Digital Commons Network^™

Experiences Of Food Insecure College Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Amy E. Kendrick

Dissertations

The aims of this qualitative descriptive study were to describe the experiences and needs of food insecure college students during the COVID-19 pandemic and to obtain foundational information about food insecurity during a public health crisis to provide guidance for the development of future interventions.

Persistence Factors Described By Nursing Students Of African Descent: A Narrative Inquiry, Claudette R. Spencer

Dissertations

High attrition rates among nursing students of African descent have resulted in a nursing workforce that lacks diversity. Research has largely focused on the obstacles facing students who dropped out of their nursing programs, including financial constraints, academic issues, and personal challenges. Few studies have considered the students who persisted. The purpose of this qualitative dissertation study was to examine the factors that contributed to the persistence of students of African descent enrolled in nursing programs in community colleges as described in the stories and reflections of recently graduated alumni. Data was obtained with the use of two research questions …

Strategies For The Improvement Of Healthcare Through Simulation, Roger C. Lankheet

Dissertations

Medical errors continue to plague the healthcare industry. The annual rates of morbidity are approximately 2.69 million (AHRQ, 2019), while mortality rates exceed 400,000 per annum (Makary & Daniel, 2016). There may be no panacea to combat these egregious rates. However, simulation of patient care events may better prepare healthcare professionals to prevent medical errors as it has been proven to be an effective learning strategy (Kirkham, 2018), enhancing skills while gaining experiential knowledge, without risk to actual patients.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain a better understanding of factors that impede or foster the frequent utilization …

Examining The Effects Of A Rater Training Program On Interrater Reliability With The Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric, Deborah A. Halliday

Dissertations

There is high demand for competent graduate nurses as they begin working in healthcare. However, the transition from classroom to professional practice can be difficult. Students and newly licensed entry-level practitioners must develop and possess suitable clinical judgments in order to demonstrate clinical competency in the delivery of safe patient care. Currently, there is a call for nursing education to provide increased rigor in performance evaluation of students' clinical judgment prior to graduation.

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if rater training had an effect on interrater reliability among raters with the Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric (LCJR) …

Clinical Faculty Strategies To Decrease Nursing Students' Anxiety During Clinical Practice: A Qualitative Study, Elijah Z. Yarpah

Dissertations

Stress in the clinical learning environment is a psychological and physiological element that affects nursing students' learning outcomes and health. In clinical settings, nursing students encounter stressors that are critical to their academic success as well as their future professional performance. Nursing educators struggle to assist students in developing strategies to manage clinical stress. A review of relevant literature did not identify coping strategies clinical educators and nursing staff can promote to help learners deal with stressors. Therefore, to provide robust ideas to help nursing students manage stress in the clinical learning environment, this study was designed to answer one …

Reconstruction Of The Professional Identity: The Mature Ad Nurse After Bsn Completion, Constance G. Demmery

Dissertations

In 2011, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) announced a key initiative to increase the number of registered nurses (RN) at the bedside prepared at the baccalaureate of science in nursing (BSN) level. For decades, the RN entry level into the profession has been debated, often lying dormant during nursing shortages. The profile of today's RN is age 50, has many years of clinical experience, and holds an associate degree in nursing (ADN). Many ADN-prepared nurses are returning to academia to earn their BSN. However, there is little research on how the mature, experienced ADN integrates years of clinical experience with …

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 …

Grounded Roots Research Synthesis: A Meta-Analysis/Meta-Synthesis Of Strategies Used By Exemplary Leaders, Robert Allen

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this quantitative meta-analysis and qualitative meta-synthesis was to conduct an analysis of five thematic research studies to aggregate and integrate findings to form new interpretations of the research field of grounded leadership.

Methodology: This quantitative meta-analysis and qualitative meta-synthesis was conducted as a secondary analysis of five thematic research studies to aggregate and integrate findings to form new interpretations of the research field of grounded leadership. The sample was composed of 79 exemplary leaders from five different fields.

Findings: Examination of 79 participants found that that aggregated population of exemplary leaders maintain grounded leadership by (a) …

Impact Of Standardized Skin-To-Skin Protocol In The Operating Room On Breastfeeding Rates, Simone M. James

Dissertations

Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is an evidence-based practice with many benefits for mothers and their newborns. The separation of mothers from their babies after cesarean birth delays SSC, which can adversely affect the initiation and the success of breastfeeding. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental project was to determine if or to what degree the implementation of Hung and Berg's evidence-based protocol for skin-to-skin in the operating room (OR) would increase exclusive breastfeeding rates at discharge for adult women status post a cesarean delivery in a rural Arizona hospital over four-weeks. The Iowa model and Lewin's planned change theory were utilized …

The Relationship Among Spirituality, Self-Efficacy, And Quality Of Life In Adults With Sickle Cell Disease, Maxine A. Adegbola

Dissertations

For the individual with sickle cell disease (SCD), the lifespan is increasing but adults report decreased quality of life (QOL), low self-efficacy, and ineffective coping skills. The care of adult patients with SCD requires a complex multidisciplinary team approach with focus not only on physiological, psychological, and social needs, but also on spiritual needs. Quality of life, spirituality, and self-efficacy have been sparsely and separately studied in individuals with SCD. These three constructs have never been combined in one study in the adult SCD population.

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the relationships among spirituality, self-efficacy, …

A Delphi Study Of The Strategies Necessary For Successful Improvement Of Student Emotional Intelligence Within K-8 Public School Classrooms, Megan Ybarra

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this Delphi Study was to identify classroom strategies that expert K-8 teachers use to support and promote the development of student emotional intelligence, as defined by Bradberry and Greaves (2009), within K-8 classrooms, to rate the importance of the identified strategies, and to identify specific activities to implement the four most highly rated strategies identified in Round 2.

Methodology: This study utilized the Delphi method, which is an iterative process used to collect and distill the judgments of experts using a series of questionnaires interspersed with feedback. Twenty-one expert K-8 teachers identified strategies to develop student …

Exploring Grit In Exemplary School Superintendents, Denise Jaramillo

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe how exemplary superintendents use 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 study conducted by nine doctoral candidates under the supervision of three University of Massachusetts Global faculty. The study used a phenomenological design to identify and describe how exemplary superintendents use five principles associated with grit to accomplish extraordinary results. Data were gathered through a combination of eight semistructured interviews, related observations, and a …

K-12 Principals And Special Education: A Study Of Mississippi Principals’ Knowledge Of Special Education Policies And Procedures, Jodi Cameron-Polk

Dissertations

This study sought to assess the knowledge of Mississippi K-12 public school principals and assistant principals in special education law, policies, and procedures concerning the six principles (i.e., zero reject, non-discriminatory evaluation, least restrictive environment, free appropriate public education, due process, and parent participation) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. This study also sought to establish by which method (i.e., university coursework, administrative trainings, on-the-job experiences, self-taught research, or did not learn this) they acquired their knowledge of special education law, policies, and procedures. The researcher adapted Jesteadt’s survey tool to ascertain participants’ special education teaching …

Chaos Is Not Rational: Nursing Leadership And Intuition In Disaster Preparedness And Response, Sarah Banks

Dissertations

Nurses are looked upon as leaders in disaster preparedness and response. Charged with making life-altering decisions, experienced nurse leaders utilize analytical and intuitive strategies to manage crisis situations. Rarely recognized by upper-level management and educational institutions, intuition is our natural ability to know something without any evidence or validation. Intuition allows us to make decisions in ever-changing circumstances when solutions are not obvious. Though difficult to explain, intuition is a powerful skill that gives nurse leaders the confidence needed to make decisions based on their previous experience. Experienced nurse leaders utilize intuition to arrive at a solution without conscious awareness …

The Effects Of Disinformation Upon National Attitudes Towards The Eu And Its Institutions, Alex Murphy

Dissertations

This work explores the effects of misinformation and disinformation upon national attitudes towards the EU. Several nations, in particular the Russian Federation, have been working for decades to spread narratives that debase the political processes of healthy democracies around the world. There is strong evidence to show that extensive efforts have been made to disrupt the inner workings and overall membership of the EU, to support disruptive policies in the United States such that political deadlock is maintained indefinitely. These efforts are largely based on the spreading of misinformation and disinformation across social networks that have done very little to …

Development Of A Hospital Discharge Planning System Augmented With A Neural Clinical Decision Support Engine, David Mulqueen

Dissertations

The process of discharging patients from a tertiary care hospital, is one of the key activities to ensure the efficient and effective operation of a hospital. However, the decision to discharge a patient from a hospital is complex, as it requires multiple interactions with nurses, family, consultants, health information records and doctors, which can be very time consuming and prone to error. This thesis descries how a neural network based Clinical Decision Support system can be developed, to help in the decision making process and dramatically reduce the time and effort in running the discharge process in a hospital. A …

Transitioning To College: First-Generation African American College Students' Mental Health Beliefs And Coping Strategies, Kadija Polk

Dissertations

Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are a growing concern on college campuses. However, college students typically underutilize mental health treatment (Ebert et al., 2019). First-generation African American college students are at an increased risk of developing mental health issues, but the research related to this population’s mental health is insufficient (Eakins & Eakins 2017; Gibbons et al., 2019 Williams et al., 2020). The transition to college is full of stressors that many first-generation students may feel unequipped to handle. However, there is limited research that focuses on how the transition to college affects first-generation African American college …

The "Othering" Of America: How The Strategic Use Of Crisis And Ressentiment Succeeded In The Trump Era, Laura J. Franklin

Dissertations

The establishment of a crisis theme through public rhetoric often triggers widespread attention, resulting in public concern and media coverage of an issue that could potentially be overblown or deceptive. In right-wing political discourse, this crisis warning is typically delivered by a White male leader with ready access to the powerful news media. An “us versus them” theme often occurs. Within this mode of a hegemonic exclusion, a culture of immigrants or an American minority are often depicted, perhaps aggressively, as a threat: A threat used to motivate, enrage and create the frustrations inherent in ressentiment. This dissertation explores the …

Cultivating Parental Participation And Community Engagement Through Building A Culinary Garden And Teaching Kitchen: Latinx Perspectives On Parental Participation In A Community School, Jaclynne Michelle Medina

Dissertations

This study researched how a school could increase parental participation and community engagement while building a new Culinary Garden and Teaching Kitchen project. This engagement was foundational for expanding parental participation opportunities and further developing the community school. The study explored ways to balance power relationships between the home and school to develop an implementation plan that better reflects the community being served. Theoretical lenses such as CRT and LatCrit were the basis for centering the voices of Latinx families and valuing their various forms of capital consistent with the Community Cultural Model. Participants influenced the design of the garden …

Variation In Organizational Factors Influencing The Implementation Of The Pediatric Annual Physical Therapy Visit, Katherine Anne M. Smith

Dissertations

Hypothesis and Research Question

The research hypothesis is “Organizational Factors influencing the implementation of the Pediatric Annual Physical Therapy Visit (PAPTV) vary by practice setting, geographic location, and experience implementing the PAPTV.” The related research question is “How do organizational factors influencing the implementation of the PAPTV vary by geographic location, practice setting, and therapists experience with the PAPTV?

Problem and Purpose of Research

While health promotion and wellness (HPW) initiatives are widely accepted as beneficial to both the patient and the healthcare system, the rollout of new initiatives is often challenging. The PAPTV has been a significant HPW initiative …

The Body Of Christ And The Law: A Comparative Study Of Romans 7:4 And Galatians 2:19, Dominic Bornand

Dissertations

In Romans and Galatians, Paul refers to a spiritual death to sin (Rom 6:2) and to the law (Rom 7:4; Gal 2:19). As the means of the believer's death to the law, Paul mentions the "body of Christ" in Rom 7:4 and the "law" in Gal 2:19. These verses seem to suggest some sort of relationship between the body of Christ and the law, as well as between the law and sin. The purpose of this study is to determine the type of relationship between the body of Christ and the law, as well as between law and sin. The …

The Relationships Between Flow, Mathematics Self-Efficacy, And Mathematics Anxiety Among International Undergraduate Students In The United States, Samah Abduljabbar

Dissertations

Problem

A worldwide problem, math anxiety is defined as an anxious state with an unpleasant feeling of tension characterized by fear of failing to achieve mathematics targets. Psychologically, math anxiety involves anxiety, tension, discomfort, nervousness, fear, shock, and insecurity. Math anxiety has been perceived as a key influencer of reduced math achievement, and avoidance of math-related careers. On the other hand, abilities, flow, interests, and psychological conditions contribute to student mathematics success. Belief in one's ability to perform a specific task boosts self-efficacy, which has been studied widely as a predictor of student academic performance. When students are interested in, …

An Exploration Of Factors Contributing To Service Longevity At Asia-Pacific International University, Ritha Maidom

Dissertations

Problem

In educational institutions of higher learning, turnover is seen as a double-edged sword that brings both benefits and problems. While turnover allows the opportunity to bring in a new employee who may be able to benefit the institution more than the one being replaced, the process of finding a replacement tends to be costly in terms of time, energy, and financial resources. As a young institution, Asia-Pacific International University (AIU) found turnovers challenging in more than one way because of its lack of stability in areas such as finance and human power. It could benefit from a clearer understanding …

Religiosity, Family Sexual Communication & Gender As Predictors Of Attitudes Toward Oral Sex Among College/University Students In The United States, Antoinette Napier

Dissertations

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether religiosity, family sexual communication and gender were predictors of attitudes toward oral sex among college/university students in the United States.

Method

Participants completed several surveys, which measured participants' personal religiosity, family sexual communication, and attitudes toward oral sex. A path analysis model was used to analyze the relationship between the proposed variables.

Results

The path analysis hypothesized model resulted in a poor fit for the data. The model was respecified by removing three items which showed weak beta weights. The respecified model produced a good fit for the data. The …

Investigating Smooth Muscle Myosin Dynamics And Assembly In Physiology And Pathology, Maggie Bennett

Dissertations

Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) surround many blood vessels throughout the body,where they dynamically alter vessel diameter to regulate blood pressure, provide structural integrity, and absorb shock on a beat-to-beat timescale. As smooth muscle function fails, profound vascular disease ensues, often with tragic results- even death. Smooth muscle myosin 2 (SM2) is the dominant motor protein that actuates contractility and allows SMCs to perform these vital functions. To function, SM2 monomers dynamically assemble into filaments, which upon SMC activation, associate with filamentous actin to drive contractility. Despite the critical contribution of SM2 to SMC function, foundational aspects of SM2 assembly …

Belonging In The Borderlands: Questioning Catholic Ethics, Molly Greening

Dissertations

If colonialism is a structure, not an event, then special attention must be paid to the pastas well as the legacies of colonial domination that continue into the present. While Pope Francis has recently called for “overcoming colonizing mentalities” through the lens of what he calls “integral ecology,” crucial aspects of the colonial paradigm remain neglected or underexamined in this approach: sexuality, gender, and the negotiation of religious difference. After reviewing the theological-ethical negotiations that occurred at the beginning of colonization of the Americas, this dissertation proposes a narrative ethical model of reflection that brings Catholic ethics into conversation with …

Semantic Deduplication Of Redundant And Non-Conformant Data In Temporal Domains, Jon C. Rogers

Dissertations

Semantic deduplication is the process of identifying records that describe or are derivative of the same entity and is a crucial task when merging data pulled at different times and/or from multiple sources. Failure to resolve these duplicates may bias the data and the applications and models that use them. Duplicates may range in nature from exact matches to more interesting cases where the data differs due to syntactic representation, missing or updated information, or adversarial transforms. The implications of duplication may go beyond redundancy to include recognizing critical information updates, error detection, and identifying similar behaviors. This task is …

Energy Transfer From Fluid To Kinetic Scales In The Solar Wind, Michael Terres

Dissertations

This dissertation explores the relationship between MHD turbulence, intermittent structures, and particle velocity distributions in the solar wind. Intermittent structures serve as a means for increased energy exchange from turbulence to particles. My research delves into the different scales where dissipation occurs, the turbulent process that leads to it, and the ultimate impact it has on the plasma species. It is supported by observations from spacecraft such as Helios, MESSENGER, MMS, and Parker Solar Probe. This work was supported by NASA-HELIO-FINESST Grant 80NSSC20K1516.

Modeling And Simulation Of Cyberattacks To Aid Systems Security Engineers And Cyber-Physical Designs To Aid Systems Engineers, Christopher Daniel Colvett

Dissertations

The advent of the Internet has led to an ever-increasingly interconnected world. The range of cyber-physical systems being interconnected has expanded to include power generation facilities, automobiles, weapon systems, and others. Securing such systems against cyberattacks is crucial, and consequently cybersecurity research, including cybersecurity modeling, has been growing. However, most cybersecurity modeling efforts to date omit any representation of the computer systems' user, thereby overlooking the potentially negative impact that security measures can have on system users' productivity. A currently ongoing research program, consisting of multiple interrelated research projects, has been modeling cyberattacks based on their descriptions in the MITRE …

Hyperinsulinemic Lew.1wr1 Rats Develop Insulin Resistance And Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, Madushika M. Wimalarathne

Dissertations

The pathophysiological causes of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) development are not fully understood but are often associated with hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance and ectopic lipid accumulation. A subpopulation of type 1 diabetes patients develops the pathophysiological parameters to be termed “double diabetes,” which is associated with NASH. The objective of this work was to identify metabolic features of double diabetes and assess if LEW.1WR1 rats develop NASH. I assessed pathophysiologically relevant protein changes using proteomics and western blotting. I found that 17-week-old LEW.1WR1 rats showed protein changes related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a precursor to NASH. We tested a second population …