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).

Exploring Interprofessional Education Through A High-Fidelity Human Patient Simulation Scenario: A Mixed Methods Study, Kelly L. Rossler

Dissertations

High-fidelity human patient simulation has emerged as a valuable medium to reinforce educational content within programs of nursing. As simulation learning experiences have been identified as augmenting both didactic lecture content and clinical learning, these experiences have expanded to incorporate interprofessional education. Review of literature demonstrates research is necessary to support how interprofessional education can impact learning and how high-fidelity human patient simulation can be utilized as a mechanism to promote learning in an interprofessional manner. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore pre-licensure health professions students' perceptions of high-fidelity human patient simulation as a teaching modality …

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.

Improve Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates Through Early Breastfeeding Initiation, Camille Chua

Dissertations

Exclusive breastfeeding can be challenging to maintain. At the project site there was an inconsistent process for breastfeeding support, so an evidence-based solution was sought. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental quality improvement project was to determine if or to what degree the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Guideline’s Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) Step Four would impact exclusive breastfeeding rates (EBFRs) when compared to current practice among adult postpartum patients in an acute care hospital in Southern California over four weeks. Nola Pender’s middle-range nursing theory utilizing the health promotion model (HPM), and Kurt Lewin’s change theory provided …

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 …

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 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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Human Resource Practices And Employee Outcomes: An Examination Of Performance, Satisfaction And Diversity Climate In The Hospitality Sector Of Saudi Arabia, Tareq Abdullah Al-Jammaz

Dissertations

Tourism and related industries have become essential economic activities that play a significant role in the development, prosperity, and well-being of a country. The tourism and hotel sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is currently undergoing significant development to diversify the national economy in line with the KSA Economic Vision 2030 Initiative. To align this sector with international standards in terms of job satisfaction and performance, human resource management practices (HRMPs) play a key role in determining the job satisfaction of employees in their various work environments. HRMPs include various job-related activities, training and development (T+D) programs, rewards, …

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 …

الحماية الجزائية للأطفال من المواد الإباحية (دراسة تأصيلية تحليلية مقارنة), Hamed Ahmed Alderei

Dissertations

Criminal Protection of Children from Pornographic Materials: A Comparative Analytical Study

This dissertation investigates both the substantive and procedural criminal protections for children against pornography, focusing on the national legislations of the United Arab Emirates. The UAE legislator has implemented these protections through the Child Rights Law ("Wadeema") and the Law on Combating Rumors and Cybercrimes. In contrast, Jordan and Egypt have each taken a singular approach, with Jordan addressing the issue under the Cybercrime Law and Egypt through the Child Rights Law. The study examines the broader scope of the UAE's criminal protection measures and their application in courts, …

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 …

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 …

Genomics Insights Into Anti-Platelets Therapy: Unraveling Of Variants And The Implementation Of Clopidogrel-Guided Therapy In The United Arab Emirates, Lubna Qasem Khasawneh

Dissertations

Anti-platelet therapy is a cornerstone in the management of cardiovascular diseases such as Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and stroke. These medications are essential for reducing the risk of thrombotic events by preventing platelet aggregation. However, variations in cardiovascular pharmacogenes can significantly impact the metabolism, efficacy, and safety of anti-platelet therapies, making personalized medicine increasingly important for optimizing treatment outcomes. Pharmacogenomic testing has emerged as a crucial tool in tailoring anti-platelet therapy, particularly for patients with subtherapeutic responses due to genetic factors. While extensive research has been conducted globally to identify and study the effect of the pharmacogenomic variants that influence …

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 …

Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus (Mmtv) Genomic Rna (Grna) Packaging: Selective Grna Encapsidation Is Facilitated By Long-Range Interactions (Lris) That Facilitate Specific Gag Binding, Suresha G. Prabhu

Dissertations

Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is a betaretrovirus that induces breast cancer and sporadically, T-cell lymphomas in mice. MMTV serves as a pertinent model for elucidating the mechanism(s) of oncogenesis and the genetics associated with the development of mammary tumors. Being a rodent retrovirus, MMTV is phylogenetically distant from human and other primate retroviruses; thus, positioning it ideally as a potential vector of choice for human gene therapy. This may circumvent safety concerns such as recombination with other related endogenous human retroviruses. In addition, MMTV is distinct from most other retroviruses, but similar to lentiviruses, in that it has the …

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 …

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 …

Fear, Distress, And Dissociation: Correlates Of Physiological Hyporeactivity After Interpersonal Victimization, Natalia Kecala

Dissertations

Background and Objective: Despite consistent findings of high reactivity to trauma cues in PTSD, there exists a consistent subset of physiological nonresponders who exhibit more complex and severe posttraumatic symptomatology. Research has identified different patterns of defensive reactivity representing Fear (core) and Distress (complex) PTSD symptoms. However, no studies have directly compared responders and nonresponders on physiological and clinical symptoms posttrauma.

Method: 66 adult women who had experienced first-degree sexual or physical assault within the last month were categorized using heart rate reactivity (HRR) to two personalized trauma scripts. Participants exhibiting negative HRR to both scripts were classified as nonresponders …

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 …

Reducing Restraint Use And Workplace Violence With The Broset Violence Checklist, Alexandria Anderson

Dissertations

Problem: Psychiatric mental health nurses have an increased rate of workplace violence due to the acuity of patients they care for. When aggressive behavior cannot be resolved verbally, physical methods such as restraints may be utilized. Restraint use can result in unwanted consequences for both the patient and the nurse. Predicting risk of violence can be useful at reducing violence and restraint use through early risk identification.

Methods: The Broset Violence Checklist (BVC) was implemented as a way to predict aggression risk in an in-patient psychiatric unit within a mid-western hospital. This study utilized a pre- and post-intervention approach to …

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, …

Fabrication And Evaluation Of Multicomponent Biomimetic Scaffolds For Bone Tissue Engineering, Mozan Osman Hassan

Dissertations

Bones have an inherent ability to remodel, but critical-size defects can hinder regeneration, leading to delayed healing or non-union fractures. Traditional bone grafts have limitations, such as donor site morbidity and immune rejection, driving the need for synthetic bone substitutes. Bone tissue engineering (BTE) addresses this by developing biomimetic scaffolds that replicate bone properties. This research aimed to fabricate composite scaffolds from strontium (Sr) and zinc (Zn) doped nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp), collagen, and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA). Different doping percentages of Sr/Zn (1%, 2.5%, 4%) were used to fabricate the scaffolds using supercritical CO2 (ScCO2) and electrospinning techniques. Scaffolds were then analyzed for …