Digital Commons Network^™

Beyond The Bedtime Story Beginnings: A Qualitative Study Exploring The Phenomenon Of Family Shared Reading With Middle-Grade Children, Kelly Rorvik

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Literacy can serve as a critical outlet for children to develop empathy and academic success. However, substantial evidence suggests that by middle school, many students develop less positive attitudes and motivations for recreational and academic reading. The purpose of this asset-based phenomenological qualitative study, framed by Attachment and Socio-Critical Literacy theory, is to examine the parental experiences of shared reading with children between the ages of 10 and 15 to understand the perceived purpose and emotional impact it has on families. The 14 participants in this study were selected through a purposive interest survey. This asset-based phenomenological study seeks to …

Wellness Participation Of Student-Serving Staff: The Impact On Well-Being And Student Support, Ashley L. Oostveen

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This study examines the relationship between student-serving staff’s wellness engagement and overall well-being, their job satisfaction, and their perceived support for students. A convergent mixed-methods approach was applied while maintaining a theoretical framework rooted in Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985), integrating the concepts of Hettler’s Six Dimensions of Wellness (1976). Forty-one student-serving staff across universities in a public university system in Pennsylvania participated in this study. A quantitative survey was used to measure overall well-being, wellness engagement, and support to students, while concurrent focus groups were conducted to gather insight on work-life well-being and staff’s perceived support to their …

Real-Time Isolated Asl Recognition: Evaluating Spatial-Temporal Networks And Multimodal Llms, Raga Mouni Batchu

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This thesis investigates the deployment of high-accuracy Isolated ASL Recognition (ISLR) in resource-constrained edge environments. We train a lightweight Spatio-Temporal Attention Network (SSTAN,∼2.7 M parameters,∼10 MB) on the WLASL-100 benchmark, achieving 75.25% Top-1 and 88.24% Top-5 accuracy with 139 ms CPU-only inference. A systematic comparison against frontier multimodal LLMs (Gemini 3 Flash, Gemini 3.1 Pro, Qwen 3 VL) shows SSTAN outperforms the best LLM baseline by∼1.85×in accuracy while being 22–230×faster and up to 40×cheaper annually. The LLMs’ core limitation is a lack of fine-grained temporal perception; they impose English-language semantic priors rather than learning the articulatory distinctions that define ASL …

"They Just Gave Me The Syllabus": A Mixed Methods Study Of Music Therapy Educators' Preferred Pedagogies, Christina Danielle O'Brien

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

In 2022, the workforce analysis of music therapists, the American Music Therapy Association reported that approximately 80% of all board-certified music therapists are white/Caucasian-European (Iwamasa, 2025). However, the AMTA does not determine the origins of race or ethnicity among postsecondary music therapy faculty in the U.S., nor does it assess their potential impact on the expansion of multicultural curricula for preservice professionals. The purpose of this convergent mixed-methods dissertation is to examine the perception of lived experiences as a pedagogical tool to enhance effective teaching practices. Twenty-six postsecondary faculty from the U.S. were recruited. Quantitative data were collected via Qualtrics …

Centering Community Concerns And Recommendations Amid Rapid Policy Changes: Impacts On Social Protection, Well-Being, And Health Access, Kriti Vashisht

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Rapidly evolving policies on gender identity and expression have highlighted a wide range of public and political perspectives on whether to limit or support demands for gender identification and healthcare services for the LGBTQ+ community. Due to the rise in these pro and against narratives and incidents, there were increased protection risks for this group. Scholars and practitioners working closely with LGBTQ+ members are witnessing increased distress and concerns among them, creating further barriers to care and heightened stigma. This is why community-based scholars and educators initiated an open consultation to create a non-partisan space for dialogue, reflection, and learning …

Convergence Of Social Justice, Human Rights, And Artificial Intelligence (Ai), Sudershan Pasupuleti, Urmila Yadav, Susheelabai R. Srinivasa

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Artificial Intelligence and large data machine learning are transforming many areas, including healthcare, economic, political, and educational social institutions, at their best. Artificial intelligence can also be offered the moral and legal potential to safeguard human rights and social justice in society. For instance, human rights organizations scan public domain images for evidence of abuse, or software uses adversarial techniques to reduce bias in training data. At best, some organizations and businesses are tackling these challenges in a proactive manner, looking for methods to make sure they avoid or identify concerns before they arise; for others, this may be a …

Broadening Replication Standards For Vignette Studies: Introducing Contextually Appropriate Replications, Birgit Schyns, Gretchen Vogelgesang Lester, Michelle M. Hammond

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Vignette studies present specific challenges for replications, yet vignettes are a popular choice for replication studies in leadership. In our review of eight vignette-based leadership publications, only two were able to fully replicate the original study's findings. We suggest that part of the failure to replicate the results of vignette studies may be due to a misalignment between the vignettes and social reality at the time of data collection. This paper highlights the challenges vignettes present due to societal progression and includes recommendations regarding potential methodological artifacts including the appropriateness of the sample, vignette content, and modality. We first discuss …

Polysemicolon; Novice Programmers And Java Keywords, Briana C. Bettin

Michigan Tech Publications

Most industrial programming languages leverage the English language for reserved keywords – words which a program compiler recognizes as specific execution commands. The divide between expert and novice programmers showcases an intriguing middle-ground by which the polysemy of many keywords becomes revealed. This essay explores a sampling of the multitude of keyword interpretations that a novice programmer may derive from the Java language’s syntactic style and keywords specifically, and how the polysemy of both “English” and “code” meanings to these terms affects the novice-expert programmer transition.The transition from novice to expert, and the mapping of the career of metaphor to …

Tranquil Talismans, Yayan Zhang

Theses

My series aims to delve deep into my personal experiences, narrating the uncertainty of graduating, the imbalance between study and work, and the anxiety brought about by countless rejections that have gradually disrupted the rhythm of my life. This disruption manifests in physiological symptoms such as insomnia, irregular menstrual cycles, emotional fluctuations, and the discovery of bodily lumps.My thesis work is separated into three parts of my journey. The first part portrays a dark period marked by chaos and confusion as I underwent a transition in my social roles and visually metaphorizes the onset of anxiety as darkness and chaos …

Leveraging Open-Source Llms For Infrastructure Drift Detection And Correction, Kemoy S. Campbell

Theses

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) enables organizations to provision and manage infrastructure at scale using version-controlled, declarative specifications. Despite these advantages, infrastructure drift where deployed resources diverge from their intended configuration remains a persistent operational challenge and is often addressed manually and reactively. Recent advances in Large Language Models (LLMs) have accelerated their adoption within software engineering and DevOps workflows; however, the sensitive nature of IaC artifacts, particularly Terraform state files, has limited organizational willingness to rely on public LLM services for drift detection and remediation. This thesis investigates the feasibility of using open-source, self-hosted LLMs to assist with IaC drift …

Design Thinking For Corporate Social Responsibility Program Proposal Creation, Michelle "Mindy" D. Danovaro

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study used action research to explore how the use of design thinking engaged employees in the creation of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program proposal in a small- to medium-enterprises (SME) in the Sacramento region of California. The purpose of the study was to assess whether employee participation in a design thinking exercise could improve employee perception of engagement, inclusion, and reciprocity during the CSR program proposal creation. The study was grounded in social exchange theory, stakeholder theory, and design thinking methodologies. The iterative research process followed action research cycles (i.e., plan, act, observe, and reflect) integrated with …

สมรรถนะพยาบาลเฉพาะทางการบำบัดทดแทนไต : แนวทางการพัฒนาคุณภาพการดูแลผู้ป่วยโรคไตเรื้อรังระยะสุดท้าย, ชลชญา บุญจันทร์ตรี, ณัฐชมนต์ วรพัฒน์วัชรกุล

Journal of Nursing Research, Innovation, and Health

บทความวิชาการนี้เป็นการสังเคราะห์องค์ความรู้เกี่ยวกับสมรรถนะของพยาบาลเฉพาะทางการบำบัดทดแทนไตและแนวทางการพัฒนาคุณภาพการดูแลผู้ป่วยโรคไตเรื้อรังระยะสุดท้ายโดยทบทวนวรรณกรรมและเอกสารทางวิชาการที่เกี่ยวข้องทั้งในและต่างประเทศรวมถึงแนวปฏิบัติทางคลินิกและมาตรฐานวิชาชีพพยาบาลเพื่อนำเสนอกรอบสมรรถนะหลักที่จำเป็นสำหรับพยาบาลเฉพาะทางในการให้การดูแลผู้ป่วยที่ได้รับการบำบัดทดแทนไตทั้ง3รูปแบบได้แก่การฟอกเลือดด้วยเครื่องไตเทียม การล้างไตทางช่องท้อง และการปลูกถ่ายไต  ผลลัพธ์ที่ได้จากการศึกษาพบว่าสมรรถนะหลักของพยาบาลเฉพาะทางการบำบัดทดแทนไตประกอบด้วย 9 หัวข้อสำคัญ ได้แก่ 1)สมรรถนะด้านการปฏิบัติการพยาบาลทางคลินิก 2)สมรรถนะด้านเทคโนโลยีและทักษะการใช้เครื่องมือฟอกไต 3)สมรรถนะด้านการสอนและการให้คำปรึกษา 4)สมรรถนะด้านจริยธรรมและความเป็นมืออาชีพ 5)สมรรถนะด้านการใช้เทคโนโลยีสาร 6)สมรรถนะด้านการสื่อสารและการทำงานเป็นทีม 7)สมรรถนะด้านการป้องกันและควบคุมการติดเชื้อ 8)สมรรถนะด้านคุณภาพและงานวิจัย 9) สมรรถนะด้านผู้นำและบริหารจัดการการพัฒนาคุณภาพการดูแลสามารถดำเนินการผ่าน4แนวทางหลักคือการพัฒนาศักยภาพบุคลากรอย่างต่อเนื่องผ่านการฝึกอบรมและการพัฒนาทางคลินิกการจัดทำและใช้แนวปฏิบัติทางคลินิกที่เป็นมาตรฐานการพัฒนาระบบติดตามประเมินผลและตัวชี้วัดคุณภาพและการส่งเสริมการทำงานเป็นทีมสหสาขาวิชาชีพ ซึ่งส่งผลให้ผู้ป่วยได้รับการดูแลที่มีคุณภาพ ลดภาวะแทรกซ้อน และมีคุณภาพชีวิตที่ดีขึ้น

คำสำคัญ:โรคไตวายเรื้อรังระยะสุดท้าย/การบำบัดทดแทนไต/สมรรถนะพยาบาล/คุณภาพการดูแล

ผลของโปรแกรมการให้ข้อมูลแบบรูปธรรม-ปรนัยต่อพฤติกรรมการป้องกันการพลัดตกหกล้มของผู้ป่วยวัยผู้ใหญ่ที่รับการรักษาในโรงพยาบาลศิครินทร์ หาดใหญ่, มณีวรรณ สุวรรณมณี, ศรีสุดา วิจะสิกะ, ทาริกา นิลประเสริฐ, กัญญดา ประจุศิลป, นรลักขณ์ เอื้อกิจ

Journal of Nursing Research, Innovation, and Health

วัตถุประสงค์:เพื่อศึกษาผลของโปรแกรมการให้ข้อมูลแบบรูปธรรม-ปรนัยต่อพฤติกรรมการป้องกันการพลัดตกหกล้มของผู้ป่วยวัยผู้ใหญ่ที่รับการรักษาในโรงพยาบาลศิครินทร์ หาดใหญ่

แบบแผนงานวิจัย:การวิจัยกึ่งทดลอง ชนิดสองกลุ่มวัดก่อนและหลังการทดลอง

วิธีดำเนินการวิจัย:กลุ่มตัวอย่าง คือ ผู้ป่วยวัยผู้ใหญ่ทั้งเพศชายและเพศหญิงที่เข้ารับการรักษาในโรงพยาบาล ศิครินทร์ หาดใหญ่ โดยกำหนดขนาดกลุ่มตัวอย่างด้วยโปรแกรม G*Power ได้กลุ่มตัวอย่าง จำนวน 50 คน แบ่งเป็นกลุ่มทดลองที่ได้รับโปรแกรมการให้ข้อมูลแบบรูปธรรม-ปรนัยและกลุ่มควบคุมที่ได้รับการพยาบาลตามปกติ กลุ่มละ 25 คน เครื่องมือที่ใช้ในการวิจัย คือ โปรแกรมการให้ข้อมูลแบบรูปธรรม-ปรนัย ที่ผู้วิจัยสร้างขึ้นตามแนวคิดทฤษฎีการปรับตนเองของ Leventhal & Johnson และแบบสอบถามพฤติกรรมการป้องกันการพลัดตกหกล้ม จำนวน 12 ข้อ ผ่านการตรวจสอบความตรงเชิงเนื้อหาจากผู้ทรงคุณวุฒิ จำนวน 3 คน มีค่าดัชนีความตรงตามเนื้อหาเท่ากับ 1 วิเคราะห์ข้อมูลด้วยสถิติเชิงพรรณนา และเปรียบเทียบความแตกต่างของคะแนนเฉลี่ยพฤติกรรมการป้องกันการพลัดตกหกล้มระหว่างกลุ่มด้วยสถิติ Independent t-test

ผลการวิจัย:พฤติกรรมการป้องกันการพลัดตกหกล้มกลุ่มที่ได้รับโปรแกรมการให้ข้อมูลแบบรูปธรรม-ปรนัยหลังได้รับโปรแกรมสูงกว่าก่อนได้รับโปรแกรมอย่างมีนัยสำคัญทางสถิติ (p < .001) และกลุ่มที่ได้รับโปรแกรมการให้ข้อมูลแบบรูปธรรม-ปรนัยมีคะแนนเฉลี่ยพฤติกรรมการป้องกันการพลัดตกหกล้ม (=7.32, SD=5.30) สูงกว่ากลุ่มที่ได้รับการพยาบาลตามปกติ (=1.92, SD=4.39) อย่างมีนัยสำคัญทางสถิติที่ระดับ .001 (p < .001)

สรุปผล:โปรแกรมการให้ข้อมูลแบบรูปธรรม-ปรนัยส่งผลให้ผู้ป่วยวัยผู้ใหญ่มีพฤติกรรมการป้องกันการพลัดตกหกล้มดีขึ้น ทั้งในการเปรียบเทียบระหว่างกลุ่มและก่อน-หลังการทดลอง จึงควรนำไปใช้เพื่อลดความเสี่ยงการพลัดตกหกล้มในสถานพยาบาล

Metabolic Mind: A Critical Literature Review On The Influence Of Mindset On Metabolic Health, Jordan Daniel M.A., M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Evidence has demonstrated that psychological processes can influence metabolic functions, which are essential to overall health, as impaired energy metabolism can compromise physiological systems (Bobba-Alves N et al., 2022). Metabolic health is defined as a state of well-being characterized by optimal levels of blood glucose, lipids, cholesterol, blood pressure, and adiposity and is the absence of metabolic dysfunction, which encompasses but is not limited to cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. A powerful psychological construct that has demonstrated its influence on health is a mindset. Defined as core beliefs or assumptions about oneself and the world, …

From Local Innovation To Statewide Policy: A Quantitative Study Of I How Long Island Educators Are Preparing For New York State’S Portrait Of A Graduate Framework, Ishanee Brown-Murphy

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

The New York State Portrait of a Graduate (PoG) framework emphasizes the development of transferable competencies intended to prepare students for college, career, and life readiness. Although the framework has been adopted statewide, limited empirical research exists regarding secondary educators’ perceptions of preparedness to implement PoG competencies within curriculum, instruction, assessment, and schoolwide practices. Understanding educator readiness is essential to supporting effective and equitable implementation across schools The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine how secondary educators on Long Island perceive their readiness to implement the New York State Portrait of a Graduate framework. Specifically, the study explored …

Making Sense Of Membership: Organizational Socialization Of African Immigrant Employees In U.S. Workplaces, Ikeola J. Bodunde

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

This dissertation examines how African immigrant employees make sense of organizational socialization in U.S. workplaces. As global mobility reshapes the labor force, nearly one in five U.S. workers is foreign-born, making organizational socialization an increasingly complex communicative process. Classic socialization models assume linear, uniform adjustment, yet international employees often face ambiguity, cultural mismatch, and racialized expectations that complicate early workplace experiences. Guided by sensemaking theory, this study conceptualizes socialization as an ongoing, nonlinear process through which newcomers notice cues, construct interpretations, act on provisional understandings, and revise meanings as contexts shift. Using a qualitative, interpretive design, I conducted semi-structured interviews …

Modeling Inherited Retinal Disease In Zebrafish, Meet Patel

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) affect millions of people worldwide. Majority of IRDs are caused by degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptor cells (PRCs) due to gene mutations. The overarching goal of my dissertation is to model and evaluate the molecular role of various gene candidates involved in IRDs such as cone rod dystrophy (CRD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Mutations in CDHR1, a photoreceptor specific cadherin have been associated with CRD and recapitulated in mouse CDHR1 knockouts. However, the molecular function of CDHR1 remains unknown. CDHR1 has been shown to localize at the leading edge of murine rod nascent outer segment …

Preserving A Liturgical Identity: The Liturgical And Musical Heritage Of Roman Catholic Apostolic Women Religious In The United States Of America, Andrew G. Jennings

Doctor of Pastoral Music Projects and Theses

This thesis examines the liturgical and musical heritage of Roman Catholic apostolic women religious in the United States and argues that their contributions represent a significant yet understudied dimension of American Catholic life. As many communities face declining numbers, the preservation of their liturgical and musical traditions becomes increasingly urgent. Using an interdisciplinary methodology that combines historical research, liturgical theology, pneumatology, phenomenology, narrative inquiry, and qualitative interviews, the study explores how women religious have shaped and preserved communal identity through liturgy, music, and apostolic ministry.

The research traces the historical development of apostolic women religious from their emergence in the …

2025-2026 Library & Learning Annual Review, Library & Learning, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Library & Learning Annual Reviews

Digital version of the 2025-2026 Annual Review for Library & Learning at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Simulated Traffic Stops For Neurodiverse Drivers, Addie Wilson

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

The goal of this capstone project was to create a simulated traffic stop event for neurodiverse drivers to decrease anxieties and promote positive interactions with local law enforcement. This project was completed under the ACOTE standards of project development and clinical skills, and in collaboration with the University of Kentucky Driving Rehabilitation Program and a Certified Driving Rehabilitation Specialist. Previous simulated traffic stops have been completed specifically for the ASD population and showed improvements in anxiety and understanding of traffic stops. Additionally, resources like the Blue Envelope Program have been implemented across the country to allow for interactions between autistic …

I Am God's Masterpiece- Inclusive Vacation Bible School For Adults With Disabilities, Chelsea Lee M. Beverly

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

A SWOT analysis revealed a substantial need of local events for adults with IDD, therefore, the goal of this capstone project was to host an event promoting inclusivity in rural communities and offering opportunities for meaningful engagement in social participation and leisure activities in diverse populations. I specifically focused on the community impacts of this project, what the needs were for this area, and how this could benefit the community now and in the future. This event was held on June 6, 2026 from 10am-3pm. Participants were offered engagement opportunities through completing crafts, participating in worship, interactive Bible lessons, outdoor …

Improving Fall Prevention In Assisted Living Through Resident Engagement, Staff Education And Environmental Safety Initiatives, Sarah Emmons

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

My doctoral capstone project and Applied Leadership Experience (ALE) were completed at Parkview Assisted Living in Danville, Kentucky. The project focused on the ACOTE areas of education, program development, clinical practice, and leadership, with the goal of improving resident safety and independence through evidence-based fall prevention initiatives. A needs assessment was completed through staff interviews, resident observations, collaboration with facility leadership, and a review of current literature. Findings identified opportunities to enhance staff education related to fall prevention, dementia-informed communication, purposeful rounding, and environmental safety. To address these needs, I developed and implemented Steady Steps, a weekly occupation-based balance group …

Expanding Access To Age-Typical Social Experiences For Children With Disabilities: Camp Quest, Megan Duffy

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

The purpose of this capstone project was to expand access to social participation and community integration experiences for children with disabilities in order to address the gap in access when compared with age-level peers. In order to accomplish this, I developed and administered summer camp programming in partnership with Easterseals Crossroads (ESC), a nonprofit organization that serves individuals with disabilities across the lifespan. In collaboration with a multitude of clinicians, students, topic experts, and organizational members of ESC, I developed camp programming and staff training for Camp QUEST. Following program development, I coordinated and guided the counselors, clinicians, volunteers, students, …

U Go Girl: Millennial Women In The Workplace, Kelsey A. Curnutt

Doctor of Leadership Projects

This project focused on the professional lives and experiences of Millennial women. There is a plentitude written on the subject of Millennials as a generational cohort. Early research held a mostly negative view, with characterizations such as laziness, impatience, and unreliability. The problem here is much of it was written from the outside looking in. Likewise there is a wealth of research on women in the workplace, women in leadership, and a woman’s right to belong and be accepted as equal. The project U Go Girl: Millennial Women in the Workplace is a book manuscript which examines the lived experiences …

Implementing A Competency-Based Cross-Training Program To Enhance Patient Flow, Jill E. Shanklin

DNP Projects

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a competency-based cross-training program on perinatal nurses’ preparedness to care for medical-surgical (med-surg) overflow patients and to support patient flow.

Design: Quality improvement project using a quasi-experimental pre–post design.

Setting: A 44-bed perinatal unit within a university-affiliated medical center in the United States.

Participants: Registered nurses employed in the perinatal unit for ≥6 months; 24 completed the preintervention survey and 28 completed the postintervention survey.

Interventions: A competency-based cross-training program consisting of e-learning modules, simulation-based competency validation, and structured policy and procedure review.

Main Outcome Measures: Self-reported comfort, …

Enhancing Tray Integrity: A Quality Improvement Project To Reduce Central Sterile Processing Defects, Ashley Conn

DNP Projects

Background: Instrument tray defects contribute to surgical delays, workflow disruptions, rework in sterile processing, inefficient instrument utilization, and patient safety risks.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to reduce orthopedic instrument tray defects through targeted education and standardized tray audits with double-check verification in a large academic medical center.

Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-post design was utilized to evaluate the impact of the intervention. Tray errors were captured using a standardized binary indicator. Staff satisfaction and confidence surveys were measured using Likert-scale surveys.

Results: Orthopedic trays were analyzed before (n=1,017) and after (n=941) implementation. Post-implementation, tray errors decreased …

Riddle Me Resilient: Investigating The Impact Of Riddle Based Class Openings On Student Resilience And Well-Being, Carolyn T. Brown

DNP Projects

Abstract

Background: Burnout among nurses and nursing students is a widespread and well‑documented problem that adversely affects professional performance and psychological well‑being. Resilience serves as a key protective factor, helping buffer the effects of academic stress and reducing burnout over time. Incorporating brief, low‑stakes cognitive challenges—such as a riddle—can help foster resilience.

Purpose: This project evaluated the impact of incorporating riddles into a wellness-focused course, Introduction to Mindfulness and Wellness, on resilience and well-being among undergraduate nursing students.

Methods: This project employed an Institutional Review Board approved pre-post survey design to measure the effect of an intervention focused on …

Evaluating The Implementation And Use Of A Standardized Screening Process To Increase Flu Vaccine Uptake In A Rural Health Primary Care Clinic, Mackenzie L. Pierce

DNP Projects

Background: Research has shown that an annual influenza vaccine is the most effective way to both prevent and reduce the risk of hospitalization and severe health complications of the flu. A yearly influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone age 6 moths and older.

Local Problem: Rural communities have lower rates of influenza vaccination which can be due in part to a lack of screening and education on vaccines and their importance. No process for influenza vaccine status screening existed at the project site prior to this project.

Methods: A quality-improvement project was conducted to evaluate the implementation of a standardized …

Evaluation Of A Nicotine Prevention Program In A Third Grade Classroom, Jennifer A. Pile

DNP Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to increase knowledge of nicotine products and promote negative perceptions of nicotine use among third-grade students through early prevention education.

Background: Prevention is key and to prevent nicotine use, there must be an educational program with that aim in a much younger population. Third grade encompasses 8-, 9-, and 10-year-olds. This group is in the middle childhood stage and begin more complex thinking and problem-solving skills. There is physical and emotional development among this group.

Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study among third grade students in Breckinridge County Kentucky with pretest and …

Unintentional Medication Discrepancies In Outpatient Cardiac Procedures: Identifying Modifiable Barriers, Julie M. Turner

DNP Projects

Background: Medication reconciliation (MR) reduces medication errors during care transitions; however, unintentional medication discrepancies (UMDs) remain common due to variable practices and lack of standardization. Patients undergoing elective cardiac procedures are particularly vulnerable given complex medication regimens.

Purpose: This quality improvement project evaluated implementation of a Medication Reconciliation Barrier Identification Checklist (MRBIC) in the cardiac catheterization laboratory to identify patient, staff, and system-level contributors to UMDs.

Methods: A quasi-experimental pre–post design was conducted at a large academic medical center. During a six-week intervention, nurses and providers completed the MRBIC during pre-procedure MR. Barrier scores were compared with …