Digital Commons Network^™

Ask A Busy Person? A Reexamination Of Cognitive Performance Under Load, Graham Watson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A longstanding folk belief suggests that 'busy' people possess the ability to get more done than others. Busyness, defined as the demands of everyday life, has been shown to generate cognitive load, which has been called 'cognitive busyness.' Although most cognitive theory would deny the possibility that cognitive load may enhance performance, some recent research may support the possibility. Cowan's 1988 information-processing model was used to study how measures of everyday busyness correlated with performance on cognitive tasks. The research question addressed whether any combination of such measures, in combination with working memory, could predict performance on such tasks. 92 …

Young Adult Narratives Of Sibling Loss And Bereavement During Adolescence, Kelly Lynn Collins-Colosi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Up to 90% of adolescents in the U.S. experience a loss of a family member or friend. However, prior research on loss of a family member has focused predominantly on the adult experience (e.g., loss of a spouse), parental bereavement (loss of a child), or grief counseling as an intervention for dealing with loss. Little is known about the sibling loss experience, particularly from the point of view of the surviving sibling who suffered the loss when they were young. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the narratives of young adults who experienced the loss of …

Impact Of Interactive Homework On Reading Achievement, Amanda Leigh Hunnell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many elementary students read below grade level, resulting in an inability to meet expectations on state testing. Epstein and other researchers theorized 3 influential factors that work together to help students achieve higher levels of attainment-home, school, and community. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Epstein's Teachers Involve Parents in Schoolwork interactive homework (IH) to promote parent-child communication during learning interactions at home for students in language arts in Grades 6-8; however, there is little information on the effects of IH on reading achievement for elementary students. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to examine the effect IH has …

Polyfidelity And The Dynamics Of Group Romantic Relationships, Jeff R. Peterson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Monogamy is considered the romantic norm for establishing family and kinship. Alternative relationships such as polyfidelity, that is, a group romantic relationship, often face prejudice and social stigma resulting in a greater need for mental health counseling services compared to those who are not stigmatized. Yet counselors and counselor educators lack both understanding and cultural competency for serving this population. The purpose of this study was to better understand the dynamics of a polyfidelity relationship, as well as how a counselor might better serve the needs of individuals engaged in this type of relationship. In this study, 14 participants described …

Caregiver Burden And Emergency Room Utilization For Enhanced Recovery Surgery Cancer Patients, Mindy Sovel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Advances in surgical technique and medical management have led to fundamental changes in surgical care allowing for a paradigm shift from inpatient to outpatient surgery. Enhanced recovery pathways have moved surgical recovery from inpatient to outpatient settings requiring informal caregiver support. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of caregiver burden in this patient population and to explore whether caregiver burden contributes to preventable use of emergency room services. The conceptual framework supporting this retrospective cross-sectional study was Andersen's behavioral model of health services utilization. Data collected from 28 urologic patient/caregiver pairs were analyzed using descriptive statistics …

Coping Strategies Of Alternatively Certified Teachers In An Urban U.S. School District, Paula Stanton Stanton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teacher attrition has continued to be problem across the United States, especially in urban, high-need districts. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to identify the coping strategies of alternatively certified teachers in urban, high-need schools in order to understand how teachers overcome factors contributing to attrition. Research questions centered on the perceived challenges and stressors of alternatively certified teachers as well as the coping strategies that support their retention. The conceptual framework was based on Bronfenbrenner's theory of ecological development. Criterion sampling was used to identify experienced alternatively prepared teachers who had persisted for at least 4 …

Implementation And Evaluation Of Code Stroke In Emergency Department For Maternity Patients, Linda Catherine Castillo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Strokes are a significant source of morbidity and mortality in pregnant women, influenced by the physiologic changes in pregnancy and the trend of older and sicker women becoming pregnant. Despite the role of stroke in pregnant women, emergency departments in specialized maternity hospitals may not be as experienced in stroke recognition and care as are typical emergency departments. The purpose of this project was to create a protocol to facilitate rapid assessment and treatment of pregnant and postpartum women with symptoms of stroke in a maternity emergency department. The IOWA model of evidence-based practice to promote quality care guided a …

Relationship Between Quality Of Life For Patients With Neuroendocrine Tumors And Novel Biomarkers, Stephanie L. Ford-Scheimer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research in the field of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) has increased over the last decade, including studies focused on biochemical markers (biomarkers) of the disease. There is also growing interest in how NETs impact patients' quality of life (QOL). Consequently, there is a paucity of information about whether the expression of the specific disease biomarkers affects QOL as well as whether the primary tumor site impacts QOL. Using the explanatory model of health promotion and quality of life in chronic disabling conditions as the theoretical framework and data collected with the Norfolk QOL-NET instrument, this study's purpose was to fill that …

Demographic Factors Associated With Consistent Hand Hygiene Adherence Among Icu Nurses, Sharon Lea Kurtz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare associated infections cause 75,000 to 80,000 deaths a year. Many are preventable with proper hand hygiene adherence (HHA). Worldwide, HHA range is between 40-60%, far below the 100% recommended. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional, prospective study was to investigate any association between 15 demographic variables and HHA of ICU nurses. A convenience sample of 613 hand hygiene opportunities was collected by direct observation at each of 5ICUs (4 hospitals) in Texas for 8 consecutive hours each day for 3-5 days. The theoretical foundation guiding this study was the healthcare environment theory. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences software …

Educating Nurses On Workflow Changes From Electronic Health Record Adoption, Rhoda Lynn Atienza San Jose

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workflow issues related to adoption of the electronic health record (EHR) has led to unsafe workarounds, decreased productivity, inefficient clinical documentation and slow rates of EHR adoption. The problem addressed in this quality improvement project was nurses' lack of knowledge about workflow changes due to EHR adoption. The purpose of this project was to identify changes in workflow and to develop an educational module to communicate the changes. This project was guided by both the ADDIE model (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation) and the diffusion of innovations theory. Five stages were involved: process mapping, cognitive walkthrough, eLearning module development, …

Jet Fuel Hedging And Modern Financial Theory In The U.S. Airline Industry, Brandon Lee Schweitzer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

To counter the problem of the volatility of jet fuel prices within the United States, many financial managers of U.S. airlines use hedging as a financial tool to mitigate the risk of exposure to market price volatility. However, their efforts often lead to financial distress for their airlines. The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to explore U.S. airline managers' use of financial hedging to reduce the risk of exposure from the volatility of jet fuel prices. The conceptual framework was Simkowitz's theory of modern finance, which concerns debt policy, dividend policy, and investment policy as they relate …

Frequent Fall Risk Assessment Reduces Fall Rates In Elderly Patients In Long-Term Care, Omokhele Rosemary Aliu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Falls are a serious issue for the elderly living in long-term care facilities, as falls contribute to signiï¬?cant health problems such as increased dependence, loss of autonomy, confusion, immobilization, depression, restriction in daily activities, and, in some cases, death. An estimated 424,000 fatal falls in elderly patients residing in long-term facilities occur annually in the United States costing $34 billion in direct medical costs. One way to reduce falls among elderly patients in long-term care is to assess for fall risk frequently and implement evidence-based strategies to prevent falls. Patients in this project site facility had been assessed for fall …

Strategies For Reducing The Effects Of Employee Absenteeism On Organizational Profitability, Marjorie D. Waye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee absenteeism is a significant threat to organizational profitability. Finding solutions to mitigate the adverse effects of employee absenteeism on organizational profitability is critical to the success of organizations. The purpose of this case study was to explore the strategies human resource leaders used to mitigate the adverse effects of employee absenteeism on organizational profitability. The conceptual framework was performance prism theory. Data were gathered from in-depth interviews and publicly available organizational documents, including wellbeing program resources and annual investment presentations and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reporting documents. Participants included 4 human resource managers and a third party service …

The Lived Experiences Of School Nurses: Transitioning From Hospital To School Worksite, Irene Campbell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School nurses who transition from hospital or clinic-based settings to a school-based work environment often lack sufficient transitioning skills and orientation to cope with the roles and responsibilities of school-based nursing. The result is a high attrition rate among school-based nurses. School nurses may leave their positions due to experiences of marginalization, including isolation, role confusion, and barriers to practice. In this phenomenological study, the lived experiences of 12 school-based nurses who transitioned from hospital or clinical settings were explored. Bandura's self-efficacy and Spreitzer's psychological empowerment theories were used in interpreting the findings. Data were collected via face-to-face individual interviews …

Hospital Outcomes Based On Physician Versus Non-Physician Leadership, Collins Yazenga Mkandawire

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hospital performance metrics are an indicator of leadership performance. However, there is inadequate research on whether physician or nonphysician chief executive officers (CEOs) perform better in the U.S. hospitals. The purpose of this study was to examine which type of leaders is better. Leadership trait, situational leadership, and leadership behavior theories constituted the theoretical foundation. The key research question examined the relationship between a hospital's outcomes, which in this study, included hospital net income, patient experience ratings, and mortality rates, and the type of CEO in that hospital: physician or non-physician. A quantitative, causal comparative design was used to answer …

Ambulatory Registered Nurse Perspectives On Health Literacy Roles And Patient Communication, Gloria Medina Redden

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Registered nurses (RNs) have a significant role in communicating health information to patients. The problem addressed in this study was RNs roles with health literacy and communicating health information using words that the patient understands. This study found that ambulatory RN perspectives on their roles in health literacy and patient communication may improve health outcomes and optimal wellness. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine and describe ambulatory RN perspectives on their roles in health literacy and patient communication, as these are necessary components linked to better health outcomes. The conceptual framework for this study was the nurse …

Relationships Between Job Satisfaction, Supervisor Support, And Profitability Among Quick Service Industry Employees, Joseph Carl Vann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low profit margins threaten the sustainability of quick service restaurants (QSRs). In the United States, low levels of employee job satisfaction and low employee perceptions of supervisor support decrease organizational profitability by as much as $151 million annually, depending on the size and type of organization. Guided by the 2-factor theory of motivation, the purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between employee job satisfaction, employee perceptions of supervisor support, and organizational profitability. A convenience sample of employees from 86 QSR franchise locations in Houston, Texas completed the Job Satisfaction and Perceived Supervisor Support surveys. Multiple linear …

Pastoral Transformational Leadership And Church Human Service Provision, Debra Harding Allen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As the poverty rate continues to rise, many individuals seek assistance to help meet basic needs. Previous research has indicated that churches provide a social safety net for those in need, yet some churches choose not to become human service providers. The purpose of this multicase study was to explore how pastoral transformational leadership influences a church's decision to become a provider of human services among African American pastors and churches. Transformational leadership provided the theoretical framework for this study. The purposeful sample included bounded systems of 5 pastors and their respective churches. Each case was bound by race, location, …

Work Motivation Theory: Identifying Multi-Generational Values In The Workplace, Rhonda Rochelle Brown-Crowder

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The workforce is diverse on gender, race, ethnicity, culture, work styles, and age. Employees from different generations have varying expectations of what they value from the workplace and therefore approach work differently. Generational differences can lead to mistrust and communication breakdowns. They can also impact job satisfaction and productivity. The Generational Cohort Theory was utilized in this nonexperimental study, and the sample was recruited from CB Richard Ellis Real Estate Group. The purpose of this study was to determine the work values differences among the 4 generational cohorts: Silent, Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials. The research questions for this …

Law Enforcement Officer Knowledge Of Mental Illness, Nashira Funn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Media and activist groups have recently exposed the problem of negative interactions between law enforcement officers and civilians. Many of these civilians have a mental illness. Various researchers attribute these negative interactions to insufficient officer knowledge of mental illness due to a lack of training, education, and personal experiences. Very little research addresses how insufficient knowledge of mental illness may influence interactions. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and analyze self reported law enforcement knowledge using Malcolm Knowles' conceptualization of adult learning theory and andragogy as the theoretical framework. This framework bases self-directed learning/training on a needs …

The Relationships Among Kindergarten Entrance Age, Preschool Experience, And Reading Achievement, Courtney Lynne Kowalczyk

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children participating in kindergarten programming across the United States are expected to perform at a higher level than ever before. Many of these children are unprepared and developmentally unready for the academic tasks that await them. Researchers have shown that an older age at the start of kindergarten is a predictor of academic achievement. Researchers have also shown that prior preschool experience impacts academic achievement. What has been unknown though is how the relationship between both beginning kindergarten at an older age and attending preschool prior to beginning kindergarten impacts academic success. Using Piaget's theory of development as a foundation, …

A Freshman Academy's Influence On Student Connectivity, Attendance, And Academic Achievement, Nancy Olivia Lopresti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A Freshman Academy's Influence on Student Connectivity, Attendance, and Academic Achievement

by

Nancy O. LoPresti

MA, Montclair State University 2005

MAT, Marygrove College, 2002

BA, Kean University 1981

Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Education

Walden University

June 2017

Leadership Development For The Formal Nurse Leader, Lori Neu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurse leaders are essential to the advancement of healthcare because of their ability to bridge the gap of knowledge between clinical practice and the business of healthcare. Developing nurse managers is imperative to the future of nursing given their influential role in healthcare. The central topic of exploration in the project was how nurse managers use the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) Nurse Manger Inventory Tool to assess their management skills after exposure to the leadership development program currently available to them. In this project, the novice to expert theory was used to evaluate the existing leadership development program …

Initial Findings Of A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Program, Hesper B. Nowatzki

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the emphasis of benefits on preventive health, many older adults are not receiving the recommended age specific, evidence based screenings and vaccinations. The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is designed to address modifiable risk factors with aging adults and close gaps in care not captured in routine office visits. Although a free Medicare benefit to patients, and a reimbursable service to health care providers, participation in the AWV is low nationwide. The purpose of the project is to introduce an AWV program to a rural health clinic in Northwest Illinois that has a population consisting of over 25% of …

Translating Evidence Of Skin-To-Skin And Rooming-In To Practice, Francisca Njoku

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The old practice of separating the mother-baby-dyad was without measurable benefits to mothers or their infants. Evidence has shown that skin-to-skin care (SSC) prevents hypothermia and hypoglycemia, decreases crying during painful procedures in newborns, and reduces maternal anxiety, stress, and postpartum depression. Rooming-in care (RIC) has been linked to an increase in the rate of breastfeeding and mother-infant interaction, as well as a decrease in the infant morbidity rate. This project assessed the effect of an educational intervention to increase rates of SSC and RIC in an obstetric unit, in addition to measuring nurses' attitudes and barriers in relation to …

Fire Officer Leadership Strategies For Cost Management, Leo R. Sedlmeyer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Fire departments in the United States accounted for 31% of municipal budgets with increases of 85% spending between 2015 and 2016. The purpose of this single case study was to explore leadership strategies fire officers used to manage costs associated with hazardous operations. The conceptual framework grounding this study was transformational leadership theory. The participants in this study were 10 fire officers who manage hazardous operations in central Wisconsin. The data collection process included open-ended questions in a semistructured format resulting in transcripts, a review of fire department staffing documents, and personal journal notes. Methodological triangulation was used to compare …

A Mixed-Methods Study Of Alternate-Route Teachers' Effect On Student Learning, Cassandra Faye Spearman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Due to teacher shortages at the study site, teaching positions in the state that is the focus of this study are filled by alternate route (AR) teachers, who earned bachelor degrees in the fields that were not related to education and received teacher certification through alternative teacher education programs. Because there is limited information about the preparation and performance of AR teachers at the site of this study, the purpose of this sequential mixed methods project study was to explore AR teachers' preparation and their effect on student learning as measured by Northwest Evaluation Association's Measures of Academic Progress/Discovery Education …

Examining The Integration Of Technology In The Early Childhood Classroom, Kerri Lynn Willmann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Reading achievement scores in the United States are low and educators need more strategies to support young students in literacy. It is important to identify the technologies and implementation strategies that educators find beneficial for literacy instruction. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate perspectives on instructional technology and literacy strategies intended to promote student-centered learning opportunities. The conceptual framework was Bloom's mastery learning, Bransford's anchored instruction, and Piaget's constructivist theory. Each theorist encouraged exploration and hands-on interactive learning opportunities. The research questions addressed how teachers perceive the implementation of technology tools to enhance literary performance and engagement …

Communication Training And Nonemergency Transportation Driver Perception Of Challenging Behavior, Priscilla Wright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nonemergency transportation drivers play a critical role in helping individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) gain access to community integration opportunities. Challenging behaviors can limit access to enrichment opportunities and possibly increase the likelihood that individuals with ID will be isolated from community enrichment activities. The purpose of this study was to determine if positive behavior support training improved nonemergency transportation drivers' perceptions of challenging behaviors displayed by individuals with ID. For purposes of this study, perception was defined as staff (driver) beliefs about the causes of challenging behavior. A convenience sample of 52 nonemergency transportation drivers was chosen from a …

Vicarious Trauma Coping And Self-Care Practices Among Trauma Therapists., Annette Zaccari

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Therapists who specialize in trauma therapy are indirectly exposed traumatic events presented by clients within the therapeutic relationship. The potential consequences for trauma therapists may be the risk of vicarious trauma. Effective coping and self-care are essential in the practice of trauma work. The research question for this study is: Do coping skills and self-care practices in trauma therapists moderate the disruptive effect of vicarious trauma on the fulfillment of their psychological needs (trust/dependence and control)? The purpose of this research study was to examine quantitatively, the role of trauma therapists' beliefs in the effectiveness of coping skills and time …