Digital Commons Network^™

Beyond Traditional Pathways: Addressing Challenges Facing Adult Learners, Katherine L. Harden

Honors Theses

Successful institutions of higher education are continually seeking methods to improve their schools and keep pace with the changing demands of the academic sphere and current job market. With a potential enrollment cliff arising, it is particularly necessary for universities and colleges to find ways to overcome the challenges associated with a possible declining number of traditional—-aged students participating in higher education. A strategically clear solution is to explore the rapidly growing population of adult learners.

This paper will examine the complex motivations, challenges, educational experiences, and perseverance displayed by these students as they work to succeed from admission to …

Addressing Nursing Student Burnout Through Mindfulness And Zen Den At University Of The Pacific, Jeremy Seaton, Tanairi Ingram, Natalia Zelayandia

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

Background:

Burnout among nursing students is a critical issue that negatively impacts academic performance, mental well-being, and long-term professional retention. Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing students at University of the Pacific experience heightened stress due to rigorous coursework, clinical demands, and underdeveloped institutional mental health support.

Aim:

This Quality Improvement project aimed to reduce stress and strengthen emotional resilience among nursing students through Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction education and the creation of a peer-supported wellness space, the “Zen Den.”

Methods:

A pre- and post-intervention design was implemented, utilizing surveys to measure mindfulness knowledge, attitudes toward self-care, and stress awareness. Zen …

Enhancing Pediatric Sun Safety: A Parent-Focused Intervention In El Dorado County, Ashley Riley, Calvin Nauer, Alaina Godwin

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

Background:

Childhood ultraviolet (UV) exposure is the most significant modifiable risk factor for skin cancer, yet proper sun protection remains inconsistently practiced by parents. In El Dorado County, California, where high altitude and intense sun exposure amplify UV risk, knowledge gaps and misinformation persist despite resource availability. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to strengthen parental knowledge, confidence, and modeling of sun-safe behaviors for their children through an evidence-based community education program.

Aim:
The goal of this QI initiative was to improve parental attitudes, self-efficacy, and photoprotective behaviors by implementing a three-part, nursing-led educational intervention focused on UV risk awareness, …

History Of Midwifery In Arkansas: The Attrition Of Midwifery, Koria T.L. Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past few years, Arkansas has gained a spotlight due to an increase in maternal and infant mortality. This increase has been so massive that Arkansas has ranked within the top five in the nation for maternal and infant mortality rates for several years. A large percentage of the maternal and infant deaths in Arkansas are prevalent in the Black and rural communities. This is an issue that has plagued the state of Arkansas for over a hundred years, with mortality rates highly affecting the same demographic of people. How did the practice of midwifery become a remedy for …

Mindful Administration: Toward A Theory Of Academic Leadership We Can Live With, Sue Doe, Janelle Adsit

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

This article names barriers to faculty leadership and identifies specific ways that faculty can harness tools and resources needed to lead well. Through mindful and relational leadership practices, faculty can ensure that the values that academic communities espouse are made manifest.

An Impact Study Of Young Women's Leadership Development: A Case Study Of Kosovo, Linda Gjergji

Theses & Dissertations

This study explores the leadership development trajectories of young women in Kosovo engaged in a global leadership program, offering significant insights into their capabilities, aspirations, and the barriers they face in pursuit of leadership roles. Using a qualitative instrumental case study approach, this study examines how participation in global leadership initiatives fosters skill development, self-awareness, and civic engagement among young women in a traditionally male-dominated society. The conceptual framework of the study is comprised of Erikson's theory of Psychosocial Development (Erikson, 1968) and Positive Youth Development (Lerner, 2005). Data was collected through online semi-structured interviews and an arts-based method, revealing …

Compliance And Systems Data Management Report: Monthly Waiver Participation Trends, December 2025, Tennessee. Department Of Disability And Aging

Compliance & System Data/Reports

This monthly report provides data on various aspects of the department's activities and programs.

The "Gray Tsunami": Aging Trends In East Texas, Manuel Reyes-Loya, Cecilia Cuellar, Pedro Gallardo-Toledo

Hibbs Outlook of East Texas

This report examines the “gray tsunami,” the rapid aging of the Baby Boomer generation, and its impact on East Texas. As more workers retire, the region faces a shrinking labor force and a growing elderly population, reflected in a higher old-age dependency ratio than state and national averages. These demographic changes may create challenges for businesses and public services but also open opportunities through workforce flexibility, delayed retirement, and improved planning for healthcare, housing, and transportation. The report emphasizes the importance of proactive strategies to help East Texas adapt to and benefit from this

Nonprofit Third Places: Assessing Program Implementation Impact On Student Learning And Development Beyond The Classroom, Emily Kyser

School of Professional and Continuing Studies Nonprofit Studies Capstone Projects

Many students lack equitable access to safe, engaging, and supportive learning environments beyond the traditional classroom. Nonprofit organizations such as First Tee and Girls on the Run often fill this gap by creating “third places” that foster student growth through sports programs. This capstone project examines the effectiveness of nonprofit-operated sports programs that serve as third places in enhancing student learning and development, focusing on the strategies that make them successful and sustainable. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study integrates quantitative surveys of educators, interviews with nonprofit staff, and document analysis of program records, strategic plans, and annual reports. Key …

The Fascia Iliaca Regional Nerve Block Using Ultrasound And Landmark Technique: An Objective Structured Clinical Examination For Nurse Anesthetists, Braxton T. Beech, Parker F. Rigby

Doctoral Projects

The fascia iliaca block (FIB) is an effective regional anesthesia technique used in various clinical settings, including operating rooms, emergency departments, and pain management clinics. Despite its advantages in reducing postoperative complications and minimizing opioid use, FIB remains underutilized among Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), primarily due to limited exposure and training. This doctoral project examines the implementation of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) as an educational intervention to enhance CRNA proficiency in performing FIB using both ultrasound-guided and landmark techniques.

A pre- and post-test study design was conducted with 18 CRNA participants attending a continuing education workshop. Demographic …

Sb 1 - Elementary, Secondary, And Postsecondary Education, Kathryn A. Hammock, Noelle C. Hoke

Georgia State University Law Review

The Act establishes statewide requirements for student participation in athletic teams based on biological sex as recorded on a student’s original birth certificate. It requires all public schools, and any private schools that compete against them, to designate school-sponsored athletic teams as male, female, or coeducational. Teams designated for females are restricted to students whose biological sex is assigned female at birth while teams designated for males are restricted to students whose biological sex is assigned male at birth, unless a corresponding team for females is not offered. The Act directs the state athletic association to develop rules to enforce …

Cooking Made Clear: Accessible Cookbook Design For Older Audiences, Brennan Tyra Cole

Graphic Communication

This project explores accessibility-focused print and digital design features for older audiences within the cookbook and graphic communication industries. While cookbooks are widely produced, they rarely consider the physical, visual, and ergonomic experiences of aging users. Inspired by my grandmother’s 1980s church cookbook, I researched accessible design practices and communicated my findings through an infographic and a poster, highlighting features such as minimum 12–14 point body text, warm color palettes, high-contrast layouts, clear hierarchy, increased line spacing, simplified ingredient lists, columns, and lay-flat binding. I applied these learned features to several redesigned spreads from the original cookbook. This project demonstrates …

Sb 144 - Plant Disease, Pest Control, And Pesticides, Samantha N. Girschick, Grace M. Kaldor

Georgia State University Law Review

The Act limits manufacturer liability for the use of fertilizers, plant growth regulators, or pesticides. Under the Act, and with limited exceptions, a manufacturer cannot be held liable for the failure to warn users of the health risks associated with those fertilizers and pesticides above those already required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Sb 69 - Litigation Financing Practices, Faith T. Howerton, Katelyn Sbravati Barton

Georgia State University Law Review

The Act primarily functions to regulate “third-party litigation financing” (TPLF). Also known as the Georgia Courts Access and Consumer Protection Act, the Act mandates that all litigation financiers operating within Georgia register with the Department of Banking and Finance and disclose ownership details, including any foreign affiliations. In addition, the Act bars financiers from directing litigation strategies, selecting legal representation, offering attorneys commission, or influencing decisions related to expert witnesses and settlements.

Sb 79 - Controlled Substances, Brady Prelutsky, Hannah F. Sanchez

Georgia State University Law Review

This Act amends various sections of Georgia’s criminal code. Three key changes are particularly noteworthy. First, the Act revises threshold amounts of fentanyl and related substances for the offenses of possessing, selling, distributing, manufacturing, and trafficking such substances. Second, the Act increases the penalties for such offenses. Lastly, the Act revises mandatory minimum departure provisions for defendants convicted of trafficking fentanyl and related substances.

Hb 582 - Defenses To Criminal Prosecutions, Emma Marie Kelley, Ashlyn Amanda Puckett

Georgia State University Law Review

The Act permits criminal defendants to introduce evidence that they are survivors of family violence, sexual abuse, or related trauma in support of a justification defense. It amends various Code sections to provide for the admissibility of such evidence, clarify the applicability of justification defenses, and establish evidentiary standards. The Act also creates privilege protections for communications made between victims and their abuser, provides civil immunity for facilitators of those dialogues, and imposes a uniform oath requirement for peace officers statewide.

Hb 268 - Elementary And Secondary Education, Adria E. Stevens, Se (Seth) Bin Yoo

Georgia State University Law Review

The Act, prompted by the September 4, 2024, Apalachee High School shooting, establishes sweeping safety, health, and wellness reforms for Georgia schools. The Act (1) requires every public school to install an Alyssa’s Alert mobile panic-alarm system integrated with 911 and first responders by July 1, 2026; (2) mandates secure Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) standardized digital campus maps for emergency use; (3) authorizes GEMA to launch a statewide threat-reporting alert network and obliges schools to adopt formal threat assessment plans; (4) orders immediate transfer of disciplinary and behavioral records when students change districts; (5) funds “qualified …

Sb 185 - Penal Institutions, Hailey Sanford, Elijah C. Byrd

Georgia State University Law Review

The Act prohibits the use of state funds or resources to provide genderaffirming medical care to incarcerated individuals. It bans funding for sex reassignment surgeries, hormone replacement therapy, and any cosmetic or prosthetic procedures intended to alter an inmate’s primary or secondary sex characteristics. The bill includes limited exceptions, such as treatments for individuals with intersex conditions or those requiring continued hormone therapy that began prior to incarceration and is continued only for tapering purposes. The Georgia Department of Corrections is tasked with creating rules to govern these exceptions.

Sb 68. - Civil Practice, Sydney H. Jackson, Tiera K. Lloyd, C. Griffin Shaw

Georgia State University Law Review

The Act makes significant changes to Georgia’s civil litigation procedures. It stays discovery upon the filing of a motion to dismiss, limits voluntary dismissals after an answer is filed, and allows for bifurcated trials to separate issues of liability and damages. It caps recoverable medical expenses to the reasonable value actually paid and expands the admissibility of evidence related to damages—including permitting the admission of seat belt non-use to argue comparative fault or mitigate damages. The Act restricts attorney’s fee recovery by barring double recovery under multiple statutes and excluding contingency fee agreements as proof of reasonableness. It also creates …

Point-Of-Care Ultrasound (Pocus): Measuring Inferior Vena Cava (Ivc) Diameter And Collapsibility In The Preoperative Setting, Jordan Parker, Dakota Kilpatrick

Doctoral Projects

Among the many aspects of preparation required for patients undergoing general anesthesia, preoperative optimization is key. One goal of preoperative optimization is the establishment of adequate preoperative intravascular fluid volume. Inadequate fluid volume can increase surgical risks and lead to adverse patient outcomes. Evidence has demonstrated that using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to assess preoperative surgical patients can diminish the consequences associated with altered fluid status and increase the likelihood of hemodynamic stability. One of the varying methods of POCUS is the point-of-care focused cardiac ultrasound (FOCUS). Using FOCUS, the practitioner can measure the IVC diameter and collapsibility index to determine …

Breastfeeding Safety Following Maternal Anesthesia: A Guideline Development, Megan Honea, Mary Johnson

Doctoral Projects

Recommendations regarding breastfeeding following maternal anesthesia are inconsistent and often not up to date with current best practice guidelines. Previous recommendations have led to mothers unnecessarily “pumping and dumping” breast milk has benefits for both mother and baby. These benefits include (a) increasing the infant’s access to colostrum, (b) encouraging mother-baby bonding, (c) improving the mother’s breastfeeding experience, (d) and providing significant health benefits to the infant. The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a set of evidence-based recommendations that focus on mothers who desire to breastfeed following general anesthesia. These recommendations will highlight maternal- fetal transfer of …

Bias And Disparities In Neonatal End-Of-Life Care, Tamiko Younge, Daria Murosko, Simranjeet S Sran, Terri Major-Kincade

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Help-Seeking Among Early Adolescents Who Use Physical Peer Violence, Kelli Franco, Elizabeth Baumler, Leila Wood, Heidi Adams Rueda, Jeffrey R Temple

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Despite accumulating research on help-seeking among violence victims, little is known about help-seeking among youth who use violence. In a racially and ethnically diverse sample of early adolescents (N=2,676; 50.3% female; Mage=12.67), participants self-reported physical bullying, physical fighting, physical dating violence perpetration, and help-seeking intentions over the past year. T-tests and one-way ANOVAs examined help-seeking by sex and race, respectively. Prevalence and comparisons of help-seeking across youth with and without any violence were examined. Youth who used any physical peer violence (n=965) reported lower help-seeking intentions than their peers, and among violent youth, males reported …

Analyzing Urban Soil Moisture Profiles: Implications For Stormwater Management In New Haven, Ct, Tushar Ahmed

Master's Theses

Effective stormwater management is essential for enhancing the resilience of urban environments facing challenges from climate change, aging infrastructure, and increasing impervious surfaces. As cities adopt green stormwater infrastructure such as bioswales to relieve these pressures, understanding the hydrologic behavior within these systems becomes essential. This study investigated soil moisture dynamics in New Haven, Connecticut by analyzing the seven critical points (A, B, C, D, E, F′, and F) that describe pre-storm, during storm and post storm drying behavior within bioswale systems. A total of 77 bioswale sites were monitored during May and June 2025, covering 14 storm events. Soil …

Invitation To The Dance: The Texas Two-Step, Bankruptcy, And Mass Tort Litigation, Richard C. Ausness

Hofstra Law Review

No abstract provided.

Private Equity And A.I. In Healthcare: A Perilous Pairing For Patient Privacy, Eunice Park

Hofstra Law Review

The American healthcare system faces two trends that not only threaten the quality of health care, but which, combined, exacerbate another threat: the threat to patient privacy. The first of the two trends is the rapid expansion of private-equity acquisitions in the healthcare sector in the last decade, continuing the trend of medicine's corporatization. Decisions increasingly are being made by investors motivated by short-term profit, rather than by doctors motivated by clinical care, compromising healthcare delivery. The second trend is the simultaneous incursion in the healthcare industry of The American healthcare system faces two trends that not only threaten the …

Are A.I. Lawyers A Legal Product Or Legal Service?: Why Current Upl Laws Are Not Up To The Task Of Regulating Autonomous A.I. Actors, Sean Steward

Hofstra Law Review

The rise of automation, particularly with the advent of large language models, presents a significant potential for the legal profession. While automation has traditionally focused on manual and repetitive tasks, A.I.'s evolution now allows machines to handle complex, thought-intensive work involving decision-making. This shift underscores a pressing issue: the American legal system lacks a clear definition of the practice of law. This becomes especially critical as A.l, an "autonomous actor," begins to take on roles that were previously exclusive to human practitioners. One company that exemplifies the advanced capabilities of modern A.I.-powered technology is Pactum Al Pactum's autonomous negotiation software …

Defining The Field Of Wellness Law, Barbara J. Zabawa

Hofstra Law Review

Some lawyers practice "wellness law " without knowing what it is and how it differs from more recognized fields of practice such as health law, public health law, and medical malpractice. This Article defines the field of wellness law using, in a prescriptive manner, the organizational framework that identifies the common and distinctive patterns in wellness and the law that surrounds it. This examination entails reviewing statutes and cases that differentiate between conventional health care and products or services outside of it to identify the core problems that are common and unique to wellness law. Those core problems are twofold. …

Diamonds Are Forever The Consumer's Worst Enemy: The Failure Of The Kimberley Process To End The Trade Of Conflict Diamonds, Sadie Mehr

Hofstra Law Review

No abstract provided.

Annual Report 2024-2025, Houston Academy Of Medicine - Texas Medical Center Library

Annual Reports: 1943 - Present

This file contains the Annual Report for the library from 2024-2025.