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An Autoethnographic Journey To Critical Consciousness: How A White Faculty Member At A Hispanic Serving Institution Moves From Ally To Accomplice By Learning Student Struggles, Benjamin Mercer Drury

Dissertations

This study serves to document my transition into critical consciousness – or conscientização – through interactions with my students. I utilize narrative autoethnographic methods, content analysis, qualitative interviewing, and personal reflection to document my transformation from objectively interested faculty member to accomplice by learning about how the life of my students outside of school affected their performance inside of school. Significant findings fall into two categories: personal and professional. Personally, this study was cathartic. By using a scholarly lens to analyze and reflect on my experience, I was able to process my experience in the context of existing research and …

The Dark Side Of Leadership: Mid-Level Managers And Their Experience With Hubristic Behaviors Of Executives, Leili Sadaghiani

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to identify the emotional reactions of mid-level managers to executives’ hubris behaviors in a corporate setting.

Methodology: This leadership study uses qualitative phenomenological methodology was executed to explore the lived experiences of mid-level managers with past executives who practiced hubristic behavior.

Findings: The findings of this research on the lived experiences of mid-level managers with hubristic behaviors of executives suggest that the lack of support lessens the mid-level manager’s confidence; with little support; the mid-level manager was either afraid to fight the executive or gave up trying; the mid-level manager faced stress even …

Individual Perceptions Related To Fall Risk Among Older Adults In Acute Care Setting In A Saudi Arabian Hospital, Zuhar S. Altaymani

Dissertations

Despite a plethora of research examining fall risk, including numerous fall prevention strategies, falls remain the most common adverse event among the elderly. Frail older adults are at higher risk for falls. With the increase in the geriatric population and their risk for frailty, it is imperative to address the limitations of both diagnosis and treatment of frailty, and the concurrent fall risk for older adults in Saudi Arabia by examining self-perception of fall risk. In older Saudi Arabian adults, falls are a serious health issue affecting up to 49.9% of elderly people, often resulting in fractures, traumatic brain, and …

Objective Physical Activity And Sleep Characteristics Measurements Using A Triaxial Accelerometer In Eight Year Olds, Susan A. Harrington

Dissertations

Secular trends demonstrate that young children are less active and sleep less. Inequity in an individual's energy balance is known to have poor health outcomes. Academic achievement, academic behavior, and weight status are proxy indicators for health and psychosocial outcomes in this study. Current guidelines in place for sleep and physical activity in childhood are the result of data collected in the form of self-reports. Quantification and qualification of physical activity dimensions and sleep characteristics are essential not only for the purpose of clearly establishing parameters but also for the intent of verifying optimal health outcomes and evaluating interventions related …

Workplace Violence Prevention Training: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Home Healthcare Workers, Tamara F. Small

Dissertations

HHCWs are at increased risk for WPV due to working alone in unsupervised, unpredictable, and potentially dangerous work environments. Similar to healthcare workers employed in institutionalized settings, HHCWs primarily experience Type II, verbal abuse from patients. Little is known about how HHCWs promote personal safety while at work. Guided by Haddon's Matrix, the purpose of this manuscript option dissertation was to estimate WPV exposures and identify interventions and resources used by HHCWs to promote personal safety and mitigate and prevent WPV. For this manuscript option dissertation, there are three distinct projects, all related to HHCWs and exposure to WPV.

A Comparison Of Perceptions Of Incivility Among Nursing Students And Faculty In Pre-Licensure Nursing Programs, Karen Aul

Dissertations

This study used a mixed method approach to examine the frequency and types of perceived and experienced uncivil behaviors among nursing students and faculty. The Incivility in Nursing (INE) Survey that was developed by Clark in 2004 was administered to a convenience sample of nursing students and faculty from four nursing programs. The sample included 159 senior pre-licensure nursing students and 14 faculty members within diploma, associate, and baccalaureate nursing education programs. Stress was mentioned in all program types as a contributing factor to student and faculty incivility. The analysis of the quantitative data found variability between nursing program types …

The Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic On What Teachers Want From A Principal To Be Successful: A Study On Teacher Perception, Erika Niles, Kristen Pelster

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if COVID-19 has shifted what teachers perceive they want from a principal. In addition, the researchers sought to find what post-COVID-19 teachers want from a principal for them to succeed. Success is defined as feeling supported emotionally, having the proper resources, and maintaining a desire to stay in the profession.

Researchers used a concurrent mixed-methods design to collect data. Because data were not collected before the pandemic, researchers used a retrospective design to gather pre-COVID-19 data. The survey instrument had nineteen pairs of Likert-based questions, aligned with 19 qualities that are historically …

The Relationship Among Perfectionism, Perceived Stress, And Coping In Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Amanda Finley

Dissertations

Perfectionism in nursing students is an understudied problem that may affect student and workforce success. Perfectionism has been linked to increased stress and less effective coping styles, as well as depression, anxiety and other psychological alterations. However, it has rarely been studied in nursing students. Studying perfectionism in this population is important because it may increase the likelihood that new nurses will struggle with the stress of practice and it could be a significant factor in early career attrition. The purpose of this descriptive, correlational study was to gain a better understanding of the incidence of perfectionism in a nursing …

Establishing A Student-Centered Culture: A Case Study Identifying Leadership Skills Of Exemplary School Principals, Katie Booth

Dissertations

Purpose: The phenomenological study identifies and describes how elementary school principals who have been recipients of the Terrel H. Bell Award develop a student-centered school culture.

Methodology: This qualitative study identifies and describes an elementary school principals’ ability to build guided coalitions and form strategic visions to ensure a student-centered culture. Participants were purposefully chosen based on specific criteria. The researcher collected data through semi-structured interviews, observations, and artifacts. Data was coded and themes were identified allowing the researcher to analyze findings and draw conclusions.

Findings: Analysis of data from 13 participants led to 10 major findings on how …

Impact Of Food Distribution Sites In Rural Neighborhoods At Risk For Food Insecurity In San Bernardino County, Lydia Garcia-Usry

Dissertations

Food security is an important element in the lifespan of individuals, and access to healthy food is important to the quality of life in communities. The significance of food insecurity is reflective of a community that does not have the resources to provide a consistent and stable intake of healthy and nutritious meals. Food insecurity has been linked to chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and the level of poverty in a community. The United States of America reports that 50 million people suffer from food insecurity, and it is reported as an urgent public health problem. …

Understanding The Ethical Decision-Making Processes Of Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy Practitioners, Lisa Krystosek

Dissertations

Equine-assisted psychotherapy is a unique field in which interdisciplinary teams of practitioners provide mental health services to clients. These teams are comprised of at least two practitioners, one licensed mental health specialist and one certified equine specialist. While ethics and ethical decision-making are significant issues in the mental health industry, there exists a significant gap in the literature pertaining to the ethical decision-making processes of interdisciplinary teams of equine-assisted psychotherapy practitioners. This dissertation aimed to address the gap through the development of an understanding of how teams of equine-assisted psychotherapy practitioners engage in ethical decision making. Further, the researcher sought …

Characterization Of Tick And Host-Associated Factors Linked To Induction Of Alpha-Gal Syndrome., Surendra Raj Sharma, Surendra Raj Sharma

Dissertations

Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) is a delayed allergic reaction caused by specific IgE antibodies to the oligosaccharide galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal) present in red meat. AGS is a growing concern globally, with over 34,000 confirmed cases in the United States alone. Studies have linked AGS to tick bites, which sensitizes hosts against α-gal antigens and elevates α-gal specific IgE. This dissertation investigates the role of tick and host-associated factors in AGS development. Microbiome analysis of Am. americanum ticks revealed a comprehensive core microbiome profile and showed that new Fransiella-like endosymbionts dominate and outcompete conventional tick Coxiella endosymbionts. Ticks subjected to tetracycline treatment showed …

Please Don’T Stop The Music: A Quantitative Content Analysis Of Black Protest Music Released Between 2013-2022 As A Response To #Blacklivesmatter, Melissa Williams

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to conduct a quantitative content analysis to determine if protest songs produced by Black musicians in response to police brutality since the development of #BlackLivesMatter reflect the traditional use of semiotics, narrative language, and collective identity within the verses of lyrics released between 2013-2022.

The findings of the study revealed that there were fewer references to religion than seen in spirituals or during the Civil Rights movement. The police received more attention than other conventional institutions. The lyrics did not describe the daily microaggressions that Black people face, yet there were several references within …

Action-Logics Of Veterans Health Administration Magnet Nurse Executives And Their Practice Of Supporting Nurses To Speak Up, Bonnie R. Pierce

Dissertations

Health care organizations typically have a hierarchical structure, with physicians dominant and nurses subordinate. The challenge to open and honest communication between doctors and nurses is real, and communication errors contribute significantly to undesirable patient outcomes. Nurse executives (NEs) have a responsibility to help lead transformation of health care organizations to support nurses to speak up and communicate all critical information.

NEs are challenged to improve safety and quality, decrease costs and increase access to care. Combining health care expertise with business ability can support these goals. Rooke and Torbert found correlations between successful business leaders and postconventional action-logics, or …

An Historic Analysis Of The Operation Of A Truancy Court Conducted In An Urban Middle School, Lisa Gray

Dissertations

Truancy is a concern that most school districts around the country are familiar with. This study was to examine the development of a truancy court established in an effort to conquer this problem. There were several school districts, from inner city to rural, that believed truancy courts helped to reduce attendance issues. Data were collected and assessed from the observations of the existing truancy courts. It was determined from the data that truancy courts were only productive if the judge had the support from the parents. Some were repeat offenders, whereas some just needed a little guidance to get back …

Internet Pornography Use, Loneliness, And Adult Attachment Patterns Among Asian Indian Young Adults: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Design, Anish Baby

Dissertations

Internet pornography consumption among Asian Indian Americans, an ethnic minority group, is largely underrepresented in current scholarly literature despite their growing population in the United States. The purpose of this research was threefold: (a) to measure the prevalence of internet pornography use among Asian Indian American young adults and adults; (b) to explore the relationship between internet pornography use, loneliness, and attachment patterns; and (c) to describe the lived experience of problematic porn consumers. Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, I conducted this study in two distinct phases: quantitative followed by qualitative. In the quantitative phase, I employed an …

Exploring Attitudes Of Four Groups Of Stakeholders Toward Family Childcare And Recommending Best Practices To Promote Positive Experiences, Yvonne S. Williams

Dissertations

This research aimed to increase the awareness of licensed family childcare programs and use the viewpoints of four stakeholder groups to construct recommended best practices. These best practices are crucial for supporting effective business practices and providing high-quality services to their stakeholders. Online surveys and virtual interviews were used to acquire the stakeholders' perspectives. The collected data revealed three principal thematic codes: family childcare provider, family childcare business, and family childcare environment. Within these three codes, the family childcare program's areas of improvement, inconsistencies, and strengths were identified and evaluated to construct recommended professional and business best practices. Some of …

A Study Of Nurses' Experiences With Behaviors That Compromise A Healthy Work Environment In The Hospital Setting, Connie K. Schultz

Dissertations

The existence of disruptive behaviors in the hospital setting has been shown to affect the communication and collaboration between healthcare professionals. This study explored nurses' experiences with behaviors that compromise a healthy work environment. The data collection was accomplished through semi-structured interviews and review of organizational documents. The results of the analysis concluded that there existed a low incidence of disruptive behaviors in the selected organization. Themes were determined that reflected inconsistencies in the nurses' practice environment that contributed to the presence of disruptive behaviors. Inconsistency in communication and collaboration, in holding colleagues accountable, and the lack of visibility of …

Predicting Heart Failure Readmission Using Home Health Clinical Indices, Jamie Murphy

Dissertations

Heart failure is the most rapidly growing cardiovascular disease in the U. S. (Boxer et al., 2010) and is the most common cause for hospital readmission (Fang et al., 2008; Heidenreich et al., 2013; Jencks et al., 2009) with a 30-day readmission rate of 24.8% (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, 2012). Currently, many heart failure patients are discharged quickly from the hospital without adequate skills and knowledge to perform self-care tasks. Moreover, home health nurses provide the same care for all heart failure patients and have limited knowledge on what clinical health indicators might affect readmission. As a result, home …

Women's Lives After An Induced Abortion: A Phenomenological Study Of The Long-Term Post Abortion Experience, Rosanna Formanek Hess

Dissertations

Most previous research investigations on the post abortion experience studied women up to two years post abortion. The findings of many of these short-term studies indicate that 5-20% of women have severe psychiatric distress two years after the abortion. Little is known about the long-term effects of an abortion in women who experienced the event.

The purpose of this study was to explore the abortion experience in women who had a legal, elective, first trimester, induced abortion > 5 years before the interview. The main objective of the study was to learn how each woman was affected by the abortion and …

Faculty Caring Behaviors: A Quantitative Examination From The Ethnically Diverse Student's Perspective, Donna M. Hedges

Dissertations

The increase in patient ethnic diversity in the health care environment has not been mirrored by an increase in ethnic diversity within the nursing profession. There is a need for increased focus on the retention of ethnically diverse nursing students in order to meet the needs of an ethnically diverse patient population. The quality of caring demonstrated by faculty in the faculty - student relationship can have significant influence on the student's successful completion of the nursing program. Faculty understanding of how ethnically diverse students perceive caring faculty behaviors may assist faculty to mitigate attrition of these students. The purpose …

The Impact Of Using Relevant Context On Student Comprehension And Attitude In A Collegiate Introductory Statistics Unit On Probability, Ryan F. Rzeszutko, Jennifer L. Petrie, Dwayne T. James

Dissertations

The typical collegiate introductory statistics course poses significant challenges for students. Many do not fully comprehend key course skills, and it is common for students to exit the class with a neutral or negative attitude toward statistics. To measure the impact of using relevant contextual examples as an instructional strategy during a probability unit, in-class activities were designed to align with areas of interest for participants as identified by a student interest inventory. It was hypothesized that the use of relevant context would create a significant difference in the comprehension or attitude of students enrolled in an introductory statistics course …

The Relationship Between Staff Nurses' Perceptions Of Nurse Manager Caring Behaviors And Their Perception Of Exposure To Workplace Bullying Within Multiple Healthcare Settings, Lynda D. Olender

Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between staff nurses' perception of nurse manager caring behaviors and their perceived exposure to workplace bullying within multiple healthcare settings. It was based on the theoretical position that caring promotes reciprocal caring and healing for each other and for the larger universe as informed by Watson's theory of human caring (1979, 2006, 2008). Results indicated a statistically significant, negative, linear relationship between the CFS-CM and the NAQ-R (r = -.534, p < .001), meaning that as staff nurses' perceptions of their nurse manager caring increased, their perception of exposure to negative acts (meeting the definition of workplace bullying) significantly decreased. The sample consisted of primarily older, more experienced, staff nurses who worked 10 years or longer within their work environment. Data analysis also revealed that staff nurses who were females and those who worked in Medical/Surgical settings were significantly more likely to perceive their managers as caring (p < .05 respectively) and that a high workload significantly influenced the staff nurses perception of exposure to workplace bullying (p < .05). In view of the predicted nursing shortages as baby-boomer nurses retire at the same time the demand for health care is rising (AACN, 2009), these findings highlight the importance of caring leadership for the health and availability of nurses at the bedside, and may lead to shifting work priorities for nurse managers. Study findings may also foster the design and implementation of a caring curriculum and caring competencies applicable for the nurse managers' role either within nursing academic or clinical settings.

The Role Of County Offices Of Education In Supporting District Superintendent Effectiveness, Carol Tomeo

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this parallel comparative Delphi study was to first identify the services provided by the County Office of Education (COE) to district superintendents that ensured their successful job performance from the perspective of both county superintendents/designees and district superintendents. Additionally, it sought to rate the importance of the identified services, identify the best methods of providing those services, and identify the rationale for each service provider method from both perspectives. The final purpose was to compare the results from both groups to determine alignment and efficacy.

Methodology: This study used a parallel comparative Delphi method that consisted …

A Phenomenological Study: The Perceived Impact Of The Intersectional Barriers Created By Gender And Race On African American Female's Advancement To A K-12 Central Office Leadership Position, Mariyon Thompson

Dissertations

Purpose: This phenomenological study aimed to explore the perceived impact of the intersectional barriers created by gender and race on African American females' advancement to a K-12 central office leadership position. The second purpose of this study was to identify strategies African American females leverage to overcome barriers due to intersectionality while advancing to a K-12 central office leadership position.

Methodology: This qualitative research study employed a phenomenological approach to describe the lived experiences of eight African American women leaders employed in K-12 central office leadership positions in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Data collection included an interview protocol of …

Adherence To Antihypertensive Medications Among African Americans Adults, Obiageli Obah-Mbanefo

Dissertations

Purpose: To describe adherence to antihypertensive medications among African Americans adults aged 35 to 65 years in south Los Angeles.

Study Aims: Aim 1: Describe patient sociodemographic factors (age, gender, education, insurance, employment, living arrangement and income), clinical factors (history of current depressive symptoms, comorbidities, comorbidity Charlson score and number of comorbidities), health literacy level, and medication adherence to hypertension (HTN) medications. Aim 2: Describe the relationships between sociodemographic factors, clinical factors, health literacy level, and medication adherence. Aim 3: Compare medication adherence between patients with high health literacy level, low possible health literacy, and low health literacy level.

Background: …

A Phenomenological Study Of How Exemplary Elementary Principals Perceive The Five Practices Of The Infinite Mindset Inspire The Achievement Of Extraordinary Results, Jeff Heilig

Dissertations

Purpose. This phenomenological study aimed to explore and describe the perceived impact of the infinite mindset and its five essential practices on exemplary elementary principals to inspire the achievement of extraordinary results. A further purpose was to understand the organizational supports and barriers exemplary leaders perceive affect the development of an infinite mindset.

Methodology. This study explored and described the perceived impact of the infinite mindset on inspiring extraordinary results as perceived by exemplary elementary principals in south Los Angeles County. A thematic team of eight peer researchers and four faculty advisors collaboratively developed the semistructured interview protocol used in …

Temporal Sequence And Relationships Between Sleep Disorders, Mental Disorders And Traumatic Brain Injury In Deployed Military Members, Pamela Herbig Wall

Dissertations

U.S. military members are often forward deployed to austere environments where they are exposed to environmental, mental, and physiological stressors that can negatively affect their wellbeing and readiness for service. These service members are at high risk for developing sleep disorders, mental disorders, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) that may produce functional disability and further erode mission readiness. While there is ample evidence on distinct relationships between these three clusters of disorders, relatively few studies examine all three in a military and/or veteran population. Health care providers in the United States Military need information about these complex interactions in order …

How Exemplary Directors Of Special Education Use The Five Principles Associated With Grit To Accomplish Extraordinary Results: A Phenomenological Study, Maria L. Moore

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe how exemplary directors of special education use the five principles associated with grit (courage, conscientiousness, long-term goals, resilience, and excellence versus perfection) to accomplish extraordinary results in their organizations.

Methodology: This qualitative study was part of a larger thematic research study conducted by nine peer researchers under the guidance of three University of Massachusetts Global faculty chairs. The qualitative research design encompassed a phenomenological model. Data for this study were gathered through a combination of eight semistructured interviews of exemplary directors of special education who met the predetermined …

Exploring The Relationship Between Job Satisfaction And Intent To Remain Within An Organization Among Millenial Nursing Faculty, Kristie E. Davis-Collins

Dissertations

The nursing faculty shortage continues to grow with time with impending detrimental effects. Several factors influence the nursing faculty shortage, including inadequate compensation to clinical areas, low pool of potential nurse educators in graduate programs, and a faculty wave of retirements. Based on this information, it is vital for nursing institutions to improve job satisfaction and the intent to remain among millennial nursing faculty. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between job satisfaction and intent to remain within an organization among millennial nursing faculty. A cross-sectional, correlational research design was used to test the hypotheses of …