Digital Commons Network^™

The Use Of Music Therapy And Various Mechanisms Of Diversion To Aid Caregivers Of Those With Alzheimer’S Disease And Dementia, Sarah Elizabeth Kane

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia inhabit an increasingly alarming number of individuals within the United States with the majority of their caregivers being loved ones with limited to no healthcare education. This DNP project was designed to specifically educate caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. The goal of this project was to increase the knowledge of the disease while also increasing the ability and confidence to better care for their loved ones. In using the resources outlined in this project, such as music therapy and diversional tools, the caregiver would see a decrease in emotional outbursts and …

Providing Safe Care For Mental Health Patients Through Ongoing Education Of Non-Psychiatric Nurses And Staff, Amy Kilpatrick

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nurses care for many individuals with medical conditions, but also those who suffer from mental illness and are in an acute mental health crisis. Nonpsychiatric nurses often lack adequate knowledge and training while caring for individuals with mental health disorders and those in acute crisis, which can be a barrier to providing safe, effective care for this vulnerable population. When individuals are in crisis and present to the emergency departments, their first contact is with emergency room nurses who may lack the necessary skills to conduct a thorough assessment when evaluating for mental health disorders, including the presence of suicidal …

Heart Of An Athlete: Educating On The Importance Of Cardiovascular Screening Of High School Athletes, Tiffany Michelle Haley

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

There is a lack of education regarding cardiovascular screening and the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in high school athletes. The target population needing improved education is primarily school faculty, staff, trainers, and coaches. Effective cardiovascular screening and education will aid in the prevention of a catastrophic injury, including SCA and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Educating high school faculty and staff will bring forth awareness of signs and symptoms of SCA and aid in proper care and treatment for high school athletes who are at higher risk. The goal of this project was to educate faculty and staff on …

Early Recognition In Patient Deterioration: A Quality Improvement Project, Abigail Bell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This quality improvement project focused on enhancing early recognition of patient clinical deterioration by leveraging a rapid response team to implement targeted strategies that reduce failures in identifying early and subtle signs of physiologic decline. Rapid response teams have been widely adopted across the healthcare system to facilitate efficient interventions and prevent further deterioration in acutely ill patients. Despite their intended purpose, delays in recognizing clinical deterioration continue to exist. Failure to recognize early signs of deterioration contributes to an increased risk of irreversible organ damage, unplanned transfers to the intensive care unit, prolonged hospital stays, and, in severe cases, …

Teaching With Confidence: Strengthening Nurse Education On Heart Failure Using The Teach-Back Method, Melany Boyd

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Heart failure remains one of the leading causes of hospital readmissions, often due to poor patient understanding of self-care instructions provided at discharge. Nurses play a critical role in patient education, yet many lack confidence and competence in delivering effective education. Additionally, inconsistencies and discharge materials, such as outdated or excessive documentation, can overwhelm patients and hinder their ability to retain vital information. Standardized education enhances the learning experience and ensures consistent messaging across the healthcare system. This project aimed to improve nurses’ confidence and competence in educating heart failure patients at discharge by 10% through the implementation of the …

Type 2 Diabetes Education And Knowledge In The Adult Hmong Community, Sheng Yang

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Type 2 Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects many individuals, but specifically has been found to significantly affect minority population groups. There has been very limited research regarding understanding the etiology of the disease in the Hmong community that migrated to the United States from Southeast Asia. The purpose of this project was to design and implement an evidence-based, culturally appropriate educational intervention in the Hmong language to increase knowledge of Type 2 Diabetes among the adult Hmong community in Burke County and Catawba County, NC areas. The intervention was delivered to a total of 30 participants who …

Recognizing Adult Male Mental Health Needs: An Intervention Looking At Education In Rural Communities, Eugene W. Winans Jr

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This DNP Project examined the role of student nurses and their confidence levels when assisting adult male patients experiencing a mental health crisis. The majority of suicide acts are attributed to men. Thus, this subject requires specific insight and instructions when it comes to proper ways to assist these patients. Incorporating evidence from a pre-test and post-test survey, this project demonstrates that student nurses lack confidence in how to deal with men who are experiencing a mental health crisis. The analysis gained from this project demonstrates the important role nurses play in recognizing, speaking to, and assisting in the treatment …

Knowledge Is Power: Educating The Community About The Dangers Of Vaping, Heather B. Hector

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to increase knowledge among parents, coaches, teachers, nurses, community leaders, and members about the dangers of e-cigarette use among adolescents by implementing a community-based education session vital to protecting the health and well-being of adolescents in the target community. Education and preventative measures have been proven to decrease the use of tobacco cigarettes, and the same needs to be done with e-cigarettes and vaping, especially among adolescents, to protect the future of their health. Education and prevention programs are not only targeted at adolescents but also at adults who …

Hand Hygiene Education For Personal Care Staff In Congregated Care Settings: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Saunders Noel

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

For many years, proper hand hygiene has been emphasized as one of the most important defenses in helping to prevent illnesses. The World Health Organization (WHO) is a major organization that stresses the importance of proper hand hygiene and disease prevention. However, hand hygiene education and knowledge must be acquired to successfully utilize the correct steps in combating illnesses and diseases. Hand hygiene is a learned behavior and emphasizing education and awareness is important to successful adoption. This DNP project was implemented to personal care staff in a congregated care setting located in the southeastern part of Virginia. The project …

The Politics Of Bank Supervision: From Eccles To Bessent, Kathryn Judge

Faculty Scholarship

Throughout his tenure as chair of the Federal Reserve Board, Marriner Eccles pressed President Franklin D. Roosevelt to over­haul bank supervision. Eccles eventually made his ongoing service as chair contingent on FDR agreeing to support the effort. This initiative is commonly depicted as a power grab. Federal bank regulation and supervision, then and now, is divvied up among three agencies, the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Comptroller of the Currency. Eccles wanted the Fed, and the Fed alone, to be the federal bank supervisor. Having already succeeded in enhancing his power once, by spearheading reforms that …

Data Privacy Regulations In The Gaming Industry: A Comparative Analysis Of Singapore, Macau, And Japan, Miloslava Plachkinova

Faculty Articles

This study explores the relatively under-researched area of comparing data privacy regulations and best practices across different countries, with a focus on the gaming industry. It provides an overview of general data privacy principles and existing global regulations, analyzing how gaming operators leverage personal data for competitive advantage. Specifically, the research examines the data privacy approaches and regulatory requirements in Singapore, Macau, and Japan, highlighting the cultural and historical contexts influencing these regulations. Through a comparative analysis, the article discusses the compliance needs for gaming operators in these jurisdictions.

The Nesting Ecology Of Southern Two-Lined Salamanders (Eurycea Cirrigera) In Urban Streams, Leah T. Rittenburg, Emma G. Downing, Todd Pierson

Faculty Articles

Urbanization alters many aspects of stream ecosystems, and its effects upon wildlife will likely increase as more watersheds become developed. This may be particularly true for species with complex life histories, which could be vulnerable in different life stages. Eurycea cirrigera (Green) (Southern Two-lined Salamanders) are common members of many stream communities in the southeastern United States, and they prefer to nest in cobble with little sedimentation—a microhabitat that is threatened by stream degradation. We collected data on the nesting ecology of this amphibian species in urban streams in Atlanta, Georgia, to evaluate microhabitat availability, nest-site selection, and the influence …

Relationship Between Financial Literacy And Financial Behavior Among Seventh-Day Adventist Full-Time Pastors In The North American Division Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Edwin G. Romero

Dissertations

Problem

This investigation intended to examine the relationship between the financial literacy components of full-time pastors and their financial behavior components. Many pastors struggle with their finances and often retire unprepared due to having inaccurate or incomplete knowledge of relevant financial information and planning strategies.

Method

This study adopted a quantitative, descriptive, and correlational approach to investigate the financial and demographic characteristics of pastors. The questionnaire completed by participants was the financial literacy questionnaire developed by Stella et al. (2020), which helped measure general financial literacy among full-time pastors, and the Financial Management Behavior Scale (FMBS) developed by Xiao (2008) …

2025 Conference Program, Georgia Southern University

SoTL Commons Conference

2025 Conference Program

Experiences Of Exemplary Supervisors Promoting Workplace Dignity Across Social Identity Differences, Emily Joy Aiken

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Imagine a workplace where supervisors centered the dignity of each unique individual and sought to honor each person in their wholeness. This type of work environment moves beyond a toxic culture to a space that fosters flourishing, growth, and inclusion. Given that supervisors play an integral role in the experiences of staff members, this study explored the experiences of supervisors in promoting workplace dignity across cultural differences within higher education. With a focus on relational practices and a positive framing, this research sought to develop a nuanced understanding of dignified leadership across social identity differences. Leveraging a constructivist grounded theory …

Exploring The Mental Health Of Korean-American Elderly Immigrants, Iris Minkyung Kim

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study sought to understand the mental health of Korean-American elderly immigrants using the theoretical frameworks Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development and Interpersonal Psychotherapy Theory (IPT). To achieve this purpose, this study incorporated a qualitative thematic analysis and conducted in-depth interviews with 10 elderly Korean immigrants living in the United States. From these interviews, eight themes were identified: (a) multifaceted immigration experiences, (b) immigration challenges, (c) complex language barriers, (d) personality constructs impacting experience, (e) the importance of relationships, (f) limited information and access to support, (g) life satisfaction and dissatisfaction, and (h) advice for future immigrants. These themes indicate …

Mental Heath Experiences Of Transracial Adoptees Of The Global Majority (Black, Indigenous, And People Of Color - Bipoc)., Phebe Brako

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of transracial adoptees of the global majority (BIPOC), focusing on their bicultural identity integration and its impact on mental health. During semi-structured interviews, nine participants shared their stories of navigating cultural and racial dynamics as adoptees in predominantly White adoptive families and communities. The findings revealed six core themes: (1) the Quest for Bicultural Identity Formation, (2) Cultural Integration and Adaptation, (3) Navigating Racial and Cultural Tensions, (4) the Role of Family in Cultural Integration, (5) the Importance of Community and Support Systems, and (6) Mental Health and Therapeutic Experiences, addressing …

Design Thinking For Health Environments: Case Study Research On Innovation, Design Leadership, And Healthcare Complexity, Diana S. Nicholas

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

As healthcare costs are skyrocketing, of the 6,093 hospitals in America, 53% will lose money in the current year (Coleman-Lochner, 2022). Design health innovation centers (DHICs) are formed in Europe and the United States to create efficiencies in healthcare related to budget challenges. DHICs exist in unique contexts both in America and Europe that are not yet well understood. These efforts are difficult to lead due to the lack of understanding of their worth and how their process is valuable to healthcare settings (Bhattacharyya et al., 2022). The specific problem examined here is that little is known about how DHIC …

Motivated By Love: Can Deep Listening Support The Health And Wellbeing Of Anthroposophical Inspired Organizations, Barbarah Jean Nicoll

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Goethe expressed his devotion to his scientific and artistic pursuits as “love” (Lambert, 2011, p. 35). Motivated by love for anthroposophical initiatives in the world, the research question for this dissertation is: can deep listening be a support for the organizational health and wellbeing of anthroposophical inspired initiatives? Exploring and examining research on listening attuned to anthroposophical initiatives, this research seeks to understand existing wisdom on listening and its impact on organizational wellbeing. The theoretical foundations for this research are based on anthroposophical insights and a Goethean worldview. These foundational concepts relate to indigenous ways of knowing through their acknowledgement …

Creating A General Psychology Curriculum That Embeds Humane Education, Kristina Marie Pham

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Academic freedom is under attack in the United States, hindering the ability of educators to develop critical thinking skills in students to prepare them for their roles as participating members of a democracy. The inquiry that informed the curriculum development is as follows: How to embed Humane Education and Participatory Action Research into a General Psychology class? The theoretical framework of Humane Education was the basis for utilizing the principles of Participatory Action Research in the General Psychology curriculum co-created with rural community college students. The Backward Design Model was chosen because the curriculum was created using an existing General …

Mental Health In The Post-Deployment Transition Assistance Program: A Qualitative Study Of National Guard Members' Experiences, Alayna L. Collins

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Objective: National Guard post-deployment and reintegration processes leave servicemembers with a unique urgency to return to their families, homes, and civilian lives due to the timing and location of the post-deployment Transition Assistance Program (TAP); consequently, National Guard members have reported “checking the boxes” on mental health screeners to prioritize a quick and smooth transition (Salahi, 2023). Although researchers have called for data on the experiences of National Guard members undergoing post-deployment TAP since 2005 (Bascetta), no research to date has answered this call. Method: Eight National Guard members who had been deployed and had undergone post-deployment were individually interviewed …

An Examination Of Harm During The Real-Life Experience, Michelle E. Balch

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The Real-Life Experience (RLE) has been described as a coercive and arbitrary requirement without evidence of validity or reliability. This can cause more harm than it prevents for a significant subset of transition-seeking transgender clients. For these reasons the RLE was dropped from the WPATH Standards of Care after version six. However, the RLE has been adopted by a number of health insurance companies as a measure of readiness to receive transition services. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and semi-structured interviews of five individuals were conducted to evaluate their perceptions of RLE and the meaning they attach to their broader …

Exploring The Use Of Somatic Skills And Techniques In Clinical Supervision, Areka D. Foster

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study explores the lived experiences of clinical supervisors who engage in somatically oriented supervision. Informed by relational-cultural theory and polyvagal theory, the research employs a grounded theory methodology to investigate the potential development of a somatic supervision framework. Eleven participants completed semi-structured interviews and data were analyzed using both thematic analysis and grounded theory techniques. Eleven core themes emerged: (a) conceptualizations of somatic supervision, (b) integration of somatic techniques in supervisory practice, (c) theoretical foundations for somatic supervision, (d) attunement to countertransference, (e) the supervisory relationship, (f) trauma-informed approaches, (g) somatic techniques and practices, (h) initiating and structuring somatic …

Initial Validation Of The Measure Of Practical Existential Wellbeing, Bryant L. Moore

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

According to the theory of existential psychology, all humans experience existential anxiety, a negative feeling that results from the understanding of certain unavoidable truths. If left unchecked, existential anxiety can lead to symptoms of mental illness. Much work has been done to explore and measure existential anxiety, but little has focused on protective factors within existential theory. This dissertation proposes the construct of existential wellbeing, representing protective factors corresponding to different existential domains. To assess this construct, a new instrument, the Measure of Practical Existential Wellbeing (MPEW), was developed, distributed, and analyzed in relation to other established measures. The MPEW …

Exploring The Perceptions Of Technology Use Of Clinicians And Their Clients, Chase M. Torbergson

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The research question guiding this study was: What is the perceived understanding of technology use by clinicians for their work with clients? Fourteen participants completed an online qualitative survey exploring their experiences with technology and media in clinical practice. A thematic analysis revealed four primary themes. The first theme, variations in counselor online media usage, highlighted differences in how counselors engaged with online platforms for education, client connection, and self-care. The second theme, counselor assessment of, and dialogue around, online media use, captured varying levels of intentionality in exploring clients’ digital habits, ranging from minimal inquiry to regular, structured discussions. …

Exploring Mental Health Concerns And Loneliness Among East Asian International Students In U.S. Universities, Shihan Xu

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study examined the unique stressors encountered by international college students, with particular attention to East Asian international students, whose collectivistic cultural values contribute to their mental health status and reported symptoms. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise in stress levels and loneliness highlighted the need for further examination. Using data collected in 2024 through the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms-34 (CCAPS-34) and the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the study surveyed East Asian international students enrolled in universities in the United States to identify prevalent mental health concerns and explore the correlation between loneliness and self-reported symptoms among East Asian …

Becoming And Belonging: Exploring Teachers’ Insights On Community Interest And Engagement In Waldorf Middle School Students, Monica Laurent

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This research explores how Waldorf middle school teachers experience, perceive, and support the development of community interest, engagement, and belonging among the early adolescence years of middle school. Adolescence, particularly ages 11 to 14, is a period of profound developmental transition characterized by intense emotionality, evolving identity, increased peer influence, and growing social complexity. Rudolf Steiner’s philosophical and pedagogical framework positions this stage as a time that leads to the birth of the astral or feeling body, contributing to new levels of self-awareness and the emergence of individuality, the beginning of critical thinking, and moral judgment. This period is also …

Beyond Strong: A Phenomenology Of Women Executives And The Connection Between Leadership And Fitness, Nozomi Bullock

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Senior-level executive leaders’ work in a dynamic, competitive, 24/7 business environment can be physically rigorous, mentally demanding, and emotionally isolating. The same holds true for women pursuing senior-level leadership roles in corporate America. Women who achieve and succeed in such roles remain the minority: Outsiders in elite spaces who are held to higher standards and overly scrutinized. Among senior-level executive women leaders, those committed to a fitness and training regimen including weightlifting constitute an even smaller minority. Senior-level executive roles require stamina, resilience, and courage—qualities that make up the foundation of the mindset of fitness and strength training (Foyster et …

My Body My Choice: A Qualitative Study Of Volitional Female Sterilization In The U. S. Latina And Hispanic Female Population, Heather Morris Tuip

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative study, utilizing an interpretative phenomenological analysis methodology, elucidates the experience of Latina and Hispanic women living in the United States who have volitionally undergone sterilization or have sought the procedure out for birth control. Understanding the rich, contextual, lived experience of Latina and Hispanic women through an intersectional framework highlights how cultural influences and contemporary policies on reproductive rights informed their personal choice to undergo a female sterilization procedure. The participants of this study shared how they made meaning of their experiences. Within a homogenous sampling of study participants who share ethnicities and genders, six group experiential themes …

Beyond Genes: Non-Canonical Mechanisms Driving Antimicrobial Resistance In Bacteria, Leonard Koolman, Chijioke Emenike, Debasis Mitra, Sourav Chattaraj

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is traditionally discussed in the context of horizontally acquired resistance genes and point mutations at target loci. However, this gene-centred model fails to account for a large number of clinically important modalities of resistance. There is now substantial evidence implicating bacteria in the ability to escape the effects of antibiotics in a variety of non-canonical ways, which are not considered in traditional diagnostic and surveillance pipelines. Among these factors, we can list those arising from global regulatory networks, phase variability, epigenetic tuning, small RNAs, genome structural variability, and phenotypic states like tolerance and persistence. This review will …