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Implementing Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Screening In Adult Mental Health: A Staff Education Initiative, Precious Nmachi Adaso

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project was a staff education program aimed at the use of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) as a universal depression screening instrument within a mental health facility. The project was conducted in an urban area of the United States at an outpatient behavioral health facility and was focused on addressing the stagnation in the staff’s correct use of evidence-based measures of depression screening that inhibits the prompt detection and treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). The practice focused question was: Following participation in a staff education program, will staff demonstrate increased knowledge on depression screening and use of the …

Educating Correctional Nurses On The Use Of A Mindfulness Program To Reduce Work Stress, Victoria Ngozi Emelogu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Correctional nurses deliver care in environments marked by violent incidents, chronic understaffing, and moral distress. These conditions heighten occupational stress, jeopardize patient safety, and accelerate staff turnover, yet few U.S. jails provide evidence-based training in rapid self-regulation strategies. The purpose of this staff education project was to evaluate whether a 2-week curriculum could increase correctional nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported skills (KAS) for on-shift mindfulness use. Pender’s health promotion model framed the intervention, Bloom’s taxonomy and Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model informed learning objectives and outcome levels. Five correctional nurses at a large urban jail completed an anonymous 10‑item KAS survey before …

Staff Education For Health Care Providers On Improving Health Care Outcomes For Lgbtq+ Youth And Adolescent Patients, Sheila Shafer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project was focused on the significant challenges faced by LGBTQ+ adolescents and young adults, specifically those aged 12 to 25 years, who seek mental health care services. Research indicated that discrimination and stigma against this demographic contribute to disproportionately poorer mental health outcomes, underscoring the urgent need for culturally competent health care delivery. The purpose of this project was to educate professionals on the necessary skills and knowledge about the unique needs of LGBTQ+ patients. The question was the following: Would an educational intervention improve providers’ knowledge and confidence in diagnosing and treating the mental health needs of LGBTQ+ …

The Level Of Awareness Of County Services In Maryland Offered By A Local Care Team To Youth With Developmental Disabilities And Mental Illness, Wanna Nedgie Dare

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental and developmental health challenges remained a significant concern in one Maryland county. The Maryland Governor’s Office for Children (GOC) funds and supports the Local Care Team (LCT). Participation remains low, indicating a lack of community awareness. The purpose of this study was to explore the awareness of LCT services and strategies to improve outreach, interagency coordination, and communication to increase service use. The research question was: What is the Level of Awareness of County Services in Maryland Offered by a Local Care Team to Youth with Developmental Disabilities and Mental Illness? Guided by the person-centered care (PCC) model, evidence …

Leading Through Times Of Financial Uncertainty In Nonprofit Organizations, Lakisha A. Dent-Gordon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This macro analysis examines the leadership effectiveness of a CEO within a nonprofit re-entry organization dedicated to reducing the 36% recidivism rate in a Southwestern U.S. state. The organization serves up to 50 clients recently released from the state prison system, offering housing and support services. The organizations leadership faced imminent closure due to a financial crisis driven by limited funding, high employee turnover, and a lack of community partnerships, allowing for an examination of the CEO’s response to the crisis. The quantitative study includes a review of peer-reviewed literature, assessments based on the Baldrige Framework of Excellence, and interviews …

Using Supply Chain Management Strategies To Create Competitive Advantages, Marlon Mitchell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In an increasingly competitive marketplace, small and medium businesses (SMBs) can use effective supply chain management (SCM) to strengthen competitiveness. Supply chain stakeholders and SMB owners are concerned with maintaining resilient and innovative supply chains to sustain growth. Grounded in game theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective strategies that small business leaders use to identify and implement supply chain innovation. Data were collected through Walden University and peer-reviewed studies. Through thematic analysis, nine themes were identified: supplier diversification, inventory management, cost evaluation, visibility systems, technology and automation, improved communication, risk management, changes …

Women Clergy Members' Perceptions Of Mentorship Strategies For Leader Development, Linda Ann Brady

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to recent studies, women were underrepresented in senior leadership in the global Christian church, and leadership pathways for the development of women were often lacking. The local problem within the International Christian Church (ICC) was a lack of understanding of holistic mentoring strategies that support the development of women clergy members, which could help fill the current leadership gap. Guided by Dahlvig and Longman’s model of women’s leadership development, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of women clergy regarding holistic mentoring strategies that might increase the number of women in leadership within the …

Native Hawaiian Culturally Appropriate Substance Use Disorders Formative Program Evaluation, Kelly J. Penn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance use disorders (SUDs) disproportionately affects Native Hawaiians, yet conventional treatments often overlook the cultural, spiritual, and relational foundations of well-being for Native Hawaiians. This gap represents a human services problem, as it perpetuates health disparities, limits recovery, and slows social change within Native Hawaiian communities. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to identify culturally relevant components for an SUD treatment program tailored to Native Hawaiians. The research question guiding this study was, what are culturally appropriate components for a SUD program for Native Hawaiians. The Nā Pou Kihi framework grounded the exploration of Indigenous approaches to …

Caregiver Perspectives About Implementing Educational Goals For Children Of Incarcerated Parents In A Head Start Program, Alissa Jane Stark

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study is that caregivers of children with incarcerated parents inconsistently implement the mandated educational goals developed through the Head Start program. Grounded in Bowen’s family systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore caregiver’s perspectives on implementing Head Start Educational goals for children of incarcerated parents and their views on the resources or training needed to support these goals. For this case study, 12 former caregivers from a Head Start program in a women’s correctional facility in Oregon were interviewed. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed thematically with the …

Strategies For Selecting Legacy It Systems For Cloud Adoption In An Sme, Rize A.Salih Salih

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) information technology (IT) managers are concerned about the struggle to select suitable legacy systems for cloud adoption, which can lead to costly delays and poor legacy system alignment. Grounded in the technology acceptance model, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry explored strategies SME IT managers used to select legacy systems for cloud adoption. The participants were five SME IT managers from SMEs in the Southeast United States. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and by reviewing public documents. Through thematic analysis, four themes were identified: (a) cloud Strategy and planning, (b) cost, efficiency, and performance, (c) security, …

Middle School Teachers’ Perceptions About Lgbtq+ Inclusivity In The Classroom, Tanya Nordhaus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study is that middle school teachers struggle to incorporate LGBTQ+ issues into their classrooms. As the middle school years are pivotal, teachers may need support to be inclusive of their LGBTQ+ students. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate how middle school teachers incorporate LGBTQ+ issues in the classroom, as well as these teachers’ perceptions of their successes and challenges in doing so. The conceptual framework that grounded this study was queer pedagogy, which questions the normalization of heterosexuality and cisgenderism through pedagogical praxis. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were …

Cyberloafing And The Effects On Information Technology Infrastructure, Robert Ceneskie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cyberloafing, or the use of business resources for nonwork-related internet activity, can negatively affect technology infrastructure and organizational productivity. In K–12 public school districts, IT administrators and school leaders are directly affected, as network degradation and ransomware attacks can disrupt instruction, compromise sensitive data, and reduce access to critical resources. This quantitative correlational, ex post facto study, grounded in activity theory and the theory of human-technology interaction, was to determine whether there was a statistically significant relationship between employee cyberloafing, network degradation, and ransomware security attacks in the education sector. Data were collected through public records requests for bandwidth usage, …

The Impact Of A Trauma-Informed Care Education Program On Nurses’ Knowledge And Confidence In Managing Sexual Trauma In A Psychiatric Clinic, Fatiatu Jobi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary This staff education project evaluates whether a staff education program on trauma-informed care (TIC) approaches would improve the knowledge, confidence, and skills of nurses working at a local mental health clinic in managing symptoms of sexual trauma-affected patients. With notable increased incidence of sexual trauma and inadequate protocols to address it there is need for TIC. Sexual trauma, if inadequately addressed, leads to profound and long-lasting psychological effects. The goal of this project was to enhance nurses’ understanding and capabilities related to TIC, using a pretest and posttest interventional design utilizing questionnaire that consisted of three sections: knowledge, perceived …

Patient Care And Certified Nursing Assistants’ Motivation And Job Satisfaction In Nursing Facilities, Roswell Royce Lawrie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was focused on certified nursing assistants’ (CNAs) views of the association between their motivation, job satisfaction, and the quality of care they offer to patients in one chosen nursing home center in New Jersey. Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation and a generic qualitative design were used to explore CNAs’ experiences and perspectives relating to their motivation, job fulfillment, and the level of care. The study included semi structured interviews with the 12 CNAs, who were directly and consistently in contact with their respective patients at the selected nursing home center. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed …

Fathers’ Lived Experiences After Their Children Experienced Child Sexual Abuse, Joan Michelle Lucien

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a global health crisis with deleterious consequences that violates children’s safety worldwide. Exact rates of CSA prevalence vary, as most cases of CSA are not disclosed. Survivors delayed or nondisclosure impedes early interventions to alleviate documented adverse effects of CSA. CSA survivors have an increased risk of suicidal ideation. This phenomenological study involved examining the lived experiences of adult fathers after their children experienced CSA. Finkelhor and Browne’s traumagenic dynamics framework guided this study. Traumagenic dynamics influence children’s cognitive and emotional functioning and distort their self-esteem, identity, worldview, and affective capacities. Stigmatization has been associated …

Effective Small Business Employee Job Retention Strategies, Cynthia Marie Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unsuccessful retention strategies for small businesses can significantly impact an organization's success. Small business leaders who struggle to retain employees beyond two years are at high risk of business uncertainty. Grounded in Freeman’s (1984) stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore practical strategies that small business leaders use to retain employees beyond 2 years. The research project comprised eight small business leaders who had an effective strategy to retain employees for more than two years. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and publicly available documents. Through thematic analysis, five key themes …

Exploring Lived Experiences And Perceptions Of Individuals With Substance-Use Disorder Recovery Management From A Biopsychosocial Perspective, Robin Carter Priest

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance-use disorder (SUD) poses significant biological, psychological, and sociological impacts that negatively affect areas of employment, health, family systems, and interactions with social welfare and legal agencies. Although there has been research on SUD treatment, relapse rates remain high at approximately 40%–75%, demonstrating a gap in the literature involving individuals who completed SUD treatment and continuation or management of recovery. Grounded in phenomenological theory and through a biopsychosocial lens, this qualitative study explored the lived experiences and perceptions of individuals with substance-use disorder managing their recovery. Data were collected from 8 individuals who completed partial hospitalization or intensive-outpatient levels of …

Consumer Behavior-Based Strategies Small Business Leaders Use To Increase Online Sales Revenues, Alexander Sakharov

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many small business leaders struggle to tailor online strategies that drive demand, limiting growth and differentiation in competitive digital markets. Business leaders must adopt data-informed, customer-centered approaches that align digital marketing efforts with consumer behavior and market expectations. Grounded in social exchange theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the online shopping marketing strategies that some small business marketing leaders use to increase demand for products and services. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with six small business leaders from Vancouver, British Columbia; Toronto, Ontario; and Seattle, Washington. The four main themes identified using thematic analysis …

Improving Staff Knowledge On Hourly Rounding Using The 4ps To Reduce The Fall Rate, Chukwuemeka Igboanugo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

I designed this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project to develop an educational program that increases staff knowledge of hourly rounding using an evidence-based approach, specifically pain, position, potty, and possession (the 4Ps), to prevent falls among residents in a long-term care facility. According to facility leadership, the observed gap in practice was the nursing staff members’ lack of knowledge in performing hourly rounding. The facility’s fall records for the lockdown units indicated a surge in fall rate, with 32 falls among 62 residents per month, reflecting a need for action. The practice-focused question guiding the project was: For staff …

College Persistence And Tribal Nation-Building Among American Indian Undergraduate Students, Brittany Ann Boone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study was that little is known regarding attempts at higher education persistence and tribal nation-building affecting each other among American Indian (AI) undergraduate college students in Oklahoma. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of AI undergraduate students enrolled at a college or university in Oklahoma regarding higher education persistence and tribal nation-building. Astin’s theory of student involvement was the conceptual framework that guided this study because of its focus on the connection between student involvement and persistence. The research question addressed how AI undergraduate students describe their experiences …

Active Learning And Nclex-Rn Pass Rate On First Attempt In Bsn And Adn Programs, Janette Tingson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failing the NCLEX-RN on the first attempt affects not only the students and their families but also nursing programs. To increase NCLEX-RN pass rates, nursing programs are shifting from traditional teaching to active learning in their aim to produce nursing graduates who will pass the NCLEX-RN exams on the first attempt. The purpose of this descriptive, correlational study, guided by theory of constructivism, was to determine if there is a relationship between faculty’s use of active learning strategies (ALS) and nursing students’ NCLEX-RN pass rates on the first attempt in bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and associate degree in …

The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Disproportionate Minority Contact On Minority Youth Within Juvenile Justice In Texas, Atica Helms Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disproportionate minority contact (DMC) remains a significant concern within the juvenile justice system, yet its connection to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among minority youth is underexamined. Nationally, minority youth, particularly Black youth, are disproportionately represented compared to their White peers, prompting efforts to understand and address racial and ethnic disparities in system involvement. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between DMC and ACEs within the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD). Guided by general strain theory (GST), whether traumatic life experiences contribute to the disproportionate representation of minority youth was examined. The central research question was designed …

Perceptions Of Adulthood Preparation Among Individuals Who Aged Out Of The Foster Care System, Victor Torrez Dawson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This generic qualitative study was focused on the lived experiences of former foster care youth and their ability to acquire and retain self-sufficiency skills during their transition to adulthood. Using Bandura’s social learning theory as a framework, the research was focused on how interpersonal relationships with caregivers, mentors, and professionals influenced the development of these skills. Semistructured interviews were used to collect data from 10 former foster care youth. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data, and three key themes and 13 subthemes emerged highlighting both support and barriers that youth encountered. The analysis of the data revealed that …

Enhancing Disaster Response Through Mental Health Resilience: A Force Field Analysis, Veronica Portillo-Bradford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Having a post-disaster program in place can offer survivors and emergency responders support, resource navigation, and resiliency planning. Human services workers in the field aid in disaster recovery and crisis prevention. The problem is that rural Nevada is already limited on resources and workforce with respect to mental and behavioral health response and recovery services. The purpose of this study was to identify unknown gaps within mental and behavioral health services in rural and frontier Nevada, in order to focus on advocating to enhance community resilience-related services post-disaster and potentially bolster resilience and disaster response preparedness. The framework for the …

Young Adults’ Self-Perceptions Of Parenting Styles And Attachments Influencing Juvenile Criminality, Keristin Zanda Scott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parenting styles, parent-to-child attachments, and parental involvements are contributing factors leading to juvenile delinquency. Adolescents are committing offending acts at a younger age, recidivating, and perpetrating with peers or parents. However, there is a lack of empirical research on juvenile perceptions of parenting, juvenile criminality, and desistance implications. The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological study was to explore past juvenile criminal offenders’ lived experiences and the corresponding influence parenting styles had on their deviant behaviors. Ainsworth and Bowlby’s attachment theory, Baumrind’s parenting style theory, and Bandura’s social learning theory provided a lens for examining young adults’ perceptions of parenting related …

Playful Learning Journeys: Exploring The Perceptions And Knowledge Of Lecturers/Tutors And Student Teachers, Frank Twum, Samuel Kweku Hayford, Dandy Dampson, Johnnie Kojo Hayford

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This paper investigated the perceptions and knowledge of play-based learning (PBL) by lecturers/tutors and student teachers. Ninety lecturers/tutors (68 males, 22 females) and 363 student teachers (191 males, 172 females) participated in the study. While both lecturers/tutors and student teachers favored PBL, they had some concerns. Lecturers/tutors acknowledged the benefits of PBL, including its enhancement of memory, conceptual development, and motor skills in children. However, nearly two-thirds found it time-consuming. Student teachers were of the view PBL promoted positive student experiences. However, more than half felt PBL offered limited opportunities for their own learning during lessons. Both groups demonstrated knowledge …

Teacher Perceptions Of The Mental Health And Socio-Emotional Challenges Of English Language Learners, Nilufer Guler, Dincer Guler, Kyle Bush

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

A fast-growing percentage of students in K–12 classrooms are English language learner (ELL) students, and a large number of these students are experiencing a vast array of academic and non-academic challenges at school. Many ELL challenges involve inadequate socio-emotional learning (SEL) skill development, as well as mental health obstacles, and many schools are not equipped with the resources needed to address and resolve these challenges for ELLs.

In this study, we focus on teacher observations of the SEL and mental health challenges that K–12 students face. In the initial survey, 120 teachers participated regarding ELLs and these challenges. Following the …

Exploring Organizational Success: Strategies That Optimize Employee Performance In Small Businesses, Latoya Anthony

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee retention challenges in small businesses can undermine organizational effectiveness and profitability. Small business leaders in the Midwestern United States service industry are particularly concerned with ineffective human resource (HR) strategies, as these shortcomings often contribute to reduced workforce engagement and higher turnover. Grounded in the resource-based view (RBV) theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to explore successful HR strategies that small business leaders in the Midwestern United States service industry use to sustain organizational effectiveness and overall profitability. The participants were six HR leaders from small service firms who had successfully implemented HR practices that …

Strategies Human Resource Leaders Use To Increase Employee Retention In The Automotive Industry, Kendra Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Excess turnover of personnel threatens organizational viability and long-term success. Human resource leaders need to develop strategies to increase employee retention. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theories, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore and identify successful employee retention strategies employed by human resource leaders to mitigate employee turnover. Data were collected from human resources managers using semistructured interviews and public data from companies’ websites. Through thematic analysis, four themes emerged: (a) job assignment, (b) employee feedback, (c) employee benefits, and (d) training, growth, and development. A key recommendation is for human resource …

Strategies Managers Use To Improve Employee Retention, Jeanette L. Moncure

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Addressing employee turnover and boosting retention are major challenges for companies looking to achieve long-term success. Project managers are crucial in tackling this issue, as high turnover can undermine team performance and increase operational costs. Grounded in Herzberg’s two factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore strategies that some project managers use to reduce high employee turnover. The participants included six project managers in Mississippi who had an active role in using strategies to increase employee retention. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, organizational documentation, and research statistics. Thematic analysis identified six key strategies: (a) …