Digital Commons Network^™

Perceptions Of Nurses’ Abilities To Provide Safe Care In Unhealthy Work Environments, Jacqueline Flannery

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As many as 90% of nurses report working in an environment where their peers engage in passively and overtly violent activities against other nurses. Working in such an environment is unhealthy and has consequences for the career trajectory of nursing. There is a lack of literature available that specifically addresses nurses’ perceptions of their abilities to provide safe patient care in unhealthy work environments. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of nurses who have experienced lateral violence and their perceptions of their ability to provide safe care. Husserl’s philosophy of phenomenology was used as …

The Differences In Nurse Preceptor Role-Frequency And Overall Job Satisfaction, Wendy Fordham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For newly licensed registered nurses (NLRNs), a nurse preceptor is an essential resource in a successful transition-to-practice from a nursing education program. Serving in the preceptor role is often performed in addition to a nurse’s primary patient care responsibilities. There is a gap in knowledge about the frequency with which a nurse performs this role and how that frequency affects overall job satisfaction. Using Herzberg’s motivator-hygiene theory as a framework, the purpose of this descriptive, cross‐sectional, comparative study was to examine how frequently nurses serve as preceptors to NLRNs in the hospital inpatient setting and whether the frequency affects their …

Single-Parent Upbringing As A Predictor Of Long-Term Violence Scale In Solo Male Serial Killers, Jennifer E. Francis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Growing up in a single-parent household has been associated with exposure to adverse childhood experiences that contribute to negative short- and long-term psychological and behavioral outcomes, including violent behavior. It is unclear, however, whether a single-parent upbringing predicts the scale of a perpetrator’s violence. The current study examined the scale of violence through measures of frequency and duration, correlated with a single-parent upbringing among male serial killers who operated alone in the United States. In a nonexperimental, cross-sectional design, I used a multivariate analysis of variance to compare 85 male serial killers raised by a single parent with 85 male …

The Executive Director Experiences Of African American Women In Mainstream Nonprofit Performing Arts Organizations, Davida S. Gobin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women are presently underrepresented in mainstream nonprofit performing arts organizations (PAOs) throughout the United States. Despite this inequality, a small number of African American women have overcome the odds and have productively earned senior leadership roles as executive directors in mainstream nonprofit PAOs. Using the conceptual frameworks of intersectionality and critical race feminism, the purpose of this study was to explore the shared lived experiences of African American women in executive director positions and the impact of race and gender on their leadership development and training for advancement in a mainstream nonprofit PAO. Four research questions explored the …

Social And Ecological Determinants Of Physical Activity For Youth With Cerebral Palsy, George E. Gorton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physical inactivity is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, increasing risk for noncommunicable disease and compromised physical, social, and mental health. However, fewer than 20% of U.S. youth meet physical activity guidelines; youth with disabilities are even less active. Physical activity is influenced by personal, family, social, organizational, community, and environmental factors acting within a social-ecological framework. To what extent is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which social and ecological factors are associated with participation of youth with cerebral palsy in physical activity. The research design was a cross-sectional, quantitative …

Evidence-Based End-Of-Life Care Education For Intensive Care Nurses, Kimberly Ann Hare

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Most nurses have limited education on end-of-life care (EoLC), which can affect their ability to provide care to meet the needs of the dying patient. Nurses in a critical care unit in a hospital in the Southeastern United States lacked education on EoLC for their patients. The purpose of this study was to develop a project guided by Kolcaba’s theory on caring. The staff education project addressed the attitudes and knowledge of 36 nurses before and after an educational presentation on EoLC. Data were analyzed descriptively. Results indicated that 56% of the staff nurses had never received prior education on …

Relationship Between Corporate Social Responsibility Expenditure, Pipeline Vandalism, And Revenue Losses, Faustina Chinyere Igwebuike

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 65% of the oil spilled in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria has been attributed to sabotage activities in oil-producing communities, resulting in perceptions of revenue losses. For oil industry leaders and managers, understanding predictors of revenue losses are critical to sustainability. Grounded in stakeholder theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between managers’ perceptions of CSR expenditure, perceptions of pipeline vandalism, and perceptions of revenue losses for oil companies. Data were analyzed for 86 project managers of oil companies in Nigeria, who completed the Factors that Affect Company Revenue Questionnaire. Results of …

The Influences Of School Counselors' Professional Development On Their Comfort Levels Addressing Mental Health And Substance Use, Megan Lynne Hines

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was an investigation of the comfort levels of school counselors to address PK-12 students’ mental health and substance use concerns. While incidents of bullying and school shootings rise it is unclear how school counselors’ professional development has influenced their level of comfort identifying and addressing PK-12 students’ mental health and substance use concerns. Accordingly, this quantitative descriptive survey examined school counselors’ recognition of mental health and substance use symptoms, frequency of encounter, and whether their developmental stages influenced their comfort levels in addressing students’ mental health and substance use concerns. Rønnestad and Skovholt’s counselor development model was the …

Psycho-Social Processes Of Desistance In Post-Release Reintegration Of African American Ex-Offenders, Ladawn Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Virginia’s incarceration statistics revealed a significant increase in recidivism 6-36 months post-release, the highest jail occupancy rate in the United States in 2014, and the seventh highest prison occupancy rate in 2016. African American males are the highest incarcerated population every year statewide. Virginia’s diversion initiative, implemented to address recidivism and overcrowding, had a high failure rate among enrollees in reported outcomes from 2010 to 2015, a lower number of African American enrollees compared to White enrollees, and inconsistent funding from 2007 to 2015. This phenomenological case study focused on the reintegration experiences of African American ex-offenders in Virginia through …

The Relationships Among Body Appreciation, Self-Esteem, Academic Self-Efficacy, And Academic Achievement, Alicia Camille Latty

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Because poor body image is correlated with poor academic outcomes, it is possible that body appreciation may be associated with improved academic outcomes. The problem that was addressed in the current investigation was the lack of research on the potential relationships between academic outcomes and positive body image, conceptualized as body appreciation. Accordingly, this study leveraged a positive psychology approach to examine the ways body appreciation and self-esteem predict academic self-efficacy and self-reported GPA. The framework combined Bandura’s (1977) theory of self-efficacy and Higgins’ (1987) self-discrepancy theory with Seligman’s (2000) positive psychology approach. This quantitative study followed a non-experimental correlational …

English As A Second Language Students' Experiences In Associate Degree Nursing Programs, Angie Lundgren

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The general nursing shortage experienced in the U.S. leads students who speak English as a second language (ESL) to enter into nursing school programs. Although these students may enter the nursing programs, they may not successfully complete the nursing programs due to various barriers they face during their enrollment. The purpose of this phenomenological study, guided by the NURS model, was to understand the perceptions and experiences of ESL nursing students related to learning and the barriers to learning and success while enrolled in an associate degree nursing program. Semi structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 10 associate degree ESL …

The Coping Behaviors Of Adult Children After Treatment For Parental Alienation, Anissa J. Michaud

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High conflict divorce and the alienation of a parent after a divorce causes minimal mental health issues and unhealthy coping skills in children. Without treatment programs that focus on PA, psychologists will continue to only treat the symptoms or rebuild the family system rather than treating the individual’s with healthy coping skills. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to compare personal experiences from adult male and females suffering with parental alienation after a parent’s high conflict divorce. Bowen’s theory of family systems was used as a theoretical approach to understand the comparisons of adult children on the basis of …

Recognition, Classification, And Help-Seeking Behavior Of Nigerian Immigrants In Minnesota, Frederick Nnabuchionye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Immigrants from non-Western cultures are known to underutilize mental health services in the United States. Part of the problem is in the way how cultures recognize and classify symptoms as a mental disorder. A report from the Minnesota Ombudsman's Office for Mental Health showed that out of every 6 suicide-related deaths in Anoka Regional Treatment Center in Minnesota, 4 are of African descent. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the cultural view of depressive symptoms as possible predictors of attitude toward seeking professional psychiatric help. The theory of reasoned action/ theory of planned behavior provided the framework …

Clostridium Difficile Incidence In Acute Care Hospitals: Patient And Hospital Characteristics, Angela Nwachuku

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) calls for the attention of public research because it allows for investigation of the health practices, resources, and barriers of different health facilities and their surrounding communities. This research study examined the relationship between hospital acquired clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and patient, socioeconomic, and hospital characteristics in the state of New Mexico to determine their correlation with the increased incidence of CDI between 2013 and 2015 and if significant differences exist. The research questions were explored with the implication of the fundamental cause model and the pathways model. New Mexico patients over the age of 18 …

Masculine Ideals, Acculturation, And Attitudes Toward Seeking Psychological Help Among Mexican American Adult Males, Innocent Affam Obuah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a paucity of published research identifying the relationships between masculine ideals, acculturation, and attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help among adult Mexican American men. The purpose of the current study was to examine how masculine ideals and acculturation can negatively affect attitude toward seeking psychological help among Mexican American adult males, a fast-growing population in the U.S. that is vulnerable to poor mental health outcomes. Among those factors reported to account for mainly negative perceptions in this population are masculine ideals, machismo, and acculturation; however, the effects of these factors on Mexican American males have not been quantitatively …

Men’S Knowledge And Perceptions Of Cervical Cancer: Influence Upon Increase In Cervical Cancer Screening In Rural Kenya, Lydia Oriko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many facilities in Kendubay, Kenya offer cervical cancer screening and treatment services, yet many women in this rural community do not undergo screening. This lack of preventive care may be attributable to lack of support from men in the community. There exists a gap in the literature concerning the knowledge and perceptions of men about cervical cancer and related screening procedures. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the knowledge and perceptions of men in the community about cervical cancer and screening, and how men’s knowledge and perceptions influence women to undergo cervical cancer screening. The study used …

Ebola Outbreak In Liberia And Sierra Leone: Role Of Nonmedical Emergency Management Agencies, Eugene Owusu Afrifa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The 2014 Ebola crisis killed 11,315 people across 6 countries, making it the deadliest crisis globally since the virus was discovered in 1976. However, the roles played by nonmedical emergency management agencies (EMAs) in Liberia and Sierra Leone during that crisis remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to bridge the gap in knowledge by documenting the roles which were played or should have been played by EMAs in Liberia and Sierra Leone in responding to the 2014 Ebola crisis involving policymaking in emergency management (EM). The research questions focused on the roles that were played or should have …

Process, Factors, Resources, And Health Consequences Of Burnout In Psychiatrists, Brittany Elise Plaven

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Burnout among psychiatrists in the United States is prevalent; however, scholarly literature lacks studies exploring why psychiatrists are burnt out, what resources mitigate burnout, and the health implications of burnout, which is needed to improve health education programs for psychiatrists. Understanding the reasons for psychiatrist burnout, the resources that can mitigate burnout, and the health implications of burnout provided the purpose for this dissertation and foundation for the four research questions. The multidimensional theory of burnout, job demands-resource model, and the conservation of resources theory grounded the study. A qualitative, exploratory, multiple case study was conducted using data gathered from …

Professional Development For Nurse Educators, Samdaye Ramdial

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At a large university on the outskirts of Toronto, Canada, there was an influx of students entering the nursing program. Therefore, the need arose for an updated, restructured, and professional development training guideline with current knowledge for nurse educators to achieve high quality learning and critical thinking. The purpose of this study was to explore professional development leaders’ perceptions of quality training guidelines for nurse educators. The conceptual framework of this study was Knowles’s adult learning theory. The research questions were centered on what professional leaders perceive to be quality professional development. A qualitative case study design was used in …

The Effect Of Collective Efficacy On Stress Among Elementary Teachers, Tiffany Annette Rich

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stress among teachers has been an area of increasing concern in education. This study was designed to examine the role of collective efficacy on negative stress effects experienced by elementary general and special education teachers and to determine the difference between effects, if any, in both groups. This topic is important to school leaders and teachers because many teachers are leaving the field, resulting in a shortage of teachers across the United States. The study’s theoretical framework consisted of social cognitive theory, the theory of collective efficacy, and equity theory. Data were collected using the Collective Efficacy Scale, Short Form, …

Understanding The Increase In Military Couples Seeking Counseling Throughout The Military Lifecycle, Ellen F. Saccoia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since the start of military operations following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the nation has experienced the longest sustained war in its history. Military couples are at an increased risk of experiencing relationship stressors due to supporting long-term global military operations. Most of the research literature identifying the difficulties experienced by active-duty military couples was conducted over the past two decades following September 11, 2001. Missing from the literature are present-day problems facing military couples seeking counseling following the drawdown of overseas military operations (see United States Government Accountability Office [U.S. GAO], 2016). The purpose of this action …

The Department Of Defense Transition Assistance Program: Servicemember Transition And Reintegration, Angelo Santella

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Department of Defense (DoD) Transition Assistance Program (TAP) was established by the U.S. federal government to support the transition and reintegration of service members into civilian communities upon discharge or retirement. The problem is that the actual success or failure of the TAP to facilitate that transition is not clearly understood. This quantitative study explored the relationships between former servicemembers who participated in TAP and participation success evaluating program outcomes. Mohr’s program theory served as the interpretive lens. Two research questions explored program aspects: (a) What is the individual likelihood that the Individual Development Plan (IDP) and Individual Transition …

Strategies For Reducing Voluntary Employee Turnover In Call Centers, Holly R. Schick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Call center business leaders who experience voluntary employee turnover are affected by

low productivity and high attrition. Call center business leaders are concerned about

voluntary employee turnover, as 35 of every 100 call center employees leave the

company within the first 6 months of their start date. The purpose of this qualitative

multiple case study was to explore strategies call center business leaders use to reduce

voluntary employee turnover among several call center managers located in Southeastern

New Mexico. The conceptual framework supporting this study was Burns’

transformational leadership theory. The participants included 3 call center business

leaders who successfully …

Sociodemographic Factors, Culture, And Suicide In Guyana, Kay Shako

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Suicide in younger populations is a major public health concern and it significantly impacts third world countries like Guyana. Some challenges related to suicide are poor recording of suicide risk factors and customized prevention programs to address this significant issue. The purpose of this study was to examine which sociodemographic factors (age, gender, occupation, method of suicide, and region) are associated with suicide and method of suicide among people aged ≥ 15 years in Guyana. Also, because studies show that culture plays a pivotal role in suicide, this study investigated if there is a link between culture (ethnicity/race and religion) …

Subsidized Rental Income, Nonrental Income, And Profitability In Tax Credit Development Companies, Samuel Simmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Identifying sustainable income streams is a challenge for affordable housing developers to achieve profitable operations. To sustain successful operations, tax credit developers often need to understand the association between subsidized rental income (SRI), nonrental income (NRI), and profitability. Framed within the supply-side and demand-side economic theories, the purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between SRI, NRI, and profitability. Secondary financial data were collected from a random sample of 31 tax credit companies and public housing authorities for the year 2015 within the state of Florida. The results of the multiple regression analysis were not significant in …

Predictive Factors Of Determinants Of Health And Services Provided At Adult Day Service Centers, Nardia Anthonalla Aldridge

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The National Association of Adult Day Service Centers has suggested that adult day service centers can provide services to meet the complex needs of the older adult and delay nursing home placement. Researchers have yet been able to establish the predictive nature of determinants of health in Adult Day Care Centers (ADSCs). The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between the determinants of health and the presence of therapeutic services and nursing services at ADSCs. The open system theory guided this study. Data sets from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016 Adult Day Services …

Peers Erecting Barriers To Another Peer’S Success In The Healthcare Setting, Ricky D. Allen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the healthcare workplace, bullying is shown to negatively impact patient care and safety, workflows, outcomes, interpersonal relationships, performance, mental and physical health, and cause a plethora of other secondary effects. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of high performers or subject matter experts working in the healthcare field and had encountered peer-to-peer interference. The research questions focused on understanding the behaviors and outcomes of peer interference. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs was used as the conceptual framework. Data collection was achieved by interviewing 10 participants from a variety of healthcare backgrounds. Participants self-identified …

Childhood Obesity: The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act And School-Aged Children, Frankie Jean Alstin-Brooks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity among children in America is at an all time high, 57.3% of the nation’s children will be obese by the age of 35. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) policy. The HHFKA modified the nutritional and physical policies in order to reduce the obesity rates by changing their expenditures. Schools in all 50 states that are subject to federal, state and local nutrition regulations were researched. This was a quantitative, non-experimental, correlation study that measured state compliance with the USDA guidelines and tested for an association between compliance …

Strategies Manufacturing Plant Leaders Use To Limit High Employee Turnover, Peter Claver Amako

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High employee turnover negatively affects organizations directly in various ways, such as loss of revenue, a decline in employee morale, and productivity. Manufacturing organizational leaders are concerned with high employee turnover due to the high cost of hiring and training new employees. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies manufacturing plant leaders use to reduce high employee turnover. The participants were 9 manufacturing plant leaders in South Western Florida, who developed and implemented successful strategies that reduced high employee turnover. Data collection comprised semi-structured interviews and relevant organizational documents. …

Association Between Certificate-Of-Need Laws And The Health Outcomes Of Home Health Patients, Peter A. Atemnkeng

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Certificate of Need (CON) law on home health limits start-ups and expansions by providers. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia maintained CON restrictions in 2015. The regulation was intended to control health care cost and expenditure, and to promote quality public health outcomes, as postulated in the public interest theory. The purpose of the study was to assess the association between the CON laws by the states and the health outcomes of the Medicare patients that used home health services in 2015. The provider ratings data from Home Health Compare were analyzed using multiple linear regression models and …