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Utilization Of Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (Tpms) Based Architectures Impregnated With Phase Change Material For Heat Transfer Applications, Zahid Ahmed Qureshi

Dissertations

This dissertation is concerned with the utilization of mathematically architected Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) based lattices for Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage (LHTES) systems. With the advent of Additive Manufacturing (AM), TPMS structures can be readily manufactured. The objective of this dissertation was to investigate the heat transfer performance of TPMS structures vis-à-vis conventional metal foams represented by Kelvin cells while both were impregnated with a Phase Change Material (PCM). Numerical simulations were performed under various boundary conditions to assess the performance. It was found that TPMS structures outperformed conventional metal foam. Moreover, the effects of boundary conditions (isothermal …

Fear Of Cancer Recurrence Among Survivors Of Adult Cancers, Jacqueline P. Galica

Dissertations

Fear of Cancer Recurrence (FCR) is a common concern for which cancer survivors want professional help to cope. Understanding the prevalence, predictors and mediators of FCR is important to facilitate the identification of those at-risk for clinically-significant FCR in order to expediently refer them into appropriate interventions. To clarify the empirical gaps which would be useful in this regard, the objectives of this study were: 1) to assess the prevalence of FCR; 2) to examine the relationships among predictors of FCR; and 3) examine the relationships among mediators of FCR.

Recreating Harmony: Stories Of Native American Women Surviving Breast Cancer, Linda U. Krebs

Dissertations

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to explore the experience of surviving cancer as perceived by Native American women who had been successfully treated for breast cancer. The study had a purposive sample of fifteen women representing thirteen tribes. Data regarding the experience of surviving cancer were obtained from videotapes made for "Native American Survival from Cancer," a project designed to increase the use of cancer prevention and detection strategies and to enhance cancer survival in Native Americans. The traditional use of storytelling provided the mechanism for participants to share the experience of surviving breast cancer.

Times Past-Times Present: The Midwife, Judith R. Lentz

Dissertations

Midwifery has re-emerged as a birthing system and women are again seeking midwives as their birth attendants. This pluralization of the U.S. medical system and its birthing system is on one level of interpretation is attributable to some primarily middle class women's and couples' dissatisfaction with hospital maternity care and with physicians' activist attitude and interventionist approach to child birth. The practice of lay or independent midwifery began to emerge in the late 1960's, in conjunction with, and as a response to, these women's demands for unmedicated birth experiences. It is argued that these women's dissatisfactions with medicalized birth and …

The Experience Of Returning From A Wilderness Expedition, Helen Mueller Wedin

Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to explore the experience of women returning from the Arctic territory of Nunavut. Such women transitioned from a secluded, communal, Canadian wilderness journey of approximately 7 weeks duration, to a Western lifestyle of advanced technology, high-paced, individualistic living. Preliminary inquiry of expedition returnees pointed to a significant number of participants detailing moderate or higher levels of anxiety, paralleling similar findings of cross-cultural sojourners who reported experiencing a kind of 'reverse culture shock' upon coming home. Psychological distress related to transition between foreign environments and home cultures, has been associated with potential health …

The Relationship Between Utilization Of The Elsevier Online Remediation Tool And The Hesi Exit Exam For Student Nurses Preparing For The Nclex-Rn, Judith A. Egan

Dissertations

Nursing schools are operating at full capacity in order to address an impending shortage of registered nurses that may exceed 500,000 by the year 2025. This pressure on scarce resources elevates the importance of NCLEX-RN preparedness for nursing faculty, nursing students, and the public at large. Additionally, the ability to successfully prepare students to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam can affect the reputation of nursing programs throughout the United States. Nursing schools frequently utilize commercially prepared standardized exams to assess student readiness and identify students in need of remediation. The HESI E2 Exit Exam distributed by Elsevier is one such …

Men In Nursing: Internalized Sex-Role Stereotypes And Their Relationship To Role Strain And Self-Esteem, Stanley Melton Harris

Dissertations

Sex-role stereotyping is limiting to both men and women. While it can manifest in any occupation, it is more prevalent in occupations viewed by society as nontraditional. Nursing is a female-dominated profession; therefore, men who choose nursing are more likely to experience sex-role stereotyping. Gender-based expectations may contribute, in turn, to role strain and altered self-esteem in male registered nurses. In this study, 56 male registered nurses residing in 5 southeastern states completed a Likert-type survey related to sex-role stereotyping, role strain, and self-esteem. Participants responded on a scale ranging from "Strongly Agree" to "Strongly Disagree." Study results suggest that …

A History Of The Lived Experience Of Nurse-Caring By Northern Women During The American Civil War, Mary Ann Urban Cordeau

Dissertations

The purposes of this research were to create and historicize a phenomenological description of the lived experience of nurse-caring by the culture of white Northern women during the American Civil War. Primary sources included: unpublished and published Civil War letters, journals, diaries, memoirs, reminiscences, narratives and records from 1861 through 1911. The phenomenological description was created using van Manen's (1990) approach for hermeneutic phenomenology and Drew's (2001) method for examining the researcher's pre-understanding of a phenomenon. The phenomenological description was historicized using Leininger's (1995) Sunrise Model as a framework.

The Pontem Path: A Case Study Of A Catholic Bridge Program Focusing On College Readiness, Sean Green

Dissertations

The Department of Education’s 2018 report on the “Condition of Education” indicated nearly 60% of all children under the age of 18 had parents without a bachelor’s degree. When the statistics were broken down by race, the numbers were far higher. For Black children, that number was 74%; for Hispanic children, that number was 79%; for Pacific islander, it was 78%; and for American Indian/Alaska native, it was 80%. This gap in education has had a tremendous economic impact on families, reverberating through generations. According to Georgetown’s 2015 study on the economics of college majors, a college graduate makes $1 …

Teacher Sensemaking In Times Of Crisis: A Case Study Of The Teaching Of High School Ethnic Studies Classes During The Covid-19 Pandemic And Black Lives Matter Protests, Kay Flewelling

Dissertations

This is a study about secondary ethnic studies classes within the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, a novel coronavirus caused dramatic changes in society, and social protests erupted in the United States in response to violence against people of color. This period of dual crises created a collective period of turbulence for educators in the United States as schooling moved to emergency virtual environments. Though the impact of this time is not yet understood, early indicators suggest that existing educational inequalities for students of color will be exacerbated. This study explored ethnic studies teacher sensemaking to understand how teachers adapted their …

Shattering Your Own Glass Ceiling: The Self-Sabotaging Behaviors Of Secondary Female Principals And Strategies Used To Overcome Them, Ashley Sandor

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this explanatory mixed methods study was to identify and describe self-sabotaging behaviors experienced by female secondary principals and to explore the impact these behaviors have on their career development. A secondary purpose of this study was to identify strategies used to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors.

Methodology: An explanatory mixed methods design was used to uncover the perspectives of 10 female secondary principals in Northern California who have experienced career impacting self-sabotaging behaviors and to examine strategies that exemplary female secondary principals use to overcome their internal barriers. The quantitative phase included a 51-item online survey about self-sabotaging …

Writing Instruction For Multilingual Learners, Leticia Kiwan

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the benefit of three key elements of instructional writing strategies: structured writing, visual learning, and collaborative tasks to assist Title 1 middle school site administrators and teachers in assessing the impact of the instructional writing strategies for multilingual learners to achieve reclassification to Fluent English Proficient.

Methodology: The qualitative case study included a thorough analysis of one-on-one interviews with seven teachers and seven administrators with more than three years of experience in a middle school from the Sacramento area.

Findings: Examination of the data indicated the following findings: (1) …

Parental Involvement And The Academic Achievement Of Third And Fourth Grade Students During The 2014-2015 And 2015-2016 School Years, Rise’ D. Black

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to find out if parental involvement in the study school helped to increase student academic achievement. Previous studies have shown that when parents are involved in the educational process of children, parents can expect a gain in academic achievement. This mixed method study examined the relationship between parental involvement and academic gains in reading at one suburban public school. The researcher examined how often parents met with teachers at their child’s school, conversations parents had with teachers about what they were learning in school, how often parents were involved with a parent group, how …

The Experience Of Non-Spousal Close Intimate Relationships For Women With Breast Cancer: A Journey Of Support, Erin B. Dooley

Dissertations

An estimated 331,530 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 ("American Cancer Society," 2019, p. 10). The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological, descriptive study was to explore the lived experience of non-spousal close/intimate relationships of women with breast cancer. There are very few studies in the literature examining relationships between women with cancer other than those of partner or spouse. This study's participants consisted of six women, ages 32 to 68. Analysis of these data identified themes reflected along their breast cancer trajectory (1) The journey starts (2) Mid-journey passage, and (3) Journeys end/coming home, as well as …

The Relationship Between Selected Variables And The National Council Licensure Examination For Registered Nurses: A Comparative Analysis Of Pass/Fail Performance For Traditional And Second-Degree Baccalaureate Students, Nadine Cozzo Englert

Dissertations

This retrospective study was conducted to examine the relationship between selected variables and performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Data were collected from one hundred twenty graduates of a baccalaureate program; graduates completed either the traditional four-year track or an accelerated second-degree track. Variables included scores earned on seven standardized HESI tests, grades earned in fourteen nursing courses, and grade point averages calculated at six points throughout the curriculum. Relationships between NCLEX-RN performance and student age, gender, and ethnicity were also examined. A between-subjects comparative analysis based on pass/fail performance revealed students who passed the …

The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence, Hardiness And Job Stress Among Registered Nurses, Linda A. Tjiong

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence, hardiness and the perceived job related stress among registered nurses. The study was conducted based on Salovey and Mayer' (1990) and Goleman's (1995) theories on Emotional Intelligence; Kobasa, Maddi, & Kahn's (1982) theory on Hardiness; and Spielberger & Vagg's (1999) theory on Job Stress. Three instruments were utilized: the Emotional Intelligence Scale, Personal Views Survey III, and Job Stress Survey.

Both convenient and random sampling techniques were utilized to obtain the sample. The participants of this study were 123 registered nurses who responded either through class contact, …

How Older Adults Perceive The Terminology "Allow Natural Death": A Qualitative Dissertation, Jodi A. Erickson

Dissertations

In the older adult population, people do not consistently die where or in a manner they envision, and the words used when discussing end-of-life (EOL) preferences can influence how one dies. One of the terms most used to indicate a person's wishes for no heroic measures during EOL decision making is Do Not Resuscitate (DNR). Another term in the EOL literature is Allow Natural Death (AND); however, AND is underexamined and not utilized consistently in the healthcare industry. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of adults ages 65 and older who are not terminally ill regarding …

Understanding Quality Of Life In Adolescents Living With Advanced Cancer, Cynthia J. Bell

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to advance theoretical understanding of how an adolescent with incurable cancer prepares for end-of-life (EOL). A theoretical model was developed to link awareness, acceptance, and willingness to take action to EOL preparedness (knowledge about EOL, acknowledgement of grief and emotion, identification of the meaning of death and spirituality, and conceptualization of personal plan) and communication about EOL preferences and priorities; and to determine impact on quality of life (QOL).

Emotion And Emotional Intelligence In Nursing Leadership, Nancy C. Molter

Dissertations

The tremendous changes in the healthcare environment in the United States are increasing the physical and emotional labor of nurses, thus contributing to a decrease in this critical resource. Healthcare leaders are expected to create systems that meet the needs of the customers and to be service oriented to their staff despite declining resources. To be successful, transformational leaders need to lead with heart and to identify and manage the emotional aspects of work-related issues. They require what some term emotional intelligence . Because there is no theoretical consensus for this construct, the purpose of this exploratory, qualitative and quantitative …

Effects Of Exercise On Physiologic And Psychologic Outcomes In Patients With End Stage Renal Disease On Hemodialysis: A Quasi-Experimental Study In Lebanon, Ghada Ballout Dunbar

Dissertations

End stage renal disease (ESRD) is a public health problem that is expected to continue to rise and has overwhelming effects on individuals' psychological, physical, and emotional wellbeing. Treatment options include hemodialysis (HD), which is a lifesaving procedure for patients suffering from ESRD where a dialysis machine and a dialyzer are used to clean and purify the blood as their kidneys are not functioning normally. This patient population will suffer from muscle atrophy and weakness due to inactive lifestyle and lack of physical activity. They also question their existence, are extremely stressed, and are afraid of death.

Rural Pregnant Women’S Experiences With Substance Use Disorder: A Qualitative Study, Cami Weber

Dissertations

Rural pregnant women with substance use disorder (SUD) are an understudied vulnerable population that often experiences poor pregnancy outcomes (Higgins et al., 2019; Jumah, 2016; Kramlich et al., 2018; Shaw et al., 2015). Despite the high prevalence and high burden associated with SUD, rural women are less likely than non-pregnant women to seek addiction treatment and complete an outpatient treatment program during pregnancy (Shaw et al., 2015). This study aimed to give voice to rural Missouri women with SUD. The research questions explored the life experiences and motivations for seeking treatment using a qualitative, descriptive research design with grounded theory …

Global Nursing Service Learning For Short-Term Student Experiences: Investigating The Interpretation Of Healthcare Needs As A Predeterminent For Site Selection, Deborah Lyn Carter

Dissertations

As a response to the increased global demand of healthcare, global nursing service learning programs are growing within institutions of higher education. The rise and increase of these programs call for additional research into the practices being used to ensure culturally appropriate, realistic, and sustainable nursing care. The care, however, needs to remain within the nursing scope of practice while also meeting the expected needs of the host community. The purpose of this study is to begin the initial research of how sites from higher education institutions involving student nursing teams are selected, specifically looking at the understanding of the …

Undergraduate Nursing Faculty's Lived Experience Of Authentic Leadership In Nursing Education, Krystal M. Diedrichsen

Dissertations

Current nursing practice is encountering challenges with retention, burnout, and staff satisfaction. Nurses are caring for patients who are more critically ill; expected to do more with less; and experiencing increased demands of their time due to nursing staff shortages. Research has shown how Authentic Leadership (AL) can positively impact nursing practice. However, there is a significant research gap of faculty lived experiences with or without the application of AL and its overall impact on nursing education. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of undergraduate nursing faculty and current use of AL in nursing education. …

Effects Of Simulated Clinical Experiences On Empathy, Self-Confidence, And Satisfaction In Nursing Students, Dawn L. Riess

Dissertations

Empathetic communication enhances the nurse-patient relationship and improves patient outcomes and needs to be taught and evaluated during simulated clinical experiences. Experience in healthcare education has shown students' empathy levels decrease over time. The purpose of this quasi-experimental pretest posttest, study was to compare nursing students' empathy levels, self-confidence, and satisfaction with simulation between the use of the high-fidelity manikin simulator (HFMS) and a standardized patient (SP) used during their simulated clinical experience. Kolb's experiential learning theory was used to guide the study through the four phases specific to simulation and learning. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 135 nursing …

Through The Looking Glass: The Lived Experiences Of Deaf People Communicating With Nurses, The Meaning Of Health, And Attitudes Toward Nurses, Kathleen Lenore Gilchrist

Dissertations

Approximately three million deaf people in the United States represent a significant portion of our population whose health care may be compromised from ambiguous communication. Written and spoken English is commonly used by nurses to convey health information, although American Sign Language (ASL) is the Deaf community's primary language. When a deaf person enters the hospital, communication is tenuous because of illness, unfamiliar environment, and medical terminology. The purpose of this research was to describe and interpret prevocationally deaf people's experiences communicating with nurses, the meaning of health, and their attitudes toward nurses.

Examining The Relationship Among Civic Attitudes, Civic Engagement Behaviors, And A Sense Of Community In A Sample Of Nurses, Catherine Rewakowski

Dissertations

Nurses are called to advocate for those they serve, and civic engagement is a way to advocate for health-related issues. However, there is sparse evidence of frequency and types of civic activities in which professional nurses engage. A review of literature found that sense of community and civic attitudes are constructs shown to influence civic participation but are not well-studied among professional nurses. The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of civic engagement among nurses by examining civic engagement activities and factors that influence engagement.

The Relationship Between Nursing Students' Test-Taking Motivation And The Exit Examination Score, Lorraine Coalmer

Dissertations

A primary objective of nursing students and nursing programs includes first-time success on the NCLEX-RN®. As the nursing shortage continues, it is essential to have qualified nursing graduates pass the NCLEX-RN ®. One approach some nursing programs have chosen to implement regarding augmenting nursing students' probability of success on the NCLEX-RN® includes the administration of an exit examination. This exit examination is tailored to mimic the NCLEX-RN® blueprint; thereby this examination may reveal the nursing students' readiness for the NCLEX-RN®.

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between nursing student test-taking motivation and exit …

A Cross-Sectional Study To Determine Barriers In The Educational Advancement Of The Licensed Practical Nurse To The Registered Nurse In The State Of North Carolina, Douglas M. Turner

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify barriers that prevent practical nurses in the state of North Carolina from pursuing registered nurse education. A cross-sectional sample of 128 practical nurses completed a modified version of the ";Learning Interests and Experiences of Adult Americans"; (Cross,1981; Powell 1989). A convenience sample of experts in the field of nursing, nursing administration, and nursing education were interviewed to triangulate the data. Logistic regression was used for data analysis.

Two barriers were identified that prevent practical nurses from advancing to registered nurse education in the state of North Carolina: Strict attendance requirements and required …

Nurse Educators' Perceptions About The Culture Of Nursing And How They Bring Students Into That Culture: A Focused Ethnography, Susan M. Strouse

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover nurse educators' perceptions about the culture of nursing and how they bring students into that culture.

The Effects Of High-Stakes Ati Remediation And Testing Practices Including The Ati Content Mastery Series And Ati Pn Comprehensive Predictor, Elaine Hernandez Hunter

Dissertations

The purpose of this retrospective, descriptive study was to determine if any differences existed in students' test scores on the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) PB tests: Fundamentals, Pharmacology, Medical Surgical and the Comprehensive Predictor before and after implementing a high-stakes remediation and testing policy. The ATI computer-based standardized tests are widely used in nursing programs as a program assessment tool. Also, ATI tests provide correlational evidence of first-time NCLEX-RN passage. The ATI Remediation and tests are commonly added to nursing programs progression plans. In recent years nursing programs have applied high-stakes ATI Remediation to the ATI tests in response to …