Digital Commons Network^™

Motivators And Barriers Of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors: Revision And Refinement, Loureen Downes

Dissertations

Diseases such as diabetes that are attributed to poor lifestyle habits disproportionately affect Blacks (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases, 2005). There is a gap in the literature of culturally relevant measures to evaluate factors related to lifestyle behaviors of Blacks. Clinicians need to provide culturally relevant counseling to promote the practice of healthy dietary and physical activity habits to fulfill the overall goals of Healthy People 2010, to eliminate the disparity of diseases and to increase longevity (USDHHS, 2000). The primary aim of this study was to revise, refine, and retest the Motivators and Barriers of Healthy …

Nurses' Self-Efficacy And Academic Degree Advancement, Susan A. Winslow

Dissertations

The last decade has brought about a synergy of new influences and mandates that provide a clear indication of the need for registered nurses to continue to advance their professional preparation and credentials along the trajectory of their career path. The literature indicates that there is correlation of perceived self-efficacy on behaviors related to or similar to professional development but this has not yet specifically been assessed in the nursing workforce. Self-efficacy is a malleable construct and could be sensitive to intervention should the association with success in academic advancement be substantiated. The potential for enhancement of self- efficacy in …

Student-Faculty Trust And Its Relationship With Student Success In Pre-Licensure Bsn Nursing Education, John E. Scarbrough

Dissertations

Student-faculty trust and related concept characteristics have been shown to be factors associated with successful student learning. Research investigating the role of trust in communications and education has been conducted with students in other disciplines but not with nursing students. The purpose of the research is to investigate the complex relationships between students' trust in faculty, the students' mood states, and students' educational performance and outcomes. Special emphasis is placed on the relationship between student-faculty trust and critical thinking skills. A further purpose of this research is to establish a baseline understanding of trust and related characteristics in a typical …

Predicting Success For Nontraditional Students In An Evening/Weekend Associate Degree In Nursing Program, Tori L. Canillas-Dufau

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to, (a) identify and describe the nontraditional population of adult learners served in the Evening/Weekend Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program at Mount St. Mary's College, and, (b) to determine which admission criteria and other factors are correlated with both nursing program completion (as measured by exit nursing grade point average) and subsequent first time success on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) for nontraditional students in this nontraditional ADN program.

Twenty-two predictor variables of demographic characteristics and academic factors were examined as they related to the criterion variables of exit …

How Exemplary Female Executive Leaders In Higher Education Use Five Principles Of Grit—Courage, Conscientiousness, Long-Term Goals, Resilience, And Excellence Versus Perfection—To Accomplish Extraordinary Results In Their Organizations, Julie Pettitt

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe how exemplary female leaders who hold executive roles in higher education use five principles associated with grit (courage, conscientiousness, long-term goals, resilience, and excellence versus perfection) to accomplish extraordinary results in their organizations. It challenges the notion that academic credentials and intelligence alone drive leadership success, emphasizing the role of grit in extraordinary leadership. This study delves into the barriers women encounter in reaching executive roles, their strategies for overcoming challenges, and how they leverage gritty qualities to facilitate and sustain transformative change. Methodology: A phenomenological design was …

Lung Resident Memory B Cells Maintain Allergic Ige Responses In The Respiratory Tract, Alexander James Nelson

Dissertations

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is the primary cause of allergic asthma. Allergen-specific IgE can be detected in the airway of allergic asthma patients even in the absence of circulating IgE, suggesting that IgE can be synthesized locally in the respiratory tract. However, the source of IgE-producing B cells, as well as how IgE responses arise and persist at mucosal sites are not fully understood. To address these questions, we modeled allergic asthma in mice by repeated intranasal administration of ragweed pollen and ovalbumin (OVA). We found that allergen exposure induced the production of local IgE in the airway and formation of …

The Perspective Of Mothers And Clinicians On The Information Needs, Information-Seeking Behavior, Communication Processes, And Information Resources Of First-Time Breastfeeding Latina Mothers, Maryelena Vargas

Dissertations

Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is recommended by major health organizations to promote the health of infants and mothers. Exclusive breastfeeding rates of Latinas at six months, however, are lower than those of White mothers, although Latinas initiate breastfeeding at a higher rate than do non-Latinas.

The primary aim of this descriptive, interpretative study was to explore first-time breast-feeding Latina mothers' met and unmet information needs, information-seeking behavior, communication processes, and resources used related to breast-feeding initiation, adherence, and weaning. The secondary aim examined these concepts from the perspective of clinicians. A convenience sample of 28 Latina mothers and 12 …

Implementation And Evaluation Of A Pain Assessment Tool In A Dementia Care Facility: A Quality Improvement Project, Cynthia A. Carbo

Dissertations

Pain has been under-detected and under-treated in patients with dementia. Signs of distress can be misinterpreted in this population, and patients can be inappropriately given psychotropic medication. Various pain assessment tools for patients with moderate to severe dementia have been devised, and all require further study.

The purpose of this evidence-based project was the selection of a pain assessment tool, training of staff in pain management and tool use in a dementia care facility, and monitoring of pain assessment to comply with regulatory guidelines. Benzodiazepine and neuroleptic doses per patient were monitored before and after the training intervention in an …

Disaster Movies And The Perception Of Human Behavior Myths In Disasters, John Carr

Dissertations

This study explored if disaster movies change the perceptions viewers hold regarding human behavior in disasters, and if so, whether these effects are observable six weeks after watching the disaster movie. The study documented the anticipation of disaster myths in human behavior for 121 respondents, providing data that can better inform the discussion of disaster myths and realities. The study found changes to anticipation of disaster myths in human behavior and realities across multiple categories, with statistically significant results related to the factor of Looting Myth. Limitations for this study include a small sample size, and the external influence of …

Administrator Perspectives On Teacher Recruitment And Retention During A Pandemic, Matthew Aaron Carr

Dissertations

The global COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed education across the United States leaving a shortage of highly qualified teachers to fill positions in classrooms (Nguyen et al., 2022; Schmitt & deCourcy, 2022). This research study utilized the theoretical framework of the Four-Capital Theoretical Model of Teacher Retention and Attrition (Mason & Matas, 2015). This qualitative study utilized open-ended survey questions and follow-up interviews to elicit the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine effective strategies to the recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers. Sixty-two public school administrators shared their perspectives through the survey, while eight administrators participated in follow-up interviews. …

Using Industry Sector Entropy To Predict Economic Community Disaster Resilience: Real-World Verification From The Covid-19 Pandemic, Thomas Brindle

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an opportunity for disaster science researchers to gain insight into the underlying nature of community resilience through comparing the socioeconomic effects of government action to a common threat across urban population centers of varying economic compositions. For example, the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment related to public health mitigation efforts in the leisure and hospitality sector of Las Vegas, NV, during the onset of the pandemic were well publicized. In comparison, other population centers of similar size but with different economic sector composition varied in the degree to which employment were affected, …

Women In Leadership: Journey To The School District Superintendency, Jessica Mcintyre

Dissertations

Educational leadership positions within school districts across the country are becoming more inclusive and representative of the diverse populations they serve; however, there is still a staggering gender gap within the school district superintendent position. This mixed methods research study was conducted to learn about the experiences of women who have already achieved this top position within a school district. The study involved a primarily qualitative approach through interviews with supplemental quantitative survey data. The three research questions guiding this study were: What are the unique barriers women face during their journey to the school district superintendency? What experiences and …

Dramatic Storytelling Develops Emergent Literacy In Efl: Evidence From The Uae Kindergartens, Ghada Yahya Alkilani

Dissertations

There is increasing importance of the English language for educational excellence and career success in the UAE. The early years is a sensitive period for language acquisition, and preschool age is the best time to learn English as a foreign language (EFL). Stories are a main vehicle used in early childhood education (ECE) to engage children in language learning. Although previous studies have found dramatic storytelling to be particularly effective in developing children’s emergent literacy in English as a native language, little is known about the effect of dramatic storytelling on developing young children’s emergent literacy in EFL. Also, there …

Identification Of A Potential Pr50gag Binding Site Critical For Selective Encapsidation Of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (Fiv) Genomic Rna, Anjana Krishnan

Dissertations

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is an important lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in cats, making FIV a potential small animal model for studying the pathogenesis of human AIDS. Furthermore, due to its phylogenetic distance from primate retroviruses like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its ability to infect non-dividing cells, FIV is also being exploited for the development of vectors for human gene therapy. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that pertinent steps in the life cycle of FIV, such as genomic RNA (gRNA) packaging, are delineated at the molecular level. The process of retroviral gRNA packaging relies on …

English Language Learners And Their Access To Postsecondary Education: Examining Their Achievements And College Readiness Through Educators’ Experiences And Perspectives, Anna Kalinowska

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to bring awareness to the issue of English learners (ELs) being unprepared for college and to study the beliefs and perceptions of educators regarding the factors that contribute to the creation of an achievement gap between EL students and traditional students. The study involved an analysis of trends in the perceptions of school counselors, teachers, and administrators regarding EL students being ready to attend college. Data were collected from nine participants from three public high schools in Pinellas County using Zoom and email interviews and then analyzed. Four main themes emerged from the …

Student Experiences With Faculty Mentorship During The Dnp Final Project, Lori Prol

Dissertations

The basic qualitative research study was conducted to understand the experiences of DNP graduates with faculty mentorship during the final project phase of the DNP program. Using a sampling service from a nurse practitioner organization, 14 qualified participants were recruited. Participants were telephonically interviewed. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were coded into segments then consolidated into categories. From the organization of categories, themes emerged. One-hundred and seventy-seven data segments informed the identification of 9 themes. A dominant theme of a mentor being there for the student was identified. Accessibility and availability of the DNP mentor represents the …

Critical Care Registered Nurses' Perceptions Of Nurse-To-Nurse Incivility And Professional Comportment, Kenneth J. Oja

Dissertations

This cross-sectional descriptive study was designed to examine critical care registered nurses' perceptions of nurse-to-nurse incivility and professional comportment, and the extent to which education, nurses' age, nursing degree, and years of nursing experience is related to their perceptions on these topics. Professional comportment is comprised of nurses' mutual respect, harmony in beliefs and actions, commitment, and collaboration. Yet, it was unknown whether a relationship existed between a civil or uncivil environment in the nursing profession and nurses' professional comportment. Correlational analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between perceptions of nurse-nurse incivility and professional comportment, and the relationships between …

Risky Business: Ceo Risk Tolerance And Non-Gaap Earnings, Johnna Murray

Dissertations

CEO influence on non-GAAP earnings is a growing area of research. Risk-taking by CEOs is one way to gauge the extent of CEO influence on firm outcomes, especially non-GAAP earnings. This research examines the association between CEO sports hobbies, a proxy for CEO risk-taking, and their company’s non-GAAP earnings. In addition to the risk-proclivity of the CEO, non-GAAP earnings are the result of firm size, equity, return on assets, and changes in revenue. The extent of CEO influence was evaluated by a regression analysis of non-GAAP earnings using firm characteristics with CEO risk-taking measures and control variables such as CEO …

A Magnet System Implementation Of The Hester Davis Fall Reduction Program, Debra A. Bauer

Dissertations

A Magnet-recognized academic hospital system experienced an increase in patient falls and patient falls with injury after transitioning to a new electronic health record. The purpose of the project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a system-wide quality improvement practice change. The practice-focused question addressed a Magnet model implementation of a standardized, system-wide, evidence-based Hester Davis Scale (HDS) fall risk assessment and intervention tool and the impact on the nursing-sensitive indicators of patient fall rates and fall rates with injury. Successful implementation and sustained, correct use of the HDS fall risk assessment and targeted fall-prevention-intervention tools added to the evidence …

Factors Affecting The Success And Persistence Of Pre-Nursing Students, Leslie A. Jennings

Dissertations

This article-based dissertation consists of two manuscripts related to factors affecting the success and persistence of pre-nursing students. The first manuscript was a matched cohort study that compared selected academic variables between two groups of pre-nursing students admitted to a pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing program via two different routes. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were any differences in academic performance between these two groups of students in the first semester of a formal nursing program. Analyses of the data revealed a difference in semester grade point average (GPA), but no significant differences in the RN Fundamentals …

A Delphi Study Of Effective Strategies For Addressing The Most Significant Challenges To Creating Gender-Balanced High School Career Technical Education (Cte) Pathways, Jon Black

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this Delphi study was to identify what expert high school Career Technical Education (CTE) administrators see as challenges to creating gender-balanced classes across all high school CTE pathways, to rate the significance of the identified challenges according to the experts, and to describe the most effective strategies for addressing the five most significant challenges identified in creating balanced CTE enrollment across all high school pathways. Methodology: This study used a three-round Delphi method to collect data from expert high school CTE administrators. In Round 1, the expert panel was asked to identify challenges to creating gender-balanced …

The Concept Of Home Care Nursing Workload: Analysis And Significance, Barbara L. Mildon

Dissertations

The concept of home care nursing workload has not been widely studied and no evidence was found that an analysis of the concept had been undertaken. Consequently, there was a knowledge gap regarding the definition and attributes for the concept of home care nursing workload as it is currently experienced. To address that gap, a descriptive, three-phase, mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) study was conducted.

Meanings Of Pregnancy And Motherhood Among Out-Of-Home Pregnant Adolescents, Elizabeth M. Saewyc

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore influential life experiences, environmental contexts, and meanings attributed to pregnancy and motherhood by a purposive sample of out-of-home pregnant adolescent women in Seattle during pregnancy and early postpartum. The study used methods adapted from feminist anthropology, including ethnographic interviewing and participant observation. The sample (N = 8) included 5 white, 1 American Indian, and 2 African-American young women, 17 to 19 years of age, who were not living at home at entry to the study. All participants were pregnant at initial contact, and 3 reported prior pregnancies; 3 participants were also interviewed …

With A Little Help At Home: The Impact Of Romantic Partner Support On Daily Burnout And Workplace Incivility, Matthew Aplin-Houtz

Dissertations

With rude and discourteous encounters in the workplace becoming more common, Workplace incivility (WI) is at an all-time high. As such, workers experience levels of burnout from these negative social interactions. The literature concedes that the results of these interactions lead to mounting burnout, causing negative physical and emotional outcomes at the individual and organizational levels. Considering that the literature also supports that employees have the potential to recover from burnout symptoms through rest, obtaining the perception of control of their circumstances, and cognitive reframing, the time and activities a worker spends at home carry the potential for minimizing burnout …

Assessment Of The Cultural Competence, Dementia Attitude, And Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Among Tertiary Healthcare Providers, Jo Ann Pelaez-Fisher

Dissertations

Alzheimer's disease has made a significant impact on healthcare delivery in the acute care facilities. Tertiary healthcare providers are challenged by the needs of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease while ensuring safe delivery of technical and specialized care in a fast-paced setting. There have been extensive research on informal caregivers and the consequences of providing care to patients with Alzheimer's disease. Few studies have queried tertiary healthcare providers and the influence of culture, attitude, or knowledge on Alzheimer's disease care. No study to date has investigated the elements of high quality Alzheimer's disease care which include cultural competence, positive attitudes, …

Impact Of Delirium Observation Screening Scale On Identifying Delirium In Hospice Patients, Elsie E. Glasu-Atunuwa

Dissertations

Delirium in the elderly can impact health outcomes, making it essential for healthcare workers to identify and manage delirium early. At the project site, there was no evidence based approach to the early identification of delirium. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental quality improvement project was to determine if the translation of Neefjes et al.'s research using the Delirium Observation Screening Scale (DOSS) would impact the identification of delirium with provider notification among adult patients in a hospice facility in South Texas over four weeks. Virginia Henderson's need theory and Kurt Lewin's change theory provided the theoretical foundations for the …

A Focused Ethnographic Study Of Nurses' Role In The Early Mobilization Program In The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Chelsea E. Noone

Dissertations

Early Mobilization (EM) in Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) is safe and feasible, but there are issues preventing the adoption of EM into clinical practice. The objective of this study was to describe the patient safety concerns and how nurses develop strategies to safely deliver EM to their patients. The second objective was to explore, describe and analyze nurses' perceptions of barriers and facilitators to performing EM, and to identify strategies nurses perceive would assist them to overcome barriers and increase adoption of EM within the PICU. This focused ethnographic study included 15 in-depth interviews with 10 PICU nurses. Data …

Pneumococcal Vaccination In Adult Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Samjhana Thapa

Dissertations

Problem: Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are at risk for exacerbations due to pneumonia which could lead to unwanted outcomes. Despite the existence of evidence regarding phone call reminder usage as a communication strategy about vaccinations as an effective preventive measure that can minimize the likelihood of contracting pneumonia. In a primary care facility in Kentucky, phone call reminders are not being used to promote vaccinations.

Method: This quality improvement (QI) pilot project used a descriptive, comparative, and retrospective design with the aim to increase the pneumococcal vaccination rate by 10% over 3 months by implementing a phone …

Cultural Competence In Nursing School Curricula, Mayra P. Toney

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the benefit of both classroom instruction and an immersive clinical experience for the development of cultural competence skills among student nurses. The 3-D Model for Culturally Congruent Care was the framework used for this quantitative descriptive correlational study. The premise of the model is to draw upon the knowledge that culturally competent care derives from the healthcare provider and client level, an essential factor to the delivery of culturally competent healthcare. A convenience sample of 74 student nurses from two separate cohorts enrolled in a diploma-based program were asked to complete the …

The Resilient Study: A Retrospective, Descriptive Correlational Investigation Of Rate And Correlates Of Oral Endocrine Therapy Adherence In Older Women With Breast Cancer, Sunny Yoo Ruggeri

Dissertations

Breast cancer is the most prevalent and costly cancer among females. About 80% of breast cancer patients take oral endocrine therapy (OET), such as anastrozole, letrozole, tamoxifen, and exmestane. These medications increase survival, improve quality-of-life and decrease healthcare costs, yet many patients do not take it properly. The purpose of this study is to identify rates of and multi-level determinants influencing OET non-adherence (NA) among older women with breast cancer enrolled in Medicare Part-D. It is important to consider older women with breast cancer; the medium breast cancer patient age was 62 and more than 20% of newly diagnosed patients …