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The Criteria For Developing A Tk-12 Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, Taunya Marie Jaco

Dissertations

Over the past five decades, educators have been working to develop authentic Ethnic Studies courses that can be implemented in both higher education and K-12 schools. Ethnic Studies has been documented to be effective in growth in several metrics used to assess student "achievement." Despite its results, there is much debate as to whether or not Ethnic Studies should be a high school graduation requirement in California K-12 schools. This study explores key policies on Ethnic Studies in California, particularly the legislative mandate to develop a K-12 Ethnic Studies model curriculum. Through an exploratory documentary film study, this dissertation investigates …

Exploring The Deleterious Connection Between Tradional School Discipline Practices And Male Latino Students Who Have Endured Adverse Childhood Experiences: An Exploratory Study In Northern California., Sonia Vargas

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to critically evaluate the deleterious connection between traditional school discipline practices and male Latino students who have endured adverse childhood experiences. This study examined Latino male students’ testimonials and understanding of their educational trajectories as they encounter adverse childhood experiences as well as their perceptions towards punitive disciplinary practices. This exploratory research utilized a documentary film design methodology and examined the perceptions of Latino male students, counselors, administrators and district official in an urban school district located in northern California. The study drew upon qualitative data collected in video format through student participants’ and …

Experiences, Attitudes, And Perceptions Of Female Adjunct Clinical Instructors Teaching Male Pre-Licensure Nursing Students, Amanda E. Shilo

Dissertations

The global shortage of nurses is a problem that has serious consequences. Recruitment of men into nursing has been seen as one possible solution to both diversify the profession, and fill the shortfall, but there are multiple barriers for males in nursing. These barriers are reported as they first contemplate a career in nursing, during nursing education, and as they transition into the profession. This results in decreased retention and success, with males leaving nursing in higher numbers than their female peers. Clinical instructors are described as an essential source of encouragement and support for nursing students, yet are also …

An Evaluation Of The Healthfulness Of The Hospital Food Environment, Cynthia E. Horton Dias

Dissertations

Though nurses may have knowledge about the health promoting benefits of a healthy diet, many do not consume enough fruits or vegetables. For hospital shift nurses to achieve healthy eating while at work, environmental barriers were reportedly the most challenging to overcome. To better understand the hospital food environment from the nurses' perspective, two mechanisms for workplace food acquisition were studied: 1.) hospital consumer food environment, which includes cafeterias, vending machines, and gift shops; and 2.) free food at work.

Improving Patient Satisfaction At An Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility, Ahmed Hariri

Dissertations

Patients hospitalized in Inpatient Rehabilitation facilities (IFRs) have complex needs that impact their satisfaction with care. The project site sought to improve patient satisfaction at discharge. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental quality project was to determine if the implementation of the Studer Group's Hourly Rounding® tool would impact patient satisfaction at discharge among adult patients in an IRF in rural California over four weeks. The theoretical foundations of the project utilized Roy's model of adaptation and Lewin's planned change theory. The total sample size was N=50, n=25 in the comparative and n=25 in the implementation group. Discharge scores were …

Perceptions Of Southwest Missouri Public School K‒12 Teachers And Building Principals In Regard To Preparedness Of Culturally Responsive Teaching, Katie C. Kensinger

Dissertations

Over the past two decades, K‒12 public education demographics have reflected an increase in student diversity while over 80% of the teaching population remains White (Ramirez et al., 2016). As student demographics evolve, public schools must adjust to provide all students with an education relevant to their backgrounds and experiences (Jones-Good, 2015). Teachers must prioritize and be prepared to teach diverse groups of students (Gay, 2018). This mixed-methods study included an analysis of teacher and principal perceptions of their level of preparedness for culturally responsive teaching in four southwest Missouri school districts with diverse student populations. The focus was placed …

Empowering Nurses Of Minority In The Face Of Incivility And Bullying: Through The Lens Of Phenomenology, Corrine M. Floyd

Dissertations

Up to 85% of nurses have reported exposure to incivility in the workplace (Hunt and Marini, 2012). The often-subtle nature of incivility toward nurses in a minority population may partially explain why it remains a problem. Healthcare organizations realize the need for civility to counter the high turnover rate, staff shortages, and low job satisfaction reported by nurses, but lack understanding of how nurses of a minority population perceive incivility and bullying. This study aimed to answer the research question how do nurses with minority representation experience incivility and bullying versus empowerment in the workplace? A descriptive phenomenological design used …

Improving Tobacco Cessation Processes For Behavioral Health Professionals In Primary Care, Iesha R. Floyd

Dissertations

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to develop evidence-based tobacco cessation recommendations through a pre-program evaluation of current tobacco cessation processes at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Casa Grande, Arizona. The primary investigator explored tobacco screening and counseling practices within the behavioral health department. The project took place alongside two similar projects focused on the pharmacy and primary care departments. Together the three projects functioned together to develop evidence-based recommendations, for implementation by future Doctor of Nursing Practice student cohorts.

Identifying Factors Influencing Pediatric Professionals' Self-Reported Collaborative Practice Behaviors, Susan Kilroy

Dissertations

The aim of this study was to: (1) determine the impact of interprofessional American Heart Association (AHA) resuscitation courses on health care professionals' self- reported collaborative practice behaviors (CPBs); (2) identify differences between the three professions of nursing, medicine, and respiratory therapy on self-reported CPBs; and, (3) describe which specific CPBs were most strongly associated with health care professionals' perceptions of interprofessional teams and enhanced patient care in clinical practice.

Becoming A Teacher: A Case Study On Student Teacher Professional Identity Construction During The Education Practicum In A Normal University In China, Jingxin Cheng, Xiaodi Li, Ming Yi

Dissertations

Previous studies have presented a clear link between teachers’ professional identity construction and teacher effectiveness and have considered the teacher professional identity as a pivotal factor to teachers’ effectiveness, decision-making about their career, commitment to the profession, as well as engagement in professional development (Beijaard et al., 2004; Day et al., 2005; Lasky, 2005; H. Y. Wang, 2020). Positive experiences in terms of teacher professional identity construction during education practicum holds potential to promote student teachers’ professional commitment, specifically, their belief in the value of the teaching profession (Hong, 2010; M. R. Zhao, 2013). This case study examined teacher professional …

Bringing Hospital And Community Together: Interventions To Bridge The Transitional Care Gap, Jeremy Yates

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem

As healthcare spending continues to increase and overall quality lags in comparison to other developed countries, hospital readmission has been targeted to increase quality while decreasing cost. Components of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have placed an emphasis on preventative and transitional care which has created programs aimed at reducing readmission, including the Community Health Access Programs (CHAP). One program in St. Louis, Missouri consisted of advanced practice paramedics and an occupational therapy assistant that performed discharge follow-up through in-home, in-office, and telephone visits. An in-depth program evaluation can create a foundation to build other programs in communities …

Discovering Hidden Signs And Symptoms Of Heart Failure In The Electronic Health Record Using The Omaha System, Anita Reger

Dissertations

Purpose/Background/Significance: For the past 30 years, heart failure has been in the top 3 readmission diagnoses with patients discharged to community care. This is costly to the healthcare system and negatively impacts the patient’s quality of life. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a community care database to determine if previously under-considered latent variables exist that could provide early detection of heart failure signs and symptoms. Theoretical/Conceptual Framework: The theoretical and conceptual frameworks surrounding this work are the Omaha System and Donabedian’s structure, process, and outcomes theory for healthcare quality improvement supported by Neuman’s Systems Model. The Omaha …

Fostering The Non-Academic Trait Of Grit To Increase Nursing Student Success, Marianne Biangone

Dissertations

In nursing education, there are few challenges as elusive as determining why attrition occurs. Attrition has been attributed to factors such as academic underperformance, adverse life events, and financial issues. It is imperative to identify additional tools for students to increase the opportunity for program success despite his or her challenges. Grit is passion and perseverance for long-term goals. Grit has had a positive impact on academic achievement, and the need is present for research on the ability to foster the development of the characteristics that make up grit in undergraduate nursing students. The purpose of this study is to …

Improving Post-Operative Infection Rates Using My Five Moments For Hand Hygiene, Reginald Mark R. Dimailig

Dissertations

Adequate hand hygiene is known to diminish surgical site infections (SSIs) and prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in the post-operative settings. An increase in SSIs due to poor hand hygiene compliance was observed at the chosen project site. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental quality improvement project was to determine if the implementation of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Five Moments of Hand Hygiene, would improve hand hygiene compliance and reduce post-operative infection rates among orthopedic patients in a same-day surgery unit. The project took place in a medical center located in the Northeast United States. The health belief model (HBM) …

Academic Intensive Care Units: What Is The Impact On Student Achievement?, Brandi Compass

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if academic intensive care units along with no-zero grading policies at the high school level result in students having higher achievement levels on state EOC assessments. A mixed-methods approach was taken in order to obtain both qualitative and quantitative data from surveys and interviews. Additional quantitative data were analyzed from archival data. Two separate schools were chosen for the populations. High School A implemented academic intensive care units and no-zero grading polices while High School B did not. Participants in the study consisted of both teachers and students at High School A …

Fluctuating Cohesion: A Grounded Theory Study Of Nursing Students Engaged In A Hybrid Debriefing Format, Carol L. Senette

Dissertations

Debriefing is a key component of simulation that promotes development of students' reflective processes. Instructor-led debriefing (ILD) is considered the gold standard; however, research conducted over the past decade demonstrates the negative effects of anxiety on student reflection during ILD. Nursing students' experiences with ILDs have been substantially investigated; yet scant research explores students' perceptions and experiences of more learner-centered debriefing formats that deemphasize the instructor role.

Impact Of Comfort Management On Narcotic Use In The Cardiopulmonary Surgical Icu, Caroline Janga Doe

Dissertations

Patients may experience acute pain after cardiopulmonary surgery. Narcotic pain relievers may reduce pain, yet many patients still complained of discomfort at the project site despite the medications provided to reduce it. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental quality improvement project was to determine if the implementation of Kolcaba's comfort verbal and comfort daisies scale assessments combined with the use of non-pharmacologic comfort measures would reduce the narcotic dose and increase the patients' comfort levels among post-cardiopulmonary surgical intensive care patients in an acute care hospital in urban New York over four weeks. Kolcaba's comfort theory guided the project. Narcotic …

Mentorship Program To Improve Nursing Knowledge On Prevention Of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries, Terri Lo

Dissertations

In the United States, hospital acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) is one persistent patient safety problems with an increasing incidence rate resulting in patient harm and patient deaths. Pressure injuries can lead to problems for the patient and family related to wound care and quality of life. Prevention of HAPIs is an essential aspect of nursing practice. Education and mentorship about HAPI prevention can help facilitate translation of evidence-based research findings to clinical nursing practice to improve patient care outcomes.

The Culturally Intelligent School Leader: Leadership Strategies Of Exemplary Elementary School Principals In Creating A Culture Of Inclusiveness, Leila Dodge

Dissertations

Purpose: It is the purpose of this explanatory mixed-method study to identify and describe the leadership strategies that exemplary elementary school principals use to create an organizational culture of inclusiveness using Kennedy's five leadership qualities of cultural differences.

Methodology: For this study, an explanatory mixed-method design was used to conduct research to identify and describe the leadership strategies that exemplary elementary school principals use to create an organizational culture of inclusiveness using Kennedy's five leadership qualities of cultural differences. The study's quantitative part was conducted using a SurveyMonkey delivered to each participant. In the survey, participants were asked if they …

Evaluation Of A Hypertension Bundle To Improve Maternal Outcomes, Jamie Jetton

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy continue to be on the rise in the United States, contributing to an increase in both maternal morbidity and mortality rates. These disorders not only have an effect on the pregnant women, but also the neonate. Early recognition and treatment of increased blood pressure findings can improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

Methods: This Quality Improvement (QI) project used a descriptive design and was comprised of a retrospective chart review, focused on the effectiveness of evaluating a hypertension bundle to improve maternal outcomes. The data collected for this project encompassed six months pre and post …

Religious Leadership: Agents Of Social Change, Jacqueline Carter

Dissertations

Historically, churches in the United States acquired respect as institutions that cultivated spiritual maturity and advocated for social equality in Black communities. Religious leaders represent the voice of reason for communities facing complex social problems, then and today. How educational attainment influences religious leaders’ social action strategies and decisions to engage or disengage in social activism is under explored. Additionally, it is unclear what strategies religious leaders use for social advocacy in their communities. Using andragogy and social cognitive theory as theoretical frameworks, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the educational experiences of religious leaders to understand …

Use Of An Affective Teaching Intervention To Impact Connections Between Academic And Professional Integrity, Deborah Morrill

Dissertations

Dishonesty and misconduct of nursing students during their education is a continuing concern, especially as it relates to expected professional behaviors. This quasi experimental pre-and post-interventional study explored the impact of an affective learning module on developing beliefs and perceptions of ethicality of academic and professional misconduct of students in a BSN program. A modified version of McCrink's (2008) tool, entitled "Nursing Student Experiences and Perceptions of Academic and Professional Conduct Survey" measured these constructs. The affective learning module, based on Rest's theory of moral development, and Krathwohl's affective taxonomy, actively engaged students in ethical decision-making with connections to professional …

Educating Nurses To Engage In Health Policy And Advocacy, Donna J. Barry

Dissertations

Few nurses engage in developing health policy from the local to global level. For a scholarly practice project, American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) accredited nursing schools in New England were surveyed to measure what recommended AACN Essentials content on health policy is taught in their baccalaureate and master's programs. The online, quantitative-descriptive survey captured whether content is taught in stand-alone courses and if those courses are required. Barriers to teaching health policy at both levels and barriers to nurses engaging in health policy and advocacy were also solicited. A majority of responding programs include most AACN content in …

How Elementary Principals Use The Six Sources Of Influence To Achieve Extraordinary Results, Monette Perez

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and explore how elementary principals of organizations who have achieved extraordinary results influence employees through personal motivation, personal ability, social motivation, social ability, structural motivation, and structural ability.

Methodology: This phenomenological study identified and explored 12 Southern California public elementary school principals and how they used the 6 sources of influence with their stakeholders to achieve extraordinary results. An interview protocol aligned with the study’s theoretical framework was developed with a thematic team. The respondents were purposefully chosen from principals who have led their schools to attain National …

The Effect Of Pre-Procedural Opioid Video Education On Pediatric Patients Undergoing Orthopedic Surgery, Amy Pham

Dissertations

Problem The opioid epidemic is a continuing public health threat, growing amongst the pediatric population. Contributing to the issue are their accessibility within the community, and lack of education on safe storage and disposal of opioids.

Methods For this quality improvement (QI) project, a descriptive observational study design was used to identify the opioid storage and disposal habits of patients and their caregivers at home. The participant and caregiver dyads were shown a brief opioid educational video pre-operatively and were followed up with via emailed survey two weeks post-operatively. The survey contained questions pertaining to disposal and storage habits of …

Primary Care Screening For Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) In The Adult Population, Carrie Plisco

Dissertations

Problem: Exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is associated with chronic diseases in adulthood. Several studies found over 60% of adults have had exposure to one or more ACEs. While guidelines for ACEs screening exist, most primary care practices do not perform screening at this time. This results in a lack of referrals for adults with history of ACEs for proper behavioral health (BH) intervention.

Methods: This quality improvement (QI) initiative utilized a descriptive observational design. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ACEs screening tool was administered to a convenience sample of adult patients aged 18 years and …

Impact Of Social Isolation In Hiv-Positive Individuals During A Pandemic, Corina Jane Bakoylis

Dissertations

Problem: The global pandemic of COVID-19 caused concern for immunocompromised individuals. The purpose of this quality improvement initiative was to assess the impact of social isolation on feelings of loneliness, depression, and social isolation experiences in HIV-positive individuals residing in a long-term care facility.

Methods: A mixed-method convergent design with a purposeful sample of HIV-positive adult residents residing in a long-term care facility was utilized. An evaluation of loneliness using the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale (Version 3) and depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) were completed. Personal experiences were also assessed with five predetermined open-ended …

Pre-Anesthesia Assessment In Children With Down Syndrome: A Head To Toe Guide, Laurel Kinsey

Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to provide and assess an educational intervention for a multidisciplinary interprofessional collaborative sedation team at a children's hospital in Anchorage, Alaska.

Implementation Of Pediatric Adverse Childhood Experiences Screening In Primary Care, Alexzandra Hillyer

Dissertations

Implementation of Pediatric Adverse Childhood Experiences Screening in Primary Care

Problem: Over half of children worldwide have experienced abuse in the past year. In 2012, The American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement emphasizing the importance of primary care providers implementing Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) screening into all well-child examinations.

Methods: This quality improvement project was a descriptive, observational pilot study in which Center for Youth-Well ACE Questionnaire (CYW-ACE-Q) was implemented into a large, metropolitan pediatric primary care clinic. A convenience sample was utilized composed of pediatric patients between the ages of 5 and 18 being seen for a …

Identification Of Veterans Experiencing Symptoms Of Mental Illness For The First Time After Covid-19 Diagnosis, Brittania Phillips

Dissertations

There has been a general increase in psychiatric symptoms since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Literature that has been published since the start of the pandemic has indicated there is an increased risk of depression, insomnia, altered mental status, new-onset psychosis, neurocognitive syndrome, and anxiety. The military veteran population is at higher risk for psychiatric illness than the general population, and should be screened accordingly. This quality improvement project was developed in collaboration with the mental health clinic at urban medical center in the Midwest to identify new symptoms of mental illness after COVID-19 diagnosis utilizing the PDSA model and descriptive …