Digital Commons Network^™

Stigmatization Experiences Of Hiv Infected Women: A Focused Ethnography, Marsha J. Bennett

Dissertations

Few studies address the multiplicity of psychological, social, and cultural influences on women's behavior as a result of their HIV infection. The purpose of this study was to analyze: (a) women's experiences of living with HIV disease from the perspective of the women's stigmatized status, and (b) a subculture of HIV infected women with a set of relationships, behaviors, events, and rituals that imparted meaning into being a woman infected with HIV in this society. Adult women were referred from their primary care providers and nurses, and consented for participation. A focused ethnography using individual interviews, group interviews, and participant …

A Descriptive Mixed-Methods Study Examining Resilience And Transitioning To Adulthood Among Emerging Adults With Disabilities, Jennifer Emilie Mannino

Dissertations

Transitioning to adulthood is not without challenges. The move away from family influence towards independence and self-determination is filled with uncertainty. Increased challenges and vulnerabilities in transitioning are evident among emerging adults with disabilities because they face additional challenges related to their disability over and above what others of this developmental stage experience.

A Phenomenological Study Of Exemplary Corporate Learning And Development Leaders Leading From The Heart, Randa Jad-Moussa

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe how corporate learning and development leaders lead from the heart using Mark Crowley’s (2011) 4 principles (building a highly engaged team, connecting on a personal level, maximizing employee potential, and valuing and honoring achievements) to accomplish extraordinary results in their organizations.

Methodology: This study followed a qualitative phenomenological research study to describe the lived experiences of exemplary corporate learning and development leaders. Eight corporate learning and development leaders were selected from the target population in publicly traded technology companies in the state of California. Each of the corporate learning and …

Examination Of Gaming In Nursing Education And The Effects On Learning And Retention, Tracey L. Hodges

Dissertations

The college environment brings together adult learners from diverse backgrounds who have different goals, personal and work experiences, and learning styles. These learners have the ability to learn in as many ways as educators have ways to teach them and learn better when actively engaged in the learning process. This reality makes it important for adult educators to incorporate a variety of teaching methods in their courses to meet the needs of these learners. Gaming is one such teaching method, with the potential to reach a wide and diverse population of adult learners.

The primary purpose of this study was …

Predictors Of Retention And Passing National Council Licensure Examination For Registered Nurses, Nancy Susan Elkins

Dissertations

The current nursing shortage has challenged colleges to educate nurses at a faster pace than in previous times. Successful completion of the nursing programs and passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) exam is important for the students, faculty, and nursing programs. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the possible predictors of completing the baccalaureate nursing program at a college in the eastern part of the United States and passing the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. Using Spearman's classical test theory and Seidman's retention formula as theoretical foundations, this study investigated historical data from 2 graduating …

The Lived Experience Of Associate Degree Nursing Education: Conditions And Barriers In The Learning Environment That Shaped Students' Learning, Identity Development, And Success, Darlene M. Del Prato

Dissertations

This qualitative study examined how 13 students, from 3 ADN programs, experienced nursing education. Students' constructed the formal curriculum in three central ways: knowledge acquisition as privileged, disconnect between teaching, learning, and assessment, and clinical learning as evaluation. Participants' perspectives about the informal curriculum revealed two themes: supportive relationships with faculty as a critical condition of learning and development, and faculty incivility as a barrier to learning, development, and professional identity. In addition, students' felt a need to identify and enact unspoken norms of an ideal nurse. Faculty were key in promoting or hindering students' learning, development, and successful navigation …

Pap Smear Guideline Adherence Among Non-Immigrant Hispanic Women Of Mexican Origin, Dulce M. Warren

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to add to the body of knowledge about the high rates of cervical cancer among non-immigrant Hispanic women of Mexican origin (NIHWMO). This problem was studied by investigating predictors of Pap smear guideline adherence. The specific aims of this study were to 1) to investigate the effect of acculturation, familism, fatalism, provider trust, cultural congruence, HPV knowledge, and generational level on Pap smear guideline adherence, 2) investigate the moderating effects of acculturation on familism, fatalism, provider trust, cultural congruence, HPV knowledge, and generational level on Pap smear guideline adherence, 3) examine the characteristics of …

Concerns, Coping, And Quality Of Life Of Mexican American Breast Cancer Survivors, Mary M. Lopez

Dissertations

Coping is a challenge for breast cancer survivors and may result in a poor quality of life (QOL). The primary purpose of this mixed method study was to examine the effects of acculturation, optimism, and breast cancer concerns on coping styles and to determine the effect coping styles have on the QOL of Mexican American breast cancer survivors. A 1-group ex post facto, descriptive, correlational design with path analysis was used to determine the direct, indirect, and total effects of the causal antecedents on coping and QOL.

A Mixed-Methods Exploration Study On Trauma-Informed Practices Used To Dismantle The School-To-Prison Pipeline In Public And Private Schools In The City Of St. Louis, Jennifer Lauren Gabrian

Dissertations

Since the release of the Missouri Model for Trauma-Informed Schools approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in 2019, school leaders were given the opportunity to start the process of meeting the emotional and fundamental needs of students. With the effects of trauma reaching all diverse groups of race, gender, economic status, and community surroundings, there is an increased need to use the education system to reach students emotionally. Though the model is a blueprint for schools, school districts are not required to adopt this model and implement it within their districts. Due to the recent pandemic, …

The Relationship Between The Stage Of Moral Development And The Frequency Of Dishonest Behaviors In The Classroom And Clinical Setting In Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Diann C. Cooper

Dissertations

Nursing is consistently ranked for its honesty and integrity. It is guided by a set of standards for ethical practice. However, nursing students participate in academic dishonesty at rates similar to non-nursing students. In addition, those who participate in academic dishonesty are more likely to be dishonest in the clinical setting. Dishonesty in clinical can directly impact patients and staff putting both at risk of harm. While in their nursing program, decision making is guided by the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, which is taught during the program. Specifics on the time spent and method used to teach …

Nurses' Voice: The Meaning Of Voice To Experienced Registered Nurses Employed In A Magnet Hospital Workplace, Julie A. Beck

Dissertations

Magnet Hospitals are healthcare environments that have recognized excellence in nursing care. These accredited Magnet Hospitals, a term coined in the early 1980's, were seen to have the ability to attract nurses. These hospitals have quantitatively documented greater patient satisfaction, greater nurse autonomy, lower incidence of nursing burnout and greater nursing retention. As healthcare faces one of its most significant nursing shortages, Magnet Hospitals illustrate an organizational and corporate strategy that aims to recognize nursing and hopefully retain and recruit nurses during this challenging time.

While there are numerous quantitative studies that examine aspects of Magnet Hospitals such as nursing …

The Lived Experience Of Thriving Nursing Students, Nicole M. Mentag

Dissertations

As the demand for qualified nurses increases, nursing education is responsible for preparing students for healthcare challenges. Nursing education focuses on academic success measures, including licensure examination passage, graduation rates, and grade point average. Though these outcomes are important, they fail to capture the complexities of student success. Thriving, the conceptual framework for this study, is a phenomenon within higher education that expands on the traditional measures of success and integrates cognitive and psychological aspects of the college experience. This study utilized interpretive phenomenology to understand the meanings of the lived experiences of thriving undergraduate nursing students. Semi-structured interviews were …

Mentoring As It Relates To Persistence In Associate Degree Nursing Students, Caroline M. Peltz

Dissertations

Students who are preparing to become registered nurses are more likely to attend community colleges due to the unequal distribution of financial resources to educational systems that have evolved from the impact of globalization. The purpose of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to increase the understanding of mentoring as it relates to the perceived ability to persist among nontraditional students enrolled in associate degree nursing programs at community colleges. This investigation presented a discussion of how student involvement in a mentoring relationship and the domains of mentoring differed by student background characteristics. Additionally, the domains of mentoring and student involvement …

Leadership And Political Skill Preparedness Of The Doctoral Prepared Nurse, Wanda Montalvo

Dissertations

The Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing report recommended the development of more nurse leaders at every level and across all settings. The Accountable Care Act has led to a reformed healthcare system, placing a growing demand for nurse leaders. The doctoral prepared nurse must be able to fulfill leadership roles to educate future generations of nurses, translate research into practice, and influence organization-level research to meet federal performance indicators.

Testing Barriers To Non-Suicidal Self-Injury With College Students: Narcissistic Traits As Moderators, Philip Stoner

Dissertations

Research on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has produced mixed findings, resulting in a lack of clarity regarding these behaviors (Klonsky & Meuhlenkamp, 2007). To address this, Hooley and Franklin (2018) developed the Benefits and Barriers Model (BBM) to provide a comprehensive understanding of NSSI, in which they identified the barriers that commonly prevent people from engaging in these behaviors (e.g., self-esteem, shame, and peer-bonding motivations/social norms). They also identified adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as a distal predictor of NSSI, which aids people in overcoming the barriers to engaging in these behaviors. Recent NSSI literature has shown that college women in the …

The Lived Experience Of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema In African American Women, Deborah A. Collins-Bohler

Dissertations

African American patients have been reported as having a greater number of aggressive cancer treatments compared to Caucasians (McWayne & Heiney, 2005; Meeske et al., 2009; Ridner & Dietrich, 2008), and have higher incidence of BCRLE due axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and radiation intervention (Thomas-MacLean, Miedema, Tateemichi, 2005). Research regarding BCRLE has used BCRLE samples comprised almost exclusively of married and well-educated Caucasian women. Few studies (Bowman, Deimling, Smerglia, Sage, & Kahana, 2003; Eversley et al., 2005; Joslyn, 2002; McWayne & Heiney, 2005) have included sizeable numbers of African American breast cancer survivors. No studies have been found that …

"If I Cry Less I Can Fit In More Play Dates": Mothers' Experiences With Time Famine, Nancy M. H. Pontes

Dissertations

As time has become an increasingly valued resource of our postmodern world, many individuals are experiencing a phenomenon called ";time famine,"; the chronic perceived shortage of time. Mothers are especially vulnerable to time famine as they assume multiple roles. Previous researchers hypothesized that these mothers are at increased risk for sickness and death. However, epidemiological studies do not support this premise primarily because these women tend to be younger and relatively free of chronic diseases.

The purpose of this qualitative research was to explore six mothers' lived experiences of time famine and how it impacts their family health within a …

Antecedents Of Control Over Nursing Practice, Marla Jean Weston

Dissertations

Control over nursing practice (CONP) is a participatory process through which nurses have input and engage in decision making about the context of practice and unit operations related to nursing practice. CONP has been associated with a number of positive outcomes related to nurse satisfaction, nurse status, effectiveness of patient care, and quality of patient outcomes. However, no comprehensive model has been created nor comprehensive analysis been conducted related to approaches for increasing CONP. This study tested a hypothesized model of antecedents to CONP developed from a review of the literature in nursing, psychology, and organizational management using a complexity …

A Study Of Relationships Among Three Assessment Methods For Nurse Anesthetists, Nicholas W. Gabriel

Dissertations

The current measures of competency for nurse anesthetists for recertification are continuing education units for each biennial recertification cycle, and records of current practice and state licensure. Recently, the National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) adopted new standards that include a written examination every 8 years, an increase of 40 continuing education units per year, and completion of four core competency modules each four-year recertification cycle. However, little is known about the validity of these competency measures.

The purpose of this study was to determine relationships between written examination scores, self-assessment scores, and performance scores in …

A Quantitative Study Examining Intentional Teaching Of Social Emotional Skills, Christina Scrivner Huse

Dissertations

In a world where children are likely to experience early-life trauma, relationships matter, and trust is a key in forming healthy working relationships. Intentionally teaching adults and teachers how to evoke calmness in ourselves and breathe to handle negative situations, trusted educators can then teach children to do the same. It is important that educational leaders, and other stakeholders, explore what works best to help children overcome trauma and become resilient and productive adults. This study examined the relationship between social, emotional, and behavioral skills of students entering kindergarten who have been intentionally taught skills needed for resiliency by highly …

The Essential Characteristics Of Coaching That Secondary Principals Perceive Support Effective Leadership At School Sites, Bryanna Norton

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand and describe the essential characteristics of coaching that secondary principals perceive to support effective leadership at school sites. An additional purpose of this study was to determine what strategies secondary principals recommend for improving coaching that supports effective leadership at school sites.

Methodology: This study adopted a phenomenological approach. The researcher analyzed the lived experiences of 11 secondary principals and identified any commonalities that existed among their interviews based on their perceived truths and perceptions of their lived experiences.

Findings: Analysis of interviews, observations, and artifacts from 11 high school …

Fear Of Cancer Recurrence Among Survivors Of Adult Cancers, Jacqueline P. Galica

Dissertations

Fear of Cancer Recurrence (FCR) is a common concern for which cancer survivors want professional help to cope. Understanding the prevalence, predictors and mediators of FCR is important to facilitate the identification of those at-risk for clinically-significant FCR in order to expediently refer them into appropriate interventions. To clarify the empirical gaps which would be useful in this regard, the objectives of this study were: 1) to assess the prevalence of FCR; 2) to examine the relationships among predictors of FCR; and 3) examine the relationships among mediators of FCR.

To What Extent Are At-Risk Preschoolers Effectively Prepared For Kindergarten?, Eliza Santos Lopez

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent Kinder Hearts School’s at-risk preschoolers are effectively prepared with readiness skills for kindergarten academic success. Based on schoolwide assessments, program mandates, and policy changes, an evaluation of this specific program in a Midwest school could determine whether the instructional model used was indeed effective. This study consisted of analyzing data from three student categories: children who attended private preschool programming, children who attended the school’s at-risk program, and children who had no schooling. The data collected was used to determine professional development needed, grant funding allocation, and program delivery …

Mental Construal And Alterations In Emotional Memory, Olivia D. Beers

Dissertations

Psychological distancing refers to a shift from a psychologically immersed perspective that involves thinking about the details of an event (concretely) or stepping back from it and watching the event from an outside point of view (abstractly)––this can help individuals change how they feel about the experience. Investigating how construal levels affect emotional memories may provide more insight into how individuals may potentially alter the recall of their memories. The current study reflects a new examination of the effect of primed high and low construal levels on the recall of positive and negative arousing stimuli. This study included a pilot …

The Experience Of Returning From A Wilderness Expedition, Helen Mueller Wedin

Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to explore the experience of women returning from the Arctic territory of Nunavut. Such women transitioned from a secluded, communal, Canadian wilderness journey of approximately 7 weeks duration, to a Western lifestyle of advanced technology, high-paced, individualistic living. Preliminary inquiry of expedition returnees pointed to a significant number of participants detailing moderate or higher levels of anxiety, paralleling similar findings of cross-cultural sojourners who reported experiencing a kind of 'reverse culture shock' upon coming home. Psychological distress related to transition between foreign environments and home cultures, has been associated with potential health …

The Pontem Path: A Case Study Of A Catholic Bridge Program Focusing On College Readiness, Sean Green

Dissertations

The Department of Education’s 2018 report on the “Condition of Education” indicated nearly 60% of all children under the age of 18 had parents without a bachelor’s degree. When the statistics were broken down by race, the numbers were far higher. For Black children, that number was 74%; for Hispanic children, that number was 79%; for Pacific islander, it was 78%; and for American Indian/Alaska native, it was 80%. This gap in education has had a tremendous economic impact on families, reverberating through generations. According to Georgetown’s 2015 study on the economics of college majors, a college graduate makes $1 …

Shattering Your Own Glass Ceiling: The Self-Sabotaging Behaviors Of Secondary Female Principals And Strategies Used To Overcome Them, Ashley Sandor

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this explanatory mixed methods study was to identify and describe self-sabotaging behaviors experienced by female secondary principals and to explore the impact these behaviors have on their career development. A secondary purpose of this study was to identify strategies used to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors.

Methodology: An explanatory mixed methods design was used to uncover the perspectives of 10 female secondary principals in Northern California who have experienced career impacting self-sabotaging behaviors and to examine strategies that exemplary female secondary principals use to overcome their internal barriers. The quantitative phase included a 51-item online survey about self-sabotaging …

Parental Involvement And The Academic Achievement Of Third And Fourth Grade Students During The 2014-2015 And 2015-2016 School Years, Rise’ D. Black

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to find out if parental involvement in the study school helped to increase student academic achievement. Previous studies have shown that when parents are involved in the educational process of children, parents can expect a gain in academic achievement. This mixed method study examined the relationship between parental involvement and academic gains in reading at one suburban public school. The researcher examined how often parents met with teachers at their child’s school, conversations parents had with teachers about what they were learning in school, how often parents were involved with a parent group, how …

The Relationship Between Selected Variables And The National Council Licensure Examination For Registered Nurses: A Comparative Analysis Of Pass/Fail Performance For Traditional And Second-Degree Baccalaureate Students, Nadine Cozzo Englert

Dissertations

This retrospective study was conducted to examine the relationship between selected variables and performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Data were collected from one hundred twenty graduates of a baccalaureate program; graduates completed either the traditional four-year track or an accelerated second-degree track. Variables included scores earned on seven standardized HESI tests, grades earned in fourteen nursing courses, and grade point averages calculated at six points throughout the curriculum. Relationships between NCLEX-RN performance and student age, gender, and ethnicity were also examined. A between-subjects comparative analysis based on pass/fail performance revealed students who passed the …

The Experience Of Non-Spousal Close Intimate Relationships For Women With Breast Cancer: A Journey Of Support, Erin B. Dooley

Dissertations

An estimated 331,530 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 ("American Cancer Society," 2019, p. 10). The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological, descriptive study was to explore the lived experience of non-spousal close/intimate relationships of women with breast cancer. There are very few studies in the literature examining relationships between women with cancer other than those of partner or spouse. This study's participants consisted of six women, ages 32 to 68. Analysis of these data identified themes reflected along their breast cancer trajectory (1) The journey starts (2) Mid-journey passage, and (3) Journeys end/coming home, as well as …