Digital Commons Network^™

Walking With The Wounded: Chaplains As Agents Of Christ’S Healing Ministry, Fred Okechukwu Anucha

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Doctor of Ministry action research project evaluated the effectiveness of an eight-week Christ-centered training intervention designed to strengthen hospital chaplains’ confidence and clarify sacramental boundaries in end-of-life care at AdventHealth Celebration. Hospital chaplains frequently encounter situations in which patients and families request sacramental or spiritually significant practices during moments of crisis, yet chaplains often lack structured training that addresses how to respond with both pastoral sensitivity and theological clarity within a multifaith healthcare environment.

The project implemented an eight-week training program that integrated theological reflection, case-based discussion, and practical ministry applications intended to strengthen chaplains’ confidence in providing spiritual …

A Heart-Stopping Decision: An Ethical Dilemma Involving Pacemaker Deactivation At End Of Life, Hailee Grannan Md, Nora Badi Md, Kavita Sharma Md

Scientific Day

Introduction/Background:

Pacemaker deactivation at the end of life presents complex ethical and logistical challenges. While Heart Rhythm Society affirms a patient’s right to withdraw life-sustaining treatments, clinicians often experience moral distress when patients are pacemaker-dependent. Unlike defibrillators, pacemakers are perceived as integral to the body rather than external interventions, leading to concerns regarding hastening of death with pacemaker deactivation. In this case, we highlight how device manufacturer procedural requirements can also create obstacles to deactivation, resulting in unintended prolonged suffering and increased distress for the patient and family.

Description:

A 74-year-old male with metastatic renal cell carcinoma developed third-degree heart …

Balancing Safety And Quality With End-Of-Life Realities: A Single Inpatient Hospice Facility Review, Hailee Grannan Md, Sarah Riutta Phd, Kavita Sharma Md

Scientific Day

Background/Significance:

Patient safety in hospice care requires balancing traditional safety metrics with individualized, comfort-focused goals at the end of life. Inpatient hospice units manage complex symptoms, high-risk medications, and dynamic family preferences, yet limited literature characterizing safety events in this setting. Despite routine event reporting, no comprehensive evaluation of safety incidents has been conducted at Zilber Family Hospice (ZFH).

Purpose:

The purpose of this project was to characterize and analyze patient safety incidents at ZFH to identify patterns, clarify event categorization, and inform hospice-specific safety practices and staff education that support comfort and harm reduction.

Methods:

Safety incidents at ZFH …

Exploring The Impact Of Cultural Beliefs On Death Anxiety: A Qualitative Study To Inform Healthcare Education And Practices, Sharon Sonnilal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A hermeneutic phenomenological approach framed this qualitative study, examining how cultural beliefs, spiritual traditions, and relational contexts shape death anxiety and meaning-making among adults from diverse backgrounds. Terror Management Theory and Culturally Sensitive Grief Treatment guided the conceptualization of death anxiety as a culturally mediated and relational phenomenon rather than an isolated psychological response. A purposive sample of 13 adults aged 18 and older represented diverse cultural, racial, gender, and spiritual identities. Recruitment occurred via Instagram, and participants completed an open-ended demographic and narrative survey. Participants who provided rich survey narratives received invitations to complete semi-structured Zoom interviews to deepen …

Reducing Burnout And Compassion Fatigue: Chaplain-Led Peer Support Group Among Clinical Staff At Choices Healthcare, Matthew Lehman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this Doctor of Ministry action research project was to help reduce burnout and compassion fatigue among the clinical staff at Choices Healthcare. Burnout and compassion fatigue are becoming a healthcare crisis, and hospice agencies are no different. The study was open to any member of the clinical staff, which included chaplains, social workers, nurses, home health aides, and the team leaders of each team in the organization. The study aimed to reduce burnout and compassion fatigue through a series of chaplain-facilitated group education and processing sessions. Humans are relational beings, and getting together to share experiences in …

Clinically Confounded: Pericardial Effusion As The Initial Presentation Of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma In A Patient With Cirrhosis, Aditya Lakkamsani Do, Ronak Patel Do, Samiuddin Syed Md, Viktoriya Bikeyeva Md, Shams Bufalino Md

Scientific Day

Introduction/Background:

Pericardial effusion as the initial manifestation of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a rare, extranodal presentation that upstages the disease to stage IV, per Lugano classification. In patients with underlying cirrhosis or volume overload, such effusions can be misattributed, delaying oncologic evaluation. We present a case of new pericardial effusion found to be DLBCL in the setting of alcoholic cirrhosis.

Description:

A 79-year-old male with alcoholic cirrhosis presented with bilateral lower extremity edema, abdominal edema, and hypotension that was unresponsive to outpatient diuresis. On admission, day 0, imaging showed cardiomegaly concerning pericardial effusion and left pleural effusion. Echocardiography …

Improving Patient Care And Outcomes With The One-Hour Sepsis Bundle, Catherine H. Gorman

Group: Samford University Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing

The purpose of this project was to improve the timeliness of sepsis recognition and treatment in a rural hospital through the implementation of the SSC one-hour sepsis bundle to reduce sepsis-related mortality and improve patient outcomes.

Latest In Resuscitation Research: Highlights From The 2025 American Heart Association's Resuscitation Science Symposium, Caleb T Suh, Clark G Owyang, Lindsay Shepard, Betty Yang, Ryan W Morgan, Daniel M Rolston, Catherine R Counts, Tommaso Scquizzato, James Horowitz, Tatyana Shvilkina, Katherine Berg, Sam Parnia, Sanam Alilou, Catherine Swarts, Ryan A Coute, Lama A Ammar, William C Herring, Thomas Lederer, Joaquin Araos, Benjamin S Abella, Cameron Dezfulian, Sarah M Perman, Felipe Teran

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Liberty In Death? An Analysis Of The Ethics And Laws Regarding Physician-Assisted Suicide, Ross Leavitt

DePaul Journal of Health Care Law

I seek to analyze physician-assisted suicide with the following two goals in mind: (1) Evaluating how ethical and legal arguments surrounding suicide developed throughout history and how they inform our understanding today; (2) What a regulatory scheme governing physician-assisted suicide looks like and if it can adequately safeguard the interests of the individual and the collective.

Death Wish: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Physician Assisted Suicide, Janna George

DePaul Journal of Health Care Law

Physician-assisted suicide is an extremely complex and controversial legal issue, deeply rooted in morality, legality, and ethics. Countries around the world are split as to how to approach this concept, with some permitting physician-assisted suicide under particular circumstances, and others strictly prohibiting it. ^[1] This division is evidence of the subject’s complex underpinnings. According to the United States Declaration of Independence, all Americans are deserving of certain unalienable rights, “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”^[2] But what about the right to die?

There are a number of reasons as to why physician assisted suicide is complicated, including …

Breaking Down Barriers To Pediatric Respite Care Use, Michelle Montanez

Group: Northern Arizona University School of Nursing, DNP Doctoral Papers

Parents of children with a life-limiting illness provide constant, around-the-clock care, often leaving little time for their well-being. This responsibility is emotionally, mentally, and physically demanding, and without proper support, parents face increased risk of depression, burnout, and deteriorating health. Respite services offer relief by providing a much-needed break and allowing parents the opportunity for self-care and improved well-being. Though the benefits of respite are well documented, these services remain underutilized due to barriers such as limited provider awareness, lack of access, and emotional challenges the parents face. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aims to address these barriers …

Nationwide Analysis Of Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis Versus Anticoagulation In Sub-Massive Pulmonary Embolism, Ayushma Acharya, Swarup Sharma Rijal, Anthony Donato

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Background: Data on the real-world effectiveness and safety of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) versus anticoagulation in sub-massive pulmonary embolism (PE) remain limited.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the differences in in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), complications and healthcare resource utilization between catheter directed thrombolysis and anticoagulation in sub-massive pulmonary embolism using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) dataset from 2016–2022.

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample (2016–2022) was queried to identify hospitalizations for sub-massive pulmonary embolism (PE) with cor pulmonale. Patients receiving CDT were compared to those treated with anticoagulation alone. We excluded patients with shock, ventilator …

Grief Journeys: A Literature Review On Integrating Expressive Arts And Play In Grief Therapy, Joanna Marcus

Expressive Therapies Theses

This literature review explores the use of expressive arts therapy and play therapy in therapeutic spaces for grieving children. The author seeks to investigate how elements of expressive arts therapy and play therapy might be integrated to offer more effective support. Research was conducted using search engines to gather literature about historical and contemporary bereavement theories, play therapy, and expressive arts therapy, with a focus on children’s experiences. Two primary insights gleaned from this review are that the cognitive understanding of death is multifaceted and changes as children mature, and that children grieve in ways unique to their developmental stages. …

Exemplars Of Faith: The Biblical Legacy Of Women In Chaplaincy, April M. Knoke

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

Abstract This dissertation argues that women in Scripture are not marginal figures but foundational to both the theological understanding and practical expression of chaplaincy. By integrating biblical exegesis, historical theology, socio-cultural analysis, womanist interpretation, and pastoral theology, the study identifies a consistent divine pattern of inclusion and empowerment. This pattern affirms the essential role of women in providing spiritual care within contemporary institutional settings.

Chapter 2 examines four Old Testament figures, Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, and Abigail, highlighting their leadership within patriarchal contexts through prophetic, judicial, diplomatic, and intercessory roles. Chapter 3 turns to the New Testament and explores the ministries …

Incorporating Principles And Wisdom From Hospital Chaplaincy And Pastoral Ministry To Create A Ministry Model To Address Social Isolation And Loneliness In Black Churches, Albert A. Kemp

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

To address the growing and widespread epidemic of social isolation and loneliness, with special focus on Black churches, this dissertation developed a program with the following areas of application: 1) how healthcare trained chaplains can coordinate with churches to positively impact individuals identified as lonely and socially isolated with better social and physical health, 2) how principles of chaplaincy and pastoral care can mitigate and intervene competently when such people are identified, and 3) how the project’s model can be organized, taught, and incorporated into existing arenas of church ministry.

The purpose of the project was to create a ministry …

Pediatric Home-Based Hospice And Palliative Care: A Scoping Review, Ellen Davis, Daniel H Grossoehme, Toluwalase Ajayi, Justin N Baker, Pamela S Hinds, Lisa Humphrey, Jill Ann Jarrell, Rachel Thienprayoon, Sarah Friebert

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Pediatric palliative and/or hospice care is provided across a broad spectrum of settings, ranging from inpatient to outpatient to a child's home. Pediatric home-based hospice and/or palliative care teams offer a specialized, interdisciplinary approach to care, allowing children to stay in the home while offering comprehensive support. This scoping review seeks to summarize what is known about pediatric home-based hospice and/or palliative care and to identify gaps in the current research. Following Arskey and O'Malley's scoping review framework, we searched four databases for studies focused on pediatric home-based hospice and/or palliative care programs. Studies were included if they were published …

Putting The Con In Con Law: Women’S Surgical Center V. Berry And How A Unique State Constitutional Provision On Contracts Intersects With Certificate Of Need Laws, John R. Oates

Emory Law Journal Online

This Comment explores Georgia’s “Anti-Competitive Contracts Clause” and Certificate of Need laws, the intersection of which was recently considered in the 2017 case Women’s Surgical Center v. Berry. Georgia is one of many states that still has Certificate of Need laws on its books. While these state laws have recently undergone minor legislative reform, judicial repeal of these laws may have a strong enough basis to succeed in Georgia. Though federal and state antitrust and constitutional laws offer many avenues for repeal, one such method specific to Georgia is the Anti-Competitive Contracts Clause, a constitutional provision which prohibits contracts …

Ceftazidime-Avibactam For Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Infections: Outcomes And Timing Of Initiation Across 22 Us Medical Centers, Ashlan J. Kunz Coyne, Chloe Judd, Kristen Lucas, Mohammed Al Musawa, Sean Van Helden, Dana Holger, Ali Althubyani, Christine Yost, Sydney Vandorf, Ryan Mynatt, Wesley D. Kufel, Jillian Hayes, Connor R. Deri, Rebekah H. Wrenn, Cara N. Slaton, Taylor Morrisette, Melisa Davis, M. Gabriela Cabanilla, Elizabeth Shald, Bryan P. White, Joseph Sassine, James Truong, Joshua Rosenberg, Justin Andrade, John Cerenzio, Natalia Medvedeva, David Ha, Taryn A. Eubank, Kevin W. Garey, Mark Biagi, Michaela Todd, S. Lena Kang-Birken, Caleb Rux, Kyle C. Molina, Christopher A. Jankowski, Kimberly C. Claeys, Veena Venugopalan, Michael P. Veve, Carolina Orzol, Mirna Eshaya, Kaylee E. Caniff, Callan Bleick, Michael J. Rybak

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

Ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) is a crucial treatment for multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative infections; however, the impact of treatment timing and outcomes in real-world practice remains unclear. This study evaluated CAZ-AVI use across diverse U.S. centers, with emphasis on early initiation. We conducted a retrospective cohort study at 22 U.S. medical centers (2019–2025), including adults with MDR gram-negative infections who received CAZ-AVI ≥ 72 h. The primary outcome was composite clinical success, defined as 30-day survival, absence of microbiological recurrence, and resolution of fever and/or leukocytosis within 72 h of initiation. Early vs late initiation was assessed at 48 h. Classification and regression …

Letter To Mark, Lloyd C. Clark

Lloyd Clark Papers

Letter to Mark Permenter, Editor of the UTA Magazine, from Lloyd C. Clark, with a copy of a photo of himself as a student, working on The Shorthorn, and a copy of the published death notice of William Barnes.

Seroprevalence Of Hepatitis B And Hepatitis C In Patients Hospitalized In Palliative Care Service, Meryem Betos Koçak, Burcu Güler

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: Patients receiving palliative care often have complex comorbidities and frequent healthcare exposure, which may place them at risk for blood-borne infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, data on the seroprevalence and prognostic impact of these infections in palliative populations remain limited. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV markers in patients hospitalized in a palliative care unit and to assess their association with mortality. Methods: This retrospective study conducted on 545 adult patients a tertiary palliative care unit between 2018 and 2024. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, nutritional support, mobility, …

Snowbound Strength: Stories, Tradition, Access, And Healing In Alaska, Annette Rearden, Katie Butler, Alicia Muller, Skyler Edwin

Talking Heads Seminar Series

Faculty staff and nursing students from Alaska Pacific University present a culturally safe perspective on nursing education and healthcare delivery across Alaska. APU students come from diverse backgrounds, including Alaska Native/American Indian, urban, rural, and international communities, bringing lived experiences that shape both learning and practice. This presentation examines healthcare access across Alaska, including the role of rural hospitals and clinics, community health aids and tertiary care centers typically located in urban hubs such as Anchorage. Presenters will describe how critical access hospitals and remote clinics operate across vast geographic distances, including the coordination of care with urban facilities and …

Three Dentists In Congress - Is That Enough?.Pdf, Bruce Hutchison Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

2016 General Assembly Session Review.Pdf, Tripp Perrin, Chuck Duvall

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Letter To Mark, Lloyd C. Clark

Lloyd Clark Papers

Letter to Mark Permenter, Editor of the UTA Magazine, from Lloyd C. Clark, with a copy of an obituary published in The Dallas Morning News.

Reduction Of Restrictive Procedures Through A Behavioral Emergency Response Team, Christina Marie Broughton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Staff Education To Enhance Home Care Staff Knowledge, Competence, And Confidence In End -Of-Life Communication, Pamela Rene Stubbs-Price

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

2019g_Nhp31_Approved_Cd_Pt-7612-Methods-Of-Instruction, Graduate Council

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

Serenity, James Hartman

Valparaiso Fiction Review

No abstract provided.

Missional Hospitality: A Contextualization Of God’S Hospitable Mission For New Lisbon Christian Church, Jonathan Willmore

DMin Project Theses

The town of New Lisbon, originally called Jamestown, has been home to Restoration Movement churches. The first congregation began in 1839, not long after the town’s official incorporation and renaming as New Lisbon. It unfortunately died out in the decades that followed, and not much is known about its history. The second is called New Lisbon Christian Church (NLCC) and was planted in 1893.1 The records indicate that NLCC changed Senior Ministers approximately every three years, until the 1970s, when a pastor stayed at New Lisbon for nine years. That minister was the longest tenured until the most recent one …

Artist Interview: Sarah Crooks, Sarah Crooks

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

No abstract provided.