Digital Commons Network^™

Trauma-Informed Professional Development From Grassroots To System-Wide, Heidi Gilroy

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

A recent meta-analysis revealed that nearly one-third of all working Registered Nurses have post-traumatic stress disorder. Nurses are also reporting high levels of depression, anxiety, and other physical and mental health consequences of traumatic stress exposure. While COVID-19 may have exacerbated some mental health conditions in nurses, many decades of research shows that nurses and other healthcare workers have long struggled with poor mental health. In order to address this issue, a group of Nursing Professional Development (NPD) practitioners at a multi-site healthcare system aimed to develop an evidence-based approach to addressing poor mental health in nurses and other healthcare …

Scrambling The Classroom And Gamification In Pharmacology For Nurses: Engaging The Learner, Laura Nugteren, Julie De Haan

Day of Scholarship

After several years of lower scores on the ATI proctored Pharmacology exam, the nursing department separated the pathophysiology/pharmacology course into two separate courses. Goals for the new pharmacology course included (1) focus on what entry-level nursing graduates would need to know about pharmacology to improve end-of-program testing scores and (2) engagement of the learner by scrambling the classroom and utilizing gamification for application practice. Intentional course design focused on inclusive and active teaching strategies including: consistent weekly rhythm; highly structured preparation activities (Hogan & Sathy, 2022); scrambled classroom integrating chunked lecture to explain complex concepts with active learning and gamification …

Temporal Induction Of The Homeodomain Transcription Factor Nkx2-1 Is Sufficient To Respecify Foregut And Hindgut Endoderm To A Pulmonary Fate In Xenopus Laevis, Brian Hyatt, Erin Lundberg, Rachael Eye, Scott Rankin, Aaron M. Zorn

Day of Scholarship

During development the expression of numerous genes is required to direct the proper formation of cells, tissues and organs. One special class of genes, transcription factors, code for proteins which regulate the expression of multiple genes to ensure tissues and organs develop at the right time and place. One transcription factor, NKX2-1, is necessary for proper lung formation in vertebrates. We investigated if NKX2-1, on its own, could drive the formation of lung tissue in the frog, Xenopus laevis. Both frog and human NKX2-1 was able to cause the formation of pulmonary tissue, examined by the expression of lung specific …

Modeling And Analysis Of Opportunistic Traffic Offloading Between Wireless Networks, Shensheng Tang

Day of Scholarship

This paper examines traffic offloading between two wireless networks operating in the same service region, where a beneficiary network can temporarily redirect calls to a benefactor network during periods of congestion. To analyze this interaction, we develop a finite level‑dependent quasi‑birth‑and‑death (LD‑QBD) model that captures the joint dynamics of admission control, opportunistic offloading, and preemption. The LD‑QBD structure enables exact computation of the steady‑state distribution using efficient sparse linear solvers. From these steady‑state probabilities, we derive key performance metrics, including blocking and drop probabilities, mean occupancy, throughput, mean system time, admission gain, and successful throughput gain. Numerical results show that …

Design And Implementation Of A Microblaze‑Based Embedded System For Programmable Led Control On An Artix‑7 Fpga, Shensheng Tang

Day of Scholarship

This paper presents the design and implementation of a MicroBlaze‑based embedded system developed using the AMD/Xilinx VIVADO Design Suite to control programmable LED patterns on an Artix‑7 FPGA development board via push‑button inputs. The MicroBlaze, a 32/64‑bit RISC Harvard‑architecture soft‑core processor, provides a flexible and configurable platform that enables integration of customized peripheral, memory, and interface components within a single FPGA. The proposed system employs two GPIO controllers—one interfacing with sixteen LEDs and the other with five push buttons—connected to the MicroBlaze processor through an AXI interconnect to support efficient on‑chip communication. LED functionality is managed through a software application …

Fpga Implementation Of A Sequence Detector Using A Finite State Machine, Shensheng Tang, Nick Zander

Day of Scholarship

This project presents the design and hardware implementation of a Finite State Machine (FSM) capable of detecting the binary sequences “1001” and “1111” with full support for overlapping occurrences. The FSM was designed to operate efficiently in real time and was implemented on an Artix‑7 FPGA development board using the AMD/Xilinx Vivado Design Suite. The system processes a serial input stream and asserts a detection signal whenever either target sequence appears, even when sequences share bits across consecutive detections. The FSM architecture, state transition logic, and verification strategy were developed and validated through simulation before being deployed to hardware. Experimental …

The Effects Of Customer Orientation Of Frontline Employees, Their Customers, And Unit Profitability, Tom Brown, Nawar N. Chaker, Todd D. Donavan, Gabriel Gazzoli, Jerry W. Grizzle, James M. Lee, John C. Mowen, Alex R. Zablah

Day of Scholarship

Customer orientation is an employee’s natural tendency to focus on understanding and meeting customer needs. When frontline employees have this mindset, they tend to perform better in their jobs and receive stronger performance ratings--and their customers have higher levels of satisfaction. For employees who engage more frequently with customers, it also benefits them personally, leading to greater job satisfaction and stronger commitment to their organization. In work units that support a strong customer-focused climate, customer-oriented behaviors translate into higher sales and profitability without raising costs. Customer-oriented employees are also more likely to speak up with ideas that improve the customer …

Advancing Practice-Ready Communication: Utilizing Virtual Simulation To Apply Ipass And Isbarr, Bethany Gerdin, Laura Nugteren

Day of Scholarship

Nursing students have limited opportunity to practice interdisciplinary communication or handoff in the clinical setting. The purpose of this learning experience is for students to differentiate between and practice appropriate use of IPASS and ISBARR in a standardized patient during an interactive patient experience using virtual simulation (VSIM), which mimics the complex reality of a clinical patient scenario. Students complete a medical-surgical VSIM independently and then participate in a faculty-guided small group activity where they discuss rationale and prioritization for interventions completed throughout the VSIM. The small group collaboratively prepares an ISBARR communication between the nurse and provider for a …

Alvin Plantinga On The Problem Of God, Jim Beilby

Day of Scholarship

This is is book that is forthcoming from Cambridge University Press (estimated publication date: Summer 2026). Alvin Plantinga is a noted American analytic philosopher who has written in the areas of philosophy of religion, metaphysics, epistemology, and apologetics. Plantinga’s Christian commitments are a crucial part of his philosophical work since nearly all of Plantinga’s writings have focused on explaining and defending Christian beliefs. He argues that there is no objection or set of objections that shows that Christianity is epistemically lacking, and as such, Christians can be fully rational, justified, and warranted in their religious beliefs. This volume discusses Plantinga's …

Trust At A Distance: 6 Strategies For Managing In Remote Workspaces, Peggy Kendall, David Horsager

Day of Scholarship

In 2025, over 50% of US workers worked in hybrid jobs while another 27% work fully remote. As the way we work changes, it is important to understand how these technologies change the way we communicate and how we build trust. This project, based on research done through an Edgren Scholarship, has culminated in a book co-authored with David Horsager and published by Berrett-Koehler. The book has opened conversations related to challenges like proximity bias, remote accountability, employee burnout, meeting structures, and the changing nature of nonverbal communication.

Locke-Ing And Un-Locke-Ing The Declaration Of Independence: An Introduction To Jefferson’S Philosophy Of Revolution, Lynn Uzzell, T.C. Le, Julia Van Geest

Day of Scholarship

Locke-ing and Un-Locke-ing the Declaration of Independence is a book project completed by Politics Professor Lynn Uzzell and two of her former students; it was generously funded by Bethel University’s Edgren Grant for faculty-student collaboration. The book provides an introduction to Jefferson’s philosophy of revolution, with a special focus on its connections to Locke’s writing in his Second Treatise. Each chapter tackles just one line from the second paragraph of the Declaration. The book’s examination of 14 discrete claims within the Declaration, along with a deleted 15th section, demonstrates that the Declaration is heavily indebted to the Second Treatise but …

Vulnerability As Disruption: Risk-Taking And Transdisciplinary Growth Of And Through Sotl, Kate Elizabeth Walker, Anna Santucci

SoTL Commons Conference

No abstract provided.

Drop-In Discussion: Open Beyond The Textbook, Amanda Groff

Open Ed Live

No abstract provided.

Extended Survival In Stage Iv Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Presenting With Anaplastic Transformation, Aryan Dowlatshahi, Umar Khan, Leopoldo Cobos

Cancer Survivorship Research Retreat

This is a discussion and case study of thyroid cancer survivorship in a patient who had been diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma with subsequent anaplastic transformation.

A Scarring Experience: Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation As A Palliative Approach In Colorectal Cancer Survivorship, Aryan Dowlatshahi, Mary Garcia, Leanne Jackson

Cancer Survivorship Research Retreat

This is a case study and discussion of pelvic floor rehabilitation in its palliative utility specifically for colorectal cancer survivorship which will be presented at the MD Anderson Survivorship Research Retreat conference.

Trauma-Informed Collaborative Care In Adolescent And Young Adult (Aya) Oncology Survivorship Patients, Haleigh Mistry, Jessica Blanc

Cancer Survivorship Research Retreat

No abstract provided.

Raising The Standard In Transition To Practice With Interprofessional Collaboration In A Healthy Work Environment, Grace Sekayan, Ghada Dunbar

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

The success of the Perinatal Transition to Practice (TTP) Program across a multi-site integrated health system is built on the pillars of The Standards of Healthy Work Environments, American Nurses Credentialling Center (ANCC) Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP)² domains, and Interprofessional Education Collaborative ⁴ (IPEC). This glimpse of the Perinatal TTP Program will provide insight on three of the six American Association of Critical-Care Nurses essential standards¹ that support communication, professional development, and the essence of nursing excellence. To support the transition of experienced nurse from novice to expert⁷ in a new specialty setting Skilled Communication, True …

Healthy Work Environment: A Positive Change In The Healthcare System, Rajveer Kaur, Jiji Andrews

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

It empowered the nurses through structural and psychological infrastructure, paying attention to the detailed work, applying the knowledge from other disciplines to incorporate in the nursing science for evidence-based practice, and utilizing skills in the nursing practice for healthy work environment engagement. Due to the nursing shortage, nursing leaders must understand a healthy workplace for clinical nurses and drive a positive change in the environment by using educational programs. A study was conducted in the hospital on a medical-surgical unit to evaluate the effects of Authentic leadership and actions producing positive patient outcomes. The study results include psychological empowerment, improved …

Zinc Imbalance And Its Effect On Nutritional Status, Behavior, Gut Microbiota, And Inflammatory Biomarkers In Btbr T+Itpr3tf/J And C57bl/6j Mice: Insights Into Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asma Nasrullah Ahmadani

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been associated with altered zinc homeostasis and disruptions in the gut microbiota. Zinc is a vital trace mineral involved in multiple biological processes such as inflammatory regulation, intestinal integrity, and neurobehavioral function, and has an important role in influencing microbial activity along the gut–brain axis. Both deficiency and excess of zinc can alter microbial balance. However, their collective effects on behavior, overall physiology, and mineral status in ASD-relevant models are not yet fully understood.

Aim: This comprehensive study explored the effect of dietary zinc variation on body weight, food intake, behavior, gut microbiota composition, …

Nursing Education & Burnout: Secondary Analysis Of Nssrn, Bridget M. Webb, Jennifer Mallow

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: Burnout is a risk factor for nurse turnover and intent to leave. Burnout impacts nurse outcomes including incivility, fatigue, and decreased self-esteem, while patient outcomes are adversely impacted as well, including increased mortality, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits. The level of nursing education could impact nursing burnout and turnover.

Purpose: To examine the differences in self-reported burnout and level of education related to nurses:1) leaving their primary nursing position, 2) intent to leave primary position, 3) not working in nursing, and 4) employment change in the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses (NSSRN).

Methods: The 2018 (pre-pandemic) NSSRN data …

Disruptive Academic Behaviors: The Dance Between Emotional Intelligence And Academic Incivility, Tracy Ann Hudgins, Diana M. Layne, Celena E. Kusch, Karen Lounsbury

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

This presentation aims to share the findings from a recent study that identified student and faculty perceptions of academic incivility, share the adapted Conceptual Model for Fostering Civility in Nursing Education, and discuss identified strategies for improving civility based on our findings (Authors, 2022; Authors, 2023). This study was conducted at a regional four-year university in the southern United States and focused on the diverse, often under-resourced, and/or first-generation students who make up most students in regional universities but are typically a minority in major research institutions. While the study was not planned to occur during a highly stressful academic …

Nursing Student Perceptions Of Clinical Experiences With Practicing Nurses: A Descriptive Research Study, Carolyn E. Smith, Jenna E. Davis

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Clinical education is an essential part of the nursing curriculum contributing to critical thinking skills and nursing judgment. The students’ experiences within the clinical setting sets a precedence for their future careers and how they interact with their peers and interprofessional team members (Mamaghani et al., 2019). Communication between the bedside nurses and the students is a key factor to student success and confidence at the bedside. The tone, topic, and timing of the conversation between students, nurses, and/or peers, may impact the student view of bedside nursing. Positive interactions and supportive feedback leads to improved patient care, clinical judgment, …

Student’S Experience With Cognitive Rehearsal To Address Incivility, Penny A. Sauer, Margaret M. Verzella

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Nurses need to be able to advocate for their patients, even if they face verbal abuse or incivility. Current literature indicates that 66.2%-95.1% of nurses experience verbal abuse (Dadfar & Lester, 2021) with younger, inexperienced nurses having higher levels of abuse (Zulfan et al., 2022). Nurses who face workplace violence, including verbal abuse, have higher levels of stress, impacting their mental and physical health (Sauer & McCoy, 2017).

A mixed-method study was conducted with undergraduate nursing students to determine their response to a simulation that included difficult communication with a healthcare provider. Students were provided with tools and strategies to …

Theoretical Contributions To A Positive Work Environment, Sharon Prawl

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Objectives: Examination of the success of nurse preceptors is moving toward the need for co-creation between nurse leaders and nurses in the role of nurse preceptors. The current nursing workforce has five generations in the cohort of healthcare workers: Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials (Generation Y), and Generation Z (Bacon, 2023). Each group may have different characteristics and traits; supporting them can be challenging. As noted, the demographics of the workforce have changed. Therefore, Nurse Leaders (NL) must demonstrate inclusive leadership behaviors that result in practice environments where all individuals, diverse in their ages, experiences, and education, …

Organizational Trust And Burnout Among Registered Nurses And Patient Care Aides: A Qualitative Study, Katherine C. Brewer, Andrew Dierkes, Allison A. Norful

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: Healthcare worker wellbeing has emerged as a pivotal topic in workforce research. Organizational factors may impact well-being as much as individual and personal factors. One organizational determinant of well-being includes institutional trust; specifically, how the relationship between clinician and employer influences well-being (e.g., burnout). Institutional trust is an important factor in human caring professions, due to the moral and emotional nature of the work and the expectation for safety and provision among clinicians by employers. Existing clinician well-being research rarely studies institutional trust among registered nurses (RNs) and patient care aides (PCAs), despite their important frontline role in patient …

Drop-In Discussion: Open Conversation, Kevin Corcoran

Open Ed Live

No abstract provided.

Removing Race From Clinical Algorithms: History, Politics, And Medicine, David S. Jones Md, Ph.D.

History of Medicine Seminar

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Mentoring Networks To Improve Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner Job Satisfactionjo, Maria Romanoff Rand

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: The demand for psychiatric services is on the rise as rates of mental illness have increased. At the same time, the shortage of psychiatric providers is growing, leading to a mental health crisis. Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses are uniquely qualified to staff this shortage. To address this shortage, we must stabilize the workforce by increasing and retaining psychiatric healthcare providers, and it is paramount to address the job satisfaction of the Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurse.

Intervention: A PRISMA-guided review was completed to identify ways to improve Advanced Practice Nurse job satisfaction. As part of the review, multiple …

Expanding A Culture Of Caring In Today's Challenging Healthcare Environment, Patricia Ann Blaney, Heike Miriam Doody

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

The Covid 19 impact survey, reflected the top reasons for nurses leaving the profession were burnout and well-being (American Nurses Foundation, 2022). Additionally, the American Nurses Foundation’s Three-Year Annual Assessment Survey, nurses are still feeling stressed, exhausted, and nurses with less than 10 years’ experience stated they are either not or not at all emotionally healthy (2023). This is an alarming concern for all healthcare leaders as staff well-being has become a priority. Poor patient and quality outcomes are associated with organizations that have high turnover rates, nurse burnout, and low engagement (Scruth & Allen, 2022). Organizations need to not …

The Secret Garden: Staff Caring For Staff, Erin Quinlan, Jennifer Schlebusch

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Healthcare workers provide for others in thoughtful, therapeutic ways, which becomes problematic if their mental and emotional resources are depleted. When healthcare workers experience a self-care deficit, their well-being and patient care are compromised. Recent factors contributing to staff stress include the impact of COVID-19 and the Pediatric Behavioral Health Crisis. An identified need to improve staff well-being was visible. The purpose of this quality improvement project, using the Plan-Do-Study-Act methodology, was to develop and implement the Secret Garden to improve the health of the work environment. The Secret Garden is a staff-only respite space, operationalized and managed to support …