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Challenges And Supports Of Principals’ Implementation Of Social-Emotional Learning, Nikomar Mosley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School districts throughout the United States are increasingly implementing social and emotional learning (SEL). The problem addressed in this study is that K-12 principals are struggling with the mandated implementation of SEL at Northeastern School District (NSD), a large, diverse urban school district. Guided by the collaborative for academic, social, and emotional learning competency and implementation frameworks, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore K-12 principals’ experiences with the mandated implementation of SEL at NSD. For this basic qualitative study, semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 principals. Through thematic analysis, the following themes emerged: (a) SEL is not …

Effective Strategies For Small And Mid-Sized Enterprises To Leverage Resources And Sustain Operations, Priscilla Neri Rebibis Barbero

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective strategies for leveraging resources can lead to early business closures. Small-to medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners who struggle to acquire sufficient resources for their operations may experience diminished profits and business instability as a result. Grounded in resource-based view (RBV) theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore effective strategies used by SME owners to leverage resources and sustain business operations beyond 5 years. The participants were 10 SME owners who had implemented strategies for sustainable business operations. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and a review of relevant public documents. Using thematic …

Staff Education To Reduce Compassion Fatigue In Acute Care Staff Nurses, Kamala C. Mcgee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Compassion fatigue (CF), burnout, and moral distress are common in high-acuity nursing environments, yet nurses are rarely taught how to recognize or manage these challenges. The guiding question for this staff education project was about whether education focused on CF and mindfulness-based coping strategies would improve nurses’ knowledge and attitudes in an acute care VA medical center. Posteducation results (n = 20) showed meaningful, statistically significant improvements. Familiarity with CF increased from baseline (M = 2.35; SD = 1.04) to post implementation (M = 3.75; SD = .91), t(19) = −5.085, p < .001. Confidence in recognizing CF in oneself improved from baseline (M = 2.6; SD = .875) to post implementation (M = 3.60; SD = .821), p = .004. Confidence in recognizing CF in colleagues increased from baseline (M = 2.40; SD = .821) to postimplementation (M = 3.15; SD = .671), p = .012. Agreement that seeking help is a sign of weakness decreased from baseline (M = 2.00; SD = .503) to postimplementation (M = 1.40; SD = .951), p = .024. Although perceptions of organizational support did not change, nurses reported greater use of mindfulness, peer support, and boundary setting, supporting nurse wellbeing and psychological safety. Several recommendations emerge from this project. CF education should be integrated into routine staff development, annual competencies, and onboarding for new nurses. By reducing stigma around seeking help and promoting peer awareness, this work supports fostering a workplace culture where all nurses feel safe, supported, and valued, a positive social change.

Effective Human Resources Strategies For Flexible Parental Leave Applications, Omolola Balogun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of flexibility in the application of human resources (HR) parental leave policy can negatively affect employee capacity and organizational sustainability. HR leadership policymakers are concerned that parental leave policies fail to accommodate individual employee circumstances, limiting effective workforce support and retention. Grounded in the resource-based view theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore the effective strategies that HR leadership policymakers use to develop and implement flexible parental leave HR policy applications tailored to individual employee situations, thereby supporting improved employee capacity and the overall success and sustainability of the business. The participants …

Improving Rural Health Through Nutrition Incentives: A Mixed Methods Evaluation Of The First Year Of The Appalachian Farmacy Program, Bethesda O'Connell, Harrison Ihrig, Andrea D Nutsugah, Ignacio Garcia, Michael Rice, Ashley Cavender

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Food insecurity remains a critical public health concern, particularly in rural, low-income communities. In 2023, 13.5% of United States households experienced food insecurity, with rates in Tennessee (15.6%) exceeding the national average. Produce prescription programs have emerged as a strategy to improve food access and promote healthier eating behaviors. This study presents an evaluation of Appalachian Farmacy, a produce prescription program in Northeast Tennessee designed to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among individuals receiving Medicaid, Medicare, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Program evaluation methods included semi-structured interviews for process evaluation and pre- and post-surveys for outcome evaluation. Interviews …

Faculty Readiness And Ethical Perceptions Of Artificial Intelligence Integration In Higher Education Teaching And Assessment, Ayesha Afzal, Shahid Rafiq, Aisha Sami

Higher Learning Research Communications

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies presents both transformative opportunities and complex challenges for higher education, particularly in teaching and assessment. This study examines the readiness of faculty members in Pakistani universities to integrate AI tools into pedagogical and evaluative practices, alongside their ethical perceptions of AI use in academic contexts. Using a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 faculty members across diverse disciplines and institutions. Thematic analysis, guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, and Rest’s Four-Component Model of ethical decision making, revealed four interrelated themes: (1) …

Exploring The Role Of Higher Education Leaders In Quality Culture Development: A Mixed Methods Study, Eshetu Mandefro, Tesfaye Semela, Ashebir Bezabhi

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: In higher education institutions (HEIs), building a strong quality culture (QC) is essential to ensure the quality of education provided. QC integrates organizational, managerial, and psychological elements that shape how quality is understood and improved in HEIs. This study explores how leaders at the departmental and faculty levels navigate and contribute to quality culture development (QCD).

Methods: We employed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. A total of 1,029 academics completed questionnaires, and 33 leaders at the departmental and faculty levels were interviewed at three public universities in Ethiopia.

Results: The findings reveal that leadership roles at the departmental and …

Analytical Review Of Current Educational Public Policy For California Department Of Education Common Core Curriculum Guidelines Pertaining To Law-Related Education For Grades K–12, Aubray Mcpherson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was the lack of a mandated statewide law-related education (LRE) requirement within the California K–12 curriculum. Existing research linked structured LRE exposure to greater civic knowledge, stronger legal understanding, increased social responsibility, and reduced delinquency risk among disadvantaged youth. However, a gap exists due to the absence of integrated qualitative analyses combining prior LRE research with stakeholder perceptions. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the potential social, emotional, and economic implications associated with implementing a statewide LRE public policy. Guided by the conceptual framework consisting of new public administration and the …

Psychological Safety And Prosocial Rule Breaking Within Leader–Member Exchanges In A State Government Agency, Larry Standfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Psychological safety is often insufficiently supported in organizations, leading to strained leader-member exchanges (LMXs), reduced employee well-being, and diminished overall organizational performance. Government agency leaders need to understand this concern as a primary indicator of job satisfaction and organizational effectiveness. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how employees of a state government agency described leader support of psychological safety and prosocial rule breaking in their LMXs and how these LMX exchanges influenced their psychological safety and organizational performance. Psychosocial safety climate theory and LMX theory provided the grounding for this study. The participants consisted of 10 …

Leadership Practices And Staff Well-Being In Psychiatric Emergency Services: The Impact Of Staff Morale And Burnout On Retention And Attrition, Shamagne N. Richardson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workforce burnout, low morale, and high turnover are persistent challenges in psychiatric emergency services, where clinicians work in high-acuity environments. These conditions threaten workforce sustainability and continuity of crisis care. The problem addressed in this study was difficulty retaining staff within a nonprofit psychiatric emergency services organization due to burnout and morale erosion. The purpose of this study was to examine how leadership practices influence staff morale, burnout, and workforce retention at Psychiatric Emergency Stabilization Services X, located in New Jersey. The study was grounded in a qualitative conceptual framework informed by the Baldrige Excellence Framework. The study population included …

Differences And Changes In Cross-Cultural Sensitivity Of German And Japanese Students Before And After Short-Term Exchange Programs, Kazumasa Nakagawa, Yuko Takahashi, Melanie Zwiorek

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Since 2012, a Japanese and a German university have conducted exchange programs. This study examined the effects of a short-term exchange program in 2023, focusing on intercultural sensitivity. Nine Japanese students and nine German students completed a 24-item Intercultural Sensitivity Scale before and after the program using a 5-point Likert scale. We performed cross-tabulations and analyzed differences between countries and pre- and post-program changes using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests. The results suggest that even a short-term exchange enhanced Japanese students’ confidence in intercultural interactions and encouraged German students to reflect on their own culture. However, Japanese students showed lower …

Perceptions Of Former Inmates’ Mental Health And Substance Abuse Treatment Received During Incarceration, Garla Kathleen Snapp-Hart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Access to effective behavioral treatment is critical for the imprisoned population and newly released individuals to reduce reentry into the penitentiary system. Social workers within correctional facilities can determine the need for treatment, how often treatment is required, what specific treatment is necessary, and what resources will be needed to provide those treatments. A qualitative exploratory design was used in this study. I explored the quality of behavioral health treatment provided to the incarcerated population. Systems theory was used as the theoretical framework this study. There were 17 participants in this study who had been incarcerated in a Kentucky prison …

Strategies Used By Information Technology Business Managers For Improved Competitive Drive In Organizational Culture, Kenechukwu Laura Mukaila-Lawal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poorly managed organizational culture changes can weaken competitive drive in information technology business organizations, limiting their ability to respond effectively to rapid technological advancements. This problem affects information technology business leaders, employees, and organizations operating in competitive markets, as a misaligned culture reduces innovation, employee engagement, and long-term sustainability. Grounded in organizational culture theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore effective strategies that information technology business managers use to improve competitive drive in organizational culture in the Southwestern region of Nigeria. The participants were seven information technology business leaders who devised and implemented strategies to …

Social, Political, And Economic Determinants For Hiv Prep Care Delivery Innovations, Joanne Senoga Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pre-exposure prophylactic care delivery innovations (PCDI) are critical to the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative. While individual studies have examined isolated factors such as patient awareness, provider willingness to prescribe, and cost-effectiveness, few have synthesized these findings into a unified framework explaining how structural social, political, and economic determinants jointly influence PCDI. Prior literature remains fragmented, emphasizing behavioral or programmatic variables rather than systemic structures. This meta-analysis was done to examine how structural determinants independently and collectively influence PCDI across the 47 U.S. EHE jurisdictions. Guided by the consolidated framework for implementation research and Rogers’s diffusion of innovations theory, …

Enhancing Patient Safety Through An Educational Intervention On Purposeful Rounding To Reduce Inpatient Falls In A Neuro - Medical Unit, Idiat Oyefunke Falade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral staff education project focused on improving purposeful rounding practices among staff and patient outcomes on a neuro-medical unit. The practice problem stemmed from inconsistent rounding behaviors, gaps in staff knowledge of evidence-based fall-prevention strategies, and a persistent pattern of inpatient falls. Patients with neurological conditions face impaired mobility, cognitive changes, and clinical instability, making structured rounds essential to reduce risk. The practice-focused question asked whether an educational intervention targeting the principles and procedures of purposeful rounding could measurably improve staff knowledge, increase their skill, strengthen their commitment with the pain, potty, position, and possession components of rounding and …

The Relative Strength Of Paternal Absence, Strong Black Woman Schema, And Self-Esteem In Predicting Resilience Among Black Women, Aqueelah Wheatley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The continued rise in single-mother households within Black communities has led to an increase in hyper-independence among Black women, a phenomenon referred to as the strong Black woman schema. Studies have found an association between hyper-independence (i.e., excessive self-reliance and emotional invulnerability) and absent fathers (i.e., due to incarceration or abandonment), forcing Black women to assume the roles of financial provider, caregiver, and community agent. Though studies have found a link between the strong Black woman and negative health outcomes (e.g., emotional distress), other studies have found that strong Black women characterize themselves as independent, empowered, and content individuals, feelings …

Executive Leadership System Improvement Program Proposal For Capturing At-Risk Patients In A Primary Care Setting, Winter Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unmet social determinants of health (SDOH) contribute significantly to poor health outcomes, increased healthcare utilization, and persistent inequities in access to care. In a primary care organization, the inconsistent identification and management of patients’ social needs resulted in variable documentation, limited referrals to social work services, and avoidable emergency department (ED) utilization. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to develop an executive leadership systems implementation proposal to standardize the identification and referral of at-risk patients through the integration of a validated social needs screening tool into the electronic health record (EHR). The guiding practice-focused question …

Staff Education On Telehealth Monitoring Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dinnah Makori

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) require consistent monitoring of communication skills, behavior patterns, sensory responses, and adaptive functioning to support timely intervention and improved developmental outcomes. Although telehealth has expanded access to care, many nurses have not received structured training in conducting virtual assessments for children with ASD. Variability in telehealth competency can affect documentation quality, workflow consistency, and provider confidence. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to develop and evaluate a structured staff-education program designed to strengthen pediatric nurses’ competencies in telehealth monitoring of children with ASD. A quantitative pretest–posttest design was used …

Post-Operative Hernia Site Infections, Agatha Francesca Inga Gittens-Stay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project was a clinical practice guideline (CPG) focused on the development of a perioperative guideline for patients undergoing various types of hernia repairs. Hernia repair is a common surgical procedure to address various types of hernias.. To assure continued compliance with nationally set benchmarks and minimize the rate of postoperative hernia infections, a systematic review of evidence-based practices (EBP) to foster infection prevention was initiated at a hospital in England. The practice-focused question used was: For patients who underwent hernia repair surgery, what evidence informs CPG recommendations on the type of material, surgical interventions, and nursing interventions to …

The Effectiveness Of Rehabilitative Activities In Social Reintegration Of Ex-Parolees Into Guyanese Society, La-Toya Lucrisha Arthur-Tucker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many parolees struggle with successful reintegration into society. Further research was needed to assess the benefits of parole for both parolees and former parolees in Guyana, the only English-speaking country in South America. The insights of ex-parolees may make the country’s parole process more meaningful to offenders’ rehabilitative experience and overall social reintegration. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the effectiveness of rehabilitative activities in the social reintegration of ex-parolees into Guyanese society. The risk–need–responsivity model, general strain theory, and social support theories provided a framework for the investigation. The focus was on ex-parolees who had been …

Strategies To Reduce Turnover And Retain Substance Abuse Treatment Center Counseling Staff, Hilary Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many outpatient substance use treatment centers struggle with retention and recruitment of counseling staff. Without sufficient staff, substance use outpatient treatment centers are unable to provide services to patients who need such support, and patients often seek care in places like the emergency department, which creates problems for the healthcare system, such as overcrowding. The purpose of this research was to identify strategies to increase retention and improve recruiting effectiveness for counseling staff at outpatient substance use treatment centers. The conceptual framework of plan, recruit, retain underpinned this integrative review. The review question centered on the best strategies to reduce …

Exploring The Experiences Of Cit Officers And Their Perceptions Of The Programs Effectiveness, Arkeshia Dominique Ware

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Police officers across the United States frequently respond to individuals experiencing mental health crises, yet many lack specialized training to manage these encounters effectively. The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model was developed to improve law enforcement responses through collaboration with mental health professionals and an emphasis on de-escalation. Although prior research has examined measurable outcomes associated with CIT programs, limited qualitative research has explored CIT-trained officers’ lived experiences and perceptions of effectiveness. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to examine how CIT-trained officers use their skills to reduce arrest, officer and citizen injury, and use of force …

Patient Education Brochure On Diabetic Foot Care In A Primary Care Setting, Trinitas (Nitas) Duru Oha

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctoral Nursing Practice (DNP) project was an evidence-based quality improvement (QI) initiative. The practice problem was the absence of expert-validated diabetic foot care education materials, insufficient and inconsistent patient education, and patients' limited knowledge of self-care for diabetic foot care, all of which led to the persistence of diabetic foot complications in primary care settings. Due to the organization’s identified lack of patient education materials, an evidence-based diabetic foot care brochure for diabetic self-foot care education was developed. The patient education materials assessment tool (PEMAT) was used to evaluate the brochure's efficacy. The practice question was designed to determine …

Strategies To Recruit And Retain Imaging Ancillary Staff For Healthcare Organizations, Stephania Poveromo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hospitals and healthcare facilities in the United States continue to face persistent shortages of ancillary imaging technologists, creating significant challenges for hospital administrators. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify effective strategies for recruiting and retaining imaging staff in hospitals. The review question concerned what best practices and strategies healthcare administrators can use to improve the recruitment and retention of ancillary imaging staff. The theoretical frameworks for this research, strategic human resource development and Maslow’s theory of human motivation, provided a lens for understanding organizational enhancement and employee engagement, respectively. Following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, …

Upper Elementary Teachers' Experiences In Teaching Narrative Writing In Title I Classrooms, Courteney O. Manning

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed in this study is that third through fifth grade students continue to score below district expectations on the Georgia Milestones Assessment System in narrative writing. Guided by the Ofsted inspection framework, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand the experiences of upper elementary teachers teaching writing in Title I classrooms. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 participants who taught upper elementary grades. Through thematic coding, four themes emerged outlining (a) the instructional success teachers experienced teaching narrative writing, (b) the instructional challenges of teaching narrative writing, (c) teachers’ beliefs about …

Law Enforcement Officers’ Experiences With Secondary Traumatic Stress And Coping While Working With Child Molesters, Aaliyah Blanding

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was focused on law enforcement officers’ experiences with secondary traumatic stress and coping while working with child molesters. Lazarus and Folkman’s cognitive model of stress and coping were used to examine how law enforcement officers manage stress, focusing on their cognitive processes and thought patterns. Using a basic qualitative approach, eight law enforcement officers who work with child molesters in the state of South Carolina were interviewed to hear their personal experiences. Interviews were semi-structured interview questions via a video-conferencing platform. The data were analyzed and coded using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis. The study’s findings confirmed …

Staff Education To Improve Knowledge Of Nurse-Led Telemonitoring For Suicide Prevention, Finny Ngozi Rogers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project was a staff education initiative addressing a critical practice gap: clinical staff at a mental health facility lacked the practical knowledge to implement evidence-based telemonitoring protocols for suicide prevention, despite strong supporting research. High rates of suicide attempts and readmissions underscored the urgency for this intervention. The practice-focused question was: “Will a staff education program designed to educate healthcare providers on nurse-led telemonitoring protocols increase staff knowledge?” The purpose of this project was to develop, implement, and evaluate an educational program for providers to increase their knowledge on how a telemonitoring protocol can reduce …

Relationship Between Transportation Availability And Obstetric Access In Predicting United States Maternal Death Rates, Veronica N. Trueblood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Maternal mortality remains a significant challenge in the United States with substantial variation across counties reflecting differences in health care delivery systems and access to obstetric services. Fragmented obstetric care networks, hospital closures, and geographic barriers to care contribute to delays in prenatal and emergency obstetric services, increasing the risk of preventable maternal deaths. Guided by the social determinants of health (SDOH) framework, this quantitative cross-sectional health services study examined relationships between transportation availability, obstetric care access, and county-level maternal mortality in the United States. A national scope was required to achieve an adequate analytic sample size, as maternal mortality …

Exploring Strategies To Improve Turnover Staffing Shortages And Support For In-Home Family Caregivers, Katrina V. Tate

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Home care workers play a vital role in supporting older adults, yet retaining staff in these positions can often be challenging. The purpose and review question for this integrative review concerned the strategies and best practices for home health agencies to retain formal caregivers and implement in-home/informal caregiving as an integral component of the caregiving team. Penchansky and Thomas’s theory of access supported this study by highlighting how the qualities and expectations of home care workers align with their patients. A comprehensive review of the literature resulted in 53 articles, which were screened for quality and relevance. Of these, 24 …

Ethical Decision-Making And Modification Of Service Delivery: Social Workers In Connecticut During Covid, Marie Elana Hollingsworth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social work professionals often experience demanding and intense situations while facing organizational restructuring during crisis situations. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the viewpoints of frontline social workers regarding their ethical decision-making processes in response to the mandatory modifications of the service delivery protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic. Enck’s biomedical and ethical decision-making framework grounded the study. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with 10 frontline social workers in Connecticut who had been employed with a social service agency for at least 3 years, but no more than ten. Findings from coding and thematic analysis yielded …