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Playing God: A Phenomenological Study Of Women's Decision-Making Regarding Selective Reduction Of Higher Order Multiple Pregnancies, Kate Collopy

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore women's experiences regarding their decisions to undergo or forgo selective reduction of their higher order multiple pregnancies. The purposive sample consisted of seven women who had conceived higher order multiple pregnancies as the result of in vitro fertilization. Four participants had chosen to undergo reduction while three participants opted to forgo reduction. Van Manen's (1990) phenomenological method was used for data collection and analysis. Participants were asked to respond to the question, "What was it like to make the decision whether or not to reduce your higher order multiple pregnancy?"

Testing A Reflection Education Intervention On Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Level Of Reflection During Online Clinical Post Conference, Jaime Hannans

Dissertations

The majority of faculty-student interactions are at low cognitive levels during nursing clinical post conference (CPC), a time often utilized for reflective thinking. Strategies have been implemented to promote or even teach reflection, but the level of reflection or impact of the intervention in nursing, such as the relationship to student attributes or clinical reasoning, is often not evaluated.

The specific aims of this study are to (a) test the effect of a reflection education intervention on the baccalaureate students' level of reflection during online CPC, (b) examine the relationship between student attributes and level of reflection, and (c) examine …

Clinical Supervisors Competency And Readiness To Supervise Telehealth Practices, Myriam Buitrago

Dissertations

The growing effectiveness of telehealth as an alternative practice is gaining acceptance not only by professionals in the healthcare field but also by people who have benefited from this approach. New training and supervision practices are required to meet the new telehealth approach. Clinical supervision is a new profession identifying the competencies that define their best practices. However, telehealth is forcing us to evaluate and redefine them to meet the new telehealth requirements. This study used two assessments, the Supervisor competence self assessment and the supervisor evaluation and the Supervisor Competence Scale, to measure supervisors' self-evaluation of their performance as …

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

Dissertations

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

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

Dissertations

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

A Design Thinking Mixed-Methods Study On Deliberate Practice And Building Collective Efficacy For Teachers In The Midwestern United States, Brian Elder

Dissertations

Educational research identified teacher efficacy as a primary driver for student learning and building a positive school culture (Hattie, 2018). However, understanding how to build and support the self and collective efficacy of teachers remained unclear and an elusive process for in-service teachers. The following research study used a design thinking mixed-methods study to explore how professional development rooted in a criteria of deliberate practice worked to build professional capacity of teachers and increase teacher efficacy (Ericsson, 2020). The research project initially began embedded at an independent school in a Midwestern city before expanding to include 15 in-service teachers representing …

Reproductive Biology Of The Jellyfish Outbreak Along The Uae Coastal Waters, Amrutha Aravind

Dissertations

Jellyfish are a ubiquitous occurrence in the world’s oceans. During the past decades, dramatic spatial increases and temporal shifts in jellyfish distributions have been reported around the world. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) coastal area also has experienced several blooms along with severe adverse impacts on its economic facilities. Few studies have been conducted within the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, to identify the blooming species and the environmental parameters that favor such breakouts. The present study aimed to identify the jellyfish species found along the coastal area of UAE and trying to link their occurrence with seasonal …

Integrating Computer Vision In Construction Progress Monitoring: A Comprehensive Analysis And Future Perspectives, Muhammad Sami Rehman

Dissertations

This dissertation presents an in-depth exploration of the integration of Computer Vision (CV) in Construction Progress Monitoring (CPM), a field that has traditionally relied on manual and document-centric approaches. Such traditional CPM techniques lead to poor tracking of project progress, resulting in delays, cost overruns, bitter stakeholder relationships, schedule changes, and legislative proceedings to settle construction claims. The primary objective of this research is to investigate the potential of CV technology to transform CPM into a more efficient, accurate, and automated process. This is achieved through a series of comprehensive studies encompassing a systematic review, critical appraisal, barrier analysis, feature …

Roles And Strategies Of Nurses Facilitating Diabetes Support Groups: An Exploratory Study, Joanne F. Costello

Dissertations

Diabetes is a pervasive health problem with potentially devastating but preventable consequences. Although technological advances and new treatments have resulted in great optimism for controlling the disease, research indicates that the challenges of diabetes self-management are overwhelming for many. One creative intervention which has beginning empirical support and which seems to be helping many living with diabetes to sustain management of the disease and quality of life is diabetes support groups. Nurse diabetes educators have been frequent facilitators in these groups, yet little is known about how these nurses perceive their role and the strategies they use as well as …

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

Dissertations

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

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

Cultural Agility Competency Of Relationship Management As A Leadership Imperative: A Study Of Charter School Administrators, Monica Christensen

Dissertations

As the United States has become more diverse, research on Culturally Responsive School Leadership strategies and practices and research on Culturally Agility competencies has expanded. While interest has continued to grow in both of these areas of focus, little was known in the intersectionality of these two areas as it relates to cultural competency within K-12 charter schools. More specifically, little was known about how charter school administrators are culturally agile when managing relationships in their organization. Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe how charter school administrators are culturally agile when managing relationships in …

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

Dissertations

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

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

Findings: Data analysis revealed that …

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

Dissertations

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

Self-Managment And Breastfeeding In Women With Preexisting Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus From Thailand, Ratchanok Phonyiam

Dissertations

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is rising at a younger age, leading to an increased number of pregnant women with preexisting T2DM. Although traditional beliefs and practices influence diabetes management and breastfeeding, recommendations integrating Thai cultural beliefs in maternal care are lacking. The purpose of this dissertation is to describe diabetes self-management in pregnancy and breastfeeding experiences in women with preexisting T2DM from Thailand. This dissertation is a convergent parallel mixed-methods study, guided by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Framework. Data were collected two times. The first time was during pregnancy (T1). …

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 …

Vulnerability, Self-Transcendence, And The Professional Well-Being Of New Graduate Registered Nurses, Jo Ann K. Gottlieb

Dissertations

The transition of a new graduate registered nurse (NG RN) from school to the work environment has been described as a stressful time for the new nurse. The high incidence of attrition during the first year of employment negatively impacts the personal and professional life of the NG RN and the organizations where they are employed. Dissatisfaction in the workplace has been identified as the major reason why new graduate RNs leave their first position. During this time of a severe nursing shortage, it is important to identify NG RNs who are dissatisfied and may be at risk for leaving. …

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.

The Relationships Between Work-Family Conflict, Job Satisfaction And Psychological Well-Being Among African American Nurses, Trina L. Gipson-Jones

Dissertations

The specific aims of the proposed study, which were derived from Roy's Adaptation model (Roy & Andrews, 1999) are to (1) determine the levels of the dimensions of work-family conflict, job satisfaction and psychological well-being experienced by African American nurses with families and (2) examine the relation of work-family conflict, and job satisfaction to psychological well-being among African American nurses with families. A sequential transformative design mixed methodological approach, which incorporated a descriptive correlational design and focus group methodology (Creswell, 2003; Tashakkori & Teddlie, 2003), was implemented to conduct this family-related research study. The total sample for the study was …

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 …