Digital Commons Network^™

Staff Education To Enhance Self-Care Support For Nurses, Charisma Olive

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Background: High stress and burnout among maternity unit nurses negatively impact both nurse well-being and patient care quality. Research indicates that nurse burnout is associated with impaired cognitive function, reduced emotional connection with patients, and suboptimal job performance, all of which directly impact patient safety. Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement a comprehensive staff education program teaching evidence-based self-care strategies while assessing organizational support systems for nurse wellness. Methods: This three-phase quality improvement project utilized Lewin’s change management model combined with the ADDIE instructional design framework. Phase I (baseline assessment) involved 17 participating maternity nurses …

Development Of A Comfort Care Clinical Practice Guideline And Standardized Comfort Care Kits In Adult Home Hospice, Kelly Miller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project focused on the development and expert appraisal of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) to improve home-based comfort care in hospice settings. Terminally ill patients frequently experience distressing symptoms such as pain, dyspnea, and nausea, yet inconsistent symptom management and documentation practices persist across hospice care (Henson et al., 2020). A CPG was developed to evaluate a comfort care kit for patients. The CPG was independently reviewed by a three-member expert panel using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument, which consists of 23 items that are organized into …

The Racial Politics Of Early Dentistry And The Terrible “Toothache Blues”, Bronwen Mcveigh Phd

Journal of the American College of Dentists

In interwar America, the relatively young profession of dentistry was developing rapidly. As the government, health institutions, and social organizers focused more intently on notions of national wellness, questions about how to achieve a healthy smile—and what a healthy smile should look like—proliferated. Groups like the National Dental Association worked to establish rigorous standards of technique, define ethical behavior, and encourage dentists to develop business acumen, yet the surprising proliferation of blues songs about dubious dentists tricking unassuming clients, or about fraught love affairs allegorized by disastrous dental exams, highlights the equivocal nature of many developments in early dentistry.

This …

Staff Education To Address Financial Barriers In Outpatient Psychiatric Care, Yvette Taffou Kamayou

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project addressed financial barriers that prevent psychiatric outpatients from accessing consistent care. High no-show rates in outpatient psychiatry, often 20–40%, stem largely from costs such as co-pays, transportation, and medication, leading to missed appointments, poorer outcomes, and increased healthcare costs. The practice-focused question was “In an outpatient psychiatric clinic, does a targeted staff education program on non-judgmental financial discussions, sliding-scale fees, and telehealth options improve staff knowledge, confidence, and patient referral rates to resources over 8 weeks?” The purpose was to implement and evaluate a structured educational intervention to equip staff with tools for addressing financial barriers, …

Integrating Zotero With Your Writing: From Research To Publication – Hslic Workshop Feb 2026, Evelyn Wang

HSLIC Faculty and Staff Instructional Resources

This HSLIC workshop presentation provides a practical, step‑by‑step guide to integrating Zotero into the research and writing workflow. Topics include installing and configuring Zotero and the Zotero Connector, collecting references from databases and web pages, organizing items with collections, subcollections, tags, and PDF attachments, inserting citations and generating bibliographies in Microsoft Word and Google Docs, managing and annotating PDFs, handling title case versus sentence case, detecting and merging duplicate records, and using advanced features such as Zotero sync, group libraries, collaboration tools, custom citation styles, and ZoteroBib.

Cationic Poly(Glucosamine)-Based Polymers Bind To Glycans With Varying Affinity Facilitating Transport Across The Glycocalyx Of Endothelial Cells, Claire Bridges, Lu Fu, Dan Wang, James D. Sterling, Susanna Liang, Shenda M. Baker, Jonathan Yeow, Megan S. Lord

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

Natural polysaccharides, such as chitosan, offer promising avenues for drug delivery due to their cytocompatibility and ability to interact with cell surfaces. However, the endothelial glycocalyx, a glycan-rich extracellular matrix, presents a barrier that must be navigated for effective intracellular delivery. This study investigates how cationic poly(glucosamine)-based polymers, functionalized with guanidinium or ammonium groups, interact with key glycocalyx components including hyaluronan (HA) and heparan sulfate (HS). We demonstrate that these cationic polymers form tunable biomolecular condensates with glycans, with stronger binding observed for sulfated glycans, HS and heparin, than unsulfated HA. Derivatized chitosan polymers with varied cationic side chains exhibit …

The Dental Phantom As A Tool For Exploring Fear, The Face, And Dental Education, Christine Slobogin Phd

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Dental phantoms have been used in dental education since the late nineteenth century. These pedagogical objects – particularly those from the first half of the twentieth century – have today enjoyed a resurgence of interest in the art and film worlds. After first outlining the history and pedagogical purposes of the dental phantom, this article examines what the artistic and filmic attractions to the aesthetics of these objects can tell us about fear, the mouth and the face, and dental education. How and why can a dental teaching tool be scary? Arriving at some answers to this question – reached …

A Dental Clinical Humanities Program At Uthealth Houston School Of Dentistry: The First Ten Years And Future Directions, Angela P. Gomez Edd, Mba, Ms, Deborah R. Franklin Dds, Lpc, Ctts, Nathan Carlin Phd, Joelle Robertson-Preidler Phd, Hec-C

Journal of the American College of Dentists

The Dental Clinical Humanities Certificate Program was implemented 10 years ago at the UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry to expose dental students to dental humanities content and engage them in educational experiences exploring oral health care through humanities lenses, providing insight into the human condition and patient-centered approaches. With more than 30 students having graduated from the program, we conducted a retrospective analysis of the exit surveys previously distributed at the end of each academic year. The exit survey focused on their general program feedback, including the effects of dental humanities as an academic enterprise, cultivating their self-knowledge and serving …

The Pent-Up Demand For Humanities And Ethics In Dentistry, Nathan Carlin, Nanette Elster, Catherine Flaitz, Nicholas Mercado Drph, Ms, Laurie Munro, Chelsey Patten, Joelle Robertson-Preidler, Margie Hodges Shaw Jd, Ma, Phd, Christine Slobogin Phd, Matthew Wynia, Michael Yunker Dds

Journal of the American College of Dentists

The Editorial is a feature in each issue of the JACD. It includes commentary on issue content, relevant topics, or other items of interest to the fellowship.

The Vipeholm Experiments: A Case Study Of Unethical Dental Research, Lainie Ross Md, Phd

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Modern-day research ethics training often begins with a discussion of the medical research atrocities committed by Nazi health care professionals and the resulting 10-principle Nuremberg Code, which is often considered to be the beginning of modern-day medical research regulations. It is occasionally mentioned that Nazi dentists also conducted unethical research in the concentration camps, and a few were brought to trial. In this manuscript, I compare two studies (one medical and one dental) conducted after World War II that violated the Nuremberg Code.

I describe and compare the well-known Willowbrook Hepatitis studies conducted by infectious disease doctors on vulnerable institutionalized …

The Rider (2026-02-09), Daniela Chapa-Reyes

The Rider Archives

Vol. 11, No. 18

Improving Evidence-Based Practices In Healthcare Settings Using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 And General Anxiety Disorder-7 Screening Tools, Adebukola Aladesanmi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this doctoral project, I focused on enhancing the adoption of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in healthcare settings, specifically through the implementation of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) mental health screening tools. The practice problem was the ineffective integration of EBPs into clinical workflows, resulting in inefficiencies, staff burden, and missed opportunities for timely mental health interventions. Addressing this gap is crucial to enhancing patient outcomes and optimizing clinical workflows. The practice-focused question for this project was: How does training healthcare staff on the use of PHQ-9 and GAD-7 screening tools, compared to no structured training, …

Mcsa Forum Minutes 02/09/2026, Morris Campus Student Association

Morris Campus Student Association

No abstract provided.

How Principals Who Use Artificial Intelligence For Innovation Create Cognitive Equity While Principals Who Use Ai For Efficiency Create Cognitive Debt, Jethro Jones

Dissertations

This dissertation in practice examined whether a targeted professional learning   intervention could shift school leaders’ use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) from efficiency-oriented tasks toward innovation-oriented strategic problem solving. AI is typically adopted to accelerate existing routines, which can deepen “cognitive debt” by reinforcing ineffective practices rather than improving systems. This study advanced a “cognitive equity” frame, positioning AI as a tool that can expand principals’ cognitive capacity to address complex problems and lead adaptive change. Using a quasi-experimental, single-group design, the study evaluated a free, full-day AI for Innovation workshop, which emphasized foundational understanding of how AI tools work …

Information Distortion As A Source Of Overconfidence In Managerial Decisions, Peter Boyle, Pete Nye

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of the Sciences

Managers confronting important strategic decisions often receive diagnostic information sequentially over time. As new information becomes available, they may need to update their understanding of the situation and possibly revise their preferences. During a decision, as a preference develops for one alternative course of action, a nonconscious goal of maintaining consistency between that preference, however tentative, and the new information can lead to an interpretation of that information so as to support the current preference. This tendency to bias or distort information to support the currently preferred option can in turn lead to even greater confidence in that leading option, …

Ex Vivo Microfluidic Model Identifies A Role For Shear Stress During Ovarian Tumor Cell Attachment To Peritoneal Mesothelial Cells, Vasilios A Morikis, Breanna Baker, Jillian A Martin, Angela Schab, Alessandra Dimauro, Gregory D Longmore, Whitney R Grither

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Ascites, or a pathologic accumulation of intra-abdominal fluid, is a key feature of intraperitoneally disseminating cancers, such as ovarian cancer. This pathological fluid buildup can influence the adhesive abilities of ovarian cancer cells, as they spread throughout the abdominal cavity to form metastatic implants on organs lined with a specialized monolayer of mesothelial cells. Robust methods for assessing the impact of fluid shear stress on this cell-cell interaction are lacking. Here, we develop and characterize a novel microfluidic device that allows for the determination of the attachment of ovarian tumor cells to mesothelial cells under the influence of fluid flow. …

Phytic Acid (Insp6) Activates Hdac3 Epigenetic Axis To Maintain Intestinal Barrier Function, Sujan Chatterjee, Katherine Huang, Kayci Huff-Hardy, Richard Rood, Anas Gremida, Martin Gregory, Chien-Huan Chen, Parakkal Deepak, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

HDAC inhibition shows promise in cancer treatment but pan-HDAC inhibitors cause gastrointestinal issues in 48% of patients. Understanding HDAC activation mechanisms is crucial to treating diverse diseases beyond cancer. Our study reveals that inositol polyphosphate multikinase (IPMK) and inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP

Ex Vivo Microfluidic Model Identifies A Role For Shear Stress During Ovarian Tumor Cell Attachment To Peritoneal Mesothelial Cells, Vasilios A Morikis, Breanna Baker, Jillian A Martin, Angela Schab, Alessandra Dimauro, Gregory D Longmore, Whitney R Grither

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Ascites, or a pathologic accumulation of intra-abdominal fluid, is a key feature of intraperitoneally disseminating cancers, such as ovarian cancer. This pathological fluid buildup can influence the adhesive abilities of ovarian cancer cells, as they spread throughout the abdominal cavity to form metastatic implants on organs lined with a specialized monolayer of mesothelial cells. Robust methods for assessing the impact of fluid shear stress on this cell-cell interaction are lacking. Here, we develop and characterize a novel microfluidic device that allows for the determination of the attachment of ovarian tumor cells to mesothelial cells under the influence of fluid flow. …

The Mouth As A Mirror: A Parent- Hygienist’S Ethical Reflections On Oral Healthcare And Pompe Disease, Anika Atkins Ma, Rdh

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This reflective narrative explores the ethical tensions and emotional realities of a dental hygienist who is also the parent of a child with Pompe disease. Drawing from personal experience and care ethics philosophy, the author examines how traditional clinical frameworks—centered on autonomy, beneficence, and protocol— often fall short when addressing the needs of medically fragile children. The piece weaves in the work of care ethicists and pastoral ministry to embrace the philosophy of caregiving as presence, to suggest that oral healthcare must evolve to include responsiveness, context, and relationship-based decision-making. Through the dual lens of provider and parent, the narrative …

Restoring Trust: A Fair Chance At A Bright Smile And The Human Side Of School-Based Dentistry, Rubin Sorrell Ii, Mph, Dds

Journal of the American College of Dentists

The Fair Chance at a Bright Smile (FCAABS) program represents a humanistic, community- centered approach to dentistry that redefines access, education, and dignity in oral health. Developed and refined through a year-long pilot partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District, FCAABS integrates preventive dental care, oral health education, and career exposure for students from pre-kindergarten through high school. This manuscript argues that beyond clinical outcomes, FCAABS reveals a deeper truth: oral health is intrinsically social, emotional, and moral. It examines the program through the lens of the humanities and ethics, exploring how narrative, empathy, and cultural context inform both …

Board Of Directors Meeting Minutes (February 9, 2026), Dmacc

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

This file contains the minutes from the Des Moines Area Community College Board meeting held on February 9, 2026.

Explore Uncharted Ideas With Tedx University Of Mississippi, Staff Report

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – With topics ranging from groundbreaking science to frontier education, TEDx University of Mississippi invites the community to "Uncharted," a TED-licensed event with seven thought-provoking speakers set for 7 p.m. Feb. 20 in the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts.

Staff Education On Integrating Holistic And Herbal Therapies For Adults With Depression, Kettelene P. Mcmorris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adults with depression frequently use or inquire about holistic and herbal therapies; however, inconsistent and non-standardized staff education regarding the safe, evidence-based integration of these therapies may contribute to variable counseling practices and potential patient safety risks. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project was to implement and evaluate a structured staff education intervention focused on integrating holistic and herbal therapies for adults with depression in an outpatient behavioral health practice. The practice-focused question examined whether staff education would improve staff knowledge related to commonly used holistic and herbal therapies and associated safety considerations. A …

Clinical Practice Guideline For Structured Communication In A Pediatric Outpatient Psychiatry, Stella Uzoamaka Ihesiaba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project focused on developing and evaluating a clinical practice guideline (CPG) to address the lack of standardized interdisciplinary communication between psychologists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) in a pediatric outpatient psychiatric setting. Inconsistent communication practices, including informal conversations, delayed documentation, and unstructured messaging, contributed to fragmented care and inefficient treatment coordination. To address this gap, an evidence-based, structured communication framework was developed to guide interdisciplinary collaboration. The guideline was developed using the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice model and supported by a review of 14 evidence sources spanning Levels I to V of the literature. A four-member …

The Perspective Of Rural Secondary Vocational Education Instructors On Employability Skills, Unqualified Advancement, And Expulsion To Reduce Delinquency And Justice System Contact, Stacy Lynn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this study, the problem in Tennessee and across the United States where the skills of employability, which are used in the reduction of recidivism, are not being emphasized at the secondary level to prevent delinquency and initial justice system contact was highlighted. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspective of rural secondary vocational educators on student unqualified advancement, expulsion, and program employability skills of students participating in vocational education, referencing the reduction of delinquency and justice system contact. Bandura’s social learning theory and subsequent social cognitive theory were the theoretical frameworks for thematic analysis using interpretative …

Staff Education Of Fall Prevention Intervention In The Emergency Department, Jonathan Jaramillo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient falls remain a significant patient safety concern in emergency departments (EDs) despite the routine use of fall risk screening tools. At the project site, continued fall events suggested a gap in staff knowledge, confidence, and consistent application of evidence-based fall prevention strategies. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project evaluated whether a targeted staff education intervention would improve ED nursing staff's knowledge, confidence, and intent to identify fall risk, implement prevention strategies, and respond appropriately to patient falls. Guided by the Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate (ADDIE) instructional design model, an evidence-based educational intervention was developed …

Staff Education To Enhance Phq-9 Depression Screening In A Mental Health Clinic, Constance Gawum Chingo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Summary Lack of standardization in the implementation and documentation of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was noted in this outpatient mental health clinic, impeding reproducible depression screening and evidence-based monitoring. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to examine whether staff education, enhanced by clinical workflow aids, could foster uniform PHQ-9 documentation in applicable patient encounters. Strategies employed included a systematic staff education session, a quick reference guide, an electronic health record (EHR) guide, and provision of prompt guidance and support during adoption. A pre- and post-quality improvement assessment was conducted …

Optimizing Telehealth Staff Education To Improve Medication Adherence In Adults With Ptsd, Omotayo Abdul

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project was a staff education quality improvement initiative designed to optimize telehealth training for nurses to improve medication adherence in adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Telehealth has become an essential modality for delivering mental health care, yet its effectiveness depends heavily on nurses’ ability to communicate effectively, build trust, and engage patients in treatment discussions. Medication nonadherence remains a significant challenge in PTSD care and is closely linked to the quality of clinician communication and patient engagement during care encounters. The practice-focused question guiding this project asked how a staff education project on PTSD …

Staff Education To Improve Accuracy And Consistency Of Depression Assessment Through Structured Education On The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Janenita D. Chukwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inaccurate and inconsistent administration and interpretation of standardized depression screening instruments can destabilize clinical accuracy and patient safety. Despite routine administration of the ZSDS during nursing intake, informal observation and documentation review indicated a gap in nurses' understanding of how to compute raw scores, convert them to index scores, and define the severity levels. The aim of the project was to determine whether a structured staff education intervention would enhance nurses' knowledge of ZSDS administration, scoring, and interpretation. Informed by the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice model, an educational intervention based on existing evidence on the accuracy and implementation fidelity of …

Enhancing Provider Understanding Of Antidepressant Side Effects Through An Evidence-Based Educational Initiative, Karrylee Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this doctoral project was to implement a quality improvement educational initiative to strengthen provider understanding of antidepressant side effects in an outpatient behavioral health setting. The project was conducted to address gaps in staff knowledge related to identifying and managing antidepressant adverse effects, which are essential skills for safe medication practices in mental health care. Addressing this gap was significant because unrecognized antidepressant side effects can contribute to poor adherence, worsening symptoms, preventable complications, and negative patient outcomes. The results of the project demonstrated meaningful improvements in provider knowledge. Six staff members completed pre- and posttest assessments. …