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The Nurses’ Perceptions Of Shared Governance, Psychological Empowerment, And Turnover Intention, Emma Maniago Aquino-Maneja, Linda Searle Leach, Hong Li, Juli Mcginnis

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: A major challenge in healthcare is the significant shortage of experienced nurses. Although evidence shows that shared governance (SG) is a key strategy for retaining nurses, gaps remain in understanding its relationship and predictive pathways to psychological empowerment (PE) and turnover intention (TI).

Purpose: The study explored the relationships and predictive pathways among nurses' perceptions of SG, PE, and TI in acute care hospitals. It also aimed to compare how nurse leaders (NLs) and clinical nurses (CNs) perceive these factors, and to examine the influence of their socio-demographic characteristics on these perceptions.

Method: The study employed a descriptive, correlational, …

Diagnostic Accuracy Of A Single-Item Happiness Index For Screening Mild Depressive Symptoms, Shun Chan, Aderonke Odetayo, Jasmine Cheung, Anson Chui Yan Tang, Lorna Kawi Ping Suen, Simon Ching Lam

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Depression symptoms are a mental health problem with rising prevalence globally. To enhance the estimation of depressive symptoms in epidemiological studies, a 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) has been widely used. Some local research found that a single-item General Happiness Index (GHI) highly correlated with the scales used for screening the depressive symptoms. This study hence aimed to explore the sensitivity and specificity of GHI for screening mild or more severe depressive symptoms based on the secondary data analysis in the Chinese population.

Methods: This methodological study used the data collected in the General Happiness Survey 2024 and 2025 …

Navigating Psychosocial, Behavioural, And Spiritual Transformations During A Child’S Cancer Journey, Jen-Jiuan Liaw, Wen-Yu Hu, Hsiang-Yun Lan, Yu-Lun Tsai, Chen-Xi Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Parents of children with cancer are highly vulnerable, often experiencing profound psychological distress, and caregiving burden. While existing research primarily focuses on parental distress, few studies have explored how parents navigate psychosocial, behavioral, and spiritual transformations during their child’s illness.

Aims: This study explored how Taiwanese parents navigate psychosocial, behavioral, and spiritual changes while caring for children diagnosed with cancer.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive design using a phenomenological approach was employed. Seventeen parents from pediatric oncology units in three medical centers in Taipei participated in in-depth interviews by trained research nurses with experience of pediatric oncological care. Data were …

Seeing Through Students’ Eyes: Photo-Elicitation For Research And Program Evaluation In Nursing, Megan P. Williams

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Photo-elicitation invites participants to capture and share photographs representing their lived experiences. It offers a meaningful way to evaluate how nursing students integrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes across cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains of learning. Grounded in visual sociology (Harper, 2002) and expanded through nursing pedagogy (Linz, 2011; Kronk et al., 2015), this approach helps students express ideas and emotions that are difficult to articulate or assess. Prior research indicates that photo-elicitation supports empathy, critical thinking, and self-awareness through learning experiences such as aging (Chonody, 2018), community health (Cooper et al., 2017), and academic challenges (Steenfeldt et al., 2019). …

Deltoid Intramuscular Injections: A State-Of-The-Art Review Of The Evidence On Landmarking, Mary Lou Batty, Lily Glazier, Marilyn J. Hodgins

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

During this time of rapid and significant advancements in our knowledge base and practice, it is easy to overlook that which is viewed as fundamental, such as the procedure for administering a deltoid intramuscular (IM) injection. Most fundamental nursing textbooks include a section outlining this procedure; a section which has remained largely unchanged over time. The knowledge base underpinning this procedure warrants re-examination due to increasing use of the deltoid for administration of medications to prevent and manage chronic diseases as well as increasing reports of debilitation and long-lasting physical and functional impairment following injury to underlying anatomical structures (MacKenzie …

Knowledge, Burden, And Experiences Of Peg Caregivers In Türkiye: A Mixed-Methods Study, Hande Nur Arslan, Sevilay Senol Celik

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

This study examined knowledge levels, caregiving burden, and lived experiences of family caregivers providing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) care in Türkiye using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. Family caregivers play a critical role in PEG management; however, limited formal home-care infrastructure and strong familial norms intensify their responsibilities and increasing burden. Twenty-eight caregivers from a university hospital (March–June 2025) completed the PEG Care Knowledge Assessment and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative results showed a mean knowledge score of 15.50±5.64 (55.3% accuracy), with 46.4% demonstrating low knowledge. The average burden was 49.18±15.43, which means it was moderate to severe. Stepwise regression (p< 0.001) identified PEG knowledge, caregiver age, weekly care hours, relationship closeness, household size, patient age, and comorbidities as significant predictors.

Qualitative …

Enhancing Nursing Narrative Interoperability: Omop-Cdm Representation Of Concern Features, Sujin Gan, Rae Woong Park, Youngjin Lee

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: This study aims to standardize inpatient nursing narratives by mapping their semantic units to CONCERN features and implementing a structured, interoperable representation of nursing documentation within the OMOP-CDM.

Background: Nursing narratives capture nuanced assessments, clinical reasoning, and early signs of deterioration, yet remain unstructured and inconsistently represented across institutions, limiting interoperability and secondary use. The OMOP Common Data Model (CDM) provides a standardized framework for harmonizing clinical data, but nursing documentation has not been systematically incorporated. The CONCERN framework, developed to identify early deterioration signals from narrative nursing data, offers an appropriate conceptual basis. This study adopted CONCERN features …

Should H2-Blockers Be Used For The Treatment Of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux?, Sophia Linguiti, W. Jack Palmer, Janvi J. Shukla, Kathleen Tibbetts, Colin Huntley, Joseph Spiegel

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is a highly prevalent condition in otolaryngology practice, characterized by reflux of gastric contents into the pharynx and larynx. Although proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) remain first-line therapy, many patients report persistent symptoms. In refractory cases, histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) are often employed as adjunctive or standalone therapy due to their rapid onset and accessibility. However, their utility as daily therapy is limited by tachyphylaxis, with significant loss of acid suppression within days of continuous use. Despite longstanding evidence from gastroenterology literature discouraging daily H2RA therapy, these agents remain frequently prescribed in otolaryngology practice. Contemporary ear, nose, and …

Recommendations To Solve The Problem Of High Levels Of Burnout Among Special Education Teachers At Waite High School In Ohio, Byron Scott Swartz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to provide recommendations to solve the problem of high levels of burnout among special education teachers at Waite High School in Ohio. The problem was that 45% of special education teachers at Waite High School reported feeling burned by their current jobs. The rationale for this study was that it was critical to reduce feelings of burnout among special education teachers since improving feelings of burnout may lead to better performance in the classroom teachers and fewer staffing shortages. The central research question was as follows: How can the problem of high levels of …

Explainable Ai Framework For Stage-Specific Drug Doses Prediction In Chronic Kidney Disease: A Multi-Algorithm Comparison With Adverse Event Prediction, Saeful Amri, Satriya Pranata, Dwi Purnomo Putro, Wawan Kurniawan

Polytechnic Journal

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects medication dose safety due to altered pharmacokinetics. Current clinical decision support systems lack stage-specific personalization and explainability. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the appropriate medications and doses for chronic kidney disease using machine learning algorithms by comparing the methods. This study is divided into two phases. Phase 1 involves a literature review that compares four classification techniques for predicting drug prescriptions for individuals with kidney disease. After a screening and evidence evaluation process, 12 papers were selected for analysis. From the 12 studies, the types of analysis methods obtained were Decision Tree, K-Nearest Neighbour …

The Experience Of Sleep And Academic Performance Among African American College Students: A Case Study, Jamean Alma Alexander

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The transition to college presents significant challenges for African American college students, particularly in developing effective study habits and maintaining healthy sleep behaviors that support academic success. Despite growing evidence linking sleep and academic performance, limited research has explored how African American students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) perceive these experiences. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of African American college students regarding sleep habits, study habits, and academic performance. Guided by three research questions, data were collected through semi structured interviews with 12 African American students attending HBCUs in …

Effective Strategies Human Resource Business Leaders Use To Decrease Employee Turnover, Dorothy Norton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover continues to be a widespread organizational challenge because it increases recruitment and training costs, disrupts productivity, and negatively affects organizational performance and sustainability. The research problem was that some business leaders lack effective strategies to reduce employee turnover. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore strategies business leaders use to reduce employee turnover. Herzberg’s two-factor theory served as the conceptual framework for the study. The participants were six business leaders with responsibility for employee retention who successfully implemented employee retention strategies. Data were gathered through semistructured interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive …

Treatment Alternatives To Incarceration Program (Taip) Counselor’S Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Taip Within West Texas, Patricia Arenas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance abuse remains a major challenge in the U.S. probation system, as recidivism persists despite specialized treatment programs such as the Treatment Alternatives to Incarceration Program (TAIP) available in Texas. This issue matters to policymakers, judges, community supervision officers, TAIP administrators, treatment providers, and local communities because decisions about funding, supervision, sanctions, coordination, and service delivery affect rehabilitation outcomes, public safety, and reoffending. This transcendental phenomenological study explored TAIP counselors’ perceptions of the program’s effectiveness in treating substance abuse offenders and reducing recidivism in West Texas. Guided by Husserl’s phenomenology, data were collected through semi structured interviews with four TAIP …

Impact Of Ownership Change, Administrator Turnover, And Registered Nurse Turnover On Operational Outcomes In Nursing Homes, Tanveer Dhaliwal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nursing homes frequently experience leadership and structural disruptions that affect facility performance. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study using archival data was to examine the extent to which ownership change, administrator turnover, and registered nurse turnover predict operational outcomes in U.S. nursing homes. Four Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) measures represented indicators of operational outcomes: (a) staffing rating, (b) rating cycle 1 total health deficiencies, (c) number of fines, and (d) total weighted health survey score. Resource dependence theory and transaction cost economics served as the theoretical foundation. Data from July 2025 CMS public files (N = …

Post-Pandemic Telebehavioral Health: Sustaining And Regulating Remote Mental Health Care As A Core Modality, Weiqiao Dong

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

The United States continues to face a persistent mental health crisis after the COVID-19 pandemic, raising a policy question about the long-term role and regulation of telebehavioral health as a core modality of care. This thesis examines that question through a case study of New York State, an early center of the pandemic and a leader in telehealth policy reform.

Guided by the Health Policy Triangle framework, this thesis integrates longitudinal data from all 62 New York counties for 2010-2025 with a 2025 cross-sectional dataset covering 61 counties. Seventeen standardized indicators are organized into four dimensions: geographic, economic, demographic, and …

Phenomenological Study Of How College Educators Perceive The Effectiveness Of Professional Development Programs In Enhancing Their Attitudes Towards Inclusive Learning Strategies, Robbi-Gail Batura

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the perceptions of college educators regarding the effectiveness of professional development programs in enhancing their attitudes towards inclusive learning strategies. For this study, the central phenomenon was defined as the influence of professional development programs on educators’ approaches to inclusive practices in the classroom. The theory guiding this study is the theory of planned behavior, which explores the relationships between individuals' attitudes and behaviors. The central research question for this study is how do college educators perceive professional development programs as influencing their attitudes toward inclusive learning practices? This study …

Timothy Baptist Church Of Amherst, Virginia, And Technology, Christopher L. Groom

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The contemporary local church faces a critical crossroads, challenged by a widening gap between traditional ministry approaches and today's digital-native world, resulting in decreased engagement and relevance. This research tackles the urgent issue of ecclesiastical stagnation in a highly connected society. When the local church and technology strategically unite, they can dramatically shift the church’s path from static tradition toward active, missional innovation. Embracing digital tools will transform preaching from a localized, one-dimensional event into a rich, multi-layered homiletic experience that enhances message impact and clarity. By intentionally using these tools, the church can reach a wider, more diverse audience …

Teachers’ Lived-Experiences Enacting Culturally Responsive Teaching: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Temy Nguyen Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching practices during the adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards for science teachers at comprehensive high schools in one district in California. The theory guiding this study was Prochaska’s and DiClemente’s theory on the transtheoretical model of change to understand the phenomena of teachers’ pedagogical decisions in the classroom as they transition to enact culturally responsive teaching (CRT) because of the NGSS. Bandura’s social cognitive theory and Piaget’s social constructivism theory were the educational theories that served as a backdrop for teacher …

A Christ-Centered Approach To Ai-Assisted Sermon Preparation For Cedar Grove Community Church, Andrew Michael Poe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping nearly every sector of society, presenting both opportunities and ethical challenges for Christian ministry. Amid this technological shift, many pastors, Bible teachers, and lay leaders experience ethical uncertainty about the appropriate use of AI in expository preaching and teaching. This Doctor of Ministry action research project developed and evaluated an eight-week training designed to equip the teaching team at Cedar Grove Community Church with a Christ-centered approach to AI-assisted sermon preparation. The purpose of this project was to provide biblical, theological, and practical guidance enabling communicators to leverage AI responsibly without compromising ministerial integrity …

Staff Education To Enhance Nurse Knowledge Of Standardized Sud Screening Using The Dast-10 In An Outpatient Psychiatric Setting, Peters Olugbemiga Adu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The utilization of substance use disorder (SUD) screening tools at the practice site was inconsistent, contributing to limited identification and diagnosis of SUDs. The project was conducted at a psychiatric outpatient clinic in an urban region of Maryland that serves many patients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. The purpose of the project was to develop, implement, and evaluate a staff education program focused on the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10). The primary goal was to improve staff knowledge and understanding of the DAST-10 screening tool. A 14-item multiple-choice questionnaire was administered before and after the educational intervention …

Staff Education To Improve Confidence Of Triage Decision-Making In Hospice After-Hours Care, Kelly Hurst

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A quality improvement project addressed variability in after-hours hospice telephone triage through implementation of structured communication and symptom-based decision-support tools. The practice-focused question examined hospice triage nurses’ perceived confidence following implementation of these tools. A descriptive quality improvement design was used. Five hospice triage nurses received education on the CALMER communication technique and symptom-specific decision-support guides for anxiety and dyspnea. Outcomes were evaluated through a postimplementation survey assessing confidence, tool utilization, intervention perceptions, and practice recommendations. Quantitative responses were summarized using descriptive statistics, and qualitative responses were reviewed for themes. All participants reported high baseline confidence in hospice telephone triage. …

Defining Quality Of Life: The Lived Experience Of Adults With Pulmonary Hypertension And The Impact Of Activity-Induced Respiratory Distress, Bethany Jean Adams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive, life-limiting disease that significantly affects quality-of-life (QoL). Limited research has explored lived experiences of individuals with PH. Guided by Parse’s human becoming theory, this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of individuals affected by PH and examined how activity-induced respiratory distress affected QoL. The research Question was: How do individuals with PH describe the impact of activity-induced respiratory distress on their QoL. I conducted interviews with nine participants, including eight adults diagnosed with PH and one caregiver of an individual with PH. Data were analyzed using Saldaña's comparative coding framework to identify …

Licensed Counselors’ Meaning-Making Of Debriefing Experiences Following Client Crises In Community Mental Health Centers, Donna Howard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Licensed professional counselors working in community mental health centers (CMHCs) frequently respond to client crises; however, little was known about how they understand and make meaning of debriefing following those events. The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was to explore counselors’ meaning-making of debriefing following client crises in CMHCs. Guided by IPA and grounded in phenomenology and hermeneutics, data were collected through semistructured interviews with five licensed professional counselors who had at least 5 years of CMHC experience, participated in postcrisis debriefing, and graduated from programs accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and …

Preschool Teachers' Perceptions In Supporting Students Experiencing Trauma, Ann F. Gorbett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Early childhood teachers are often the first to observe behaviors that could be a result of trauma. The problem that was addressed in this study is that preschool teachers are not adequately trained to effectively address the social, emotional, and academic needs of children who have experienced trauma. Framed by Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore preschool teachers’ preparedness and training needs to effectively respond to children who have experienced trauma. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 general education preschool teachers, who have at least 2 years of teaching experience. …

Clinical Practice Guideline For Sepsis In Skilled Nursing Facility, Chinyere Okoroh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that can rapidly lead to organ dysfunction, septic shock, and death if not recognized and treated early. Older adults in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are especially vulnerable because of age-related physiological changes, chronic conditions, weakened immunity, and increased exposure to infections. Consequently, sepsis remains a major cause of hospital readmissions, mortality, and healthcare utilization among SNF residents. The SNF serving as the site for this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project experienced increased hospital readmissions associated with recurrent sepsis, highlighting the need for a standardized, evidence-based approach to sepsis recognition and management. The practice-focused question …

Locker Room To The Classroom, Bert Wicks

Masters Theses

This thesis sought to explore the feasibility of using graduated collegiate athletes to supplement teaching populations to mitigate the teaching shortage in America. The researcher interviewed five professionals in education and five current college athletes to assist in answering two research questions. What are the perceptions of school administrators regarding the employment of former collegiate athletes as public-school teachers, in comparison to educators with formal academic training in education, and what are the attitudes of current and former collegiate athletes on the prospects of pursuing careers in public school teaching relative to employment opportunities aligned with their academic major were …

Staff Education To Nurses On Trauma-Informed Care, Lorna Sackey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many nurses receive little formal instruction about trauma-informed principles and their practical application in behavioral health settings. To address this practice gap, the project implemented a staff education program for staff at an intensive outpatient program (IOP) and a partial hospitalization program (PHP) located in a northeastern state. The aim was to increase staff knowledge and confidence in trauma-informed principles within clinical practice. The education program emphasized the relevance of trauma-informed care (TIC) in outpatient behavioral health settings, its principles, and its application in nursing assessments, therapeutic communication, and patient interactions. A pretest and posttest questionnaire consisted of 12 multiple-choice …

Understanding Relapse And The Correlation With Group Counseling Accountability, Attendance, And Attitudes, Willie Sanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance abuse continues to create significant personal, family, and legal challenges, yet limited research exists on mandated clients receiving counseling within rural municipal court systems. Studying factors associated with relapse allows counselors and counselor educators to develop interventions to prevent relapse and improve treatment outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between group counseling attributes of attendance, accountability, attitudes and the level of relapse rates among rural municipal court clients in Columbus, Mississippi, as measured by the DEF, Subtle, Face Valid Alcohol, Face Valid Other Drugs, and the OAT Scales of the SASSI-4 Assessment. Theoretical …

The Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Of Certified Anduncertified Medical Assistants In Medical Clinics: A Hermeneutical Phenomenology Study, Shannon Waller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutical phenomenological study was to explore how supervising clinicians, including medical doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, described the knowledge, skills, and abilities of certified and uncertified medical assistants in healthcare clinics in the United States. The problem was that it was unknown how supervising clinicians described the knowledge, skills, and abilities of certified and uncertified medical assistants. Becker’s human capital theory served as the theoretical framework for this study. Participants were recruited through professional social media platforms and clinician-specific online communities. Data collection included semi-structured interviews, a focus group, andwritten responses to a writing …

Faith, Function, Formality: Integrating Gospel Vocal Techniques Into Western Classical Pedagogy, Korwind Z. Stokes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This applied qualitative case study explored the integration of gospel-derived vocal techniques within Western classical choral pedagogy in a secondary music education setting. The study addressed a gap in music education literature concerning the intentional use of gospel-derived vocal practices as pedagogical resources within formal secondary choral instruction. Guided primarily by constructivist learning theory and informed by culturally responsive teaching, the study examined how students’ prior musical experiences could serve as a foundation for learning Western classical vocal concepts. The study was conducted within a public high school choral program and focused on the intentional incorporation of gospel-derived techniques during …