Digital Commons Network^™

The Archaeology Of The Spiritual And Working Lives Of The Muslim Cameleers Of Western Australia In The Late Nineteenth And Early Twentieth Centuries, Roger Bateman

Theses

This thesis describes the lifeways of cameleers (also identifiable as males, Muslims, Asians, ‘Afghans’) who worked in Western Australia’s transport industry in the period 1887 to 1920. With their camels’ unique capabilities in the dry and sandy terrain of Western Australia’s arid and semi-arid areas, they provided a critical service in the early mining and settlement history of Western Australia. This research has been done through the archaeological record of their campgrounds, other sites, and the historical record. The research’s four aims were to gather and compile archaeological evidence associated with the Afghans and their religious lives as Muslims; describe …

Do We Have Agency? Early Childhood Educators' Experience Of Pedagogical Agency In Providing Child Agency, Clare Maree Omodei

Theses

The National Quality Standards (NQS) are the key means of assessing quality in early childhood education in Australia. In Western Australia, teachers in schools are expected to implement a modified NQS from kindergarten to Year 2 (K–2) that has been specifically developed for school settings, hereafter referred to as NQSWA. Like other early years educators, K–2 teachers in Western Australia are required to demonstrate adherence to approved learning frameworks and to value young children’s ideas, interests and opinions. These educators need to demonstrate that each child is afforded agency and that they are given the opportunity to make choices and …

Cancer Induced Bone Pain: Pain Classification And Management, Merlina Sulistio

Theses

Pain is a multidimensional personal experience influenced by biological, psychological, social and cultural factors. In the context of cancer pain, particularly cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP), it is essential that clinicians assess the multidimensional nature of pain to fully understand the patient’s pain experience, which often involves an evoked sense of both vulnerability and mortality.

Bone metastases are highly prevalent in advanced cancer, resulting in CIBP being one of the most common cancer pain syndromes. CIBP affects a patient’s physical and social functioning, reduces quality of life, increases psychological distress and often results in hospice or hospital admission. Yet, there is …

Prevalence Of Peristomal Skin Complications In The First 12 Weeks Post-Discharge Following Urinary/Faecal Stoma Formation Surgery, Tania Norman

Theses

Background

An ostomy is a surgically created opening and can be performed to divert faecal effluent by exteriorisation of a segment of the small bowel otherwise known as the ilium, or from the large bowel otherwise known as the colon. A urinary diversion of effluent generally involves exteriorisation of a segment of ileum into which the ureters have been anastomosed. The exteriorised segment of bowel is referred to as a stoma and individuals who have had a stoma created often refer to themselves as an ‘ostomate’. The skin surrounding a stoma is referred to as peristomal skin.

Peristomal skin complications …

An Entangled But Separate System: Examining The Experiences Of Colonial Offenders In Western Australia, 1829-1868, Emily Lanman

Theses

Crime and punishment are omnipresent features of Western Australia’s colonial history. The establishment of a colony on invaded Noongar boodja in 1829 is indicative of the first criminal act. Within six months, a system of incarceration had been established for British offenders. Despite this, the importation of male imperial convicts from Britain and Ireland between 1850 and 1868 has become synonymous with the colony’s penal history. The historiographical preoccupation with imperial convicts ignores the people convicted within the colony, and subsequently, their lived experiences have been overlooked. This is to the detriment of understanding offenders, their motivations, and their interactions …

The Light Of Hope: Representations Of Salvation In The Great North Window Of St Mary’S Cathedral, Sydney, Carolyn Amy Lewis Flynn

Theses

St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney is considered to be the Mother Church of Australia. Yet, the rich architectural and artistic heritage contained therein has been little studied. This is an interdisciplinary study of John Hardman Powell’s Great North Window in that cathedral. It draws on theological and art historical research methods to interrogate the window’s underlying meanings, and the aims of its patrons. An examination of the doctrinal, devotional, and theological writings of the nineteenth century shows that this stained-glass window reflects the period’s understanding of salvation history. The window, firstly, tells the story of salvation through the stories about …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of A Vaginal Breech Birth Training Program, Kathleen Lynch, Rachel Mackriell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Introduction: Most providers do not have the skills, knowledge, or confidence to safely support vaginal breech birth (VBB) despite 3-5% of all pregnancies being breech at term. The presence of a provider skilled in VBB reduces risk in VBB, however VBB skills are not a standard part of birth provider training. Identifying an effective instruction method can make VBB training more accessible.

Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis of 3940 surveys submitted by self-selected participants in an international hybrid VBB training program from May 2021 to February 2024. Pre- to post-training analysis using non-paired t-test and chi-squared comparison was …

Implementing Team-Based And Virtual Nursing Models To Improve Achievement Of Quadruple Aims, Bedane Geleta

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic increased the utilization of virtual care delivery. Virtual care modalities create accessible communication chains, promote team collaboration, and access to evidence-based resources. The virtual care model can also enhance care delivery and patient outcomes and reduce hospital-acquired conditions. The purpose of this study was to compare patient outcomes for care as usual (RN/CNA model) with a care model where virtual nurses are added to the care team on an acute care unit.

Methods: This quality improvement project utilized pre- and post-intervention analysis of inpatient falls and expected and observed length of hospital stay data collected …

Ketamine In Postpartum Mood And Anxiety Disorders, Alka Christnacht

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Postpartum mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are a distinctive subset of psychiatric disorders that can have serious consequences for the birthing person and child if not effectively treated. Current treatment options for PMADs can take several weeks to achieve efficacy or are difficult to access. Although literature on ketamine has been focused on preventing PMADs, ketamine is an emerging treatment option for various psychiatric disorders and is starting to show promise in treating PMADs. This project utilized content and thematic analysis to examine electronic medical records (EMRs) of individuals with PMADs at the AIMS Institute to determine benefits of those …

Collaboration With Ob/Gyns: A Best Practice Midwife-Led High-Risk Peripartum Care Model In A Federally Qualified Health Center, Muna Ozunal

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The maternal mortality rate has improved in the United States (U.S.) with a decreased mortality rate in 2022 of 22.3 women per 100,000 births compared to 32.9 in 2021 (Hoyert, 2024). Women and birthing individuals of color are disproportionately affected by these peripartum outcomes with the maternal mortality rate of non-Hispanic Black women being 2.6 times higher than the rate of non-Hispanic white women nationally (Hoyert, 2024). Washington State’s maternal mortality rate between 2014-2020 was 15.9 per 100,000 live births, which is lower than the national maternal mortality rate of 18.6 in this 6-year period (Washington State Department of Health …

Implementation Of Non-Pharmacological Sleep Checklist In Adult Intensive Care Unit (Icu) To Decrease Delirium, Recine Anne Alinea, Nancy Lamptey

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Delirium is a prevalent problem in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients, affecting up to 80% and resulting in poor outcomes such as increased length of stay in the hospital, prolonged hospitalization, cognitive impairment, and sometimes death. Nonpharmacological therapies, particularly those that promote sleep, have been found to prevent delirium.

Objective/Aim: To determine the efficacy of a nonpharmacological sleep checklist intervention in lowering the incidence of delirium in ICU patients and increasing nurses' knowledge and confidence in the implementation of the sleep bundle/checklist.

Method: A quality improvement project with a pre-post mixed methods design was carried out in a 28-bed …

The Integration Of A Telehealth Service For College Students: A Program Evaluation, Daniel Tamayo

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Telehealth is often seen as a viable option to supplement the increasing demand for healthcare provider access. As in-person health centers and clinics are burdened with the increase in patient load, a healthcare paradigm is beginning to unfold as more people begin to access virtual healthcare services. Local Problem: This program evaluation project sought to measure college students’ satisfaction and confidence levels with a newly implemented medical and psychiatric telehealth service offered at a mid-sized private university. Methods: A survey method was used to collect non-identifiable aggregate demographic information and to determine barriers to enrollment to the telehealth program. …

Enhancing Learning Experiences Of Neurodiversity And Implementing Sensory Strategies For Children In A Daycare Setting, Taylor Blackwell

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

The purpose and focus of this capstone project were to identify what tools and strategies were being utilized within Creative Beginnings Child Development Daycare Center that provided support for children with disabilities specifically Sensory Processing Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder. After completion of observations and evidence-based research the goal of the project was to create, educate and implement sensory tools and strategies into the daycare classrooms to improve inclusivity and increase support and participation throughout the day for the children and staff. Sensory tools and strategies were implemented within several daycare classrooms that provided support for atypical children by resulting …

When Virtual Reality Meets Occupational Therapy, Danielle Miracle

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

Virtual reality (VR) has found to be beneficial to occupational therapy clients in the way it creates a safe and enjoyable way to address daily occupations and its ability to increase upper extremity function. The purpose of this ALE was to incorporate VR into interventions for outpatient brain injury patients. Goals for this intervention included successfully implementing VR into intervention plans, creating a handbook for VR use in the use, and adapting equipment to be more accessible. After reaching these goals, implications for practice suggest that VR, along with other technologies can be beneficial for occupational therapists with the proper …

The Life Of International Law Is Not Logic But Experience, David Lefkowitz

Philosophy Faculty Publications

Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. famously maintained that ‘the life of the law has not been logic: it has been experience.’ Holmes’ statement suggests an antecedent question: what is the life of the law? This article construes this question ontologically. What gives law life? What animates it, and in so doing warrants the claim that law contributes to the production of social order in a particular community? The answer, I contend, is that law lives, or exists, only in those societies where law rules, and law rules only when the exercise of political power is conducted under the supervision of …

Addressing Implementation Gaps For Hope Channel Network Strategic Plans, Gideon Mutero

Doctor of Leadership Projects

The Hope Channel Network (HCN), in its endeavor to accomplish its mission, has developed a network strategic plan as a roadmap to success. In a complex and dynamic business environment, a strategic plan helps an organization to determine its direction and focus the efforts of the staff toward achieving its goals. However, developing a roadmap does not guarantee that HCN will reach its destination. It is crucial that the strategies formulated in the strategic planning process are implemented to achieve the desired goals. The HCN strategic plan had established goals that have not yet been fully accomplished due to ineffective …

Implementation Of An Evidence-Based Bundle To Educate Nurses In The Care Of Adult Post-Transplant Diabetes Mellitus Patients, Christine Slaughter

DNP Projects

Background: After solid organ transplantation, between 10-40% of patients develop post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) due to the immunosuppression regimen, infection, stress response and pain. Hyperglycemia events are common and managing glycemic targets is critical to decrease the likelihood of graft failure and mortality.

Purpose: To determine the impact of an evidenced-based bundle education strategy on the perceived confidence/knowledge of nurses and on their documentation compliance in the care of adult solid organ post-transplant diabetes mellitus patients.

Methods: A single group, pretest-posttest design was implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of the electronic educational program on the nurses perceived confidence/knowledge regarding glycemic …

The Effect Of An Intervention To Improve Screening For Opioid Use In Patients With Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Tammy Swartz

DNP Projects

Background: Rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were reported to be higher during COVID-19 than during any other epidemic in history. Patients diagnosed with PTSD are at an increased risk of experiencing opioid use disorder (OUD). Early detection, prevention, and treatment are essential to prevent OUD.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to determine if education aimed at increasing nurses’ knowledge increased patient screenings for OUD.

Methodology: A baseline chart audit was performed to determine the number of patients seen in the emergency department with PTSD who also were evaluated for OUD. Two hundred and forty emergency department registered …

The Impact Of An Educational Training To Front-Line Nurses And Providers To Reduce Seclusion And Restraint: Assessing Knowledge, Practices, And Attitudes, Kevin Bryant

DNP Projects

Background: The use of seclusion and restraint is common in hospitals, particularly in adult psychiatric settings. Although it is typically agreed that such measures should be used as a last resort in patient care, the majority of nurses feel that seclusion and restraint are necessary interventions in managing adverse behaviors of mental illness. There is a lack of data examining front-line nurses’ and providers’ knowledge, practices, and attitudes toward the use of seclusion and restraint following the use of a targeted educational training.

Purpose: This project aimed to evaluate the impact of a web-based educational intervention on the knowledge, …

Utilizing The Stop-Bang Questionnaire To Assess Risk Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea In Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure To Facilitate Sleep Medicine Referrals Upon Discharge, Chelsea Mitchell

DNP Projects

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep-breathing disorder. Undiagnosed OSA is highly prevalent in the population, especially in those with heart failure. OSA and heart failure combined create a negative feedback loop that can lead to poor clinical outcomes. Unfortunately, many cardiac patients are never screened for OSA.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to improve screening rates for OSA via the STOP-Bang questionnaire and establish an efficient and effective process for referrals to sleep medicine for heart failure patients screening high-risk.

Methods: The design was a quality improvement project with pre- and post-testing and a …

The Effect Of A Community Resiliency Model Education On Resilience, Psychological Empowerment, And Well-Being In Behavioral Health Nurses, Lorrie Smith-Esterle

DNP Projects

Background: Resilience, well-being, and psychological empowerment are associated with improvement in job satisfaction and nurse retention rates. The Community Resiliency Model (CRM) can promote emotional regulation, well-being, and create an internal state of balance in response to work-related stressors. Educating nurses on how to use CRM enables the recognition of changes in thoughts, emotions, sensations, and internal or external stimuli, which can promote resilience, well-being, and psychological empowerment.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate evaluate the effect of a resiliency education using the Community Resiliency Model (CRM) on resilience, psychological empowerment, and well-being of behavioral health nurses. …

Improving Structural Empowerment Through The Co-Creation Of A Professional Governance Program Of Nurse Managers And Front-Line Nurses, Michelle Van Outer

DNP Projects

Abstract

Background: Professional governance is a model in healthcare systems where nurses are involved by participating in decisions that lead their practice. Participation in professional governance has been shown to improve nursing practice, employee satisfaction, nursing autonomy, and patient outcomes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate nurses’ perceptions of empowerment when front-line nurses are involved with their nurse managers in the design and structure of an inpatient state psychiatric hospital’s professional governance program.

Conceptual Framework: Kanter’s theory of empowerment will guide this project. As individuals feel more empowered, the success of the organization increases. Kanter suggests that …

The Impact A Nurse Recruiter Has On Nursing Staff Shortages And Nurse Manager Satisfaction In An Acute Psychiatric Facility, Johna Arnett

DNP Projects

Abstract

Background: Nursing staff shortages have persisted for the last few decades. Strategies to resolve this enduring challenge continue to drive the creative efforts to attract and retain new staff. These shortages not only affect patient care but can also impact the satisfaction of nurse managers. Little information is available on the effects of a nurse recruiter role on nursing staff shortages as well as nurse manager satisfaction.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to assess how implementing a designated nurse recruiter impacts nursing staff shortages and nurse manager satisfaction in an acute psychiatric facility. This project examines two …

The Effect Of An Employee Recognition Program For Clinical Registered Nurse Retention At Eastern State Hospital, Kristi Richmond

DNP Projects

Abstract

Background: Nurse executives want to build and retain teams capable of delivering high quality care. However, registered nurse (RN) turnover continues to jeopardize this goal. RN satisfaction has been associated with reduced turnover in the nursing field. Adequate staffing levels are linked to better patient outcomes, and employee recognition is a key factor in RN retention.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of utilizing an existing recognition tool for RNs at an inpatient state psychiatric hospital in the southeastern United States to determine level of job satisfaction, level of job loyalty, level of engagement, …

Reducing Nursing Documentation Burden: Evaluation Of An Electronic Health Record Optimization Plan, Jessica Collins

DNP Projects

Background: UK HealthCare transitioned to a new enterprise electronic health record (EHR) system, offered by Epic Systems Corporation, in June 2021. Approximately 2,000 inpatient nurses use the EpicCare Inpatient Module in the 1,086 licensed bed facilities. Compared to other academic medical centers, UK HealthCare nurses take more time documenting in this EHR inpatient module’s Basic Assessment Flowsheet (documentation burden) and have a longer delay between assessment and documentation (timeliness) potentially contributing to nursing dissatisfaction with using this new EHR.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a phase of the Epic Nurse Well-Being Project, a …

Improving Dental Students' Knowledge And Confidence In Treating Tobacco Use, Victoria Pierce

DNP Projects

Background: Tobacco use can lead to numerous chronic health conditions. Healthcare professionals in the dental field are in a unique position to broach this issue with patients. Research shows that dental students do not feel equipped to provide tobacco cessation care, citing lack of education on the subject among their top reasons for this.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate changes in dental students’ knowledge and confidence related to treating tobacco use after participation in an educational intervention about the 5A’s, behavioral counseling, and first-line prescription medications.

Methods: This quality improvement initiative utilized a quasi-experimental survey design …

Improving Nutrition Screening Practice In The Hospitalized Heart Failure Patient Population, Amanda J. Bourgeois

DNP Projects

Background: Heart Failure is a disease known to affect nearly 6.5 million adults in the United States. Characterized by recurrent hospitalizations, heart failure significantly contributes to morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs in the United States and worldwide. Because malnutrition is prevalent in the heart failure population, healthcare providers must perform nutritional assessments on admission to intervene in the case of malnutrition, prevent deterioration, and improve patient prognosis. Without intervention and early identification of malnutrition, heart failure hospitalizations will remain a significant problem.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of an evidence-based educational program for cardiac …

An Educational Intervention On Provider Knowledge Of Hypertension Guidelines And Home Blood Pressure Monitoring, Alison Claire Oesterritter

DNP Projects

Background: While hypertension is the leading preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, disease control remains suboptimal. In the U.S., 47% of adults have hypertension, but only 25% are controlled. Despite having quality evidence-based guidelines, many recommendations are not implemented due to clinical inertia, or the tendency to not change therapy when targets aren’t met. Research has shown that this can be overcome with educational programs. Purpose: To provide training on hypertension guidelines and home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) to overcome clinical inertia and improve patient outcomes related to hypertension. Methods: The project was a quasi-experimental, pre- and post- …

Improving Knowledge, Confidence, And Competency Among Icu Nurses Concerning The Benefits Of Using The Uk Ventilator Separation Protocol, Brittany Monroe

DNP Projects

Background: The trauma intensive care unit (ICU) at University of Kentucky (UK) Healthcare uses a ventilator separation protocol which provides specific guidelines on the successful weaning of patients from mechanical ventilation. However, many of the nurses are not aware of this protocol as formal education is not included in their orientation or training. This lack of knowledge can lead to risks such as increased patient morbidity, mortality, ICU length of stay, and healthcare-related costs. Research shows that using structured mechanical ventilator weaning tools in the ICU can shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation, which in turn, lowers these associated risks. …

The Impact Of Lung Cancer Screening Education On Knowledge And Screening Rates In A Kentucky Cancer Survivorship Clinic, Alexandra Isler

DNP Projects

Background: Lung cancer is a significant problem in Kentucky, which ranks fourth in the nation in adults who currently smoke. Early detection, through lung cancer screening, can prevent untimely deaths. Several barriers to screening exist including lack of knowledge and awareness among patients regarding lung cancer screening. By increasing knowledge, at risk patients can take the necessary steps to decrease incidence of late stage diagnoses.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate patients’ knowledge of lung cancer screening and referral and screening rates before and after one-on-one patient education.

Methods: This was a quality improvement project that used …