Digital Commons Network^™

Expert Clinician To Novice Nurse Educator. Learning From First-Hand Narratives, Jeanne Merkle Sorrell, Pamela Cangelosi

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

The nurse educator role often looks deceptively simple. Compared to the complexity of bedside care for a patient with multiple comorbidities and hour-by-hour monitoring, watching over students to guide their learning may appear easy. Yet, when experienced nurse clinicians try out this new endeavor for the first time, they often describe themselves as frustrated and uncertain about how to best implement the role. Through years of experience as clinicians, nurses often arrive at a comfort zone where they know what to do for their patients in order to keep them safe and enhance their healing. When moving to the nurse …

Pregnancy Apps: A Closer Look At The Implications For Childbirth Educators, Christine Frazer, Leslie Hussey, Emily Bosch, Michelle Squire

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Most pregnant women download an average of three pregnancy apps during their gestational period. There are no set standards in place for what needs to be included in an app’s description leaving consumers to decide for themselves when it comes to selecting the right app to download. The childbirth educator must be knowledgeable about pregnancy apps, in-tune as to what apps their clientele download, and how to analyze them for credibility. This article presents characteristics associated with women of childbearing age (i.e. Millennial/Net generation); the reasons why pregnant women are turning to apps; the limitations of apps, and the childbirth …

A Rapid Assessment Of Post-Disclosure Experiences Of Urban Hiv-Positive And Hiv-Negative School-Aged Children In Kenya, Grace Gachanja

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

There has been limited involvement of HIV-negative children in HIV disclosure studies; most studies conducted on the effects of disclosure on children have been with HIV-positive children and HIV-positive mother-child dyads. Seven HIV-positive and five HIV-negative children participated in a larger study conducted to understand the lived experiences of HIV-positive parents and their children during the disclosure process in Kenya. In this study, the experiences of these 12 children after receiving disclosure of their own and their parents’ illnesses respectively are presented. Each child underwent an in-depth qualitative semi-structured digitally recorded interview. The recorded interviews were transcribed and loaded into …

Leadership In Collegiate Soccer, Jack Mccann, Thomas Kohntopp, Power Home Remodeling Group

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

One of the most significant athletic and social changes in the United States over the past two decades has been the growing popularity of soccer. Since the mid-1990s, soccer popularity has exploded, fueled by the emergence and growth of Major League Soccer (MLS) (Saporito, 2010). Though soccer is the world’s most popular sport in terms of attendance, U.S. soccer matches have modest attendance; however, this may be changing. Soccer popularity has increased through participation and media coverage while becoming integrated into the U.S. culture (Saporito, 2010). This research examined an extremely important aspect of the sport . . . the …

Social Media As Support For Partners Of Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Susan L. Ruiz, Lee Stadtlander

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Researchers have established that partners of veterans who isolate socially because of posttraumatic stress disorder are also socially impacted. It is not known how partners cope with their own social isolation and the influence of social media on the isolation while maintaining commitment to their veteran partners. Weiss’ theory of the syndrome of loneliness was used as the basis for this phenomenological study investigating social experiences in 10 female participants drawn from social media groups. Although the study was open to male or female partners, only female partners of male veterans chose to participate. Qualitative email interviews established how the …

Exploring Racial Disparity In St. Louis City Fetal-Infant Death, Hadi Danawi, Marie Peoples

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

The perinatal periods of risk (PPOR) methodology was used to analyze resident fetal and infant deaths in St. Louis City, Missouri, for the years 1999 - 2008. The PPOR approach is mapped into four periods: Maternal Health/Prematurity (MHP), Maternal Care (MC), Newborn Care (NC), and Infant Health (IF). Both Blacks and Whites experienced excess fetal-infant death within the MHP periods. Recognizing specific periods of increased risk provides key information to transform data into action. Findings allow childbirth educators, community members, and policy-makers to further explore barriers limiting maternal care.

A Review Of Fatherhood Related Issues In The Country Of Lebanon, Hadi Danawi, Tala Hasbini

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Fatherhood issues in the country of Lebanon remain largely unexplored and undocumented. This review serves as a basis for fatherhood issues and presents a snapshot of the current situation with a background of some of the most related challenges affecting the issue of parenting in Lebanon. In addition, this review lays the background of how these challenges affect women of childbearing age who often end up raising their families on their own. Cultural and religious beliefs as well as factors relating to political influences in the Middle East region are discussed. The author concludes with a set of lessons learned.

The Role Of Ultrasound In The Lebanese Outreach Setting, Reem Abu-Rustum, Fouad M. Ziade, Hadi Danawi

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

A cross-sectional study was carried out on 669 patients to assess the role of introducing ultrasound into obstetrical outreach in Lebanon. Data were collected, and descriptive statistics were performed. Sonographic findings were compared using Chi-square tests between underserved Lebanese and Syrian refugee mothers. Ultrasound plays a significant role in properly dating pregnancies in addition to identifying at-risk fetuses and detecting placental abnormalities. Medical providers need to make sonographic evaluation in the Lebanese outreach obstetrical setting more available and more systematic in order to secure a safe outcome for underserved Lebanese and Syrian refugee mothers and offspring.

Mindfulness: Being Present In The Moment, Stephanie Ann Stathas, Christine Frazer

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

This article serves to enlighten childbirth educators’ knowledge about mindfulness and the mother-baby benefits associated with incorporating mindfulness- based interventions into practice. Jon Kabat-Zinn, who developed the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program, brought the concept of mindfulness into the world of healthcare and mainstream society. Mindfulness is the practice of bringing awareness to the here and now using a variety of methods. Nancy Bardacke has taken the practice of mindfulness further and developed a program for expecting mothers, known as Mindfulness Based Childbirth and Parenting. This program has been shown to reduce stress responses that may be harmful to a …

The Learning Experience: Training Teachers Using Online Synchronous Environments, Stuart Woodcock Dr, Ashley Sisco Dr, Michelle Eady Dr

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This study examined the effectiveness of an online synchronous platform used for training preservice teachers. A blended learning approach was implemented. Fifty-three students participated in the course. Qualitative interview data and quantitative survey data were collected about students’ experiences using the platform, and analyzed via thematic content analysis and statistical analysis, respectively. The findings show that e-learning synchronous technology is an effective learning tool in enhancing preservice teachers’ e-learning competency in subject matter and information communication technology skills. However, preservice teachers’ competency to learn and implement e-learning for students is dependent on four hierarchal conditions (a) ease of use, (b) …

The 1907 Bellingham Riot And Anti-Asian Hostilities In The Pacific Northwest, Paul Englesberg

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Introduction: Historians have emphasized various factors and aspects of the attacks depending on their perspectives and theoretical persuasions, including labor strife, racial supremacist ideology, fears due to socio-cultural differences, and reaction to nationalism and radicalism. More recently, historians have the paid particular attention to the legal and political implications and results on a national level on both sides of the US.-Canadian border.1 Through my study of Asian immigration in the Northwest region and Bellingham in particular, I have concluded that there was a concerted effort to harass the Punjabi Sikhs and arouse popular animosity that began a full year before …

A Blogging Primer For Childbirth Education Professionals, Leann Stadtlander

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Blogs are frequently updated websites where content (e.g., text, pictures, music) is posted on a regular basis and the information is displayed in chronological order. A blog provides a mechanism to establish an online presence as a childbirth education professional. The new blogger does need to learn new software and terminology; however, there are many resources available to help get a blog started. Keys to successful blogging include maintaining a regular schedule of posts, keeping the posts fun and interesting, and providing information that is useful to the audience.

Support For Creativity And Innovation, Resistance To Change, Organizational Commitment And Motivation, Ify Diala, Samuel Ogbonnaya Ude

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Some managers view innovative product development and convenient service delivery as necessary to business survival. However, unmotivated employees might negate any gains from the use of innovation. The purpose of this correlational study, grounded in diffusion of innovation theory, was to assess the relationship between creativity and support for innovation, resistance to change, and organizational commitment and employee motivation. A random sample of 81 information technology (IT) professionals from telecom service centers completed an online survey. Simultaneous multiple linear regression was the statistical technique used to analyze these data. The results indicated a poor model with low R2 to significantly …

The Burden Of Avian Influenza Viruses In Community Ponds In California, Zin Htway

2010-2016 Archived Posters

This research was a baseline study of the proportion of influenza A virus (IAV) in urban and rural communities in California. The population was artificial recirculating water ponds in the geographic locations of rural and urban Californian communities. Surface water samples were collected from artificial recirculating ponds in California.

Understanding Distinctive Beliefs And Perceptions About Depression Among Haitian Men, Darlyne Richardson

2010-2016 Archived Posters

This is a quantitative analysis exploring the relationship between levels of depression in Haitian men as related to restrictive emotionality, self-­reliance, subjective masculine stress, spiritual well-­being, and length of time in the United States. The data were obtained from demographic questionnaires and surveys among 90 Haitian men residing in the United States.

2015 Walden University Research Symposium, Walden University

2010-2016 Archived Programs

Welcome to the 2015 Walden University Research Symposium. A Walden tradition for several years, the Research Symposium is an annual event where we are able to showcase research projects from our academic community, especially work by our recent graduates. The presentations at a symposium appear in two different formats. Poster presentations provide an opportunity for researchers to engage with all individuals attending the symposium and potentially to network with other interested researchers. Using a roundtable presentation format, a select group of research teams is available for interactive discussions of their work, with handouts and visual materials available to support the …

Fear Of Fatherhood, Deborah Weatherspoon, Wendy Sponsler, Christopher Weatherspoon, Dorothy Campbell

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

The fatherhood role is influenced by culture, religion, social factors, and economic norms. In Jamaica pregnancy is often treated as a female only event. Women are left to visit their clinics alone and have support from female family members. The man’s focus is providing financial support. In the past fathers were subjected to migrant labor and left their families for long periods. This tradition remained even when they were not working. Today, men are taking on more of the role of fatherhood, becoming involved and supportive and experiencing the privilege of pregnancy though of a secondary nature through their partner’s …

We Left Lassie Behind: Defense Personnel Relocation, Animal Abandonment, And Shelter Impacts, Gabriele Griffiths

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

When Department of Defense (DoD) personnel receive orders to relocate to a new duty installation, nearly one third abandon their companion animals, which negatively affects the local shelters' costs, personnel, and capabilities to provide quality care for shelter animals. There is a lack of research on relevant policies among local government policy makers, installation commanders, directors of animal shelters, and animal rights advocates about the abandonment of companion animals by DoD personnel. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to investigate the relationship between the influx of abandoned DoD companion animals and the management and logistical (including financial) …

Social Media Marketing Strategies To Engage Generation Y Consumers, Christopher Tingley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Consumers of the Generation Y cohort, also referred to as Millennials, include approximately 75 million Americans who have significant purchasing power. These consumers access social media on a daily basis, but they often ignore advertisements that are targeted to them. Previous studies on social media marketing to Generation Y consumers have focused on consumer input but lacked data from marketing professionals. The purpose of this phenomenological study of social media marketers in the United States was to determine successful strategies to engage Generation Y on social media. The study's conceptual framework was attitude toward the ad. The data were gathered …

Countering Student Apathy To Increase Student Engagement, Rebecca Ann Schou

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At a suburban elementary school in Maryland, 3 years of data revealed that the school is grappling with the problem of student apathy. While there is a growing body of research on apathy and its effects on student achievement, few researchers have examined the problem from the perspective of the apathetic student. The purpose of this qualitative case study, grounded in the social learning and cognitive development theories of Vygotsky and Piaget, was to explore student apathy and the learning environment at the target school through the perspectives of 8 former students and their parents. The research questions focused on …

Varying Levels Of Morality Awareness In Corrections Officers, William L. Hanna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Morality has been a focus in criminal justice with recent events involving officers. This quantitative study offered research in the criminal justice field regarding the moral awareness of corrections officers. The main research question investigated the relationship between the security level of the prison unit in which a corrections officer works and his or her level of morality awareness. The study surveyed corrections officers of prison units in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitations and Corrections and focused on morality awareness of corrections officers. The independent variable was the security level of the prison unit worked in. The dependent variables were …

An Examination Of Teachers' Reading Instructional Challenges In An Alternative School Setting, Leslie Bowen Retchko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a suburban alternative school, educators of at-risk students reading below grade level often struggled to provide effective reading instruction. As a result, these students were likely to continue to experience academic difficulties, which could limit their career options and their opportunities to contribute to the betterment of society. This study addressed the gap between reading strategies teachers actually used in the classroom and the reading strategies they learned during professional development. The research questions focused on the instructional challenges teachers experienced while working with struggling readers in an alternative school setting. Mastery learning theory and the adult adragogical theory …

High School Graduates' Perspectives On The Creation Of Online Identities, Lisa Koh-Herlong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Technological advancements continue to increase online accessibility and the virtual population. As students engage with these advancements, their lives and identities will be on a worldwide platform. The realities of online identities present a challenge for educators to teach students how to manage those online identities. Researchers have studied the after-effects of online identities, but there is a gap in understanding the individual's thought process during the creation of online identities. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis was to understand the perspectives of working high school graduates regarding the creation of online identities. The research questions were designed to …

The Relationship Between Science Curriculum Aligned To Common Core State Standards And Scientific Literacy, Amber Lee Struthers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Supporting the development of scientifically literate students is a priority in public school education, and understanding how that development is influenced by the Common Core State Standards is vital to quality science education. However, little quantitative research has been conducted about how the Common Core State Standards impact science education. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine how the alignment of science curriculum and instruction to the Common Core English Language Arts State Standards impacts the development of students' scientific literacy skills. Bybee's framework for scientific literacy provided the theoretical framework. Participants included 7 middle school students in …

Teacher Use Of Assistive Technology For Students With High Incidence Disabilities In Small Rural Schools, Heather Wood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A significant achievement gap between students with disabilities and their peers without disabilities has led to increased inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education classroom. Assistive technology (AT) has the potential to improve access to the curriculum for students with high-incidence disabilities. Teachers are challenged with learning about, recommending, and implementing AT; yet little is known about how teachers in New Hampshire use AT or the needs for professional development (PD) in AT utilization. The purpose of this intrinsic case study was to understand how teachers in small rural New Hampshire schools utilized AT with students with high-incidence …

Factors Influencing The Adoption Of Learning Management Systems By Medical Faculty, Kristy Burrough

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite recommendations by the Association of American Medical Colleges regarding

the adoption of technology in medical universities, faculty are still reluctant to adopt new

learning technologies. The purpose of this qualitative interview study was to determine

the factors existing in the adoption of learning management technology among late

adopters within the faculty of colleges labeled as comprehensive academic medical

centers. Using the Everett Rogers diffusion of innovations theory as its framework, this

study sought to ascertain the factors late adopters identify as preventing them from

adopting technology and to determine what measures they suggest to increase technology

adoption among their …

The Influence Of Demographics And Cultural Attitudes On Sexual Orientation Attitudes In African American Adults., Bernadette Dawn Harrell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) are discriminated against in the African American community. Sociodemographics such as income, education, age, and religion/spirituality have been shown to be associated with sexual prejudice. There is limited research on how African American cultural attitudes influence attitudes towards sexual orientation. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which demographic variables and African American cultural attitudes (measured by the African American Acculturation Scale-Revised; AAAS-R) predict attitudes toward sexual orientation in African American adults (measured by the Attitudes towards Lesbians and Gay Men Scale; ATLG). Social identity …

Financing School-Based Health Centers: Sustaining Business Operational Services, Ingrid Monique Hayes-Burrell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School-based health centers (SBHCs) have faced challenges in securing adequate funding for operations and developing sound business systems for billing and reimbursement. Specifically, administrators often lack strategies to develop and sustain funding levels to support appropriate resources for business operations. The focus of this descriptive study was to explore best practice strategies to develop and sustain funding through the experiences of SBHC administrators. The conceptual framework included Elkington's sustainability theory, which posits that corporate social responsibility, stakeholder involvement, and citizenship improve manager's effect on the business system. Twenty full-time SBHC administrators working in separate locations throughout the state of Maryland …

Middle School Teachers' Experiences With Cross-Curricular Connections At The Incident Level, Melita M. Penchalk

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many curricular innovations, including cross-curricular teaching, are started in schools without adequate teacher preparation and support, reducing the effectiveness of the interventions in supporting student learning. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to describe the implementation of the cross-curricular connections teaching technique in middle schools. Research questions focused on how middle school teachers experienced implementation of cross-curricular teaching at the incident level and how teachers perceived cross-curricular teaching and its long-term value. Myers-Briggs personality type theory informed the study, supporting the postulation that teachers are more comfortable teaching from their personality types. Data from 10 middle school teachers …

Promoting Information Literacy Through Teacher - School Library Media Specialist Collaboration, Pamela Denise Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Schools that support collaboration between teachers and school library media specialists (SLMS) outperform those that do not. Teachers at a rural Georgia middle school were not using the library media program or being trained on how to collaborate with the SLMS to promote student achievement. Guided by Bruner's socioconstructivist theory of learning, the purpose of this descriptive case study was to investigate teachers' experiences with integrating technology and information literacy into the curriculum and to examine the collaborative services the SLMS could provide to enhance integration. Eight teachers in Grades 6th through 8th comprised the sample. Data sources included teacher …