Digital Commons Network^™

Emergency Preparedness Curriculum: Essential Skills For Nurses Responding In Disasters, Sallie J. Shipman

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the lived experiences of nurses first time responding to a civilian disaster response in shelters or temporary community medical clinics in an attempt to identify the essential knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to disaster victims. The theoretical framework for this study was the theory of novice to expert, experiential learning, clinical reasoning, and using real life situations to develop the student's sense of salience by Benner et al. (1996, 2009; 2010).

A Qualitative Exploration Of Associate Degree Nurse Educators' Teaching Experiences Regarding Health Literacy, Connie Marshall

Dissertations

Worldwide health literacy levels are low. Nurses should be able to lead the improvement of the health literacy of the populations they serve. During a comprehensive review of the literature, it became apparent that previous research regarding the provision of health literacy education within Associate Degree Nursing programs was not available. The Associate Degree is the initial degree that allows the graduate to take the NCLEX-RN board exam, so it was interesting to determine how learners are prepared to discern the health literacy levels of the patient population. The research question, "How do nurse educators describe their experiences with health …

Accountability For Unethicality: Monitoring, Policy, And Individual Attitudes, Sara Marie Lewis

Dissertations

This research examines the mechanisms that can be used to reduce unethical behaviors, as well as their influence on employee attitudes (e.g., trust, justice, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment). Using an experimental design, participants were exposed to varying levels of accountability, monitoring, and policy to examine their interaction effects on unethical behaviors and attitudes. Two significant interactions emerged when looking at the mechanism's influence on attitudes. Policy clarity had a significant main effect on employee justice perceptions, with vague policies reducing perceptions of justice. The interaction between clear policy and accountability significantly impacted justice perceptions, highlighting the value of accountability …

Hors-Piste Universal Anxiety Prevention Program In American High Schools: A One Group Pre-Test/Post-Test Quantitative Study, Lucia Poole

Dissertations

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common types of psychiatric disorders and have been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic. Anxiety disorders disrupt the daily lives of young people and are associated with a risk of anxiety and depression in adulthood. Anxiety disorders in adolescents interfere with the daily lives of students and often result in a decline in academic performance. There is a pressing need to implement universal anxiety prevention programs in students' main environment, the school. Along with academics, student mental health should be a top priority for school leaders. School leaders are tasked with implementing …

Generational Differences And Teacher Burnout In The Post-Pandemic Era, Michelin Springer

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the intricate relationship between generational cohorts and the efficacy of technology integration in the context of teacher burnout, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As educators transitioned from virtual online instruction back to blended or traditional face-to-face learning environments, this study explored teachers’ sense of technological efficacy in adopting and integrating various technological strategies and its relationship with their experiences of burnout during these shifts. Additionally, this study examined how different generational groups may experience teacher burnout and report their efficacy in technology integration in the post-pandemic context. Surveys which …

Transition To Practice Of New Graduate Nurses In The First Year Of Employment At A Rural Healthcare System, Deena Woodall

Dissertations

The nursing workforce crisis has highlighted the need for effective transition to practice (TTP) for new graduate nurses (NGNs). In 2021, only 20% of NGNs in the US were considered practice-ready. The use of Nurse Residency Programs (NRP) was highlighted as the best approach for improving competencies and practice readiness. However, the assessment of NRP effectiveness is limited, particularly in rural hospitals.

Impact Of Brief Group Sessions On Anxiety And Coping In Primary Caregivers Of Those With Rare Disorders, Andrea I. Bowling

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of virtual support sessions for caregivers of those with rare diseases on anxiety and coping. Caregivers of loved ones with rare diseases experience many challenges that may increase anxiety. These may include managing the long-term effects of the disorder, early mortality, or concerns about leaving their adult loved one without a caregiver. Stressors associated with providing care to chronically ill family members may impact psychological and physical well-being.

The Future Of Physical Education And How Instructional Technology Is Pivotal In Curriculum Design And Learner-Centered Instruction, Josh Mcmillian

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered K-12 education, compelling physical education (PE) instructors to adapt swiftly to remote teaching. This dissertation explores the integration of instructional technology among Missouri PE teachers, analyzing practices before, during, and after the pandemic. Utilizing a phenomenological approach, the study surveyed 106 educators and conducted 12 in-depth interviews, revealing widespread use of technologies such as heart rate monitors, fitness apps, and platforms like Google Classroom.

Findings highlight that school climate, access to resources, and teacher training are pivotal in technology adoption. Veteran teachers demonstrated greater proficiency with advanced tools, while novices showed adaptability but required foundational …

Aligning Perspectives: A Comparative Analysis Of Teachers’ And School Leaders’ Perceptions Of Professional Development Efficacy, Nina Hollis

Dissertations

Professional development has become a staple in the educational landscape, with gaining importance in further education and enhancing one's career as an educator. Professional development is all about updating teachers with the latest knowledge and techniques, found by research, to effectively increase teaching skills. This study investigates the professional development experience of educators and school leaders in relation to their perceptions about professional development. These themes were created in the data analysis to include educators' roles in the classroom, school level, level of degree held, years of experience, subjects taught, and years of professional tenure to get full insight into …

The Influence Of News Media On Esg Ratings: Analyzing Media Sentiment Around Esg Rating Changes, David Beverly

Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the complex relationship between media sentiment and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ratings, a pressing issue highlighted by the lack of transparency in the adjustments to ratings from some agencies and not others. The research aims to empirically examine the extent to which news media narratives influence ESG scores and contribute to discrepancies among rating agencies. With ESG investing becoming increasingly significant, as evidenced by the rise in global assets under management in ESG funds, the accuracy and reliability of ESG scores are of increasing importance to investors, policymakers, and academics.

The study explores the potential of …

Undergraduate Nursing Students' Test Anxiety And Performance Based On Testing Time Limits, Miranda E. Knapp

Dissertations

Test anxiety is a debilitating problem for many prelicensure nursing students. Effects of test anxiety can result in poor academic performance, inability to complete programs or pass license exams, and ultimately contributes to nursing shortages. Faculty-based methods to decrease nursing students’ test anxiety levels have not been thoroughly explored. Testing time limit suggestions vary significantly from one minute per question to more than two minutes per question. The effects of different testing time limits on test anxiety levels, testing duration, and testing performance has not been studied.

The Implementation Of Stream In Mathematics Classrooms In Abu Dhabi Primary Schools: Prospects, Priorities, Processes, And Problems, Nadeia Rashed Alalawi

Dissertations

This study shed light on implementing science, technology, reading and writing, engineering, art, and mathematics (STREAM) in mathematics classrooms in Abu Dhabi primary schools. The study aimed to explore mathematics teachers’ views on the prospects, priorities, processes, and problems of the implementation of STREAM in their classrooms. The study employed qualitative methods to collect and analyze data to support the findings using interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis. Fifteen in-service mathematics teachers were interviewed to explore their views about the application of STREAM in their classrooms regarding prospects, priorities, processes, and problems (4 Ps). Then, three of them were observed …

The Effect Of Work-Life Responsibilities On The Well-Being Of Female Employees: A Uae Case Study, Mouza Mohamed Alqubaisi

Dissertations

This study examines the possible conflict between work commitments and family obligations and its implications for working women's well-being. In this respect, in-depth interviews were held with a sample of twenty female employees working in different departments of the Abu Dhabi Government. The collected qualitative data have been analyzed through frameworks drawn from the concepts of the Work-Life Balance (WLB) and the Work-Family Conflict (WFC), specifically considering the Job Demands- Resources (JD-R) and the Conservation of Resources (COR) theories. The findings probably indicate that working women encounter substantial challenges in their daily work, such as long working hours, lack of …

Tackling Toxicity And Harassment In Online Environments Through The Use Of Artificial Intelligence, Heba Saleous

Dissertations

With the increase in popularity of online communities, such as social media platforms, online games, and chatroom servers, there is a need to improve chat and content moderation. Platforms have reported an increase in the prevalence of toxic behavior and hate speech. Meanwhile, moderators are reporting difficulties in keeping up with the amount of data to check as well and the type of content they are exposed to, which further harms their own mental health. The main objective of this work is to address the challenges that exist within online communities with the rising prevalence of hate speech. Additionally, some …

How Teachers And Students Create And Experience Social Presence Through Community Building And Self-Disclosure In Middle School Synchronous Online Learning Environments: A Qualitative Case Study, Jennifer Trail

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate middle school teachers’ and students’ attitudes toward online learning, and more specifically how they created and experienced social presence. To date, there has been promising research conducted on the achievability and the effects of social presence in postsecondary online learning. However, there is a practical knowledge gap in the literature regarding how middle school students and teachers experience social presence. This is problematic due to the increasing number of K-12 students enrolling in online learning and because strong student-teacher relationships are necessary to meet the emotional needs of middle schoolers …

Trauma-Informed Teaching In Uae Schools: Investigating Teachers’ Experiences And The Effect Of A Cognitive Behavioral Intervention For Students Affected By Trauma, Hadeel Mohsen Saleh

Dissertations

This study explores UAE teachers’ experiences and knowledge regarding trauma-informed teaching and assesses the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for two elementary school students with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in a general classroom setting. It also examines parents’ perceptions before and after the intervention. The study addresses two primary concerns: 1) the preparedness of UAE teachers to support trauma-affected students in schools, and 2) the efficacy of a targeted cognitive-behavioral intervention aimed at improving students' emotional regulation and behavioral outcomes. Using an exploratory sequential design, qualitative data from seven semi-structured interviews with UAE teachers revealed a significant gap in training …

Conceptions Of Latinos And Latinas About The Grieving Process And Associate Concepts Of Dying, Death, Bereavement, And Loss: A Covid-19-Post-Pandemic Case Study, Rosario Garcia Ortiz

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to recognize the grieving process and the related concepts of Latinos who lost a loved one to the COVID-19 pandemic. Death and dying have been studied in the United States, with limited studies focusing on the Latino culture. The COVID-19 pandemic was a devastating experience for the world and continues to be studied for understanding and lessons in the aftermath. This research included four participants from the Latino culture who lost a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic. An inductive approach and data analysis were used to form theoretical constructs. Three main categories were …

Role Of B Cell Mediated Immune Response During Skin Atopic Dermatitis Disease, Hidaya Mohammed Abdul Kader

Dissertations

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most prevalent non-infectious skin allergy affecting approximately 10-30% adults and 40% children worldwide. It is clinically characterized by eczematic lesions and elevated IgE levels and is a multifactorial disease that is heterogenous in nature. AD results in a dominant Th2 polarized immune response. Until date, there is no cure for this disease. B cells are key players of humoral immune responses and contribute significantly to allergic responses through IgE secretion. However, recently a subset of B cells termed regulatory B cells (Bregs) have been reported to provide protective role by the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokine …

Optimizing Photoacoustic Imaging With Advanced Reconstruction Techniques: Compressive Sensing And Deep Learning, Mary Anjaley Josy

Dissertations

Photoacoustic Tomography (PAT) is a noninvasive medical imaging technique that combines the advantages of optical imaging and ultrasonic detection, offering deep tissue visualization with high resolution. Despite its potential, the effectiveness of PAT is dependent on the accuracy and efficiency of the underlying imaging algorithms. This thesis aims to enhance the resolution and speed of PAT imaging through the integration of compressive sensing (CS) and deep learning techniques, targeting both full-view and limited-view sensor configurations. Two model-based CS iterative algorithms are developed: relaxed-basis pursuit via alternating direction method of multipliers (rBP-ADMM), and split Bregman total variation (SBTV) formulation. Additionally, Plug-and-Play …

The United Arab Emirates Birth Cohort Study: A Pilot Examination Of Maternal And Infant Health Outcomes, Sharon Mutare

Dissertations

The first 1,000 days of life represent a critical window for influencing optimal fetal growth and establishing lifelong health foundations. Recent evidence underscores the significant association between maternal health and nutrition during this period and the subsequent risk of non-communicable diseases, which are responsible for 74% of global deaths. Despite the rapid globalization and urbanization experienced in the United Arab Emirates in recent years, there remains a paucity of research on how maternal health and nutrition impact perinatal outcomes among Emirati women.
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Factors Influencing Innovative Behavior Of Higher Education Students In The United Arab Emirates: An Exploratory Study, Saleha Omer Alseiari

Dissertations

Innovation in the higher education sector is globally recognized as a driving power behind a country's socioeconomic and technological development. This quantitative study explores the primary influences on the innovation of college students in the UAE. Four research goals were proposed: (I) exploring potential input from innovative faculties; (ii) assessing the impact of curriculum excellence; (iii) examining the consequences of students' social abilities; and (iv) researching the moderating impact of supportive leadership. The research also seeks to create a theoretical model connecting various key elements that promote an environment of innovation in the higher education sector of the UAE based …

Navigating The Beliefs, Practices, And Challenges Of High School Principals And Teachers Within Culturally Diverse Contexts: A Mixed-Method Study, Mouza Alketbi

Dissertations

The main objective of this study is to understand the practices, beliefs, and challenges related to cultural diversity among high school principals. It also examines the cultural diversity practices of high school principals from the perspective of teachers, as well as the challenges they encounter when interacting with principals and teaching staff. The study used an exploratory sequential mixed method design, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods to gain a better understanding of how high school principals handle their culturally diverse teachers. The first phase involved qualitative research, where (n=5) principals and (n=7) teachers were purposively selected. Semistructured interviews were …

How Do Lgbt Employees Assess Their Firm’S Organizational Culture Regarding Lgbt Leadership?, Philippe Honore

Dissertations

This study explored Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans (LGBT) employees’ perceptions and assessments of their firms’ organizational cultures and, in particular, the opportunities within the culture that can lead to upper management positions for those who identify as LGBT. The research sought to understand the extent to which inclusivity efforts are reflected in real career progression opportunities for openly LGBT employees working in San Diego County. Employing a convergent parallel mixed-methods research design, the study incorporated quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to achieve a comprehensive understanding of participant’s perspectives and experiences. The decision to use both methods allowed the research …

The Meaning-Making Of African American Leaders In Technology Organizations, James Hooks

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed-methods study is to identify and describe behaviors that reflect the character, inspiration, relationships, vision, and wisdom that African American technology leaders use to create personal and organizational meaning for themselves and their followers. It was also the purpose to rate how followers perceive their leader’s behaviors related to character, inspiration, relationships, vision, and wisdom in creating personal and organizational meaning.

Methodology: The qualitative portion of this mixed-method study involved face-to-face interviews with African American technology leaders, while the quantitative segment consisted of electronic surveys completed by their followers. The quantitative survey assessed followers’ perceptions …

Leveraging Social Practices In The 11th Grade American Literature Classroom: Video Games As Texts, Alora Moser

Dissertations

This quasi-experimental study explores the effectiveness of using a video game as a text in high school narrative instruction, testing Lave and Wenger’s (1991) situated learning theory, which posits that learning is a by-product of social interaction. This study seeks to bridge the gap between literacy practices at home and in school (Beavis, 2014; Ladson-Billings, 1995), effectively acknowledging students’ cultural capital, including multiliteracies (New London Group, 1996) and affinity spaces (Gee, 2013) in privileged academic settings such as the Georgia Milestones American Literature End of Course assessment. 11^th grade American literature students in a suburban Georgia high school were …

Pre-Service Teachers Conceptions Of Equity In Secondary Mathematics Education, Mariah Walton

Dissertations

This study investigated how pre-service mathematics teachers (PSMTs) understand equity-based pedagogies and apply equity-based pedagogical methods in their instructional planning. A central goal among educators is improving the academic achievement of racially minoritized groups, such as Black and Latinx students, who are often overlooked by traditional pedagogies. This goal has shaped the foundation of culturally relevant pedagogy and other equity-based teaching approaches. This research study focused on the intersection of equity-based pedagogical methods and secondary mathematics teaching and learning involving PSMTs in the third year of their teacher education program. Through an analysis of a discussion post assignment, a focus …

Bridging The Gap And Shaping Behavior: Applying Gilbert’S Behavioral Engineering Model To Explore The Role Of A Parent-Teacher Communication Tool On Parental Involvement, Christina Holtapp

Dissertations

This study investigated the environmental and behavioral factors influencing parent-teacher communication in a rural high school setting. The research used a mixed-methods approach, incorporating surveys and focus groups with parents and teachers, to explore using the mobile communication app ParentSquare. The findings reveal a generally positive perception of ParentSquare among parents, who appreciate its convenience, centralized communication features, and ability to connect with teachers. However, initial login difficulties and limited internet access in remote areas were also identified. The study also identifies a discrepancy between parents' perceived importance of involvement and their actual participation, suggesting a need for schools to …

Hearing Their Stories: Tailoring Human Resources Strategies For Onboarding, Job Satisfaction, And Retention Of Veterans With Disabilities In The Civilian Workforce, Brian Newsom

Dissertations

Tailored HR strategies play an important role for veterans with disabilities (VWD) as they transition from the military to civilian employment by enhancing their job satisfaction and improving their retention. The literature review helped identify the challenges VWD face during their transition, such as health or mental health problems, cultural adjustment difficulties, and onboarding that is not inclusive. The primary research objective of the study was to determine effective HR strategies to improve the onboarding process for VWD, increase their job satisfaction, and grow their retention rates. Qualitative methods enabled the capturing of data from in-depth interviews with 31 former …

Under The Surface Of Perfectionism: A Qualitative Examination Of Perfectionism In Women Leaders, Rachelle Martin

Dissertations

This qualitative study explores the manifestations and management of perfectionism among women leaders, framed through the lens of conservation of resources (COR) theory. By examining the experiences of women across various industries, the research highlights how perfectionism can act both as a strength and a challenge, depending on resource availability and self-awareness. The findings emphasize the compounded pressures faced by women, particularly women of color, and the significant role of self-awareness, coping mechanisms and mitigation techniques. Participants revealed how resource depletion may contribute to heightened perfectionistic tendencies, which subsequently may impact career outcomes. Self-awareness emerged as a moderating factor that, …

Experiences Of Incivility And Ageism In Currently Enrolled Rn To Bs Nursing Students And Their Intent To Quit, Kimberly A. Balko

Dissertations

Student registered nurses face barriers to successful completion of a bachelor's of science degree program when faced with memories of incivility within their basic nursing program and their current experiences of incivility and ageism in the classroom, as well as in the workplace. This incivility, along with generational differences, adds to the growing concerns of nurses' intent to quit their employers or the profession, which adds to the current and future nursing shortage. The incorporation of multigenerational education for nurses could enhance generational awareness including ageism, communication skills, conflict resolution, coaching, and mentoring to guide employed RNs and nursing students …