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Ethnic Identity As A Mediator Of Mental Health In New Mexico's Genizaro Population At The Pueblo Of Abiquiu, New Mexico, 1930-2017: A Critical Ethnography, Annabelle X. Gutierrez Sisneros

Dissertations

The usefulness of the qualitative research paradigm of Critical Ethnography in health disparities research is viewed in this doctoral study as being of paramount importance within the praxis of nursing, specifically, in providing a window into the scene of mental health within the field of advanced psychiatric nursing, amongst the Genizaro people at the Pueblo of Abiquiu in New Mexico, a border area. The life patterns heard through 24 semi-structured interviews conducted from 2015-2017, included a portrayal of a narrative that heartens the continuance of the transmission of history, language, tradition, healing, and philosophies of this Indigenous Nation, which are …

Returning To School After A Pandemic: K-12 School Mental Health Practitioners’ Perspectives Returning To School In Regard To Mindset, Behavior, Performance, And Social Connections, Viridiana Benitez Esparza

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to determine K-12 school mental health practitioners’ perceptions of their experiences working with students following the 2-year educational/social/emotional trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic with regard to the mental health practitioners’ mindset, behavior, performance, and social connections. Methodology: The researcher conducted a phenomenological study examining particular experiences of participants to understand their perspective during a phenomenon (McMillan & Schumacher, 2006). This qualitative study interviewed 12 school mental health practitioners who served in K-12 public schools after the pandemic in Los Angeles County, California. Semi-structured interview questions were used for data collection and aligned …

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 …

Shepherds Leading The Flocks: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of Church Leaders Managing Church Membership During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Rbetrice Phillips

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe experiences of church leaders adapting the Scarneo (2019) intrapersonal and interpersonal socioecological influences while managing membership during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Methodology: This study used a qualitative phenomenological approach with a socioecological justification with open-ended interview questions investigating the lived experiences of the participants. This study aimed to gather data from sample size 10 church leaders in Los Angeles County, California plus a snowball sampling of referred church leaders who managed during COVID-19. In this study, the collection of narratives through semi-structured interviews provided the data which was analyzed …

Nursing Leadership Characteristics: Effect On Nursing Job Satisfaction And Retention Of Baby Boomer And Generation X Nurses, Sandra L. Swearingen

Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to determine the degree to which nursing staffs that have a positive experience with nursing leadership are more likely to demonstrate job satisfaction. The different values and norms of the generational cohorts result in each cohort perceiving leadership characteristics differently. In addition, factors such as length of exposure to nursing leadership characteristics, location of work, shift of work, clinical versus non-clinical positions and the presence or absence of Servant-Leadership, all have the potential to impact nursing satisfaction. Nursing satisfaction or dissatisfaction impacts nursing retention, further modifying nursing leadership practices.

Steminism: Analyzing Factors That Improve Retention Of Women In Stem, Kira Carter, Jane Kelley, Jason Vasser-Elong, Rc Patterson

Dissertations

Our co-authored research ‘Steminism: Analyzing Factors That Improve Retention for Women as STEM Majors’ analyzed factors that contributed to the retention of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs at Missouri University of Science & Technology (Missouri S&T). Women make up half of the US population, and while careers in (STEM) are an integral part of the US economy, women are underrepresented in these career fields. The purpose of our dissertation is to address the underrepresentation of women in STEM majors. Our methodology included homogeneous sampling to collect qualitative data. More specifically, we consulted with academic advisors and …

Open Strategy For Social Impact: An Action Research Study Of A Multistakeholder Open Strategy Planning Process, Jo Pang

Dissertations

As social and environmental challenges become increasingly dire, organizations are focusing on creating positive social impacts beyond generating profits. Traditional strategic planning tools were originally created for the purposes of profit maximization and are not sufficient for organizations with the aim of addressing complex social issues. Open strategy offers a promising alternative by increasing multistakeholder involvement in the formulation of organizational strategy. Existing research has supported the idea that multistakeholder collaboration is an effective means for creating positive social impact since societal challenges are too complex for any one organization to sufficiently address. Despite these promises, there are risks and …

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.

Pattern Recognition In Experienced Pediatric Nurses, Kathleen Wilson Neal

Dissertations

Little is known about how nurses build their knowledge beyond skills and tasks. Nurses may develop the ability to use a number of objective and subjective information sources to recognize the patterns of healthcare, behavioral, and social issues. The purpose of this study was to describe the development of pattern recognition in pediatric nurses in an acute care setting.

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 …

The Influence Of Mentoring On Goal Attainment And Role Satisfaction For Registered Nurses In Acute Care Facilities, Christine B. Smith

Dissertations

Mentoring has been suggested as a means to assist with role transition, career planning, and retention in the profession by providing opportunities for personal and professional growth lead to satisfaction. Satisfaction is especially crucial for the retention of Registered Nurses in a time when the profession has been experiencing a critical shortage. This quantitative study examined the influence of mentoring for RNs who have been employed in acute care facilities for the first time for less than 2 years. Using Bouquillon's mentoring instrument and based in the frameworks of King and Kram, the study suggests mentoring is occurring among new …

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' …

Using Personal Power To Overcome Self-Sabotage, Kelli Jakubik

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this sequential, explanatory mixed methods study was to identify and describe personal power tactics that California female school superintendents employ to overcome the four identified self-sabotaging behaviors from the self-sabotaging framework adapted from Lerner (2012) and Ryder and Briles (2003). Methodology: This sequential, explanatory mixed methods study identified and described the power tactics that eight female superintendents in a Southern California public school used to overcome the top four self-sabotaging behaviors: thinking too small, fear and worrying, holding back, and not taking time for reflection. Purposeful and convenience sampling was used to identify the participants. The …

Licensed Nurse/Certified Nurse Aide Collaboration In The Nursing Home, Cynthia Beynon

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore how collaboration is perceived and experienced by the licensed nurse (LN) and the certified nurse aide (CNA) in the nursing home (NH) setting. Understanding perspectives and patterns in the process of LN/CNA collaboration is critical in the quest to secure safe, quality care delivery for NH residents.

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?

Phenomenological Study On Adaptive Leadership During Times Of Great Change And Opportunity As Perceived By California Public School Superintendents In Los Angeles County School Districts, Darrin Deknikker

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe strategies used by superintendents of California public school districts in Los Angeles County to build an adaptive capacity based on the five key characteristics of adaptive leadership by Heifetz et al. (2009).

Methodology: This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of superintendents serving in public school districts in Los Angeles County. Purposeful, convenience sampling was used to identify 10 participants who met the study’s criteria. The semi-structured, open-ended interview protocol was developed by a thematic research team of nine peer researchers and three faculty advisors. Data collected from …

Life After Emancipation: A Phenomenological Study Of Emancipated Foster Youth And Their Lived Experiences, Felecia Gray

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of the current phenomenological study was to identify and describe the perceptions of emancipated foster youth (EFY) regarding the factors that have impacted their successful transition into adulthood. The secondary purpose of this study was to describe the measures EFY considers essential for a successful transition from foster care to independent living.

Methodology: This qualitative study identified and described the lived experiences of 12 emancipated foster youth from Los Angeles County, California. Respondents were purposively chosen based on specific criteria. Data were collected, and themes were formed with regard to five characteristics of the emerging adulthood theoretical …

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 …

A Design Thinking Mixed Methods Study On Learned Empathy Through Multicultural Education, Samanantha Webb

Dissertations

The dissertation in practice focused on addressing the issue of inadequate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) competencies among teachers in a Title I school. The problem of practice emerged within the context of an increasingly diverse educational landscape, necessitating educators to possess robust DEI skills. The proposed solution was a professional development (PD) program, crafted using a design thinking approach, which included an asynchronous learning module supplemented by a book study. The comprehensive PD program was aimed at enhancing the teachers' understanding and application of DEI principles, making the prototype relevant to the demands of multicultural education in today’s diverse …

A Design-Based, Mixed Methodology Study On Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices Among Speech-Language Pathologists In A Midwestern School District, Sarah E. Schmid

Dissertations

As autism diagnosis increased (Maenner et al., 2023; Wright, 2017), autistic individuals increasingly advocated for services aligned with a neurodiversity perspective (Jordan, 2010; Leadbitter et al., 2021). Using a human centric, design-based approach, the researcher identified a lack of alignment between the emerging preferences of the autistic community and the services speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in a large, suburban special education school district felt competent in providing. Some SLPs in the district reported a lack of knowledge and training about the neurodiversity movement and felt further training on the topic was needed. Once the knowledge gap was identified, the researcher worked …

Adaptive Inter-Vehicular Collaboration For Level 5 Autonomous Driving, Sumbal Malik

Dissertations

The evolution of sensor technologies, mobile networks, and artificial intelligence has significantly expanded the horizons of various sectors, notably in autonomous driving. According to the World Health Organization, over 1.3 million people succumb to traffic accidents annually, predominantly due to human negligence. Complex urban environments, characterized by mixed traffic flow involving Human Driven Vehicles and Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, intricate traffic patterns, frequent lane changes, and slow speeds, face escalating challenges related to traffic accidents and congestion. These challenges lead to wasted time, increased fuel consumption, and heightened pollution emission levels. Hence, the development of a safe and robust version …

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 …

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 …

Verbal Abuse, Violence Prevention Climate, And Psychological Safety Among Pediatric Nurses, Donna Bigani

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the relationships among demographic characteristics, verbal abuse, violence prevention climate, and team psychological safety.

Specific Aims: Specific aims were to describe: (1) demographic characteristics, verbal abuse, violence prevention climate, and the perception of team psychological safety by pediatric nurses; (2) relationships among select demographic characteristics, verbal abuse, violence prevention climate, and team psychological safety; and (3) the variance in team psychological safety accounted for by select demographic characteristics, verbal abuse, and violence prevention climate.

Background: Psychological safety is a key element for nursing practice and healthcare teams. Patient and employee safety …

An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Servant Leadership Characteristics Of Nurse Leaders And The Perception Of Empowerment Among Their Followers, Holly H. Hall

Dissertations

There is a demand for nursing leadership to create a healthy work environment for nursing practice, which is crucial for maintaining an adequate workforce (Shirey, 2006). Rother and Lavizzo-Mourey (2009) predicted that by 2025 the nursing shortage may reach as high as 500,000 U.S. nursing vacancies. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between servant leadership (SL) characteristics of nurse leaders and the perceptions of empowerment among their followers. Servant leadership has emerged as an effective leadership style that prioritizes developing the full potential of followers (Liden, 2013). Current research suggests an empirical link exists between servant …