Digital Commons Network^™

Returning To School After A Pandemic: K-6 Special Education Teachers Perspectives On Students With Disabilities Returning To School In Regard To Mindset, Behavior, Social Connections, And Academic Achievement, Andrea Xenios

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to determine K-6 special education educators’ perceptions of the impact on students with disabilities returning to school after the trauma of a pandemic for 2 years with regard to behavior, academic achievement, mindset, and social connections.

Methodology: This qualitative study interviewed 10 special education teachers who taught before, during, and after the pandemic in Orange County, CA. Semi-structured open ended interview questions was the main source of data collection with other sources including observations, and artifacts. Data was coded and the researcher analyzed the data for themes and patterns.

Findings: The study …

Readers’ Workshop Model Impact Urban Primary Students’ Motivation And Reading Progress, Narissa Waller

Dissertations

In order to assess the impact of the Readers' Workshop on academic success and literacy progress of primary students in an urban Midwest primary school, the researcher conducted a study. Through this study, the researcher aimed to determine whether the implementation of the Readers' Workshop positively affected the academic and literacy progress of primary students in an urban setting. Student progress was analyzed by comparing their assessment scores and reading levels in fall 2022 and spring 2023. The study aimed to identify effective teaching practices that can be implemented to bridge the achievement gap between urban students and their counterparts. …

An Exploration Of The Effects And Clinical Presentations Of Premature Birth Within The Latinx Population, Diana Hill

Dissertations

There are roughly ten percent, or 15 million, preterm births every year across the world. Therefore, it is vital to understand the impact on their development across cognitive, academic, socioemotional, and behavioral levels. A vast amount of research has shown that children who are born prematurely are more at risk of facing challenges across various areas of their development. However, the majority of the research samples have been limited within their scope, leaving behind a gap in research focused on specific subgroups within the population. By delving into the unique context of the Latinx population, this study endeavors to shed …

Influence Of Stressful Life Events On The Development Of Type 2 Diabetes, Joshua T. Minks

Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between distress and the development of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the presence of established risk factors. Distress secondary to mental health disparities, stressful life events, and work conditions has been shown to promote insulin resistance and the development of T2DM.

Subjects (N=79) diagnosed with T2DM within the previous six months were recruited from SSM Health Centers and VA Medical Centers in the greater St. Louis area. They completed the Recent Life Changes Questionnaire, ENRICHD Social Support Instrument, and a demographic survey and analyses were conducted to determine differences between the veteran …

Barriers That Exemplary Principals Have Overcome To Increase Parent Participation At The School Site, Sandra Quintanilla

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the barriers exemplary principals have overcome to increase parent involvement at their school sites. This study explored how principals develop strategies to overcome barriers impeding parent involvement. Using those strategies, principals enhance parent involvement at their school sites.

Methodology: A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted, consisting of interviews to collect data from elementary school principals who have successful parent involvement at their school sites. First, the principals were interviewed in 60 min sessions. The data collected were analyzed to understand individuals’ beliefs and motivation.

Findings: Data analysis revealed that …

A Double-Edged Sword: Lived Experiences Of Hispanic/Latino Nursing Students Who Speak English As An Additional Language, Esmeralda A. Clark

Dissertations

As the population of the United States continues to become more diverse, the nursing profession is working toward diversifying its nursing workforce. Diversification of the nursing profession is linked to improved patient outcomes and culturally competent care. The experiences of minority nursing students with English as an additional language (EAL) have been studied including some interventional studies. Still, there is a gap in exploring the experiences of Hispanic/Latino nursing students with EAL. The literature described EAL as the most significant risk factor for non-acceptance into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program for any group of otherwise qualified applicants. Since …

Students' Attitudes Toward Computers At The College Of Nursing At King Saud University (Ksu), Osama A. Samarkandi

Dissertations

Computer knowledge and skills are becoming essential components technology in nursing education. Saudi nurses must be prepared to utilize these technologies for the advancement of science and nursing practice in local and global communities.

Little attention has been directed to students' attitudes about computer usage in academic communities in Saudi Arabia. Their attitudes about the use of computers for the enhancement of learning are relatively unknown. Few research studies have been identified that explicate Saudi Arabian nursing students' attitudes toward computer usage for the acquisition of knowledge and skills.

Males and females matriculate at King Saud University (KSU), but attend …

Factors Associated With Reduced Depression And Suicide Risk Among Mäori High School Students In New Zealand, Terryann C. Clark

Dissertations

Mäori adolescents, indigenous to New Zealand (NZ), have among the highest rates of depression and suicide in the industrialized world. Fortunately, resilience research demonstrates that promotive factors, such as family and school connections, can markedly reduce mental health problems for vulnerable youth populations. However, to date, this research has never focused on risk and promotive mechanisms related to mental health outcomes for Mäori youth. Such knowledge is a prerequisite for addressing the persistent mental health inequities faced by Mäori young people.

Using Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Intravenous Access In Difficult Intravenous Access Patients, Diana Hampton

Dissertations

Inserting a peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) can be challenging on the first attempt. At the project site there was no systematic process to impact failed first-attempt success for PIVC access, so an evidence-based solution was sought. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if the implementation of the Emergency Nurses Association's (ENA) Clinical Practice Guideline: Difficult Intravenous Access would impact the number of patients identified as difficult intravenous access (DIVA) and first-attempt success for peripheral intravenous access. The project was piloted over 12 weeks in a community living center in a Veterans Administration facility in the southern …

Exploring The Relationship Among Clinical Judgment, Academic Resiliency, Student Predictors, And Exam Remediation In Prelicensure Nuring Students Preparing For Next Generation National Council Licensure Examination [For] Registered Nurses, James F. Oberlander

Dissertations

As the field of nursing becomes increasingly more complex, nursing students are psychologically challenged as they progress through a program of study, prepare for the licensure examination, and enter professional practice. Identifying factors that influence student outcomes is necessary for faculty to effectively guide students toward successful completion of nursing school and passing the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Along with academic and nonacademic demographic variables, the main objective of this exploratory, quantitative research study was to investigate the relationship between clinical judgement, academic resiliency, exam remediation, and NCLEX-RN first attempt pass rates.

The Contribution Of Physical Activity To Sleep Parameters In Pregnancy Within The Context Of Prepregnant Body Mass Index, Priscilla M. Nodine

Dissertations

Sleep disturbances are common among pregnant women and pregnant women with obesity are especially prone to problems sleeping. Disturbed sleep is independently associated with the inflammatory process and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Safe treatment options to enhance sleep during pregnancy are needed. The primary aim of the study was to test Pender's Health Promotion Model (HPM) by evaluating the contribution of physical activity (PA) to sleep parameters in pregnant women, particularly within the context of prepregnant body mass index (BMI).

Qualitative Study: Storytelling For Complex Concepts And Critical Thinking. Nurse Educators' Experience, Carine A. Mcdonald

Dissertations

Current patient acuity necessitates nurses' need to think critically and problem-solve in care facilities. The nurse educators' perspectives on how storytelling impacts students' critical thinking and conceptual learning are crucial. This study explored nurse educators' experiences who employed storytelling teaching strategies in the classroom for critical thinking skills and learning complex concepts. The research question was, "What are the experiences of nurse educators as they use instructional storytelling in the classroom for complex concepts and critical thinking?" Three associated sub-questions were: "How do nurse educators describe the process of incorporating storytelling in their classrooms?" "What challenges are described by nurse …

Increasing Providers' Education Of Patients In The Management Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Ruby A. Akuffo

Dissertations

Approximately 29.1 million individuals of all ages in the United States are affected by diabetes, amounting to 9.3% of the entire population (Adjei Boakye et al., 2018). Much research has been completed and is ongoing on type 2 diabetes mellitus. Numerous resources, including education in different languages, medications, and peer support, are available for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, patients may not be able to fully access these resources to manage the condition (Schillinger, Bullock, & Herman, 2022). The purpose of this evidence-based project was twofold: to increase provider education of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and …

Improving Nurse's Documentation In The Emergency Department, Jacqueline N. Wright-Cole

Dissertations

The appropriate documentation and effective hand-off communications are essential components for attaining and maintaining the continuity of quality care for patients in the emergency department. Despite global efforts and standards geared towards improving the accuracy and function of documentation, the issue of incomplete documentation and hand-off communication persist in the local emergency department. Incomplete documentation and handoff communications have been regarded as key factors of delayed patient care as well as discontinuation of care in the clinical setting. A detailed study conducted for evaluating the effectiveness and benefits of the Institute Healthcare Improvement SBAR guideline as a checklist on nurses' …

Evidence Based Practice Among Primary Care Nurse Practitioners, Stephen Van Roper

Dissertations

This study describes primary care nurse practitioner (PCNP) beliefs in, knowledge, implementation and utilization of evidence based practice (EBP). Research questions answered are:

1. What are the levels of belief, implementation, knowledge and utilization of EBP among PCNPs?

2. Is there a relationship with PCNP demographics (personal, professional, and practice), belief, knowledge, implementation and utilization of EBP?

3. Do PCNP demographics (personal, professional, and practice) and scores on belief, knowledge and implementation influence EBP utilization?

Understanding Advanced Practice Nurses In Anesthesiology, Bradley Nielson

Dissertations

Determine the practice authority and professional legitimacy of safe and competent anesthesia administration, particularly the necessity of physician anesthesiologist oversight of certified registered nurse anesthesiologists and anesthesiologist assistants, necessitating the exploration of the education and background experiences that establish the diverse expertise and competencies among these anesthesia professionals.

Implementing Clinical Practice Guideline To Impact Postpartum Hemorrhage Among Immediate Postpartum Mothers, Teresa C. Okolo

Dissertations

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) can lead to untoward conditions in mothers following childbirth. At the project site there was no accurate method for measuring blood loss, resulting in the early identification of PPH, so an evidence-based solution was sought. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental quality improvement project was to determine if the implementation of the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC) Quantitative Blood Loss (QBL) Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) would impact blood loss within two hours post-delivery among mothers with a vaginal or cesarean delivery in an urban hospital in New York over four weeks. Kristen Swanson's theory of caring …

Professional Counselor's Experience Of Providing Clinical Services While Experiencing Adversity, Cambria Jovanna Mcdonald

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experience of professional counselors who provided clinical services while undergoing personal adversity. Despite the common belief that counselors are more equipped to handle personal adversity, counselors experience adversity alike others. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was the methodology implemented. Participants in this study consisted of six licensed professional counselors working at various clinical sites who continued to provide counseling services while experiencing an adverse event. Adverse events included the death of a loved one, marital concerns, family crises, divorce, infertility issues, and complex parenting situations. Findings revealed that all participants reported a …

Towards A Servingness Advising Approach: From The Advisors’ Perspective At A Hispanic-Serving Institution, Salvador Gomez-Pantoja

Dissertations

Research on student success is replete with studies showing that academic advisors play a vital role in shaping students' achievement, tenacity, and persistence (Hatch & Garcia, 2017; Hunter & White, 2004; Kuh et al., 2005; Kuhn, 2008; Pascarella & Terenzini, 2005; Strayhorn, 2015). Using the multidimensional conceptual framework of servingness in HSIs (Garcia et al., 2019) as a lens, I conducted a collaborative action research study that examined an academic advising model that was recently launched at a large, public, four-year Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). Specifically, the purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of advisors who are part …

Exploring The Relationships Between Health Literacy And Hba1c In A Rural Border Region, Stephen Jaime

Dissertations

Aims/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe the relationships between select sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, individual health literacy levels, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels among Hispanic patients with diabetes living in a rural border region.

Background: The frequency of complications from diabetes can increase as HbA1c levels rise, causing the person with diabetes to be at greater risk for blindness, amputation, or renal failure. Unfortunately, people of Hispanic background are at higher risk of developing diabetes compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Many people living in rural towns that border Mexico are of Hispanic background, increasing their risk of developing …

Increasing Physical Activity In The 65 And Older Population, Misti M. Hollingsworth

Dissertations

The purpose of this DNP project is to increase the physical activity, flexibility, and pain levels of the 65 and over population to comply with the CDC's MVPA of 150 minutes per week through a practice quality improvement project. This change will involve an order for patients to attend a free exercise program, address the medical benefits of PA, address perceived barriers to PA, and provide printed PA written resources including exercises and stretching recommendations for the 65 years of age and older patient population in a Chiropractic office in Southwest Florida.

Quality Improvement Project To Increase Referrals To Palliative Care For Heart Failure Patients, Stephanie D. Crawford

Dissertations

Palliative care (PC) services include symptom management with advanced care planning (ACP) and establishment of goals of care (GOC) for patients with serious conditions, such as heart failure (HF). Literature demonstrates low hospitalist referrals to PC.

The purpose of this project was to explore if providing evidence-based information and procedural information to hospitalists on ACP and GOC would increase PC referrals for HF patients, providing these patients access to ACP and GOC by the PC team and possibly even reducing 30-day readmissions for these patients.

An Aviation Curriculum For An Urban Diverse School District: The Need And Possibility, Stephanie Kiley

Dissertations

The aviation industry expects over two million new personnel in the next twenty years to ensure safe commercial travel and support long-term growth. However, the industry needs more diversity. This study gathered information from administrators and educators in a large, diverse urban school district to address this issue through questionnaires and focus groups. The study aimed to highlight the need for more aviation-related opportunities. The research questions focused on identifying factors that could support or hinder high school aviation programs, perceptions of educators and administrators on introducing an aviation curriculum, and influences that lead students to choose aviation as a …

Cross-Linguistic Awareness In 90/10 Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Programs, Patricia Mondragón-Doty

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify, describe, and recommend the specific cross-linguistic connection instructional strategies that teachers in TWBI 90/10 programs have found to be most effective for fostering language and literacy development.

Methodology: This qualitative phenomenological study explored how teachers of TWBI 90/10 programs perceived the use of specific cross-linguistic connection instructional strategies to better serve emergent bilingual learners (EBLs) and what implications cross-linguistic connections had on dual language instruction. To determine what best instructional strategies support bilingualism, biliteracy, academic achievement and cultural competence, in-depth semi structured interviews were conducted. Ten teachers were selected to …

Counseling And Mental Health Awareness In Higher Education Institutions: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Mental Health And How It Affects Degree Completion Among Black Undergraduate College Women, Shaquina D. White, Desirae N. Williams

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore Black undergraduate women’s lived experiences with mental health management and pursuance of degree completion. This study used a phenomenological approach, guided by the following research questions: 1) What barriers are Black undergraduate college women facing regarding their accessibility to counseling services on their campus? and 2) How do Black undergraduate college women with mental health issues effectively manage stressful situations while pursuing and completing a college degree? The current literature that examined Black women’s utilization of counseling is limited, especially among Black women enrolled in college. This study aimed to fill …

Understanding Dual Language Teachers' Language Ideologies Using Translanguaging Theory And Pedagogy: A Mixed-Methods Approach, Joseph P. Elliott

Dissertations

The purpose of this explanatory, mixed-methods research study was to understand dual language teachers’ language ideologies using a pluralist theory of bilingualism called translanguaging (García et al., 2017). Translanguaging is also a pedagogy that teachers can employ to help emergent bilingual students grow and learn. The research design employed two phases: Phase One used survey research and confirmatory factor analysis to analyze data from 110 dual language teachers across the United States regarding their translanguaging beliefs, attitudes, policies, and practices. Phase Two used one-on-one interview data from three dual language teachers who completed the Phase Two survey. Using these data, …

Health Literacy: The Knowledge And Experiences Of Senior Level Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Catherine M. Cormier

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess the health literacy knowledge and experiences of senior level baccalaureate nursing students enrolled at state universities in Louisiana. Three hundred and sixty-one students from eight baccalaureate nursing programs agreed to participate in the study.

Assessing The Impact Of A Pre-High-Fidelity Simulation Orientation On Associate Degree Nursing (Adn) Students' Simulation-Related Anxiousness, Diana C. Galvez

Dissertations

High-fidelity simulation has been utilized in healthcare education for many years. This modality allows students to comprehend complex concepts and be able to create meaningful links between nursing, medical diagnosis, and concepts learned in the classroom. Nursing students that are exposed to a simulation experience that produces stress, anxiousness, and fear can demonstrate a decrease in learning, level of retaining information, self-efficacy, competence, academic performance, learner proficiency, learner confidence, as well as anxiety and frustration when acclimating to new simulation environment. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of a pre-high-fidelity simulation orientation session on Associate Degree …

The Effect Of The Heart Failure Nurse Navigator On 30-Day Hospital Readmissions Of Older Adults, Mary Ann Leavitt

Dissertations

Across the US, 22% of Medicare patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of heart failure (HF) will be readmitted within 30-days of discharge. There is no one cost-effective process identified to help patients transition home and maintain their own selfcare. The aim of this study is to compare readmission rates, HF knowledge, self-care, and quality of life for patients who transition home from the hospital under the care of a Heart Failure Nurse Navigator (HFNN) with patients who receive usual care.

The HFNN is a home health RN with specialized training in HF care. The HFNN visited intervention group (IG) participants …

Use Of Outcome-Present State Test Model Of Clinical Reasoning With Filipino Nursing Students, Susy A. Jael

Dissertations

Clinical reasoning is a nursing competency necessary to make the best decision to deliver safe and effective care. A review of the literature shows a link between hazardous errors in patient care and poor clinical reasoning among nurses, and suggests that more study be given to best way to teach clinical reasoning. It is crucial that nurses today and of the future possess the clinical reasoning skills to provide increasingly complex patient care. This study tested the effect of the Outcome-Present State Test (OPT) Model of Clinical Reasoning on Filipino junior nursing students' clinical reasoning scores on the Health Sciences …