Digital Commons Network^™

Building Excellence Through Shared Governance And Continuous Process Improvement, Deborah Reitter

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background: Nursing shared governance in the hospital setting is a well-established structure for shared decision-making between staff nurses and nurse leaders to improve nursing practice, quality of care, and patient safety. Establishing effective, shared governance can take several years: new skills must be acquired, new behaviors accepted, and new professional commitments made. Newcomers to shared governance require support, education, and the opportunity to acquire requisite skills; otherwise, interest, commitment, and achievement of desired outcomes cannot be sustained.

Local Problem: A large hospital in California established a shared governance structure in 2018. Performance gaps between two high-performing Nursing Unit Councils …

Manager Onboarding To Improve Knowledge And Confidence To Lead, Christine (Tina) K. Asiimwe

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Primary care (PC) is increasingly the setting for affordable, coordinated, end-to-end patient care, with PC managers in charge of organizational performance. While PC managers are central to high-functioning teams, they often receive inadequate onboarding.

Local Problem: Primary care onboarding competes with other operational priorities and faces time constraints, lack of mentorship, and cost.

Context: At an integrated healthcare system, a need was identified to develop structured, role-specific onboarding for newly hired PC managers to improve knowledge and confidence to lead.

Interventions: Bauer’s Four Cs framework for onboarding guided the development of a manager onboarding program for 12 new PC …

Successfully Spreading Improvement Work Using A Proven Framework, Rachel Lynn Wyatt

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are rising in the United States, increasing six percent between 2014 and 2017 alone (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality [AHRQ], 2019). Approximately 60,000 patients die from complications related to HAPI annually (Padula & Delarmente, 2019).

Local Problem: In a Northern California Level II Trauma acute care hospital, HAPIs increased by 422% over two years, 2016-2018, with most of the HAPIs occurring in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Context: This project sought to spread the Interventions by Braden Subscale protocol to seven medical-surgical units in the hospital using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) Framework …

The Effects Of Naloxone Education Among Adults In Alameda County, Patricia Ronnica Tinglin

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Fatal opioid overdose is a growing concern in the United States (U.S.). The pharmaceutical companies assured the medical community that opioid pain relievers were not addictive. As a result, providers prescribed them at a significantly higher rate, which led to more extensive use of authorized and unauthorized opioid use before it was realized that they could be highly habit-forming (The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], 2019). A growing body of evidence supports providing naloxone education as a means of harm reduction. The quality improvement project aims to implement educational sessions for adult patients seen at East Bay …

Careless, Brenna Holland

Capstones

About This Project

I began working on this project six months ago, but my interest in the home care industry can be traced much further back. In the mid-aughts, my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Hoping to live independently for as long as possible, he sought out the help of an in-home health aide. It was then that he learned he fell into a coverage gap; one that, even today, prevents many Americans from accessing home care services.

Faced with two options—father-son cohabitation or an institution—my grandfather moved in with my family, where he slipped into a catatonic depression prompted …

The Devotees To Disconnection, Keith Paul Medelis

Capstones

The richest and most connected people are paying to log offline, leaving the rest of us tethered to our devices. We want in on their secret. But at what cost?

Program Evaluation Of Adolescent Intervention Program (Aip): Substance Abuse Education Program For At Risk Adolescents, Shanea Clancy

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Manuscripts

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Adolescent Intervention Program (AIP), a faith-based drug and alcohol recovery program for teens. This is an alternative to jail program. Nearly 1 in 10 Americans, 12 years or older (20.1 million people), have a substance use disorder (SUD), involving alcohol or illicit drugs (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2019). The average age of first-time alcohol or substance use is 13 years old and nine out of ten addictions start in the adolescent years (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2019). Adolescents with first-time drug and alcohol arrests …

Ley Olimpia: Examining Policymaking Around Digital Violence, Andrea Alejandra Capella-Castro

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The topic of this thesis is policymaking and regulations around digital gender violence. This work intends to examine what methods effectively regulate and eradicate Online-Gender Based Violence (OGBV), a new type of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Effective policymaking for the digital space has a significant impact on our society and especially on women as they remain the most objectified, attacked, and harassed on social media platforms. Therefore, social media needs an effective policy to address digital gender violence. Furthermore, the topic is relevant because policymaking around digital gender violence will advance the feminist movement’s fight and protect women and social media …

Computational Thinking For Teachers, Susan Imberman

Open Educational Resources

This is a syllabus for a course in computational thinking. The course described introduces preservice and inservice teachers to the fundamental concepts of computer science, including web design, coding, ethics, computational thinking, course resources, etc.

Winning The Battle, Winning The War, Malka Herman

William & Mary Law Review Online

This Article analyzes Derrick Bell's interest-convergence theory and its utility for lawyers when litigating for the rights of nondominant groups. The first part of this Article studies four different cases in which plaintiffs or amicus curiae chose arguments that highlighted the ways their interests converged with potential allies. The Article uses these cases as examples of four different ways that a lawyer can engage in interest-convergence litigation. The strategies examined in this Article rest on two axes: dominant/nondominant narrative convergence and natural/unnatural ally convergence. An analysis of the effects of each of these techniques makes it clear that dominant narrative …

Philosophical Anthropology And Biblical Interpretation In John Paul Ii’S Theology Of The Body, Shawn Conoboy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the Theology of the Body, through a series of Wednesday Catecheses, John Paul II presents a magisterial understanding of the sacrament of marriage and of marriage and family ethics. At the same time, John Paul II presents a theological anthropology, which forms a basis for the magisterial teaching. His theological anthropology is developed through an exegesis of selected biblical texts, especially Genesis 1-3 and Ephesians 5, and through an application of a philosophical anthropology articulated by Karol Wojtyła. This dissertation draws the connection between the philosophical anthropology of Wojtyła, especially as it is articulated in his major works, …

Piloting A Theoretical Framework For Understanding Teacher Resilience In Hard-To-Staff Schools, Traci Durant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study examined the nature of hard-to-staff schools in relation to teacher resilience. The study proposes a theoretical framework that blends theories of self and collective efficacy, critical race, and resilience theories with Bronfrenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to examine personal and organizational factors that contribute to or weaken the resilience of teachers in challenging urban schools.

Two research questions guided the study: What are the personal factors that strengthen resilience in teachers in hard-to-staff schools? And, What organizational factors impact teacher resilience in hard-to-staff schools?

Participants were recruited using convenience sampling methods. School administrators were asked to identify teachers who …

Counselors Dumbfounded: Implications For Counseling Ethics, Ivan Irizarry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

How counselors should make ethical decisions frequently differs from how counselors actually make ethical decisions, which is often a non-linear process. Social Intuitionist Theory (Haidt, 2003) suggests this process entails a socially influenced intuitive judgment followed by post hoc rationale. The purpose of this study was to examine whether moral dumbfounding, which entails maintaining a moral judgment without supporting reason, occurs with practicing counselors. The results of survey data and open-ended coding showed that 58.5% of counselors were dumbfounded at least once when presented with four moral or ethical vignettes. Additional analyses exploring differences in dilemma-based vs. non-counseling vignettes, moral …

Detecting Viral Particles In Vitro Using Photoacoustic Flow Cytometry, Anie-Pier Samson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Covid-19 pandemic is a powerful example of just how damaging the rapid spread of an unknown virus can be. Viruses have the ability to spread rapidly amongst individuals if not treated and controlled. The first key step towards treatment is the timely and specific diagnosis of the virus causing the infection. An innovative method for the rapid detection of viral particles in solution consists of tagging the viral particles paired with using photoacoustic flow cytometry to irradiate the particles and get a signal. The high affinity of Streptavidin for Biotin can be used to bind Streptavidin-coated microspheres to biotinylated …

Analysis Of Spore Shape Determination In Streptomyces, Ning Sun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Streptomycetes are Gram-positive, soil-dwelling bacteria that possess a complex life cycle with the alternation of vegetative mycelium, aerial mycelium, and spores. Streptomyces. coelicolor spore maturation is a complex process that involves spore shape metamorphosis from cylindrical pre-spores into ellipsoid spores, but the details of this process have remained enigmatic. Previously, our lab identified a novel gene ssdA that might play a role in spore shape determination using a transposon-based insertion mutagenesis in S. coelicolor. In this study, I isolated a S. coelicolor ssdA-null mutant that showed increased colony hydrophobicity and misshapen spores in sizes and shapes, confirming the …

Connecting Human Dignity, Non-Violence, And Environment For Healthcare Ethics In Nigeria, John Mark Ogu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Connecting Human Dignity, Non-violence, and Environment in Health Care for Nigeria

By

John Mark Chinaemerem Ogu

December 2021

Dissertation supervised by Peter Ikechukwu Osuji, Ph.D.

This dissertation presents a global public health ethical approach based on social justice that connects human dignity, non-violence, and the environment in Nigeria. Recently, different places globally are witnessing uprisings and violence; some of these are linked to environmental scarcity. These are threats to global health, peace, development, and security because violence of any type or form is a global public health and security menace and an affront to human dignity. Environmental scarcity, especially …

Forced Together, Growing Apart: An Exploration Of Heterosexual African American Males' Disengagement In Romantic Relationships With African American Females, Kenya Johns

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The decline of intraracial dating has been more pronounced among African Americans in comparison to other racial groups. There is lack of available research tailored towards Black men’s dating experiences. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of heterosexual African American males related to their disengagement in romantic relationships with African American females.

A phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 10 African American males and the dynamics that appear to contribute to the decline in intraracial dating in the African American community. Five themes emerged from the study: – self-regard, family matters, proximity, the new …

Design And Synthesis Of Fused Pyrimidines As Single Agents With Combination Chemotherapy Potential, As Tubulin Polymerization And One-Carbon Metabolism Inhibitors For Cancer, Tasdique Quadery

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation describes the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of bicyclic fused pyrimidines as single agents with combination chemotherapy potential with both antiangiogenic and cytotoxic effects. The dissertation also discusses one-carbon metabolism inhibitors and tumor targeting proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs).

In cancer chemotherapy, the two major limitations are the dose-limiting toxicities of clinically used agents and the development of resistance to the treatment. Combination chemotherapy with antiangiogenic agents and microtubule targeting agents has shown an advantage against both these drawbacks. Single agents with both antiangiogenic activity and cytotoxicity would afford a therapy that circumvents pharmacokinetic problems of multiple agents, avoid …

Real-Time Monitoring Of Cell Death Progress Using Capacitance Spectroscopy, Suyang Wu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biologics, including the monoclonal antibody (mAb), has experienced rapid development in the last decade. However, the price of biologics is often prohibitively high because of the low process efficiency. Delaying the inevitable cell death improves the productivity of upstream bioprocessing, whose success relies on monitoring the cell death onset that indicates the timing for preventive actions.

This study proposes to develop a real-time monitoring model that quantifies the dying cell percentage in lab-scale bioreactors using capacitance spectroscopy. The capacitance spectroscopy contains cell death-related information due to various physical properties changes during the cell death process, e.g., cytoplasmic conductivity change. The …

Residential Metals Abatement Program Quality Assurance Project Plan (Non-Residential Parcels - Indoor Dust), Environmental Resource Management (Erm), Elsie King, Christopher Berg, Thomas J. Beckman

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Northern Dene Astronomical And Sky-Related Knowledge: A Comparative Anthropological Study, Chris M. Cannon

Anthropology

The sky and its contents are routinely overlooked in Northern Dene ethnology as a meaningful part of linguistic and cultural knowledge. However, more than 11 years of primary fieldwork learning with and from elders, speakers, and culture bearers from 12 Northern Dene groups across 32 communities in Alaska and Canada has shown that astronomical knowledge is deeply rooted in both practical and sacred ways of knowing. With a focus on detail and breadth, this comparative ethnological study utilized an experience-based approach to investigate the ways in which Northern Dene Peoples perceive, conceptualize, and integrate the sky and its contents into …

Celebrating Alutiiq Cultural Revitalization: Pathways To Holistic Individual Health And Community Wellness, Margaret Susan Mete

Indigenous Studies

It is well understood that disease is a consequence of varied causation. Despite the fact that many health care providers acknowledge the importance of treating patients in a comprehensive manner in order to successfully cure sickness or alleviate symptoms, the contemporary medical system dispenses care in a fragmented and frequently incomplete manner. The essential differences between Indigenous epistemologies and the predominant Western worldview has had a more devastating impact on well-being and infirmity than is often recognized. The intention of this research is to explore the importance of promoting balanced holistic health care at a deeper and more essential level …

Bridging The Cultural Divide: Creating Culturally Diverse Therapeutic Foster Homes In Rural Alaska, Erica A. Dillard

Justice

The disproportionate number of American Indian and Alaska Native children being removed from their homes and communities by Child Protective Services is statistically alarming. Despite the current resources available, many families are unable to take advantage of these resources due to issues caused by their rural environments. This paper reviews the causes leading up to the removal of American Indian and Alaska Native children from their homes and communities, examines the importance of cultural identity, and discusses the resources that are needed to prevent these removals from occurring.

Understanding Permafrost Dynamics And Geohazards With A Terrain-Cryofacies Approach, Eva Stephani

Engineering

The Arctic and its permafrost terrain are inherently dynamic, complex, and sensitive environments. Understanding the past and current changes occurring in these systems is key in predicting future variations, including the response of permafrost to climate change, and to terrain modifications resulting from natural processes or anthropogenic activities. This study contributes to advance our understanding of permafrost dynamics in varying permafrost environments of northern Alaska and northwestern Canada using a terrain-cryofacies approach. This unique approach helps to increase our understanding of permafrost dynamics from the site-specific scale to over extended areas by recognizing linkages between terrain and subsurface properties, and …

Implementing A Proctored Aleks-Based Adaptive Learning Strategy To Evaluate Student Preparedness And Predict Success In Calculus I At The University Of Alaska Fairbanksanks, Md Azizul Islam

Mathematics and Statistics

In Fall 2016, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics (DMS) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) initiated a study to determine if the Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces Placement, Preparation, and Learning test (ALEKS PPL), given under proctored conditions, can be an effective tool for measuring student preparedness and predicting success in Calculus I while controlling for enrollment and demographic information. The study includes 583 students who took a Calculus I course in Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, and Spring 2020 semesters and took a Proctored ALEKS PPL test (PAPL). Of the 583 …

Influencing A Culture Of Quality And Safety Through Huddling, Tysa Ferguson, Natalia Mccain

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Not available

Training The Next Generation Of Climate Science Integrators: Lessons From The Landscape Conservation Cooperatives, Fiona Rowles

Natural Resources

Science that can be readily applied to policy or decision-making is a critical component of adapting to the climate emergency. Boundary spanning facilitates the creation of credible, relevant, and legitimate science for use in policy and decision making. Individuals who are adept at navigating the interface between science and decision making (referred to as "boundary spanners") are crucial in developing science that fits the needs of managers. Though the attributes and skills needed to be an effective boundary spanner are well-defined, individuals are not often trained for these roles. This study incorporates two sets of interviews conducted with employees and …

Contracting Out Liability For Negligent Pre-Contractual Misrepresentation, Daniele Bertolini

Dalhousie Law Journal

This article examines the extent to which entire agreement clauses (EACs) and non-reliance clauses (NRCs) are enforceable to preclude actions for negligent pre-contractual misrepresentations. It is argued that courts could improve legal certainty and contractual fairness by adopting two distinct legal rules to be applied, respectively, to contracts between sophisticated parties and in adhesion contracts. First, it is suggested that in contracts between sophisticated parties only specific contractual barriers to actions should provide a complete defence against negligent misrepresentation claims. Under this rule, the exclusionary effect of EACs and NRCs would be achieved only if an express term of the …

Masthead & Table Of Contents

Dalhousie Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Giving Birth At A Critical Time: Assessing Perinatal Depression Among Syrian Refugees In Low Resource Settings, Nada Alnaji

Theses & Dissertations

Refugee mothers are at an increased risk of suffering from stress and mental health conditions during the first year after giving birth to a child. The objective of this study is to enhance the early identification of treatable mental health conditions among perinatal women living within humanitarian settings. The central hypothesis is that a culturally specific approach can be helpful for the long-term success of mental health efforts. In this study, we use qualitative interview methods to understand the cultural paradigms and predisposing factors for perinatal depression related to being a Syrian refugee in Lebanon during the COVID-19 pandemic. In …