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

Dissertations

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

An Exploration Of How New Registered Nurses Construct Their Professional Identity In Hospital Settings, Denise I. Deppoliti

Dissertations

This study was based on twenty-one interviews with sixteen nurses who were within one to three years post graduation from nursing school. All nurse participants were working at three hospitals in Upstate New York. This study began with two main questions: How do nurses in the study think about their occupation and their place in it? And what factors do nurses feel influenced the construction of their professional identity? The interviews were conducted using an open-ended, semi-structured format.

How Exemplary Special Education Administrators Lead From The Heart Using Mark Crowley’S Four Principles (Building A Highly Engaged Team, Connecting On A Personal Level, Maximizing Employee Potential, And Valuing And Honoring Achievements) To Accomplish Extraordinary Results In Their Schools, Aimee Barnard

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe how exemplary district-level special education administrators lead from the heart using Mark Crowley’s four principles (building a highly engaged team, connecting on a personal level, maximizing employee potential, and valuing and honoring achievements) to accomplish extraordinary results in their organizations.

Methodology: This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences and specific ways in which district-level special education administrators implemented and used Crowley’s (2011) four principles of heart-led strategies to understand the specific experiences and actions of the district-level special education administrators in relation to Crowley’s leading from the heart framework. …

The Art Of Leadership In Times Of Crisis, Valissa Tisdale

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to identify and describe strategies exemplary Navy command master chiefs (CMDCM) used to lead in crisis using the Five Critical Tasks of Strategic Crisis Leadership (sense making, decision making and coordination, meaning making, accounting, and learning; Boin, ’t Hart, Stern, & Sundelius, 2017) during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. In addition, it was the purpose to understand and describe the experiences of exemplary Navy CMDCM during a time of crisis.

Methodology: This study utilized a qualitative multiple case study research design. Qualitative data were collected through standardized, semistructured open-ended interviews. …

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

Dissertations

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

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

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

Dissertations

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

Female Students' Perceptions Of Factors Influencing Their Decision To Persist In A Nursing Education Program, Beverly L. Welhan

Dissertations

The withdrawal of students from institutions of higher education is a serious concern. Nursing education statistics demonstrate failure to meet established student retention benchmarks. Although substantial student persistence research exists, few nursing studies have examined persistence from a student perspective. No studies have examined nursing student persistence across educational levels.

The purposes of this descriptive, cross-sectional study were to identify student generated factors that influence the decision to persist in a nursing education program, and to compare these factors across three levels of nursing education—baccalaureate, master's and doctorate. Tinto's (1975, 1987, 1993) undergraduate and graduate theoretical, longitudinal models of student …

An Inquiry Into The Use Of The Case Method Instruction To Support Nursing Students Learning Transfer From Classroom Instruction To Clinical Practice, Kathleen Dorman Wagner

Dissertations

Knowledge that can be transferred into the clinical arena is crucial in a practice profession. High-road, mindful learning using teaching methods that actively engage students and increase their cognitive flexibility is highly desirable. This study aspired to add to the knowledge regarding how or if cases can assist in the preparation of nurses who can analyze complex situations and transfer classroom learning into a clinical setting. The over-arching question that framed this study was: Does use of clinical cases in case-method instruction (CMI) enhance a nursing student's ability to analyze complex cases critically and increase transfer into real-world contexts? A …

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

Dissertations

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

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

Dissertations

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

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

Dissertations

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

Online Continuing Nursing Education: A Study Of Factors Related To Nurse Practitioner Participation, Elizabeth A. Friedlander

Dissertations

Although online continuing nursing education (CNE) is now available via the Internet, few published studies suggest nurse practitioner (NP) interest but a lack of participation. A needs assessment using a triangulated design was conducted to explore the factors involved in NP participation in online CNE. Rogers' (2003) Diffusion of Innovations Model served as the study's theoretical framework. A self-reported survey with a link to an online version of the survey was mailed to a random sample of 1000 RN/NPs in Massachusetts. A 42% response rate yielded n=411 of which 62% (n=253) expressed interest, while only 31% (n=129) had participated in …

Concerns Of Baccalaureate Educators In Kentucky Regarding Community-Based Nursing Education, Beverly C. Siegrist

Dissertations

This descriptive study utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods to explore the stages of concern of baccalaureate nurse educators concerning community-based nursing as a curriculum innovation. Concerns theory and the Concerns-Based Adaptation Model (CBAM) were utilized as the theoretical basis for understanding the personal attributes of change. According to the CBAM, understanding of change begins with exploration of the personal concerns related to the impending change. These concerns occur on a developmental continuum and can be measured. The Stages of Concern Questionnaire (SoCQ) provided the method to categorize nurse educators responses into stages of concern for the curriculum innovation and …

Lived Experiences Of Student Learning In Alternative Master Of Science In Nursing Programs, Mikel W. Hand

Dissertations

Recent trends in healthcare and an ever-increasing nursing shortage provide clear rationale for examining a broad array of issues related to comprehensive educational methodologies associated with professional nursing. Graduate nursing education at the master's level is no exception. Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs prepare nurse educators, clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and administrators. Focused inquiry in regards to the student's lived experience within an alternative MSN program is necessary in order to determine why students select such programs over traditional options, factors they deem critical to their success, key descriptors of the learning, experience, …

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

Dissertations

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

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

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

Dissertations

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

Antecedents Of Control Over Nursing Practice, Marla Jean Weston

Dissertations

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

Feminism & Nursing Education: Pedagogy, Content & Influences In Baccalaureate Nursing Programs, Nancy J. Michela

Dissertations

The research study described and analyzed feminist learning strategies from the viewpoint of nurse educators teaching in accredited baccalaureate nursing programs in the United States. Participants were three comparative groups of nurse educators. A pilot group was nursing faculty from The Sage Colleges. Group I were faculty who had intimate knowledge and expertise of FLS. Authors of article advocating the use FLS were members of this group. Group II was a comparison group of nurse educators chosen from the Web site http://allnursingschools.com.

The study investigated how and to what degree feminist beliefs and values influenced nurse educators, nursing curriculum and …

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

Dissertations

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

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

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

Dissertations

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

Qualitative Study Of How Experienced Certified Holistic Nurses Learn To Become Competent Practitioners, Leighsa Sharoff

Dissertations

This qualitative naturalistic study was designed to explore how experienced certified holistic nurses (HNCs) learned to become competent as holistic nurse practitioners. This study is based on the following assumptions: (1) experienced HNCs were highly motivated to become an HNCs for different reasons; (2) the knowledge, skills and attitudes that experienced HNCs perceive they needed to know in order to become competent as holistic nurses practitioners would vary; (3) there would be no various paths through which these experienced HNCs acquired the knowledge, skills and attitudes they perceived they needed to become competent practitioners; (4) there would be many factors …

Nursing A Sense Of Humor, Pamela B. Minden

Dissertations

Recent decades have witnessed growing empirical interest in the relationship between humor and health. Most clinical studies have explored humor primarily as an adjunct to more traditional therapies. While a number of these substantiate the salutary benefits of laughter, they offer only tentative methods for its evocation. The viewpoint of those whose health has been alleged to be improved by humor has been underrepresented in the relevant literature. The current study bridges gaps in that literature by evaluating the Humor Group, a unique therapeutic modality which used humor deliberately as the focal point of treatment.

Overcoming Self-Sabotage: The Self-Sabotaging Behaviors That Impact The Career Development Of Female Charter School Superintendent/Ceos, Heather Vennes

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this explanatory mixed-methods study was to identify and describe self-sabotaging behaviors experienced by female charter school superintendent/CEOs and to explore the impact these behaviors had on their career development. A secondary purpose of this study was to identify strategies employed by female charter school superintendent/CEOs to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors.

Methodology: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods study design was utilized to identify and describe the self-sabotaging behaviors displayed by female superintendent/CEOs within the charter school system and explore the impact of these behaviors on their career progression. This study identified strategies that female charter school superintendent/CEOs utilized to …

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

Dissertations

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

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

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

An Analysis Of Success Center Directors’ Perceptions Concerning College Remedial Education Programs, Melvin Steele Jr.

Dissertations

Success Centers are a component of community colleges that prepare students who need additional foundational coursework to proceed to college-level credit classes (Housel, 2020). In this study, the perceptions of Success Center Directors concerning their programs were explored through the lens of adult learning theory as advanced by Knowles and Lindeman (Merriam, 2018) using an online survey. Five research questions were investigated, which dealt with the services provided by Success Centers at community colleges, services that directors wanted to add, the credentials of those working in Success Centers, the impact of Success Centers on their stakeholders, and contingency plans used …

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

Dissertations

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

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

Dissertations

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

Figuring It Out: The Self-Efficacy And Self-Empowerment Of Secondary Ela (English Language Arts) Teachers Of Writing, Alma M. Vera

Dissertations

Knowing how to write well has been linked to college and career success and learning to write well is reliant on the effectiveness of highly prepared teachers of writing. However, secondary ELA (English Language Arts) teachers of writing report that they were not prepared to teach writing in their pre-service teacher preparation programs or in-service professional development. Based on personal experience, such educators engage in their own professional learning in the teaching of writing to meet their students’ needs (grades 9-12). This explanatory sequential mixed methods study sought to identify the professional learning choices made by in-service secondary ELA teachers …

An Exploration Of The First Year Of Nursing Practice: Continued Formation As Registered Nurses In The 21st Century, Carol A. Sheldon

Dissertations

A challenge to health care in the 21st Century is preparing and integrating newly registered nurses (RNs) into the health care system. The most ill and infirm are often the recipients of nursing care provided by new RNs, thus the quality and safety of care may be dependent on these new RNs. Four research questions based on a review of the literature has guided this study. A three-phase sequential explanatory mixed-method approach, using both quantitative and qualitative strategies, was designed to look at nurse self-concept and clinical decision making from the end of the nurse preparation program through the first …

How Can Design Thinking Transform Diversity Initiatives For Architectural Trade Organizations In The United States?, Leroy Stewart

Dissertations

This study intended to assess design thinking as a variable regarding its utilization as a tool to increase the number of African American architects in the United States. The research was grounded in the speech given by Whitney Young to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1968, and the initial partnership between the AIA and the National Organization of Minority of Architects (NOMA) in 2001 to increase the number of African American architects to 15,000 by 2030. Through the qualitative methodology, via descriptive phenomenological analysis (DPA), fourteen participants, all of whom were African American licensed architects, were interviewed to …