Digital Commons Network^™

Examining The Motivational Climate In An Anatomy Course: Instructional Practices To Engage Students In Learning, Emily M. Holt Foerst, Brett D. Jones, Meghan Byrnes

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Anatomy education presents a complex motivational environment, yet little is known about how medical students experience this climate. Grounded in the MUSIC Model of Motivation framework, this study explored students’ perceptions of the motivational climate in a first-year medical anatomy course. Using a mixed-methods design, we surveyed students early in the course and conducted interviews following course completion. Although students reported strong Caring perceptions on the survey, their Empowerment, Usefulness, Success, and Interest perceptions were more variable, and some were suboptimal. Interview findings revealed specific instructional practices (e.g., lecture format, lab group dynamics, alignment with clinical goals) that either supported …

Fostering Intercultural Competence In Healthcare: Insights From An Online Audiology Course, Lata A. Krishnan, Aparajita Jaiswal, Sakhi Aggrawal

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Intercultural competence (ICC) is essential for students, particularly in healthcare, to provide culturally responsive care. This study examines the integration of intercultural learning (ICL) activities in a fully online, asynchronous 300-level undergraduate audiology course. Pre- and post-test data from the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI®) revealed a significant increase in ICC among senior students, while non-seniors showed no measurable change. Qualitative analysis of final reflections supported these findings, with seniors articulating deeper intercultural insights. These results suggest that ICC development may vary based on academic level and prior experience. Additionally, intentionally structured interventions aligned with students’ prior experiences could further enhance …

A Multi-Case Study Of Peer Tutoring Programs: Program Structure, Faculty-Tutor Partnerships, And Access To Instructional Knowledge, Becky W. Packard, Amanda Xu, Teah Shi

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Peer tutors make important contributions within higher education institutions, yet the tutoring program structures vary widely with regard to how tutors are positioned, which in turn, affords and constrains access to instructional knowledge. Using a multi-case method, this study contrasts the structures of four tutoring programs: two programs within a private four-year college and two programs within a public two-year college. Two primary factors, the nature of faculty-tutor partnership and connection to a peer mentoring community, were examined and found to shape access to instructional knowledge. In addition, the results suggested that tutor prior experience as students in courses, experience …

The Impacts Of A First-Year Seminar On Academic And Career Planning And Community Building For Geoscience Students, Elizabeth D. Crook, Julie E. Ferguson

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Retention of students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields, particularly of traditionally underrepresented groups, remains a nationally recognized concern. Many studies have shown that first-year seminars can have a positive effect on a student’s transition to college, persistence in their chosen degrees, and ultimate success and retention in the geosciences and other related STEM fields. We created a one-unit first-year seminar to assist our geoscience students with academic and career planning, increase student awareness of opportunities on campus, and increase a sense of belonging in their major. We present pre and post survey data to assess the effectiveness …

Community College Students' Experiences With The Syllabus: A Qualitative Study, Diego Pliego, Abby Kaplan

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Most existing literature on college students’ use of the course syllabus has been conducted in artificial settings, collected a limited range of data, or both. This study addresses this gap in the literature with a series of in-depth qualitative interviews with students at a community college about how they interact with a syllabus from one of their current classes. We find that most students report reading at least part of the syllabus, most often the calendar and information on grading. Students are most likely to read information specific to the class and are least likely to read general college information …

Beyond The Mic: Fostering Critical Consciousness Through Podcasting In A Social Foundations Of Education Course, Jacob Kelley

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This article contributes to the scholarship of teaching and learning by examining the ways in which a podcast project facilitated the development of critical consciousness among pre-service teachers in an undergraduate social foundations of education course at a research university in the southeastern United States. It draws on data generated using semi-structured interviews with 10 pre-service teachers across two semesters of the course who completed the podcast project. Using inductive thematic analysis, I identified four themes in this case study: (1) Personal Experiences as Catalysts for Critical Consciousness, (2) Dialogical Learning as a Pathway to Critical Consciousness, (3) Grappling with …

Hypertensive Remodelling: When Bigger Body Means Bigger Problems, Eric Lazartigues

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Colorectal Cancer: Differential Gene Expression And In Vitro Response To 5-Fluorouracil, Novel Fluoropyrimidine F10, And Potential Synergy With Lupeol, Shrey D. Thaker, Jenny Paredes, Jone Garai, Laura A. Martello, William H. Gmeiner, Jovanny Zabaleta, Jennie Williams

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the most lethal malignancies in the United States, with African American (AA) patients experiencing disproportionately higher incidence and mortality compared to Caucasian Americans (CAs). These disparities have been linked to tumor-intrinsic genomic differences, including microsatellite instability (MSI) and p53 mutation status, which may influence chemotherapeutic response, particularly to the standard-of-care agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). However, mechanistic insights have been limited by the lack of racially diverse preclinical models. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of F10 (a novel fluoropyrimidine polymer) vs. 5-FU using AA- and CA-derived CRC cell lines with distinct MSI and p53 profiles. MTT …

Incorporating Behavioral Health Strategies In Primary Care To Improve Outcomes Of Depressed Patients, Amy L. Brummett

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Depression, otherwise known as major depressive disorder, is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest, sleep disturbances, changes to weight (both gain and loss), difficulty concentrating, and in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts, and/or attempts (Mayo Clinic, 2022). An estimated 8.3% or 21.0 million adults in the United States have experienced at least one episode of depression. Primary care clinicians are often the first to recognize the symptoms of depression. Depression was very prevalent in the clinic where this DNP Scholarly project took place. The owner/nurse practitioner found that she was increasingly treating depressed …

Decoding Teen Slang: A Simulation Model For Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Education, Kristen M. Vandenberg

Biennial Convention (CONV)

In the rapidly evolving world of teen and young adult slang, staying current with the latest terminology is crucial for healthcare professionals working with this demographic. For providers in psychiatric and mental health fields, an understanding of this evolving language can facilitate improved communication and foster trust, thereby enhancing clinical outcomes.

This study introduces a simulation model specifically designed for nurse practitioner students in a psychiatric mental health program, aiming to bridge the communication gap between providers and young clients. Grounded in a conceptual framework of cultural competence and communication theory, the simulation seeks to improve student understanding of adolescent …

Postgraduation Ngn Preparation Lived Experiences Of Baccalaureate Nursing Graduates, Kristy P. Ludy

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore baccalaureate nursing graduates’ lived experiences of preparing for the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) after graduation.

Background and Problem: The American Nurses Association (ANA) projects that by 2030, there will be approximately 194,000 nurse vacancies (American Nurses Association, 2023). Nursing programs must adequately prepare students for practice and to be successful on the licensure examination to address the nursing shortage. The newer licensure examination format of the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) evaluates clinical judgment, an essential aspect of decision-making in patient care. (Nunn-Ellison et al., 2020). With the implementation of the NGN, …

Promote A Healthy Learning Environment By Responding To Transition To Practice Safety Concerns, Julie Miller, Sara Grieshop

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: The ECRI recognized transition to practice (TTP) as 2024’s top patient safety concern. Challenges newly licensed nurses (NLNs) face during TTP and orientation (TTP/O) include: developing competence in managing patient care complexities and integrating into interprofessional teams. Job satisfaction, retention rates, nurse well-being, and patient outcomes are affected by the TTP/O periods.

Purpose: Our goal is to support NLNs with TTP challenges. A TTP/O pathway including nurse competencies with measurable performance outcomes (POs) and essential knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs), and digital knowledge assessment tools was developed and implemented.

Methodology: A staged orientation to assess overall competency and a …

"It's Really The Support System That Makes It" Expanding Infant-Toddler Child Care Options In New York, Voices From The Field, Mark K. Nagasawa

Straus Institute for Thriving Children & Families

This report discusses findings from a small, exploratory study of early childhood educators' experiences working to expand access to high quality child care for infants and toddlers. Because of who participated in the study, it takes a particular focus on the federally-funded Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership program. The study's contribution lies in surfacing fine-grained policy issues that complicate expansion efforts from the perspectives of professionals who live within a fragmented early care and education (ECE) system every day. This "non-system" (1) makes it difficult to provide continuity of care to children and their families; (2) lacks appropriate space(s) to …

Improve Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates Through Early Initiation, Camille Chua

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Exclusive breastfeeding can be challenging to maintain. At the project site there was an inconsistent process for breastfeeding support, so an evidence-based solution was sought. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental quality improvement project was to determine if or to what degree the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Guideline’s Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) Step Four would impact exclusive breastfeeding rates (EBFRs) when compared to current practice among adult postpartum patients in an acute care hospital in Southern California over four weeks. Nola Pender’s middle-range nursing theory utilizing the health promotion model (HPM), and Kurt Lewin’s change theory provided …

Peer-To-Peer Transitional Coaching Program, Jennifer Marie Carpenter, Susan J. Owens, Khristina Grimm

Biennial Convention (CONV)

High nurse turnover is an international concern that exacerbates the nursing shortage, and this shortage impacts patient outcomes, quality of care, patient satisfaction with care and job satisfaction for employees (Bae, 2023; Winter et al., 2020). According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistic (2023), 193,100 openings for Registered Nurses (RN) are expected each year, over the next decade. In 2023, the national turnover rate for hospital-based nurses was 22.5%, and the RN vacancy rate was 15.7% (NSI Nursing Solutions Inc., 2023). Even more alarming is the suggestion that first year registered nurse turnover within hospitals, far exceed all …

Perceived Impacts Of Self-Care Strategies To Reduce Stress In First-Year Bsn Students, Valerie Pauli

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Research identifies considerable stress among students enrolled in nursing programs. Coloring is known to de-stress; therefore, students experience lowered anxiety and stress levels. The purpose of this study was to (1) explore the impacts of mindful coloring on reducing perceived stress of first-year baccalaureate nursing students and (2) explore the students' insights into effective self-care and stress management approaches formed during their first semester in the nursing program (N=29).

Methods: This study applied a quasi-experimental, mixed-methods, design. A convenience sample of undergraduate nursing students attending a four-year Midwest university was used. The mindful coloring intervention included participants engaging in …

Generational Differences Among Nurse Leaders And The Development Of Nurse Leader Role Competence, Hephzibah Sophie Edwin, Cassandra Lawrence

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Nurse leaders practice under extreme stressors and poor organizational support decreases their job satisfaction, increasing their intention to quit^1,5. As nurse leaders’ role continues to expand, it is crucial to enhance their role competence through comprehensive training and ongoing support for their successful transition ^2,4.

Purpose: Nurse leaders differ in their competence based on experience and generational diversity. This study is about the development of a leadership academy to promote nurse leader development, and retention through ongoing training, while also targeting generational differences in building nurse leader-role competence.

Methods: This project was instituted with the mission …

Nurses' Contributions To Zero Hunger: An Integrative Review, Janice Evans Hawkins, Beth Tremblay, Roy E. Brown

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Hunger, or food insecurity, is a growing problem globally and contributes to disproportionally higher mortality and morbidity rates, particularly within vulnerable populations. As frontline healthcare workers, the daily work of nurses is critical to meeting social and environmental needs of health, such as hunger. Yet, to date, there is no comprehensive review of the literature that examines nurse-involved research related to food insecurity.

Purpose: The purpose of this integrative review was to synthesize findings of nurse-involved observational and interventional studies that address food insecurity.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search of multiple databases for peer-reviewed literature from inception through …

Awareness Of Non-Verbal Communication For Safety In Mental Health Nursing Students, Sheryl Cornelius

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Preparing nursing students for clinical in the Mental/Behavioral Health field is always challenging. Students are often fearful of the experience which narrows their opportunities for learning in the clinical setting. One pre-licensure baccalaureate program in the South East United States (SE US) sought to elay some of those fears through preparation techniques before the clinical experience. One of the techniques was an increase in the awareness of Non-Verbal Communication in clients as to allow the student to be prepared for potential violence.

The students were first given a pre-clinical questionaire to see where their baseline was with knowledge and attitudes …

Quality Of Life Of Young Adults Living With Chronic Kidney Disease At A Tertiary Hospital In Ghana, Gloria Achempim-Ansong, Menford Owusu Ampohah, Ramatu Tanko Adams

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Globally, Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is highly prevalent (10-13% of the population), irreversible, progressive, and associated with higher cardiovascular risk. The diagnosis of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is still a death sentence in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In Ghana, some patients with moderate to advanced CKD eventually progress to end-stage renal disease and have poor quality of life (QOL). Attempts to lower the morbidity and mortality of kidney disease may be thwarted by rising economic and health inequities, migration, demographic change, unsafe working conditions, environmental risks, natural disasters, and pollution. Young adults perform worse than younger adolescents do or older …

Lgbt Healthcare Access Experiences - “I Had A Doctor Who Literally Tried To Kill Me", Austin Nation

Biennial Convention (CONV)

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project is to: (a) explore the current experiences and needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) population when accessing healthcare services. LGBT individuals are known to experience adverse situations when accessing health care services.

METHODS: Qualitative focus groups were conducted with members of the LGBT community utilizing a cross-sectional convenience sample from two organizations serving the LGBT community. Analysis was done to examine themes and to look for differences and similarities within and between LGBT sub-populations.

RESULTS: Three themes emerged from the analysis including: issues accessing LGBT providers, need for LGBT competency and …

Impact Of A Design Thinking Workshop On Students' Knowledge, Confidence, And Perceived Benefits, Janice Evans Hawkins, Beth Tremblay, Robert Joseph Hawkins

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Design Thinking is gaining recognition as an innovative and creative approach to problem solving. Though nurse leaders need problem solving tools to address health care challenges, Design Thinking concepts are not commonly taught in nursing education. To introduce graduate level nursing students to Design Thinking, we held an educational activity focused on this content as part of required coursework.

Purpose: The purpose of this presentation is to describe and compare outcomes of a Design Thinking educational activity on students' perceived knowledge, confidence, and benefits to nursing practice.

Methods: Graduate level nursing students participated in a 3-hour educational activity. After …

The Nurses Climate Challenge For Sigma Chapters: Our Calling ~ Our Climate!, Daria Waszak, Kathy Burlingame, Michelle Dephillips, Kelly A. Kuhns, Michelle Y. Gilbert

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: As a trusted voice, nurses are in an opportune position to advocate for climate action and its related impacts on health. However, many curricula lack focus on the effects of climate change on health. The Nurses Climate Challenge, a campaign of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE) and Healthcare Without Harm, was launched in 2018 to provide turnkey resources for nurses to influence climate and health. Connecting Sigma and this important initiative creates an opportunity to amplify to more than 600 chapters and 100,000 nurse members globally - across homes, nursing schools and healthcare organizations across the …

Empowering Nursing Education With Generative Ai And Freire’S Critical Pedagogy, Kechi Iheduru-Anderson, Chimezie Agomoh, Julia U. Ugorji

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: This abstract explores integrating Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, with Paulo Freire's critical pedagogy in nursing education. It aims to demonstrate how this intersection can foster critical thinking, student empowerment, and ethical awareness, ultimately transforming the way nurses are educated.

Background: Generative AI technologies are increasingly used in nursing education to create personalized learning experiences and simulate real-world healthcare scenarios. However, there is a risk of reinforcing passive learning models without a solid pedagogical framework. Freire's critical pedagogy, which emphasizes dialogue, reflection, and praxis (action based on reflection), offers a robust framework to ensure that students remain active …

Interprofessional Team Training: In-Person Or Online, Does The Learning Environment Matter?, William E. Somerall Jr., Allison Shorten, Peter E. Bosworth, Shelly E. Camp, David T. House, Brett E. Shorten, Penni Watts, Tera L. Webb

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Interprofessional education (IPE) prepares students from different health professions to work collaboratively within interprofessional care teams. Based on a post-event survey, this presentation compares student experience and satisfaction with an in-person experience with an online experience.

In the decade before the COVID-19 pandemic, over 4000 graduate and undergraduate students from an urban medical educational institution including nursing, medicine, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, social work, nutrition, pharmacy, occupational therapy, laboratory science, public health, and physician assistants participated in a half-day in-person Interprofessional Team Training (IPTT) event. Following the presentation of a simulated patient in a large auditorium, 15-18 groups of 20-25 …

Early Laser For Burns Scars (Elabs): A Qualitative Exploration, Vanessa Heaslip, Sharon Dochety, Shelley Rhodes, Obioha Ukoumunne, Katie Breheny, Kate Attrill, Jonathon Pleat, Mark P. Brewin

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Burns are a global public health issue. Due to improvements in burn management, mortality rates are reducing, resulting in burns being a leading cause of morbidity globally (WHO 2023). Up to 70% of patients develop hypertrophic scars after burns (Finnerty et al., 2016) as well as other associated physical (itching, pain, tightness and limited joint mobility) and psychological complications (low mood, anxiety and PTSD). These complications have a significant impact upon the individual’s quality-of-life which Finnerty et al., (2016) argues is the greatest unmet challenge in burn rehabilitation. Current treatments for burn scar management include moisturisation, silicone gel, pressure therapy, …

Research On Vehicle Path Optimization Algorithms For Urban Logistics And Distribution, Zhenpeng Ma, Hanyang Jiao, Zhe Zhang, Cheng Liu, Bo Jiang, Lin Wang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Existing optimization algorithms for solving the vehicle routing problem with time windows (VRPTW) are prone to fall into local optimal solutions and have slow convergence speed. To address this issue, a K-means clustering algorithm and improved large neighborhood search algorithm (K-means-ILNSA) was proposed. A strategy of clustering before optimization was adopted, and the K-means algorithm was adopted to group the customers to be delivered, so as to improve the optimization efficiency. The genetic algorithm was adopted to optimize each group of customers generated by clustering separately to initially plan the distribution routes. The large neighborhood search (LNS) algorithm was …

Estimated Impact Of 2022–2023 Influenza Vaccines On Annual Hospital Burden In The United States, Kaiming Bi, Shraddha Ramdas Bandekar, Anass Bouchnita, Annalise Cramer, Spencer J Fox, Rebecca K Borchering, Matthew Biggerstaff, Lauren Ancel Meyers

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

During the COVID-19 pandemic early years, infection prevention measures suppressed transmission of seasonal influenza and other respiratory viruses. The early onset and moderate severity of the US 2022-2023 influenza season may have resulted from reduced use of nonpharmaceutical interventions or lower population immunity after 2 y of limited influenza virus circulation. We used a mathematical model of influenza virus transmission that incorporates vaccine-derived protection against both infection and severe disease to estimate the impact of influenza vaccines on healthcare burden. Assuming reported levels of past vaccine effectiveness (VE) against infection and hospitalization, we estimate that influenza vaccines prevented 69,886 (95% …

Spartan Daily, November 18, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 165, Issue 36

Accounting For Population Structure In Genomic Prediction Of Strawberry Sweetness At A Global Scale, Mulusew Fikere, Jason D Zurn, Sujeet Verma, Iraida Amaya, Pilar Muñoz, José F Sánchez-Sevilla, Helen M Cockerton, Richard J Harrison, Lise L Mahoney, Thomas M Davis, James F Hancock, Chad E Finn, Megan M Mathey, Jodi Neal, Hian-Lien Ko, Vance M Whitaker, Nahla V Bassil, Craig Hardner

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Genomic prediction models that fit multiple environments globally are valuable tools for assessing cultivar performance across diverse and variable growing conditions. We analyzed 2,064 strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) accessions genotyped with 12,591 SNP markers. Soluble solids content (SSC) was measured in multi-year trials conducted at seven locations spanning the U.S., Europe, and Australia. Population structure analysis grouped accessions into two major clusters corresponding to subtropical and temperate origins, which was confirmed by significant differences in allele frequency distributions. To improve prediction accuracy across environments, we developed factor analytic models focusing on genotype-by-environment interactions rather than covariance between sub-populations. We compared …