Digital Commons Network^™

Parental Stress And Parent-Child Relationships In Recently Divorced, Custodial Mothers, Kelly Lyn Murphy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Divorce creates significant stress that can have an impact on parent-child relationship satisfaction. Past researchers have indicated that in times of high stress, parents may not be available for their children due to their personal issues. Attachment theory demonstrates the importance of the parent-child bond for the child as he or she matures, so this bond needs to be protected. The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental study was to examine the predictive relationship between parental stress as measured by the Parenting Stress Index, 4th Edition, Short Form (PSI-4-SF) and the parent-child relationship satisfaction as measured by the Parent-Child Relationship Inventory …

Clinicians' Perceptions Of Trauma Treatment For People With Intellectual Disabilities, Katherine Elaine Schoech

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

People with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in similar ways as individuals in the general population. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe clinicians perceptions of trauma treatment for people with ID. Theories of trauma, PTSD, and stigma were part of the conceptual framework from which interview questions were developed. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit 8 participants in the Denver, Colorado area. Four participants had experience working with people with ID, and 4 participants did not have this experience. Participants sat for semi structured open-ended recorded interviews, which …

Team Member Selection Strategies, Robert Carl Stewart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business teams have been losing millions of dollars every year in cost and schedule over-runs from incomplete or failed projects. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the strategies that business managers use to determine team fit when selecting employees for assignment to cross-functional project teams. The participants for this study were 3 senior management personnel and a 6-member employee focus group, all from midsized, nonprofit organizations located within 200 miles of the tri-state region of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. The conceptual framework for this study was Werbel and Gilliland's theory of person-group fit, McCrae's and John's …

Quantifying The Quality Of Antimalarial Drugs In Ghana, Felix Boakye-Agyeman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malaria is still an epidemic in many parts of the world-about 220 million people are still infected with malaria worldwide and about 700 thousand people die from this disease per year. Most of the drugs used to treat malaria work well if they are used as required and they contain the right amounts of the active ingredient; however, it is estimated that more than 10% of drugs traded worldwide are counterfeits including 38% to 53% of antimalarial tablets produced in China and India. Due to the lack of data covering the extent of counterfeit antimalarial drugs in Ghana, the purpose …

Attitudes And Perceptions Of Mental Health Treatment For Native American Clients, Beverly Elaine Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The need for mental health service is increasing in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. While research has examined the availability, access, and effectiveness of provided services to the AI/AN, very little is known about the influence of the attitude and perceptions of both clinicians and clients in their therapeutic relationship in the treatment process. Using the frameworks of liberation, oppression, and trauma theory, this qualitative phenomenological study explored mental health service delivery and utilization issues within an AI/AN community. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 14 clinician and client participants. The data were sorted into themes and subthemes and …

Empowering Nurses Through Knowledge And Technology To Decrease Fall Rates, Ngozi Doreen Nwaise

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Falls are nurse-sensitive outcome which reflect the quality of nursing care. Nurses, therefore, have a major role to play in efforts to decrease fall rates. The objective of this project is to increase nurses' knowledge on the proper use of the CVVM as an attempt to effectively decrease fall rates. Pretest, post test, and course evaluation data were collected from 30 nurses. A descriptive analysis of the data was performed. Overall, the pretest evaluation showed that nurses had an average score of 43% in the combined assessment of their knowledge on fall prevention strategies, their use of the CVVM, and …

Improving Staff Knowledge Of Hypertension In Psychiatric, Homeless Patients, Maureen Ojose

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hypertension is a serious health problem in the United States. Clinical nurses may serve as facilitators in the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of hypertension. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of an education program on hypertension screening guidelines for nurses working in an outpatient psychiatric clinic. The project was supported by the health promotion model. The project used a pre- and post survey designed by the DNP student to collect data on nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to screen psychiatric patients for hypertension. Surveys consisted of 10 questions using a 5-point Likert-type scale. The results of …

Strategies To Promote It Project Success, Gerald Scheuchner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many project managers and business leaders lack effective strategies to manage information technology (IT) projects, which may inhibit business leaders from successfully implementing IT changes. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that IT leaders use to successfully implement IT projects. The target population consisted of IT leaders in IT organizations located in the Saint Louis Metro East area. The conceptual framework consisted of the general systems theory and the coordination theory. Data collection included organizational documents and semistructured interviews with 6 qualified participants. Data analysis included coding and thematic analysis, member checking, and methodological triangulation. …

Relationship Between Teacher Instructional Preparedness And English Learner Language Arts Performance, Dorothy Diane Steele

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

English language learners (ELLs) are the fastest-growing population in California schools, with a high percentage of students not meeting the standard of the English language arts performance on the California Standardized Test (CST). This project study investigated the problem in a California school district where it was unknown whether the intervention strategies provided to teachers gave them the curricular skills needed to address the instructional needs of ELLs. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether teachers' self-reported instructional preparedness to teach ELLs was related to ELLs language arts performance. The study was grounded in Marzano's model of …

The Core Competencies Necessary For Global Information Technology Project Management, Gregory Michael Von Schleh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Global information technology (IT) project management organizations can create more value in their operations by presenting the core competencies possessed by global IT project managers (PMs) who are successful in their respective projects. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the core competencies and business strategies that IT PMs use to meet global IT project deadlines and budgets. This study involved 5 IT PMs from the Pacific Northwest (United States and Canada) who increased the quality of outsourced IT projects from 4 different companies. The data collection method included in-person semistructured interviews of participants and review of …

Impact Of Staff Education On Geriatric Polypharmacy, Valerie Ikemefuna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Polypharmacy, the simultaneous use of multiple drugs to treat a single ailment or condition, is a

major health problem among the elderly population that contributes to adverse drug side events,

health risks, hospital readmissions, morbidity, and mortality. Therefore, a staff education

program geared toward reduction of such adverse drug events was implemented at a single site.

The purpose of the project was to determine if the staff education program would increase

knowledge of adverse drug events due to geriatric polypharmacy. The Orem theory provided the

theoretical support for the project, and the Iowa model guided the evidence-based practice

change process. …

Issues Related To Implementing High-Fidelity Simulation In A Nursing Program, Sherry Rene Ray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Due to the shortage of clinical sites, nursing educators, deans, and directors are compelled to implement alternative clinical solutions such as high-fidelity simulation (HFS). The problem is that nursing educators are often not prepared to implement HFS as a teaching strategy. Faculty readiness is imperative for a successful simulation program and student outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions and practices of faculty, deans, and directors on the implementation of HFS across the nursing curriculum. Kolb's experiential learning theory provided the theoretical support for both the teaching and learning required by faculty for a successful …

Development Of An Educational Program To Obtain And Maintain Healthy Weights Among 4th And 5th Grade Students, Stephanie Dean Black

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Development of an Educational Program to Obtain and Maintain Healthy Weights Among 4th and 5th Grade Students

By

Stephanie D. Black

MSN, University of Phoenix, 2008

BSN, Southwest Baptist University, 2006

ASN, Southwest Baptist University, 2003

Capstone Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Walden University

October 2017

Obesity is prevalent in schoolchildren and increases risk of chronic diseases throughout the lifespan. Strategies are needed to address this growing health problem. Education in elementary schools targeting the topics of nutritional choices and prevention of obesity, particularly in 4th-5th grade population, is …

Coping With The Threat Of Ebola In Monrovia: A Case Study, Augustine M. Sumo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In early 2014, 3 West African states of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone made news headlines when Ebola virus disease (EVD) ravaged the sub-region. The Liberian government was ill-equipped to efficiently contain EVD outbreak due to inadequate training for hospitals and healthcare workers. The government's mandatory cremation policies and the banning of public gatherings significantly contributed to the spread of EVD. EVD infected 10,666 and 4,808 died from the disease in the first 6 months of the epidemic. Using Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) as the theoretical framework, the purpose of this case study research was to examine the social, …

Effect Of Delivery Method On Nursing Students' Math Competency And Learning Perceptions, Diana Lynn-Maria Baltz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The delivery method of a math course may affect the math scores of nursing students, which relates to rates of medication errors that could be fatal. The purpose of this study was to discover the relative effectiveness of a delivery method of a math course. Benner's novice-to-expert theory guided the study. A sequential explanatory, mixed-methods, nonexperimental pre-/posttest alternative treatment design was used. Phase 1 answered which delivery methods-online self-directed, face-to-face, or a mix of online self-directed with instructor lead-were associated with the best Medication Administration Competency exam results. Phase 2 included students' assessment of each learning method. The sample size …

Strategic Alignment Of Information Technology Projects And Project Success, Joan Barnes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alignment of information technology (IT) projects remains a concern for business executives and negatively impacts IT investments through failed projects. Drawing from the theory of systems thinking and the concept of holism, the purpose of this correlational study was to provide executive leaders with information about influences associated with the independent variables of project alignment and performance outputs, and the dependent variable, project success rates. Accordingly, the research question addressed the relationship between the 2-predictor variables and the outcome variable. Data collection involved a nonprobability, purposive sample of 49 credentialed project managers from Arizona who completed an online survey. Results …

Education Management Organizations' Collaborative Leadership Practices For Low-Performing Urban Charter Schools, Calvin C. Cupidore Jr.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Educators have regarded building leader-member relationships using collaboration as a fundamental component to successfully improve students' academic achievement. Ineffective collaborative leadership practices may lead to achievement deficits particularly for many urban charter schools operated by educational management organizations. The purpose of this case study was to explore collaborative leadership practices educational management organization leaders need to assist school principals in low-performing K-12 urban charter schools to improve academic achievement. Guided by Fiedler's contingency theory, this case study explored the successful collaborative leadership practices of educational management organization leaders and school principals in a midwestern urban charter school to improve academic …

Employees' Organizational Commitment And Turnover Intentions, Andrea Annette Bonds

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employees who want to leave their companies may exhibit low morale and commitment to organizations, which may affect the way employees interact with customers. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between employees' affective, continuance, and normative commitment to their organizations and their turnover intentions. The target population consisted of individuals with 2 or more years of call center experience who resided in the United States. Meyer, Allen, and Smith's 3-component model of commitment provided the study's theoretical framework. A purposive sampling of participants, which included a targeted audience and individuals who accessed the survey from …

Development And Evaluation Of An Evidence-Based Educational Process To Reduce Post-Transplant Infections, Erica Vanessa Henderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The targeted transplant center's abdominal organ transplant unit had difficulty providing

adequate education to patients prior to discharge, which had resulted in a 24% readmission rate within 30 days due to infections. Patients and caregivers were unavailable to receive education despite multiple attempts, which made it challenging for health care providers to complete this aspect of their job, resulting in a negative impact on patients' long-term outcomes. A more structured educational environment was needed to provide appropriate and effective patient and caregiver education to increase adherence and positive outcomes. The health promotion model served as a foundation for the development …

Achieving Hospital Sustainability Through Strategies For Nursing Leader Succession Planning, Venecia Holmes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Seventy percent of hospital leaders report a lack of succession planning practices as an organizational strategy to mitigate the risk of talent loss and for addressing nursing shortages. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore succession planning strategies 6 hospital managers used to reduce the shortage of nurse leaders in 2 Hampton Roads, Virginia hospitals. The conceptual framework was Rothwell's succession planning model for understanding the succession planning strategies the hospital managers used to reduce the shortage of nurse leaders. After conducting semistructured interviews, and reviewing supporting hospitals' documents, techniques of compiling, disassembling, reassembling, interpreting, and concluding …

The Policing Strategy Of Racial Profiling And Its Impact On African Americans, Derrick Paul Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prior literature on racial profiling indicates that African Americans have been mistreated, harassed, and discriminated against by law enforcement because of this controversial policing strategy. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to bridge the gap in knowledge by analyzing the impact of racial profiling on African American adults and discover whether it contributed to unintentional violence in racial and ethnic minority communities. The theoretical framework for this research study was critical race theory. The research question for this study was: How does racial profiling impact African Americans' perception of the police? This phenomenological research study used purposeful sampling …

Awareness And Understanding Of A College Active Shooter Crisis Plan, Christopher Brian Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Gun violence on college campuses has gained the attention of campus leaders, leading to an active shooter policy and procedure development and implementation. There was little awareness within the campus leadership of a college in the Southeast United States on the college's active shooter policy and procedures. Guided by Coomb's crisis management plan model, the purpose of this case study was to explore how information was provided to students, faculty, and staff regarding how to respond to an active shooter on campus. Purposeful sampling was used to identify 16 participants (6 students, 5 faculty, and 5 administrator/staff) who were interviewed …

Nursing Staff Responsiveness To Patients And Hourly Rounding, Lucretia Wilson Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services reduced the hospital's reimbursement by $500,000 due to patient care linked to the poor outcomes of marginal fall rates and low patient satisfaction survey scores as measured by the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS). The scores for fiscal years 2013 and 2014 for the medical-surgical unit fluctuated between 40-42.9%, without significant improvement, while the house-wide scores were 63.17%. To address the problem, a quality improvement project (QIP) was implemented. An evidence-based (EB) hourly rounding intervention was initiated following an education program for nursing staff (n=47) tailored to enrich patient communication. The …

Exploration Of Leadership Skills For Organizational Strategy Execution, Regina L. Banks-Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Multinational corporate leaders acknowledge that a lack of business direction by senior leadership results in a 68% failure in the execution of organizational strategies. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore what best practice solutions automotive manufacturing senior leaders created to help front-line managers execute organizational strategies. The population consisted of 20 automotive manufacturing senior leaders located in Michigan with significant years of automotive experience and at least a year of experience employed as an automotive manufacturing senior leader. Vroom's expectancy theory served as the conceptual framework for the study describing the enhancement of employee performance related to …

Studying The Prevalence Of Depression Among Diabetic Patients In Primary Care, Lanita Rochelle Hood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

The prevalence of diabetes in the United States in 2015 was 30.3 million people; which is the equivalent of 9.4% of the population. It is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality. Depression is often underdiagnosed in these patients, which contributes to poor self-management and poor health outcomes. In a large primary-care practice on the East Coast, there is no guideline for depression screening in the diabetic population. Focusing on this specific primary care setting, the research question addressed the underdiagnoses of depression in diabetic patients. The project evaluated the prevalence of depression among patients diagnosed with diabetes by …

Combat Service And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder As A Violent Crimes Predictor In Oef/Oif Veterans, Rachel L. Ivory

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is an established link between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and criminal activity. Of every 100 veterans who served during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), 11 to 20 percent are diagnosed with PTSD each year. Previous research has documented that veterans are incarcerated at higher percentages compared to nonveteran inmates, though little published research examines incidence of PTSD relative to violent crime. Using Agnew's general strain theory as the foundation, the purpose of this correlational study was to examine combat service, PTSD, and specific violent crimes as defined by the FBI as murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, …

Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Coteaching, Geeta Gupta Kadakia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In response to the low passing rate of its students with disabilities, administrators at a small urban elementary school in south Texas implemented coteaching. Guided by Nonaka and Takeuchi's collaborative learning framework, this qualitative instrumental case study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of collaborative teaching in the elementary education setting. Data collection consisted of a group interview and classroom observations with a purposeful sample of 4 general education teachers and 2 special education teachers of Grades 3-5 math and language arts who were coteaching at the time of the study. Teachers' perceptions regarding the effects of their professional relationship …

Assessing Learning Styles Of Adult Students In Online, Classroom, And Combination Learning Environments, Theresa M. Bane

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was an investigation of Kolb's experiential learning model and learning styles (LS) in adult students of different learning environments. Previous research utilizing Kolb's Learning Styles Inventory (LSI) produced results that were often contradictory to expectations based on Kolb's model. Many of these studies were limited in sample sizes or to particular participant education or career fields. The purpose of this study was to identify significant differences in LS of adult students of 3 different learning environments-online, classroom, and combination (blended). A convenience sample of adult learners (N = 180) from a social media site and an online university's …

French Speaking Students' Challenges In Academic Literacy At International University Of Grand-Bassam, Cote D'Ivoire, Laurent Bassa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

International University of Grand-Bassam (IUGB) first opened its doors in Cote d'Ivoire, in a sociocultural context where a significant number of freshmen students were French speakers. Because the instructional language was English, students were faced with a language barrier that triggered more issues including difficulties in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The purpose of this study was to uncover French speaking students' challenges in academic literacy at IUGB and to suggest some solutions that would benefit students and instructors. The research questions focused on faculty members' perceptions of French speaking students' challenges in academic literacy, and their suggestions for improving …

Barriers Cardiac Nurses Face In Addressing Psychosocial Issues Of Heart Failure Patients, Debra Kay Disbrow

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Heart failure is a chronic disease and a common cause of hospitalizations and readmissions within 30-days of discharge. To decrease the cost of care for patients with heart failure, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services initiated the Readmissions Reduction Program that reduces payment to hospitals with preventable readmissions. Among the causes for readmissions of patients with heart failure are concurrent behavioral health issues that can lead to decreased medication compliance and increased risk for disease progression. The prevalence of comorbid depression is as high as 77% among patients with heart failure and may be an important factor in readmissions. …