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Adherence To The Icu Liberation Abcdef Bundle Improves Patient Outcomes In The Icu, Jennifer Sweeney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Delirium is a frequent complication of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions manifesting as acute confusion with inattention and disordered thinking. Patients in the ICU who develop acute delirium are more likely to experience long term disability and mortality. The purpose of this doctoral project was to evaluate an existing organizational quality improvement project to guide recommendations on improving care in the ICU. The practice-focused research question was: Does improving adherence to the ICU Liberation ABCDEF bundle for patients admitted to the ICU decrease incidence of delirium compared to outcomes prior to implementation? The Program Logic Model served as a framework …

The Effects Of Academic Parent Teacher Teams On Latino Student Achievement, Barbara Dee Bench

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Decades of research have noted the importance of parent involvement in students' academic success. Less is known about parent engagement models that aim to increase Latino students' reading achievement. This project study examined the effectiveness of a 2-year parent engagement program implemented to address poor reading achievement of Latino elementary school students in a small urban district. The purpose of this study was to determine disparities in student scores between those parents who participated in the program and those parents who did not participate. The research questions examined parent engagement levels in comparison to increased summative reading scores. Based on …

Effect Of Military Law Enforcement Interviews On Victims Of Military Sexual Trauma, Paul Broner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Effect of Military Law Enforcement Interviews on Victims of Military Sexual Trauma

by

Paul Brian Broner

MS, Chaminade University, 2011

BA, Chaminade University, 2004

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Philosophy

Criminal Justice Administration

Walden University

May 2018

Childhood Lead Exposure And Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms: A Meta-Analysis, Megan Glenn Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lead exposure during childhood is a significant global public health concern as the potential effects of exposure can result in the need for long-term treatment, diminished productivity in society, and financial strain on the health care system. There is strong evidence of a relationship between lead exposure and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); however, there is a gap in the current literature regarding the relationship between lead exposure and specific symptoms of ADHD and the strength of that relationship. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine and help quantify this relationship. Cohen's d was used as the standardized mean effect size …

Factors Affecting Employee Persistence In An Online Management Development Certificate Program, Todd D. Chester

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An important approach to prepare new managers for increased responsibility is participation in online management development programs; however, there is a lack of information about the factors that affect employee completion of these programs. This study addressed how chief executive officers (CEOs) can implement these programs to rapidly develop new managers who are qualified to serve in the leadership roles left behind by many retirees. This qualitative descriptive case study explored employees' perceptions about persistence in an online management development certificate program at a U.S. nonprofit organization. Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory and Rovai's composite persistence model provided the conceptual framework for …

Stress And Coping Abilities Of Swat Personnel In A Metropolitan Area Of Florida, Pedro Corpas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For decades, stress has been scientifically studied and found to have effects on the law enforcement community. Furthermore, scholars have thoroughly studied the correlation between stress and the law enforcement occupation which has been proven to affect their well-being. Although there is currently ample literature on stress and police officers, to date there has been little research on factors associated with stress and SWAT police officers. Using Lazarus and Folkman's cognitive theory of stress and coping as the foundation, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how SWAT police officers cope with stress while on duty and off …

Effectiveness Of Practice Change From Risk Model To Safety Model At Dhs, Shirlana Norene Dash

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported an estimated 686,000 victims of child abuse and neglect. Forty-nine states reported a total of 1,593 fatalities. This quantitative research study examined the relationship between the variables: age of child, gender of child, age of parent/caregiver, prior substantiated reports of abuse, and incidents of abuse in Philadelphia at the Department of Human Services using risk practice model (RPM) and safety practice model (SPM). Although child welfare practitioners have examined the relationship between family and societal factors that affect child abuse; few researchers have examined the correlation between service delivery …

Strategies For Low Employee Turnover In The Hotel Industry, Odetha Antonnett Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover affects the profitability, performance, and customer service of an organization. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that leaders in the hotel industry used to maintain a low rate of employee turnover. Motivation-hygiene theory was the conceptual framework for the study. The study population included 9 hotel leaders from 2 international hotels operating in Jamaica. Methodological triangulation involved the comparison of data from observation of hotel facilities and leaders' interactions with employees, review of company documents, and semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed into emerging themes using a Gadamerian hermeneutics framework of interpretation. Four major …

Effect Of Lung Cancer Treatment On Health-Related Quality Of Life, Festus Frempong Dokyi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Advances in lung cancer treatment among older adults require a risk-benefit analysis for health professionals, patients, and family members to assess increased survival and health-related quality of life (HRQL). The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of lung cancer treatment with surgery or tumor ablation on HRQL domains. A lung cancer quality of life model guided the study. The research design was a quantitative ancillary study in which 70 participants were recruited from those who had already consented to undergo a randomized clinical trial of lung cancer treatment. Data consisted of repeated administrations (baseline, 1- and 3-months) …

Causes Of Burnout Among Church Leaders: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of Pastors, Craig Fee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

After 30 plus years of research, clergy burnout is an ongoing concern; as such, it is important to identify the causes of this phenomenon. Researchers have already demonstrated that internal factors such as personality types, personal mastery, or conflict management and external factors such as role conflict, excessive activities, or unrealistic expectations, can lead to burnout. The problem that led to this study was that more exploration is needed about clergy's perceptions on leadership and burnout within the church. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore clergy within the Wesleyan Church in the Midwest to discover their …

Entrepreneurial Opportunities To Develop Strategies For Small Business Success, Tawanda Gilliard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Entrepreneurs of small businesses fail because of the lack of strategies to improve business performance. Using the model of strategic entrepreneurship, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies entrepreneurs used to exploit entrepreneurial opportunities to improve their business performance. Three entrepreneurs from different fitness businesses in South Carolina shared strategies used to exploit entrepreneurial opportunities to business performance. Data were collected from semistructured, face-to-face interviews and a review of company documents such as business performance plans, consolidated financial statements, and a digital equipment user log. Member checking and methodological triangulation increased the validity of the data. …

Developing Ecological Citizenship: The Role Of Political Agents Using Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Model, Teresa Victoria Grabs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite decades of research on environmental behavior, it is unknown how various political actors aid in the development of ecological citizenship (EC). The purpose of this correlational study was to determine the relationship between environmental worldview (NEP) and willingness to take action (WTTA) among political actors within 5 states: Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The overarching research question examined how EC can be increased within the 5-state region by identifying the similarities and differences in NEP and WTTA between state legislators, state partners, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model provided the theoretical framework for the study. …

Parental Alcoholism, Triangulation, And Self-Differentiation In The Sibling Relationship, Tiffany Latrice Graham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Exposure to parental alcohol use disturbs important family relationships and may influence self-differentiation and triangulation, especially among siblings. The sibling relationship provides a foundation for future relationships, yet researchers know little about how parental alcohol abuse influences the sibling relationship. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological inquiry was to explore the influence of parental alcohol abuse on triangulation and self-differentiation in the sibling relationship in families of origin. Purposeful sampling and semistructured, face-to-face interviews were used to gather information from 12 self-identified adult children of alcoholics to explore triangulation and self-differentiation among siblings. The research questions guided the study to …

Rem Initiative To Develop Educational Strategies For Inductions Of Labor, Chandra Evette Jones-Worthing

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inductions of labor that occur prior to 39 weeks' gestation can pose increased risks for the mother-baby dyad. In the target setting, there is a gap in knowledge among the pregnant women about options for delivery, hospital policies and procedures, and what to expect in the labor and delivery experience. Because of this gap in knowledge, the pregnant patient is unable to make informed decisions regarding her needs, expectations, and care. This lack of knowledge has resulted in a 40-50% rate of inductions of labor at the target site, which is well above the 2014 national average of 25%. In …

Compassion Fatigue And Burnout: Awareness And Prevention For The Novice Nurse Population, Jamie B. Lopez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Compassion fatigue (CF) and burnout (BO) in the novice nurse population can negatively affect the organization, patient safety, patient satisfaction, and the individual. Novice nurses are susceptible to the development of CF and BO due to a lack of knowledge about the causes and the stress experienced as the novice nurse transitions to practice. The purpose of this staff education project was to fill the gap in practice by creating awareness about CF and BO during the nurse orientation process and by providing prevention strategies. The relationship-based care model and the theory of planned behavior were used to guide the …

Employee Job Satisfaction And Attitudes In Virtual Workplaces, Rebecca K. Mansfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

People who telecommute or work in virtual settings report higher satisfaction from increased flexibility and autonomy. However, relationships with leaders are more difficult to build, particularly as leadership in virtual workplaces tends to be less hierarchical. It is known that leader-member communication is an important aspect of employee job satisfaction and a significant problem exists for leaders who are ill-prepared to function in the leadership role required by a virtual workplace. The purpose of the quantitative study was to examine if employee job satisfaction predicts attitude toward virtual workplace setting and if this relationship is moderated by leader-member communication and …

Stress In Rural North Georgia Policing, Robert C. Mason

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are many operational and organizational stressors in policing. This study was designed to gain a better understanding of what causes police officers in a rural southern state mental and physical stress and to determine how best to assist officers when they are dealing with stress. The purpose of this study was to determine whether organizational or operational issues cause more stress among police officers in a rural southern state. Qualitative research methods and the phenomenological approach to obtain data from participants who have experienced job-related stressors were used. The social construct theory, a theory of knowledge in sociology, was …

Effects Of Transformational Learning On Student Nurses' Perceptions And Attitudes Of Caring For Dying Patients, Kristina Mccall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurses spend more time with patients than members of any other discipline in the hospital setting, and most nurses will provide care for dying patients. However, nurses tend to feel uncomfortable providing care to dying patients, which may be due to a lack of education and knowledge about care for dying patients. The purpose of this quasiexperimental 1-group pretest-posttest study was to determine the effect education had on nursing students' attitudes and perceptions about the care they give to their patients at the end of life. The End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) education modules were used for quality …

Strategies For Sustaining Small Businesses In The U.S. Health Care Sector, James Utobunwa Nwachukwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, many small businesses fail within the first 5 years due to poor implementation of sustainability strategies. Researchers and business practitioners have indicated that small business owners face challenges on how to maintain their businesses beyond 5 years due to lack of sustainability strategies. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies that health care small business owners and managers in New York State use to maintain their businesses beyond 5 years. Sustainability development theory was used for the study's conceptual framework. Semistructured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 6 purposively-selected participants who …

Investigating The Nigerian Leadership Capability And Its Impact In Development And Society, James E. Conable Nweke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite Nigeria's abundance of human and natural resources, after 57 years of independence, most Nigerians live in absolute poverty. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the extent to which the Nigerian leadership exercised leadership capability. The primary research question investigated leadership actions that facilitated or undermined development and good governance objectives. This study adopted critical thinking leadership framework, as developed by the author. The primary data used in this study came from Afrobarometer surveys, round 4, 5, and combined data round 6, which is an updated version of independent surveys administered between 1999 and 2016. Also, data …

Parent And Teacher Perspectives Of Children's Access To Violent Media, Sarah Michelle O'Neal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers indicate repeated participation in violent video games increases the likelihood of aggressive and hurtful behavior toward others. Media violence is one of the most studied phenomena affecting children over the age of 8. Media violence has become accessible for very young children through various sources. The purpose of this study was to explore perspectives of parents and teachers of children 5 to 8 years old regarding children's exposure to violent media, their definitions of violent media, and parental monitoring practices. Questionnaires were completed by 35 parents, and 6 agreed to participate in face-to-face or telephonic interviews. Four teachers from …

A Global Perception On Contemporary Slavery In The Middle East North Africa Region, Kimberly Anne Pavlik

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although human trafficking continues to be a growing problem around the world, there are scarce quantitative methodologies for evidence-based research because it is hard to gather reliable and comparable data on human trafficking. It is also difficult to track patterns in human trafficking on a regional or global scale because the victims are a vulnerable population. Using Datta and Bales conceptualization of modern slavery as the theoretical foundation, the primary purpose of this study was to establish a baseline measurement of trafficking predictors in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) as well as understand the statistical relationship between measurements of …

Evaluation Of A Difficult Urinary Catheter Team In An Academic Medical Center, David Price

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The placement of an indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) is a commonly performed clinical procedure which may become challenging for the clinician and painful for the patient. In response to urologic complications attributed to repeated failed IUC insertion attempts by nurses, a difficult urinary catheter (DUC) team program was launched in October 2012. The purpose of the doctoral project was to conduct a quality improvement evaluation of the effectiveness of the DUC team program using retrospective data from May 1, 2013 through May 31, 2017. Benner's novice to expert model was chosen as the theoretical framework to guide the additional training, …

Strategies For Developing And Implementing Information Technology Systems For Ehrs, Priscilla Riddley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some hospital leaders lack the technical expertise to implement electronic health records (EHRs) even though the healthcare industry has a government mandate. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies healthcare executives use to develop and implement information technology systems for processing EHRs. The target population consisted of healthcare leaders and managers successful in implementing EHR systems in a healthcare organization. Lewin's 3-step change theory was used as the conceptual framework for this study with data collected from observations (5), semistructured interviews (5), and organizational documents. Descriptive coding was used to identify 3 themes that emerged from …

Strategies For Improving Healthcare Efficiency While Reducing Costs, Jean Calvin Tchatchoua

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In comparison to the European healthcare system, the U.S. healthcare system has lower quality care, higher costs, and covers a smaller percentage of the population. Despite the high costs, the U.S. healthcare system remains dysfunctional. The purpose of this exploratory single case study was to identify the strategies that some healthcare managers in a hospital setting in the midwestern region of the United States use to improve efficiency while decreasing healthcare costs. Complex adaptive systems theory was used to frame this study that included face-to-face interviews with 6 highly experienced healthcare managers. Data were collected from audio recorded interviews and …

Using Ecommerce To Improve Product Marketing And Profitability In Nigeria, Olayinka Thomas-Ogboja

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small and medium enterprises in Nigeria rarely use eCommerce, which has led to lagging market shares and profitability compared to firms in other countries that use eCommerce. Approximately 90% of boutique fashion businesses shut down their businesses due to the inability to operate outside their business location. The social exchange theory was used in this multiple case study to explore how some small business owners in the boutique fashion industry use eCommerce to improve product marketing and profitability in Nigeria. The target population for this study was 5 fashion boutique owners based in Lagos State, Nigeria with a significant record …

Evidence-Based Practice For Influenza And Pneumococcal Nurse-Driven Protocol, Melissa Tunc

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At the project site in New Jersey, eligible patients were leaving the hospital without receiving the influenza or pneumococcal vaccine. The field site has an established, evidence-based, nurse-driven protocol. The purpose of this project was to increase adherence to the current influenza and pneumococcal nurse-driven protocol on one medical-surgical unit. This unit had experienced low adherence rates to the nurse-driven protocol for vaccines, not reaching the New Jersey state target of 96% administration prior to discharge. The practice-focused question was: Will increasing awareness of evidence-based practice increase adherence to the influenza and pneumococcal vaccine protocol? A quality improvement plan was …

Strategies For Hiring Managers In Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics Fields, Elizabeth Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

One-third of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) jobs are unfilled, resulting in less revenue for companies. The purpose of this qualitative single case study, grounded in the human capital theory, was to explore strategies that 2 hiring managers used to recruit STEM professionals in an organization in central Virginia. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, member checking, and company documents on STEM recruitment. The 4 themes that emerged from the data, analyzed using Yin's 5-step process, were as follows: partnerships with state government and local colleges, leadership and employee development programs used as recruitment incentives, competitive compensation package and …

International Students' Use Of English Language-Learning Strategies At A Private High School, Bobetta Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

International students in the United States enroll in private and public high schools with a goal to graduate and attend an American university. This goal is often difficult to achieve because these students are not acquiring the academic English necessary to be successful in a post-secondary setting. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate what language-learning strategies (LLS) a group of East Asian international students at a private American high school had self-regulated and what strategies their content area teachers had taught them to use to become proficient in academic English. The conceptual framework was Oxford's findings …

Using Diabetes Self-Management Education To Enhance Adolescent Transition, Jessica Adkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Type 1 diabetes is a long-term diagnosis, the prognosis of which is directly related to the patient's ability to self-manage the disorder. Adolescents are not currently taught how to manage diabetes; instead, parents and educators expect self-management to be more of a learned behavior from their parents. The purpose of this project was to create a quality improvement plan which the regional pediatric diabetes center study site could implement to improve adolescent glycemic control. Orem's self-care theory was used as theoretical framework for the design and evaluation of the project. The practice-focused question for this doctoral project was: Can a …