affecting the clinic's management and control of HTN. Providers' knowledge gap was considered a leading factor in patient nonadherence to prescribed antihypertensive medications. …

Exploring Help Seeking Barriers For Military Sexual Trauma Veterans, Clarence Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Military sexual trauma (MST) among military personnel has grown and the effects of this sexual trauma vary by individual. One out of three women fail to share their victimization with their providers or wait decades before getting help, despite actions taken by Congress to prevent and address sexual assaults in the military. High prevalence and low reporting continue to exist due to barriers, such as fear of retaliation, not being believed, lack of awareness of available resources, gender-related distress, and disruption of the unit. In this qualitative study, a purposive sampling technique was used to identify 13 survivors of MST …

Staff Education To Increase Staff Awareness On How Personal Trauma Affects Responses During Restraints, Marygoretti Kibe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The emotional and or physical trauma that individuals sustained while growing up may continue to adversely affect their health as adults, leading to mental health issues, depression, substance use, anxiety and secondary trauma. The prevalence of this trauma widely unacknowledged among mental healthcare staff. Trauma prevention is crucial and can be achieved through educational interventions. In clinical settings, this can prevent staff high turnover, leaving the profession, disengagement, hypervigilance, and overinvolvement. In a mental health clinical setting, this trauma can lead to overuse or misuse of restraints as the trauma staff bring to these situations drives their reactions.

Spanish-Speaking Students’ Perceptions Of Presences In Digital Technology-Enabled High Schools, Deb Ogburn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Spanish-speaking students, also identified as Hispanic or Latino/a/x, have been reported to have lower high school graduation rates, and lower enrollment and retention rates in higher education than their peers. Research exists describing technology and emergency remote teaching (ERT) as widening the achievement gap, however Spanish-speaking students’ perspectives of their high school experiences in digital technology-enabled learning environments (DTELEs) are missing in the literature. To fill this gap this qualitative study explored six Spanish-speaking students’ perceptions of Garrison’s social, teaching, and cognitive presences with the addition of Cleveland-Innes and Campbell’s emotional presence in public high schools in the northwestern United …

Executive Summary: Staff Education Improving Cultural Competence In Mental Health Providers, Mary Osagie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the current healthcare environment, providers care for an increasingly diverse patient population and are challenged with the need for cultural competency skills. Evidence indicates that there are gaps related to cultural competency among healthcare providers across all specialties and settings. This paper describes a staff education project that addressed limited cultural competence skills among nurses and staff at an ambulatory mental health clinic on the East Coast. The purpose of the project was to develop, implement, and evaluate a staff education program on cultural competency. The goal was for participants to become more culturally aware and gain knowledge in …

Differences Between The Reintegration Of Combat Veterans And Noncombat Veterans While Controlling For Stigma, Caroline Ramos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Veterans face challenges in reintegrating into civilian life. Experiences of public stigma arise from socially learned stereotypes about military service and mental health issues, which can impact veterans' ability to reintegrate following military deployment successfully. Goffman’s theory of stigma details its influences on personal adjustment. The purpose of this quantitative research study utilizing a survey design was to assess the role of public stigma as a mediator between the type of deployment and veterans’ reintegration experiences. A snowball sample of 85 recently discharged veteran volunteers representing combat zone deployed or non-combat zone deployed completed the Military Stigma Scale and the …

Childhood Trauma As An Influencing Factor On Obesity Among Black Women, Andréa Autum Michel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood trauma and obesity have a significant impact on development throughout the lifespan. Black women have the highest prevalence of obesity and experience more severe and a greater number of traumatic events than their White peers. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how Black women perceived the role of childhood trauma in their struggles with obesity. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory served as the theoretical framework for this study. The central research question explored the experiences of Black women who experienced childhood trauma and were struggling with obesity as adults. A secondary question explored coping mechanisms developed to …

Develop An Education Program Related To Evidence-Based Strategies Nurses Can Use To Decrease Medication Errors In A Nursing Home, Ann N. Akwaraonwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

These medication errors have posed an immense threat to patient safety, regulatory compliance, and staff confidence in healthcare. Therefore, the improved understanding of nursing staff and reduction in medication error rates required targeted education of nursing staff, thus the basis upon which this quality improvement project was implemented at a nursing home facility located in the Northeastern United States. This evidence-based intervention was developed from feedback that indicated a gap in knowledge on best practices related to the administration of medication among nursing staff. These were eight in number: registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants, who had …

Effectiveness Of The Well-Being Path Program In Supporting Student Retention And College Completion, Vanessa Natasaha Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Student retention at the study site community college had decreased, which negatively impacted funding. Increased student support that incorporates elements of the positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment (PERMA) model could improve retention rates. This mixed-methods case study examined the effectiveness of a mentoring program called the Well-Being Path Program (Path) at the community college, which incorporated elements of Seligman’s PERMA model. The data used for this study consisted of student exit surveys and the community college’s institutional enrollment, retention, and transfer data. Results showed that Path students had a higher average grade point average and transfer rate than …

The Relationship Between Racial Discrimination, Self-Efficacy, And Imposter Syndrome Among Black Counseling Students, Deedee Priscilla Wednesday

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black American counseling students encounter a diverse set of experiences that create dissimilarities in their academic process and academic perception than their non-Black peers. The purpose of this quantitative analysis study was to determine if there is a predictive relationship between racial discrimination, self-efficacy, and imposter syndrome among Black counseling students. The theoretical framework employed for this study was attribution theory, which focuses on causality. Three surveys were utilized to collect data from anonymous participants: Daily Life Experience Scale, Counselor Self-Efficacy Scale , and the Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale . To be eligible for participation in the study, participants were …