Digital Commons Network^™

Diabetes Self-Management Education For Older Adults In Primary Care, Makilah Rae Furlan

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) is a chronic disease that impacts 27.2 million seniors 65 and older. Evidence-based care for T2DM includes a combination of medication and disease-management behaviors. Access to education to teach patients healthy behaviors to manage their disease is limited and even less accessible to geriatric patients with aging learning needs. The scholarly project addresses this gap in patient education by implementing evidence-based diabetes self-management education for geriatric patients to increase patient knowledge and confidence in implementing self-management behaviors. The scholarly project aims to assess health behaviors in patients aged 65 and older with established type 2 diabetes …

Proposed Final Scholarly Project: Pediatric Provider Attitudes And Clinical Practices For Physical Activity Interventions In The Treatment Of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Andrea Zanders

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental health conditions diagnosed in children and adolescents. First line treatments of psychopharmacology and psychotherapy can be ineffective, come with intolerable side effects, or not be available to all youth. Physical activity is among the most effective adjunctive interventions. However, many mental health providers report insufficient education or training on physical activity interventions as a barrier to implementing them into clinical practice. Using the transtheoretical model of behavior change principle of consciousness-raising, the proposed scholarly project aims to impact provider attitudes and knowledge about the use of evidence-based guidelines for …

Implementation Of Guidelines For Preprocedural Ultrasound In Neuraxial Placement For Obstetric Patients With Scoliosis, Luther Nyirenda

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Neuraxial anesthesia including epidural, spinal, and combined spinal-epidural, is used with 65% of parturients in the United States for the management of pain and discomfort. Conventional landmark palpation has been the mainstay technique for neuraxial anesthesia, but unfamiliar spinal anatomy can lead to incomplete blockade or an increased incidence of complications. Scoliosis causes lateral curvature and rotation of the spine leading to arthritis and soft tissue changes that can present obscure anatomical landmarks, cause difficulty in needle passage, and result in inadequacy of local anesthetic efficacy. The literature illustrates that preprocedural ultrasound is recommended for needle placement in parturients with …

Final Scholarly Project: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (Eras) Guidelines For Pancreaticoduodenectomies, Rebecca Wheeler

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

A pancreaticoduodenectomy, or Whipple procedure, is the only curative option for pancreatic cancer. For those eligible for tumor resection, the Whipple procedure is a difficult surgery for both the patient and provider. Complications following pancreaticoduodenectomy are numerous and include infection, delayed gastric emptying, high hospital costs, and pancreatic fistulas. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols exist to provide evidence supporting standardization of practices that lead to the improvement of these patient outcomes. An ERAS protocol for the pancreaticoduodenectomy, first established in 2012, is inconsistently implemented in healthcare facilities. Researchers collected data involving the use of the Whipple procedure ERAS guidelines …

In A Healthy D-Iii Population, Is Blood Flow Restriction More Effective For Increasing Quadriceps Strength Compared To Concentric Resistance Training?, Conner R. Ruff

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

Strength is an important factor in the prevention of injuries. However, strength can decrease for numerous reasons, such as age, chronic injuries, or acute injuries. In recent years, Blood flow restriction (BFR) has been used as a modality to increase a patient’s strength gain while utilizing a low load of weight. However, in most research, BFR has been used concurrently with conventional strength training or compared to concentric training in the treatment of an injured population. This study looked at the effect of BFR on a healthy Division III (DIII) collegiate student population and its effectiveness in increasing quadriceps strength …

Project-Based Learning To Promote Reading And Writing Skills And Student Engagement In Fourth Graders, Anne E. Eichhorn

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project was to incorporate project-based learning (PBL) into instruction alongside of a teacher directed curriculum while promoting literacy skills and social studies content. The literature review discusses what PBL is, its history, various frameworks, and benefits and challenges. The frameworks focused on in this project include the Buck Institute for Education’s (n.d.) Gold Standard PBL, High Quality Project Based Learning’s (2018) A Framework for High Quality Project Based Learning (HQPBL Framework), Duke’s structure (2014) along with Battelle for Kids (2024) twenty-first century skills. A new framework was developed to create a PBL curriculum alongside the scripted …

An Educational Intervention: Knowledge Acquisition Of Perimenopausal Mental Health Symptoms And Treatment Options For Women Aged 35 Years Plus, Allison M. Hopps

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Perimenopause is a span of four to six years preceding menopause when estrogen levels decline. Up to 40% of women experience depression during the perimenopause transition. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be an effective treatment for depressive symptoms during perimenopause, but many healthcare practitioners prescribe antidepressants instead of HRT for the management of mood-related symptoms. Perimenopausal depression is associated with the progression of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. The general population, including women and healthcare providers, lacks the education and awareness surrounding perimenopause symptoms and treatment. This project educated women between ages 35 to 55 on …

Development Of An Evidence Based Orientation Model For The Newly Graduated Nurse, Sandra L. Takach

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Healthcare in the acute hospital setting experienced a significant increase in highly acute patients with multiple comorbidities requiring competent, experienced clinicians who can provide high quality, safe care. The nursing shortage paired with the post pandemic hospital environment has altered the landscape of nurses entering the workforce and created a gap in competency of the bedside nurse. A loss of tenured nurses who typically onboard and mentor the novice nurse coupled with less than adequate clinical preparation of those graduating college led to elevated levels of stress and staggering turnover rates for the newly graduated nurse. Research validates efficient orientation …

Impact Of Professional Development On Teacher Perceptions Of Culturally And Ethnically Diverse Students, Stephanie Kirk Mcmillan

Curriculum and Instruction (Ed.D.) Dissertations

Deficit thinking is when we view another as having less potential based on preconceived notions defined by our backgrounds and, oftentimes, society. A predominantly White teaching force is encountering more cultural and ethnic diversity in their classrooms than ever before. Professional development for teachers is historically beneficial and promotes change in teaching and pedagogy. This study utilized a mixed-methods methodology that examined the effects of professional development on teachers’ knowledge and skills as they pertained to culturally responsive teaching. Descriptive statistics and t-tests were used to test the study's questions. This study surveyed teachers before and after a professional development …

No Lawyer, No Jail: A Critical Case Study Of Pragmatism And The Flaws Of “Purposeful” Decision Making In Argersinger V. Hamlin, Alisa Smith, Sarah K. Stice

Seattle University Law Review

By releasing conference notes and internal communications, Supreme Court Justices provide insight into the otherwise private decisionmaking process, shedding light on how case outcomes and legal reasoning are framed and negotiated. The watershed case of Argersinger v. Hamlin (1972) extended the constitutional right to counsel to some, but not all, misdemeanor defendants. The case was argued twice, and the Court relied on empirical and authoritative sources to answer complex and practical questions about requiring counsel. This case study employs critical discourse analysis to uncover what influenced the Justices’ decisions and how they framed, shaped, and constructed social realities to foreground …

Crosswing Hall: A Biophilic Student Hub For Well-Being And Connection, Marianna Sanchez

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The Marietta campus of Kennesaw State University has long been perceived as disconnected and lacking vibrancy compared to its counterpart in Kennesaw. This project seeks to transform that narrative by creating Crosswing Hall, a dynamic student hub that fosters campus pride, interdisciplinary collaboration, and lasting connections. Grounded in biophilic design principles, Crosswing Hall utilizes natural materials and thoughtful spatial planning to reduce student stress, enhance well-being, and create a welcoming environment where students feel supported and engaged.

Current student spaces on the Marietta campus prioritize capacity over adaptability, often leading to overcrowding and diminished effectiveness in fostering a sense of …

Harmonic Healing: Exploring Music As A Therapeutic Resource, Kalilah B. Chears, Mary Lynn Doherty

Honors Capstones

Mental health concerns among college students are increasing, especially in the post-Covid pandemic era. These issues could negatively affect students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being. Additionally, research illustrates that there are accessibility challenges for students who seek traditional counseling resources; campuses are struggling to meet this rising demand. The authors’ background in music ensembles inspired an exploration of music as an informal therapeutic resource. This literature review investigates one main question: How can an alternative mental health resource such as music serve college students experiencing barriers to traditional mental health resources? Findings suggest that music-based resources can alleviate some common …

The Effectiveness Of Telehealth For The Management Of Chronic Disease, Mariam Odunewu-Smith

Honors Capstones

Telehealth made a wide appearance in the medical industry during the Covid-19 pandemic due to the necessary decrease of physical interaction. It has continued to thrive and populate more patients since then. The benefits of telemedicine include quick, reliable one-onone sessions with a healthcare provider virtually, and is overall less costly compared to in person visits. Seeing a medical provider online is helpful in aiding patient recovery and management of chronic diseases. It is used to significantly improve the quality of life in the patients seen today. A literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed and ScienceDirect. Papers …

The Race To Erase: Destruction Of Government Documents Undermines Freedom-Of-Information Laws, Frank D. Lomonte

Seattle University Law Review

In August 2019, reporters with Chattanooga’s daily newspaper, the Times Free Press, filed what seemed to be a routine request for access to emails and other public records held by their local county government. The seemingly unremarkable request set the newspaper’s staff on a months-long journey of unpleasant surprises. The first was a demand to pay the county $717 in advance before being allowed to inspect the documents. The second was that—during prolonged haggling over the fee assessment— the county attorney’s office simply destroyed almost all of the disputed records. Third, and most glaringly, the journalists discovered that Tennessee law …

When You’Re Arrested For A Felony In Seattle, You’Ll Meet Me., Austin Field

Seattle University Law Review

In this Essay, Austin Field, a practicing public defender, uses a first-person perspective to describe what it is like to meet a criminal defendant for the first time. He explains the process from start to finish, detailing everything from the way he introduces himself to how bail works.

"I’ll ask you for your name. Most of the time, you tell me. I check your name against my list. On any given day I’m supposed to interview between five and fifteen people. I have a lot of questions for you. We only have about ten minutes."

The Public Square In A Private-Property Obsessed Country: What New York City’S Pops Regulations Get Right And Why Other Cities Should (Mostly) Copy Them, Carson Mcgregor

Seattle University Law Review

When New York City (NYC) was first becoming the metropolitan monolith it is today, it had a problem: the city streets were chock full of skyscrapers, and sunlight, air, and usable open space were at a premium. In response, the City promulgated its first Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS) regulations, which allowed developers to build skyward in exchange for providing public space on the street level. Unfortunately, in July of 2023, the New York Times (NYT) discovered that New Yorkers received only a fraction of what they were promised. Building owners received billions of dollars’ worth of added floor space, …

An Inquiry-Based Interdisciplinary Social Studies Unit On Libraries Around The World In A Second-Grade Classroom: A Curriculum Development, Emma G. Weinman

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

This project explores inquiry-based learning and project-based learning. My specific interest in interdisciplinary, inquiry-based instruction stemmed from professional development received, and from an overarching initiative to move towards this type of instruction within the school building that I work. The curriculum developed provides a two-week lesson sequence that can be implemented within a second-grade classroom. The lesson sequence is inquiry-based, and provides opportunities for students to communicate, collaborate, create, and think critically throughout the learning process. This curriculum is interdisciplinary in nature and is designed to meet second-grade Ohio social studies standards, as well as standards in other areas. The …

Development Of Clinical Practice Guidelines For Incorporating Paravertebral Blockade For Thoracic Surgery Adult Patients, India Hutchison

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Thoracic surgery is considered one of the most painful surgical procedures due to its severity and the duration of the procedure. Pain is detrimental to the patient experience, and poor patient satisfaction results in revenue loss for hospitals. Maintaining adequate pain control after surgery is crucial in preventing pulmonary complications such as atelectasis and respiratory failure that prolong patient recovery. It is the responsibility of the anesthesia provider to ensure adequate pain control throughout the perioperative experience. Although current evidence-based data shows that regional anesthesia provides superior thoracic postoperative pain control, the current practice continues to be the utilization of …

Social Media And Protection Of The Youth: Assessing Policy Safeguards And Political Implications, Genesis N. Rivera

Honors Capstones

The purpose of this paper is to explain the potential gaps in U.S. state-level policies from Illinois, Utah, and California. The scope of this paper focuses on policies that specifically address the emerging issue of child influencers. Through a comparative analysis, I found that states like Illinois, California, and Utah all lack enforcement mechanisms, which rational choice theory explains are crucial for ensuring policy effectiveness. Many states, such as California and Utah, followed Illinois’s legal framework through policy diffusion. Therefore, I propose that, in order for states to adopt stronger measures, they should implement France’s more developed legal framework. Through …

Modern Day Colonialism Through HawaiʻI’S Quiet Title And Partition Laws, Cheyann Fujii

Seattle University Law Review

This Note will attempt to highlight important aspects of Hawaiian history to provide readers with a clear picture on how Native Hawaiians are still impacted by colonialism, specifically when plaintiffs bring a quiet title or partition action against Native Hawaiian owners of kuleana lands. Before colonization, the concept of private land ownership did not exist in Hawai‘i, and Native Hawaiians adopted a feudal system by dividing land into geographical areas. Missionaries and businessmen brought Western ideas to Hawai‘i and influenced legislation such as the Great Māhele and the Kuleana Land Act of 1850, which solidified the concept of private property. …

Incorporating Music Therapy Into The Cope Treatment Model: A Literature Review, Forest Beutel

Expressive Therapies Theses

This literature review aims to explore and expand the use of music therapy in the treatment of substance use disorder (SUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), two diagnoses that frequently co-occur. The paper first explores music therapy research in each diagnosis separately and then offers areas where music therapy interventions can be incorporated into the Concurrent Treatment of Substance Use Disorder and PTSD using Prolonged Exposure (COPE) treatment model developed by Sudie Back. The COPE model is a widely used, efficacious 12-week cognitive behavioral treatment method that has not previously included music therapy interventions. However, there are multiple ways that …

Power Word Queer: Using Tabletop Role-Playing Games As Expressive Art Therapy For The Queer Community: A Literature Review, Aliza King

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

At a time when homophobia and transphobia are on the rise, and hard-won rights are being taken away, the Queer community needs heroes, magic, and hope. Tabletop role-playing games have become increasingly popular, particularly in the Queer community (Diamond, 2022). This literature review examines the existing research regarding TTRPGs as a psychological intervention, with particular focus on their value as an expressive art therapy intervention for Queer clients, using a socio-ecological model of Queer mental health (Mink et al., 2014) and drawing from core expressive arts theories. The results suggest that TTRPGs show promise as an effective tool for growth …

Reviving Humanity, Ana Gomez

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The surge in female incarceration rates in the United States has heightened concerns about the mental health challenges faced by women within correctional facilities. This thesis research explores the intersection of women’s incarceration, mental health, and sustainable architectural design aimed at improving outcomes for female inmates. Factors contributing to the increase in female incarceration rates, including changes in sentencing policies and socioeconomic disparities, are discussed. Research indicates a high prevalence of mental health disorders among female inmates, often linked to past trauma and exacerbated by the prison environment. Despite this, the prison system often fails to adequately address the mental …

Data Advantage And Merger Review: Can Entrenchment Theory Reform Antitrust Enforcement?, Shin-Ru Cheng

Seattle University Law Review

A merger involving giant digital companies is likely to dampen competition, as it allows those companies to combine and control data access, enabling them to entrench their dominant positions in relevant markets and extend those positions into related markets. While competition law in many jurisdictions aims to prohibit mergers that may substantially lessen competition or create a monopoly, arguably the review of digital mergers is failing because antitrust agencies lack an effective approach to identify data-generated anticompetitive harms. This Article demonstrates that entrenchment theory, recently reintroduced in the 2023 U.S. Merger Guidelines, would help reform the process of antitrust enforcement. …

Validating Biomarkers Of Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders Through Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques, Julia S. Evans, Michael Fishman

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

No abstract provided.

Early Detection Of Sepsis, Precious Aina

Honors Capstones

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs because of an infection. Sepsis can lead to shock, SIRS, organ failure, and other emergent conditions. This literature review paper is aimed at determining the early detection of sepsis in patients as well as examining early symptoms of sepsis, the significance of early diagnosis, and the implications for patient safety and treatment. In several studies, they used the early warning scores (EWS) and Machine learning with patients' information, vital signs, prehospital patient data, and physician assessments embedded in it to identify patients at risk for sepsis. One of the studies incorporated a device …

The Multilingual Book Club Model: Engaging Multilingual Learners In Bilingual (Spanish-English) Graphic Novel Book Clubs To Acquire Language And Vocabulary, Maureen L. Flanagan

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

This project explores the importance of using translanguaging to support multilingual learners in predominantly English speaking classrooms. The main intent is to provide an engaging curriculum that provides culturally responsive material for multilingual students whose home language is Spanish. The project explores seminal research in second language acquisition and the importance of vocabulary instruction. It also acknowledges the importance of the Book Club Model

Alumnus Supports Student-Athletes' Success After College, Bill Dabney

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – A former student-athlete at the University of Mississippi hopes his gift will show current and future Rebels that alumni are fully committed to their success in sports and in life after college.

Genomic Structure Among Populations Of A Regionally Rare Perennial Plant Indicates The Need For Reevaluation Of Management Units, Cheyenne Moore, Angela J. Mcdonnell, Scott Schuette, Christopher T. Martine

Faculty Journal Articles

Conservation of rare species often relies on the delineation of management units and genomic tools can now be applied for this purpose. However, this is not as common on a local scale, where populations are often small and fragmented, despite the utility of informing conservation and management practice at the regional level. We use a genotyping by sequencing (GBS) approach to assess the perennial riparian plant species Baptisia australis (Fabaceae) in Pennsylvania, where the taxon is at the edge of its natural distribution and considered threatened. In this system, we investigate whether sampled subpopulations exhibit genetic structure. We find that …

Examination Of Eating Disorder Risks And Body Image Dissatisfaction Among Division Iii Student-Athletes, Maddie Wisener

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

Eating disorders (ED) and pathogenic behaviors are prevalent concerns among collegiate athletes due to performance pressures and body image expectations. This cross-sectional study examined the risk of ED among 243 student-athletes (Males: 54.9%, Females: 44.3%, Non-Binary: 0.4%) at a private institution in the Midwest. The convenience sample included student-athletes from baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track, volleyball, and wrestling teams. The participants were given a demographic survey, the Eating Attitudes Test-26, and Sex-Specific Figural Stimuli Silhouettes to assess eating behaviors and perceived and desired body images. Overall, 22.1% of participants were at risk for …