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Social Workers’ Philosophical Attitudes Towards Harm Reduction Services In Housing First Organizations, John Gay Woolley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOver the past three decades, harm reduction has gradually become more prevalent among social workers and is now viewed as an instrumental approach in treating people with drug and alcohol problems. Although there have been several studies that described how harm reduction approaches were applied in Housing First (HF) settings, there are few studies that have described social workers’ perspectives of their philosophical attitudes regarding harm reduction in HF settings. The purpose of this study was to understand social workers’ perspectives of their philosophical attitudes toward harm reduction services and how those attitudes were apparent in their interactions with substance-using …

Middle School Teachers’ Perceptions About The Implementation Of The Read 180 Intervention Program, Melissa H. L. Betsill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractMany states have used the READ 180 intervention program as an instructional tool to improve reading performance outcomes. The problem was that despite teachers' implementation of the READ 180 program, students at Wonderful Middle School were not learning or developing as well as desired despite the intervention. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of teachers about how they implement, what difficulties they had, and what they might need to be better prepared to use the READ180 program. The conceptual framework guiding the study is based on Florida Reading Initiative, a researched-based school-wide reform effort committed to …

The Human-Canine Bond: Levels Of Stress Among Military Spouses During Deployments, Angela L. De Leon-Muniz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Previous research has found that deployment may impact military spouses’ emotional wellbeing and attachment with family members. There remains a critical gap in the literature regarding difference in stress levels between military spouses who own canines and those who do not. The theoretical foundations for this study were Bowlby’s attachment theory and Bowen’s family systems theory. Research questions included exploring the relationships between (a) pet canine ownership, deployment length of time, and military spouses’ stress levels, and (b) pet canine owners’ pet attachment and stress experienced, when their significant others are deployed. The sample comprised 82 spouses with deployed military …

The Effects Of Secondary Traumatic Stress And Resilience On The Indicators Of Compassion Fatigue Among Occupational Therapists, Gayla Ann Aguilar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractCompassion fatigue (CF) has been described as the “cost of caring” for traumatized individuals, which may lead to missed workdays, diminished work satisfaction, increased turnover, and decreased client care. CF has long been studied in other caring professionals, but occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) have been largely overlooked. The purpose of this quantitative correlation study was to determine the relationship between secondary traumatic stress (STS) and resilience (RES) on burnout (BO) and compassion satisfaction (CS; i.e., indicators of CF) in OTPs. In this study, the moderation effect that RES has on STS and BO as related to CF in 68 completed …

Finding The High-Performance Border Enforcement Agent, Douglas Allen A'Hern

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are well defined systemic challenges to managing, recruiting, and retaining the best border enforcement agents available amongst given candidates. The ability to identify and define specific attitudes and attributes within those agents who are considered high performers is something that could be of tremendous value to law enforcement agency managers. The need for information to cultivate the highest level of performance is magnified given the events in the United States that followed the death of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement in May of 2020. In the effort to identify those attributes within high performance border agents, …

Exploring The Perception Of Patients, Providers, And Healthcare Leaders Of The 15-20 Minute Primary Care Visit, Zuhur Hassan Ahmed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While primary care plays a vital role in health maintenance and disease prevention, patients’ visits with primary care providers (PCP) are only 15-20 minutes on average. This visit length does not leave ample time for holistic care for patients with low socioeconomic backgrounds, who might also have psychosocial issues alongside their chronic conditions. Employing a qualitative multiple case study research design, this study explored participants' perceptions about the 15–20-minute visit duration with PCPs. Guided by the triple aim framework of improving patient healthcare outcomes, patient satisfaction with care, and cost of care per capita, this study answered the research question …

Intimate Partner Violence: The Silent Enemy Among African Immigrant Women, Omoniyi Anne Bello

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Intimate partner violence among immigrant and minority groups remains a social and health problem that has garnered little attention. African immigrant women particularly face intersectional challenges (e.g., language barriers, unemployment, and lack of access to health care, resources, and services) that heighten their vulnerability to partner violence. Yet, knowledge about their experiences remains elusive in empirical research. Examining the nature and extent of their experience can provide valuable insights that could enhance research and practice on partner violence. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of African immigrant women survivors of partner violence in Edmonton, …

Comparison Of The Effects Of Telehealth Versus N95 On Nurse-Patient Communication, Tony Christopher Bloomfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Telehealth and face masks are some of the infection control measures nurses use while attending to patients. Nurses provide the most patient care in hospital settings and thus spend the most time with patients in their recovery journey. Because communication is paramount to the role nurses play as health care professionals, there is a substantial need to investigate how infection control measures affect the quality of nurse-patient communication. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to describe the relationship of methods aimed at maintaining social distancing between nurses and patients to nurse-patient communication and to compare differences in the …

Factors Contributing To High Rates Of Pre-Eclampsia Among African American Women, Tinisia Jordan Boyd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Maternal and neonatal deaths remain a significant healthcare concern globally. For instance, 4% of pregnancies in the United States are affected by pre-eclampsia, which is the second leading cause of maternal mortality globally. However, evidence shows that African American women are at higher risk of developing pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, and the population experiences severe maternal outcomes compared to other communities. Therefore, the goal of the project was to assess nurses' level of knowledge working in maternal units on pre-eclampsia and eclampsia and assess the effectiveness of simulation-based training on pre-eclampsia on improving nurse knowledge and self-efficacy. Several models were used …

Attorney Perspectives Regarding Use Of Federal Confidential Informants In White-Collar Crimes, Richard Dwayne Britt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Most federal white-collar cases involve the use of confidential informants (CIs) to obtain convictions. However, there was a gap in research regarding the examination of CI efficacy safeguards and whether combinations of safeguards produce desired effects from the perspectives of private practice attorneys with defense and prosecutor experience. The purpose of this historical research qualitative study was to explore the literature related to whether federal CI policies of safeguards influenced the national use of CIs to obtain convictions in federal white-collar cases based on the perspectives of private practice attorneys with defense and prosecutorial experience as gathered through participant interviews. …

Effective Onboarding Strategies To Increase Talent Retention, Mark L. Carpenter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human resource (HR) leaders are concerned about the adverse effects of employee turnover on employees and organizational success. Without a successful introduction to the corporate culture, employees may be more likely to exit their positions, resulting in higher recruitment costs and lower productivity for companies. Grounded in social exchange theory, the purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore onboarding strategies organizational HR leaders use to reduce employee turnover. The participants were six HR leaders at light manufacturing companies in the United States Midwest region who successfully reduced employee turnover. Data from semistructured interviews and publicly available documents were …

Mathematics Teachers’ Use Of Assessment And Instructional Strategies, Bianca Croutch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

U.S. middle school teachers have struggled to meet the instructional needs of students in the area of mathematics. Teachers’ approaches to assessment and instructional strategies remain understudied; such knowledge could help educational leaders to devise strategies to boost student achievement. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine teachers’ perceptions of assessment data usage and instructional strategies used in middle school mathematics. The conceptual framework was based on Fullan et al.’s three Ps (precision, personalization, and professional learning) framework. The guiding research questions for this study concerned teachers’ perceptions of assessment usage and instructional strategies and their considerations prior …

Influences On Influenza Vaccine Uptake Among Older Lebanese Adults, Doha D'Agostini

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Influenza is a viral infection that is globally transmitted and that increases the risk for infectious diseases, hospitalization, and morbidity and mortality, especially among the older adult population. Although influenza vaccines are recommended in several countries, influenza vaccine hesitancy remains a challenge. In Lebanon, there is minimal research related to older adults’ attitudes and perceptions associated with influenza vaccination. To explore older Lebanese adults’ vaccination experiences and perceptions of the factors that affect their influenza vaccine uptake, a qualitative investigation was conducted. The theory of planned behaviors served as the theoretical framework for the study. A thematic analysis was conducted …

Community College Management Strategies For Balancing The Budgets, Rachel Ann Sullivan Dodson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

During declining revenue, community college leaders may be unable to balance their budgets effectively. Community college managers who fail to balance budgets negatively impact a college’s financial sustainability. Grounded in Burn’s transactional leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies community college managers use to balance their budgets in an environment of declining revenue. Data were collected from eight semistructured community college manager interviews and company documents: enrollment data, budget data, performance-based funding model data, and the strategic plan. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Four themes emerged: (a) budget alignment with …

An Evaluation Of A School-Based School Connectedness Program, John G. Emmerich

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, approximately 45% of high school students are either not engaged (28%) or actively disengaged (17%) in the academic process. Increasing a school's average student engagement yields an increase in reading and math achievement. This study evaluates a school connectedness program, Promoting Positive School Engagement (PPSE) program using a convergent mixed methods model to determine the degree of effectiveness measured by the Hemingway measure of adolescent connectedness instrument in an Urban, Midwest public middle school. Quantitative data were collected from 20 students who participated in the program and 20 students who did not (control group). Analyzed using …

Probationer Officer Experiences: Dual Role Decision-Making For Probationers With Mental Illness, Myra A. Fields

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Probation officers play a major role in maintaining public safety by balancing their dual roles of care and control. The number of individuals within the United States community corrections system is significantly growing. This has increased the need for probation officers to make decisions for probationers with mental illness. However, there is a gap in understanding how active-duty probation officers make decisions for probationers. This study examined how probation officers balance their dual roles while decision-making for probationers with mental illness. An interpretative phenomenological analysis design was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six participants who met inclusion criteria to …

Facilitating Staff Education To Improve Effective Styles Of Nursing Leadership In An Orientation Setting, Tammy Melinda Finney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nursing leadership is the cornerstone of the ever-changing landscape of healthcare. Minimal courses are included in nursing curriculums to prepare nurses to become proficient and develop knowledge of nursing leadership styles. There is a direct correlation of evidence-based leadership styles that impact effective communication, improved patient outcomes, succession planning, nursing retention, and relationship management. In an effort to bridge the gap of knowledge, an educational face-to-face training was developed and presented to new nursing staff in an orientation setting. The project practice question focused on commitment from nursing staff to implement increased knowledge of nursing leadership styles into their practice. …

Sustainability Strategies For Nonprofit Organizations, Ramchand Francisco

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nonprofit leaders face the challenges of ensuring their organizations are financially healthy while navigating economic and organizational issues that require strategies to support program growth with limited financial resources. Grounded in Markowitz’s modern portfolio theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies nonprofit leaders used to support program growth and sustainability with limited financial resources. The study participants were three leaders of a nonprofit organization in the northwest region of the United States who had expertise related to the focus of the research. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, analyses of the client organization’s internal …

Impacts Of White Privilege And Implicit Bias On Treatment Implementation With Black Pediatric Patients, Tara Geer-Leiker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

White privilege and implicit bias are known contributing factors to the racial health inequities that exist in the treatment of Black children in U.S. hospitals. There is limited research, however, on the potential for White nurses to engage in self-examination related to either concept. The purpose of this basic qualitative inquiry was to understand how White privilege and/or implicit bias shapes the lived experiences of White nurses as they treat and interact with Black pediatric patients. The conceptual framework included a modified model comprised of Hobbs’s concept of White privilege and Blair et al.’s model of influences of implicit bias …

The Experiences Of Successful Formerly Incarcerated African American Males, Bernice Gordon-Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American men are incarcerated at alarming rates and often recidivate at high rates within 3 years. Researchers have demonstrated that recidivism rates last through years 4 and beyond. There is limited qualitative data to provide strategies from formerly incarcerated African American males who have been successful at not recidivating for 10 or more years after their release. The purpose of this Afrocentric-hermeneutic phenomenological study was to bridge the gap in the literature and explore the lived experiences of African American males who were formerly incarcerated and have positively changed their lives to avoid further criminality. A purposeful and snowball …

A Case Study Of Joint Accountability Mechanism And Interorganizational Collaboration In Post-Earthquake Haiti, Jude J. Jean-Gilles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract: The earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12, 2010, caused massive destruction of its capital city Port-au-Prince and its suburbs and killed over a quarter of million people. The recovery period that followed required effectiveness to plan and mobilize resources. The magnitude of the destruction, lack of local recovery plans or previous disaster experience, and scarcity of local resources inspired the creation of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC), a compilation of local and international stakeholders who agreed to collaboratively address the recovery challenges. Several studies have examined post-earthquake recovery initiatives under the leadership of local governments, but having …

Help-Seeking Behaviors And Employment Hope Among Depressed Black Male Foster Care Alumni, Vanessa Jennings

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Traumatic depression is a system of experiences where the mind, heart, and gut track happenings lingering among systemic models of prevention and intervention and personal stories. This nonexperimental correlational study aimed to provide insights into mental help-seeking and employment hope among depressed Black/African American foster care male alums. The central research question was to what degree, if any, a positive relationship exists between employment hope and seeking access to mental health-related services among male foster care alums who identify with depression. It was hypothesized that a statistically significant relationship exists. The social cognitive career theory and theory of planned behavior …

Factors Influencing Newly Licensed Nurse Position Selection And Retention, Melinda S. Kidder

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Newly licensed nurse turnover can be costly, causing a mismatch between supply and demand for nurse staffing needs, lowering quality outcomes, and decreasing patient satisfaction. This quantitative study was conducted to identify the relationship between why newly licensed nurses selected their first position and their retention in that initial position. Other factors examined in relation to retention were unit most worked, age, race, sex, and education level. Irvine and Evans’s theory of job satisfaction and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs guided the analysis of the data. Secondary data used were the Newly Licensed Registered Nurse New Cohort 3 Survey from 2016 …

The Association Between Working Habits And Hypertension Among First Generation African Immigrants, Olalekan Kilo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Even though hypertension affects people of all races, it is more prevalent among African Americans. However, recent research has revealed that the prevalence of hypertension is progressively increasing across Africa. African immigrants in the United States are the least-studied immigrant group prone to health inequalities when compared to their African American counterparts. To help bridge this gap, a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the association between working habits (hours worked, diet at work), length of stay in the United States, and hypertension rates for first-generation African immigrants residing in the United States. The study …

Predicting Project Success By Project Manager Competencies And Personality Traits Moderated By Work Experience, Jasmine H. Kirby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractProject manager competencies and personality traits can make the difference between project success or failure. However, it remains unclear which is the strongest predictor of project success when moderated by work experience. The purpose of this quantitative study was to provide information about the relationship between project manager competencies, personality, and project success by (a) investigating the relationship between project manager competencies, personality traits, and project success; and (b) identifying whether project competencies or personality traits was the strongest predictor of project success among project managers at different work experience levels. Data were collected from 272 project managers. Instruments to …

The Underreporting Of Educator Sexual Misconduct In K-12 Schools, Nina Cordella Kornegay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Educator sexual misconduct continues to present a problem in U.S. K–12 schools. Asmandatory reporters, K–12 educators must report any suspicion of educator sexual misconduct, but despite state and federal laws regarding reporting, educator sexual misconduct often goes unreported. The purpose of this exploratory phenomenological study was to learn more about how U.S. K–12 educators perceive underreporting of educator sexual misconduct. The integrated change model served as this study’s conceptual framework. Semistructured interviews were conducted to collect data from eight educators in K–12 schools in two school districts in North Carolina. Coding analysis was used to identify themes. Five themes related …

Strategies To Reduce The Impact Of Disruptions In Manufacturing Transportation Supply Chains, John Enyabe Ndone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Supply chain managers in the manufacturing transportation industry grapple with reducing the impact of disruptions in transportation supply chains since 50% of U.S. companies have experienced between six to 20 disruptions per year. Ineffective transportation disruption strategies negatively impact the performance and profitability of manufacturing organizations resulting in losses and business failure. Grounded in Goldratt’s philosophy and thinking process of the Theory of Constraints (TOC), the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore successful strategies supply chain managers in the manufacturing transportation industry used to reduce the impact of disruptions in transportation supply chains. The participants …

Solutions To Project Managers’ Job Dissatisfaction., Patience O. Nwosu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a growing talent gap in the project management field, as project managers (PMs) are exiting the field due to job dissatisfaction. Though existing literature addresses employee job satisfaction, few studies have examined the specific needs of the PM. The purpose of this qualitative Modified four round Delphi study was to find futuristic, desirable, and feasible solutions to PMs’ job dissatisfaction in the United States. The research question was designed to identify solutions to PMs’ job dissatisfaction. This study was grounded in Hackman and Oldham’s job characteristics model, which says that skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and …

Fathers’ Perceptions Of Stress And Resiliency In Raising Children With Down Syndrome: A Qualitative Study, Latanya M. Randolph

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Little was known about how fathers perceived stress and resiliency when parenting children diagnosed with Down syndrome. Therefore, the purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore perceptions involving stress and resiliency among fathers whose children had been diagnosed with Down syndrome and understand how stress and resiliency affected the parenting skills of those fathers who resided in Prince George's County, Charles County, or St. Mary's County in Maryland. This involved recruiting eight participants who completed semi-structured interviews where they were asked the same 10 open-ended questions. This study involved using a qualitative thematic analysis, was guided by the …

Nutrient Pollution And Chlorophyll-A As A Precursor To Harmful Algal Blooms And Cyanotoxins In Rehabilitated Machado Lake, California, Michael E. Shiang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Algal blooms result in the formation of cyanotoxic conditions in a freshwater lake causing severe detrimental impacts to community and public health. Nitrogen, phosphorous, and ammonia stimulate the growth of phytoplankton biomass and algae, as measured by chlorophyll. This retrospective quantitative research study, grounded in the socioecological model, examined the relationship between nutrient pollutants and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) that forecast harmful algal blooms, a precursor to cyanotoxins. A former impaired lake, Machado Lake in California, provided an ideal setting to assess relationships among nutrient indicators and Chl-a post-lake rehabilitation. Correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed to determine if a relationship …