Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating The Impact Of The Nurse-Patient Relationship: An Integrative Review, Kathryn H. Creasey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Home care agencies are rated by patients anonymously through surveys after patients’ care episodes. The star ratings on the surveys have a direct impact on the home care agency and all of the staff working there. The star rating affects insurance companies’ reimbursement, which ultimately impacts business revenue, while the goal is to provide quality patient care. In the home care setting, nurses and patients desire continuity of care and the building of trust for competent, safe, and quality care. The literature review explored the importance of fostering the nurse-patient relationship and its impact on patient satisfaction and quality. Utilizing …

Corporate Social Responsibility Programs In Supply Chain Strategies, Craig A. Standridge

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study focused on United States-based small and medium-sized (SME) manufacturing companies and their decision-making strategies regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs within their supply chain strategies. As CSR gains global acceptance, those stakeholder interests seek validation and compete for outcomes that affect the triple bottom line of people, the planet, and profits. Strategic managers must skillfully balance the implementation of CSR programs with available resources, all without a guaranteed increase in competitiveness or organizational excellence. CSR is often perceived as more suitable for larger organizations with ample resources. At the same time, SMEs grapple with the fiduciary challenges of …

Difference In Persistence Scores Among Community College Students: A Causal-Comparative Study, Jessica Jean Deroche

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study is to determine if there are persistence score differences among students who have taken EDUC 1300 – Learning Frameworks, those who have not taken the course, and if there are any generational status differences. There is a need to better understand persistence in students, especially within community colleges given the increased enrollment rates, and low retention and completion rates these schools are experiencing. This study provided an examination of the persistence scores of 194 students attending a multi-campus community college in the south utilizing the College Persistence Questionnaire. A two-way ANOVA was used …

Trauma-Informed Care Education Program To Increase Provider Confidence In Caring For Patients With Trauma, Lillian Priante

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This scholarly project addressed the critical need for education on trauma-informed care and birth trauma among birth center providers and staff. The project aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of birth center professionals to better support birthing individuals who have experienced trauma, ensuring a more compassionate and effective care environment. A comprehensive educational program was administered to birth center midwives and staff exploring the principles of trauma-informed care, the psychological and physiological impacts of birth trauma, and evidence-based strategies for mitigating these effects. The curriculum of trauma-informed care included interactive training sessions using the City Birth Trauma Scale tool …

Cultural Influence On The Decision-Making Processes Of Individuals, Julia Carrion-Rivera

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a prominent gap in investigations on cultural experiences outside the Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic societies (WEIRD) context. The significance of this study lies in its potential to expand our understanding of cultural influences on decision-making, encouraging intercultural relations, and inclusion, and offering positive social changes in our global society. This phenomenological study explored the cultural influence on the decision-making processes of individuals from non-WEIRD cultures, identifying the significant role culture plays in forming human behavior and cognitive processes when making decisions. The research questions explored the cultural influence on the decision-making processes of individuals framed within …

Lighting The Lamp Of Learning: Florida Freedmen’S Education During Reconstruction, Jessica L. Damron

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

While the American Civil War attracts significant research attention, Reconstruction often receives little attention in comparison. Focus the research on Reconstruction in Florida, and the scholarship narrows even more. This study reveals the efforts of the Freedmen’s Bureau, northern aid societies, and the freedmen teachers who advanced the education of the freedmen in Florida during Reconstruction. The cooperative effort included the freedmen who participated inspiringly during this period in their pursuit of education. The freedmen understood education represented the key to unlocking the potential of their new freedom. The Reconstruction period in Florida underwent progress and setbacks. However, the zeal …

Improving Nursing Retention Through Mentorship In A Long-Term Care Facility: An Educational Toolkit, Adriane Nichole Anthony-Cupil

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A major nursing shortage in the healthcare industry is made worse by high turnover rates. Healthcare organizations have used mentoring programs that have been found to enhance job satisfaction, thus improving nurse retention. To address this challenge, this study examined the use of a mentorship program supplemented by an educational toolkit that is specially made to improve nurse retention in long-term care facilities. By offering an organized learning path with resources that address support, effective communication, and cultural competency, the educational toolkit has the potential to enhance mentorship. The objective of this initiative was to equip registered nurses with the …

Recruitment And Retention Of Black Faculty Women In Higher Education: A Phenomenological Study, Gerald Keith Warmack

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine Black Faculty Women's (BFW) lived experiences concerning recruiting and retention practices. The theory guiding this study was Critical Race Theory (CRT). CRT acknowledges that racism is central and the norm in the educational system. In addition to CRT, Social integration theory plays a critical role in how BFW form relationships, participate in social activities, and integrate into higher education. This research project used a hermeneutical phenomenological research design for BFW’s recruitment and retention experiences. Data for this study was collected using individual interviews, letters of advice, and journal prompts. Data analysis …

Paths Initiative: Identifying Potential Sex Trafficking Victims In The Emergency Department Setting, Kayla Mabery

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Physical signs, Appearance, Talk and communication, History and background, and Support and resources (PATHS) education initiative has proven to be a valuable tool in enhancing the identification and support of sex trafficking victims in healthcare settings, particularly in emergency departments. The training led to significant improvements in the participants' knowledge, confidence, and practical application of skills necessary to recognize potential victims. Despite the limitations of limited participant numbers and lack of face-to-face training, the initiative's positive impact underscores the need for continued efforts in this area. By incorporating the PATHS tool into regular professional development programs and standard operating …

Citizen Engagement Through Social Media In Small Maryland Towns, Chad P. Rooney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand how municipalities used social media to engage stakeholders for the selected Maryland towns including residents, business owners, and industries located within their respective jurisdictions, and to identify potential future impacts for continued use of social media. Governments have implemented Facebook to increase interaction, participation, and transparency between local governing bodies and residents. This research examined the uses of social media by nine small towns in Maryland. The primary questions addressed include the reasons these towns began using social media, the extent to which relationship between citizens of small towns in Maryland …

The Ideological Background Of National Socialism In Regard To Its Central Narrative Convictions, David Joseph Thrower

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The origins of the National Socialist Party in Germany in the early 20th century are multifaceted and constitute four areas of influence – mythological/occult, Darwinian eugenics, prior völkisch political movements comprised of disenfranchised war veterans and youth activists, and a number of philosophical influences. The ideas assimilated from these sources constitute the construction of a narrative based on a series of questions that form what are called Central Narrative Convictions (or CNCs). The focus is to determine which of these were borrowed in regard to the Nazi platform as well as those unique to their own identity. These convictions also …

What Family Mealtime Brings To The Table, Alicia Kirby Leon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Family mealtimes together appear to play an important role in adolescent mental health. Family mealtime frequency is associated with positive outcomes such as greater well-being, self-esteem, happiness, and better mental health in adolescents. However, the aftermath of the COVID-19 lockdown left behind even higher levels of depression and anxiety and other mental health concerns in adolescents. Moreover, children from lower SES tend to have higher anxiety levels, depressive affect, and stress. In this study, I proposed to help bridge that gap in the research by examining adolescents from low SES families and help determine how much family mealtimes may benefit …

Exploring Health Science Students' Perception Of The Influence Of Health Precaution Practices During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Marquitta L. Foster

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to address a lack of research on health science students’ perceptions and use of health precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory frames this study of bachelor's, master’s and doctoral level students at Liberty University, George Mason University, and Norfolk State University. Data was gathered via surveys, interviews, and observations from 35 students across the three universities, providing a diverse pool of age, gender, and ethnicity. The initial survey gathered demographic data on whether students considered themselves immunocompromised, their view on COVID-19's severity for the immunocompromised, and whether they felt …

Revictimization Of Sexual Assault Survivors: Correlations Between Shame, Dissociation, Rape Myth Culture, And Revictimization, Jessica Lynn Wiggs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Sexual assault (SA) remains a pervasive issue with profound psychological and social implications. This study investigated the relationships between shame, rape myth culture (RMC), dissociation, and revictimization among college students utilizing southern university health center counseling services. Using a quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional research design, the study addressed a gap in the existing literature by examining how these factors act together and affect SA survivors' mental health. The research questions focused on the decrease in shame following SA, the impact of revictimization on shame levels, and whether acceptance of rape myths and dissociation mediate this relationship. The study also explored whether …

Diabetes Health Literacy, Diabetes Numeracy, And Cognitive Function As Predictors Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Self-Management, Twinkle Gupta

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The present study assessed older adults (≥ 45 years old) diabetes health literacy, diabetes numeracy, cognitive function, and its association with their Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) self-management outcomes. These factors are of concern as diabetes is a lifelong condition affecting the body’s conversion of food into energy and may lead to complications and comorbidities if this condition is not properly self-managed. Diabetes health literacy refers to having the necessary capabilities in finding and analyzing diabetes-related information to make informed decisions regarding their health. Numeracy in diabetes has to do with being able to compute diabetes-related math such as insulin …

Speech-Language Pathologists’ Perceptions Of A Clinical Doctorate In Speech-Language Pathology: A Phenomenological Study, Dawn Mckee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the perspectives of speech-language pathologists regarding a clinical doctorate as a potential entry-level degree for practicing speech-language pathologists. The central research question sought to determine the overall attitudes of speech-language pathologists about a clinical doctorate. The theories guiding this study were social constructionism and experiential learning theory, as this study attempted to construct the perceived reality of practicing speech-language pathologists regarding clinical doctorates and involved their educational and work experiences. The methodology utilized was transcendental phenomenology and included three data collection approaches: interviews, letter-writing, and focus groups. The data were analyzed …

Insurgency Apologetics: Refuting The Claims That Christianity Is A White Man’S Religion, Brian L. Gadson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This action research project, with the utmost respect for the participants, aims to assess the ability of the members of Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church to counter the claims of Black religious identity cults, Black conscious community, and Black atheists who assert that Christianity is a religion that belongs only to White people. The study's main objective was to design an African-American church curriculum that addresses the purpose of this research. The new training curriculum aims to offer essential information to church members about the ancient African connection to Christianity that existed long before the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The …

Executive Leader Perspectives Of Rural School District Organizational Resilience: A Qualitative Multiple-Case Study Inquiry, Todd S. Burke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative embedded multiple-case study was to explore and describe how rural executive school district leaders overcome significant organizational adversity (low-income student factors) and sustain high student achievement outcomes. Organizational resilience theory provided the basis for the qualitative embedded multiple-case study. The multiple-case study design explored the perspectives of rural school district executive leaders at three levels of qualitative meaning: a) individual-level executive leader perspectives, b) organization function-level (program and department) perspectives, and c) district-wide organizational perspectives. Three small Utah rural school districts with higher-than-average student achievement trends, all of which have student populations experiencing low-income factors, …

Examining Influences Of Academic Resilience Among Minority Adolescent Students, Sylvia Alice Okpon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative and correlational study aimed to investigate which variables of minority adolescent students promote academic resilience and focus on African American and Hispanic students within a public charter school located in Southeast Texas. Grounded on resilience theory, the research investigated the cognitive and emotional regulation of students and student–teacher connections in the process of academic resilience. A purposive sample composed of more than 100 students was used to collect data using the Cognitive Emotional Regulation Questionnaire, the Inventory of the Student–Teacher Relationship, and the Academic Resilience Scale for an online survey. Data analysis indicated that cognitive and emotional resilience …

Theory Informed Audit And Feedback To Decrease Medication Administration Errors, Victoria Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Medication administration errors remain a serious and preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in health care. Technology at the point of care is often bypassed in the medication administration process despite the intention to prevent adverse drug events through the addition of a layer of cross-checks and alerts. The purpose of this project was to understand if human behavior could be influenced using effective audit and feedback, data transparency, and communication tactics to decrease administration-related errors, such as wrong patient, wrong medication, wrong dose, and adverse drug events, with the use of barcode medication administration (BCMA) in the emergency department. …

Insider Threat: An Exploration Of Non-Homogeneity And Potential Cultural Influences On Shifting Threat Dynamics, Justin Mckinley Flint

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Changing dominant sociocultural perspectives within the United States have been accompanied by a documented rise in inside threat incidents that have clearly deviated from the previously recognized traditional threat motivations and models. The ability to mitigate associated risks depends heavily on understanding how shifting dynamics among insider threats manifest themselves. Mitigation considerations drive U.S. agencies and organizations’ need for accurate assessments or ability to measure the potential risks posed by inside threats to entities charged with maintaining sensitive information, systems, or materials. This work measured various shifting cultural perceptions currently observable among the dominant culture, especially in light of the …

The Impact Of Colonization, The Problem Of Evil, And The African Traditional Religion Worldview On Biblical Hermeneutics In West Africa, Christopher Blay

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research paper delves into the complex relationship between colonization, African Traditional Religion (ATR), the problem of evil, and their impact on interpreting biblical texts in West Africa. The study explores how historical colonization, cultural beliefs rooted in ATR, and the existential question of evil have shaped the lens through which Millennials and Gen Z in West Africa engage with Christianity.

Through an analysis of historical sources, scholarly works, and academic articles, this paper highlights how these factors have contributed to a decline in interest in Christianity among the youth in the region. The paper also emphasizes the importance of …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Early Childhood Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Ability To Provide Mental Health Supports In The Classroom To Preschool-Aged Children, Stacie Linette Parham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the pre-service or continuing professional training needs of early childhood teachers in regard to providing support for mental health and challenging behaviors displayed in children ages three to five years old. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and Knowles’ andragogy theory guided the study. The guiding research question was as follows: What are early childhood teachers’ classroom experiences regarding providing instruction to address mental health, ACEs, childhood trauma or other factors that cause young children to display challenging behaviors? The study’s sample included 11 preschool teachers with two to 26 years of experience …

Church Adoption: Three-Pronged Elements That Support The Revitalization Of Coastal Church Battery Park Location In Virginia, Michael Christopher Bard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The church is God’s plan for delivering the good news of Jesus Christ’s finished work on the Cross. This finished work is evidenced through the bodily resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15). In the US a steady decline in church attendance has been prevalent over the past three decades and church buildings are either near empty or closing. This research explores the concept of church adoption merger in hopes of one avenue that would promote revitalization of local fellowships. Though multiple elements are supportive in revitalization this research explore three elements that should lead towards centralizing the church on Christ. …

Moral Injury In Police Officers Of Color, Samantha J. Thornton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this research is to explore the possibility of Moral Injury (MI) in police officers of color. This is a topic that is steeped in stigma and cultural dynamics, both for the community of police and communities of color. The aim is to add to the existing research on MI and how it may impact those who occupy dual special populations. The study approached targeted police advocacy organizations of color for recruitment nationwide. This study recruited 10 police officers of color from multiple states and explored their personal stories. This study used video recordings to capture qualitative data …

Cultural Influence On Recruiting Middle School Children To The Jordanian Nai Choir, Diana Samir Talhami

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social practices influenced the recruitment of middle school children to the Nai choir despite the rich Jordanian culture. This research addressed beliefs, cultural dynamics, social values, and strategies to identify a critical gap in the literature regarding the recruitment of middle school students to the Nai choir. To understand students’ enrollment challenges, the researcher examined community perspectives related to the Jordanian culture, socioeconomic status, communication between students and community, beliefs, and values. Furthermore, exploring the age perspectives of middle school students was essential. The culture of these students also influenced their decision and motivation to join the choir. This study …

Mentoring Emerging Leaders As It Relates To Senior Leadership Succession, Kevin D. Neal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore the effects that a leadership mentoring plan had on the development of emerging leaders within the ministry of the International Ministry Network of Churches (IMNC). This study also sought to determine future leadership readiness regarding succession. This church fellowship currently does not have an established mentorship program in place, and without a successful plan for preparing new leaders for the future of the IMNC, the organization's growth and perpetuity can be potentially impacted negatively. The research was conducted by surveying senior local church leaders within the IMNC to assess their current …

She Is Not Damaged Goods: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Marital Experience For African American Female Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Fabyonne Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) is a traumatic violation which leaves invisible scars on the soul of a child. Despite the prevalence of CSA, African American (AA) females make up an underrepresented population as far as CSA research is concerned. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how married AA female survivors of CSA experience the marital relationship, and the processes they go through to build resiliency for relational intimacy. Attachment theory guided the study as it describes the internal working models developed in childhood and potentially driving adult relational interactions. The data were collected by the researcher …

A Case Study Of Using Social Media Influencers For Sponsored Posts, Meagen Rockenbach

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The use of social media changed consumer behavior and how company leaders conduct business, including the way that they promote products and services. Instagram is a social media platform that many companies use to promote products and services. In the beauty and lifestyle industry, company officials hire social media influencers for influencer marketing campaigns. In the Unites States, the Federal Trade Commission has rules for these sponsored posts that influencers must disclose that they are working with a brand within the sponsored post. This study was to establish a connection between Instagram influencers and their use of disclosed sponsorship in …

The Experiences Of Christian School Educators In The Midwest Who Practice Consistent Prayer: A Phenomenological Study, Noemi Blig

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences, especially those related to the practice of consistent prayer and their decisions to remain in the profession, of educators in Christian schools in the Midwest. The theory guiding this study was Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, as it shows how all individuals have basic needs that must be met. Teachers have individual needs that influence their decision to remain in the profession. The central research question asked: What are the experiences of Christian school educators who practice consistent prayer? A qualitative research study was appropriate for this topic since it …