Digital Commons Network^™

Interventions Targeting Nurse Burnout: A Review Of Current Strategies With Future Recommendations, Hannah Grace Shipp, Katherine Christine Hall

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Intro: Patient care delivery is at risk when nurses experience unmanaged burnout (World Health Organization, 2019). Burnout affects approximately 30% of nurses worldwide (Ge et al., 2023) and 65% in the United States (Cross Country Healthcare, 2025). Researchers posit that burnout is primarily driven by systemic issues rather than individual deficiencies (Cao et al., 2025; O’Hara et al., 2024). Research on interventions to treat nurse burnout is abundant yet there is a gap regarding the translation of current evidence to practical recommendations.

Purpose: To (1) summarize existing systematic reviews on interventions addressing nurse burnout, and (2) translate this evidence into …

Going For Gold: Increasing Overall Membership In The Mankato Figure Skating Club, Stephanie Carlson

Strategic Communication Master of Arts Thesis Projects

The Mankato Figure Skating Club (MFSC) is a non-profit community sports organization that provides skating lessons to the Mankato Community. The main problem facing MFSC is its unstable membership numbers. The purpose of this project is to use research and analysis to uncover strategic and creative solutions. Secondary research revealed that volunteer volume, management, organization culture, and community investment are important in running a successful non-profit sports organization. MFSC needs to grow its membership numbers, otherwise this 50-year-old organization may have to disband. MFSC has not conducted research and analysis like this before; this project is the first to provide …

Practical Applications Of Artificial Intelligence For Small Business Marketing: A Literary Review & Llm Approach, Noah C. Kowalski

Honors Capstones

This Honors Capstone Research Paper examines the practical application of artificial intelligence in small business digital and social media marketing. As AI technologies become more accessible, small businesses have new opportunities to improve efficiency, enhance customer engagement, and compete more effectively in digital markets. However, there is a lack of clear guidance on how to implement these tools in a practical and cost-effective way.

This study uses a qualitative approach, combining a literature review with an applied analysis of widely used AI marketing tools including ChatGPT, Canva, Hootsuite, Buffer, Google Analytics 4, and HubSpot. These tools were evaluated based on …

Understanding And Measuring Functional Communication In Adults Living With Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias, Sarah Toledo

Honors Capstones

Functional communication declines across all stages of dementia and directly affects quality of life, yet traditional standardized assessments may not fully capture everyday communication abilities. This capstone examines how functional communication in older adults living with dementia can be conceptualized and measured beyond standard tools. The study analyzes previously recorded video conversations between adults with dementia and student partners. Conversations are transcribed and coded using two observational measures: the Verbal and Nonverbal Interaction Scale–Care Recipient (VNVIS-CR) and the Adapted Measure of Participation in Conversation for Dementia (MPC-D). Gestures, facial expressions, responsiveness, and engagement are included in the analysis, and double …

Two Sides Of The Same Cycle: Understanding The Experiences Of Domestic Violence Survivors And Perpetrators, Avery M. Blevins

Honors Theses

Domestic violence has been a prevalent concern throughout society for many years but has recently begun to cumulate awareness from policymakers, people in the community, and individuals in service professions. There have been various changes made to the way that we define and understand domestic violence which has further led to the need to explore and educate on this concern. This paper aims to understand the experiences of both survivors and perpetrators that led to such violent circumstances. This creates a more multifaceted understanding of domestic violence and aids in implementing effective resources to both prevent and intervene in violent …

Unlocking Access: Investigating The Implementation Of European Accessibility Standards In European Museums, Katie Hendrix

Honors Theses

Individuals with mobility limitations are limited to utilizing facilities that provide mobility adaptations, such as: elevators/lifts, automatic/easy to open doors, ramps, sufficient maneuverable space, benches, etc. To address this equity need in Europe, the European Committee for Standardization published and implemented the European Standard for accessibility and usability of the built environment (EN 17210) in 2021 which outlines accessibility features that all European Union (EU) countries are recommended to follow. The goal of this research is to investigate how the European Standard regulates the EU infrastructure and analyze its impact on infrastructures for those with mobility impairments. This project presents …

Educator Perceptions And Uses Of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Genai) In Middle Level, Secondary, And Higher Education Classrooms, Rachel Stowers

Honors Capstones

GenAI has experienced rapid growth and controversy over its benefits, drawbacks, and ethicality in education. This study examines Illinois educators’ attitudes and classroom use of GenAI across middle school, high school, and higher education. Data was collected through a digital survey containing both quantitative and short-answer questions, yielding 330 respondents who were practicing teachers, along with five supplemental interviews. Preliminary results show that respondents ages 20–29 reported the highest understanding of how to use GenAI yet were also the most likely to express ethical discomfort, with 45.9% disagreeing that they feel comfortable using it ethically. While responses varied, educators generally …

Euripides’ Medea As An Existential Protagonist: Comparing Conceptualizations Of Fate In The 400s Bc And The 1800s Ad, Johanna Bryant

Senior Honors Theses

Euripides’ Medea stands out as a tragic protagonist because the values she exhibits throughout his play do not seem to align with those of the Greeks in the fifth century BC. This thesis seeks to perform a reading of Medea as an atheistic Existential protagonist in order to show that Existential values have existed for thousands of years but would have been disdained by early cultures whose traditional values of structured, ritualistic religion and communalism disagree strongly with the individualism and disregard for organized religion espoused by atheistic Existentialism.

Comparing The Effectiveness Of Neb Precrtm Repair Mix And Nxgen T4 Dna Ligase For Repairing Degraded Dna For Pcr Forensic Applications, Karolena Zvokel

Honors Theses

This study investigated the comparison between using PreCRTM mix (New England Biolabs) and T4 DNA Ligase (New England Biolabs) to repair degraded forensic whole blood DNA samples for PCR amplification. Degraded DNA presents a significant challenge in forensic STR analysis due to reduced amplification efficiency and allele imbalance. Whole blood samples were extracted, quantified, and artificially degraded using UV exposure. Samples were introduced to multiple treatments, including no damage no repair (NDNR), damage no repair (DNR), PreCRTM repair, T4 DNA ligase treatment, and combined repair approaches. Amplified products were analyzed using capillary electrophoresis, and peak height ratios (PHR) were used …

A.I. And The Law: How Ethical Guidelines Affect The Use Of Artificial Intelligence In Legal Work, Andre Asher

Honors Theses

Artificial intelligence is a quickly growing industry that is beginning to integrate itself into various aspects of our lives. Regarding the legal portion, the American Bar Association has an extensive set of ethical guidelines which, although they themselves do not hold any disciplinary weight, have been adapted to many state grievance committees where sanctions can be imposed. The use of AI in the legal field has introduced a whole new set of ethical concerns, which the already existing rules of professional conduct must now adapt to. Looking at the ABA’s ethical rules 1.1: Competency, 1.3: Diligence, 1.5: Fees, 1.6: Confidentiality, …

From Achievement To Adaptation: Women’S Career Narratives Across The Midlife Transition, Michelle M. Ness

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Midlife represents a significant transition for women characterized by the onset of menopause, shifting family dynamics, and evolving professional roles that affect physical and emotional well-being, relationships, and overall quality of life (QoL). This study examines how women in midlife navigate career considerations and future aspirations, emphasizing the interplay of achievement, transition, and reorientation. Drawing on qualitative interviews with cisgender women aged 39–57, the analysis identified four central themes: (1) established success and aspirations for growth, (2) redirection and pursuit of new opportunities, (3) reevaluation of work and identity, and (4) future planning and sustainability. For some, midlife represented the …

Boosting Nursing Engagement At An Fqhc Through Extended Onboarding And Standardized Preceptorship, Vivian Thuy Vi Min Nguyen, David Tilford, Laura Shouse, Harold Giron, Marvin Alexis Ayala, Olive Mae Zacarias, Lorraine Flores

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

AltaMed is one of the largest Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) serving Los Angeles and Orange County areas with over half a million patients primarily from underserved and minoritized communities. AltaMed's mission is to eliminate disparities in health care access by providing quality health and human services through an integrated delivery system for communities in Southern California. The organization has identified concerns related to readiness, confidence, and retention among newly hired nursing staff.

New hires reported that the onboarding process did not adequately prepare them for clinical practice, resulting in low confidence and increased turnover. Many shared that they needed …

Prevalence, Determinants, And Objective Risk Of Unintentional Therapeutic Duplication Among Adults In Saudi Arabia, Yosra Alhindi

Saudi Toxicology Journal

Background: Unintentional therapeutic duplication represents an underrecognized yet preventable contributor to medication-related harm, particularly in settings characterized by widespread over-the-counter (OTC) medicine use and self-medication practices. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of unintentional therapeutic duplication among adults in Saudi Arabia and identify sociodemographic and behavioral predictors associated with increased therapeutic duplication risk. Methods: A national crosssectional study was conducted between February 10 and April 28, 2025, using a structured, self-administered online questionnaire distributed via social media platforms. The survey assessed sociodemographic characteristics, medication-use behaviors, active-ingredient literacy, and duplication risk using both self-reported measures and scenario-based assessments. Multivariable logistic regression was …

Institutional Silence And The Governance Of Women College Athletes’ Reproductive Autonomy In The United States, Tarlan Chahardovali, Molly Harry Ph.D., Emily S. Mann Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

This study examines how women college athletes understand their pregnancy-related rights and protections and how institutional communication – or its absence – shapes reproductive autonomy within college sport. Guided by a reproductive justice framework, it conceptualizes pregnancy as a site of reproductive governance shaped by institutional policies, norms, and silences within performance-oriented sport organizations. The analysis draws on semi-structured interviews with 25 women college athletes from various NCAA Division I institutions in the United States, conducted between September 2023 and July 2024 in the post-Dobbs legal context, and uses reflexive thematic analysis to examine athletes’ knowledge of Title IX and …

Teaching Future Clinicians: Curriculum Development Emphasizing The Inclusion Of Trans Individuals And Families In Marriage And Family Therapy (Mft) Education, Eli J. Huffman

Honors Capstones

The field of marriage and family therapy (MFT) is deeply flawed when it comes to the inclusion, representation, and treatment of trans individuals and families. This is despite the fact that MFT could be of unique benefit to the trans community, as they are a community who experience high rates of both familial issues and mental health issues (Katz-Wise, 2021). However, due to education that is often incomplete or inadequate, many mental health providers—including, but not limited to MFT’s—feel they lack the competencies necessary for working with trans individuals and families in practice (Dalton, et al., 2021). This research project …

Fiber Consumption Of Three Lemur Species With Varying Dietary Specializations, Dylan Daniels

Honors Capstones

Fiber is an important macronutrient as a source of energy for maintaining animal health. My research question is what is the fiber content of foods consumed by lemur species with different dietary specializations (Propithecus diadema, Eulemur fuvlus, and Hapalemur griseus) and are there seasonal changes? 172 plant foods were collected in Tsinjoarivo, Madagascar during the resource-abundant and lean season. I analyzed these samples using the neutral detergent fiber method, which simulates digestion and measures insoluble fiber. Knowing how much fiber lemurs consume and how they adapt to seasonal variation in the food supply will allow for restorative actions to be …

Taoism As Applied To The Individual In Western Business, Alfie T. Chadwick

Honors Capstones

When making the comparisons between Eastern and Western approaches, the primary focus of juxtaposition is the “this or that” attitude of Western thought against the “this into that” focus of Eastern thought. For instance, a Western company may view change as the opposite of stability whereas Taoist belief through Yin-Yang theory suggests change actually is stability (Chen, 2002).

The inherent paradoxical nature of this approach counters most Western schools of thought and, therefore, might prove difficult to implement in a Western workplace. This study aims to explore the potential for applying the principle of Wu-Wei (also known as “effortless action”) …

A Retrospective Look At Self-Reported Mental Health Prevalence In Division Iii Student-Athletes, Jacob F. Neri

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

Mental health concerns among collegiate athletes have gained increased attention, but there has been limited research focus on Division III student-athletes. This study aimed to examine the self-reported prevalence of anxiety, depression, anger, stalking/harassment, abuse/assault, alcohol/substance abuse, self-harm, suicide ideation, and suicide attempt to identify contributing factors amongst this population. A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted looking at data collected from the student-athlete mental health history & well-being questionnaire that was administered as part of their pre-participation exam (PPE) prior to the beginning of each academic year. A total of 554 Division III student-athletes were included in the study. Results …

Enhancing The Diversity And Number Of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists: A Proposed Pipeline Program For Underrepresented Students, Alexis Lamoreaux

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

The underrepresentation of minority groups in the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) profession impacts healthcare providers’ diversity and cultural competence. This Final Scholarly Project (FSP) proposes a pipeline program to increase diversity within the CRNA field by providing academic support, mentorship, and clinical exposure to students from underrepresented backgrounds. Given the shortage of anesthesia providers, especially in underserved areas, improving access to the CRNA profession for minority students is critical for enhancing patient outcomes. This FSP suggests establishing mentorship and skill development concepts through a 12-month structured program that targets minorities, first-generation college students, or those from rural backgrounds. The …

A Case Comparison Of Vo₂Max And Lower Extremity Injury In Collegiate Wrestlers, Kole J. Kendall

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

ABSTRACT

A CASE COMPARISON OF VO₂MAX AND LOWER EXTREMITY INJURY IN COLLEGIATE WRESTLERS

Kole Jacob Kendall

Otterbein University

Westerville, OH

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between preseason aerobic capacity (VO₂max) and lower extremity injury prevalence in Division III collegiate wrestlers. In this two-participant case comparison, Participant 2 sustained a lower extremity injury and demonstrated the lower VO₂max value (37.5 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹), whereas Participant 1 remained uninjured and demonstrated the higher VO₂max value (40.8 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹). Although statistical analysis was not feasible because of the limited sample size, this pattern suggests a possible association between lower aerobic capacity …

Assessing The Risk Of Low Energy Availability In Ncaa Division Iii Female Soccer Players, Emma C. Sturts

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

Low Energy Availability (LEA) can occur when an athlete’s energy intake is insufficient to meet the physiological demands of training as well as normal physiological functions. Female soccer players may be at an increased risk of developing LEA due to the high exercise energy expenditure paired with decreased energy intake. The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of LEA among Division III female soccer players. Division III female soccer players (n = 11) completed the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q). 45.5% (n = 5) of the participants were classified as “At Risk” for LEA. Of …

Prevalence, Perceptions, And Risk Of Nsaid Use Among Division Iii College Athletes, Alyssa C. Lewis

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

A preliminary study utilizing a Division III Midwestern athletic conference to determine the perceptions, prevalence, and risk of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was conducted. The study includes athletes that were 18 years of age or older and those who hold an active roster spot. The study utilized a non-standardized survey previously used in Christopher et al. (2020) to examine NSAID use and behaviors across multiple demographics (e.g., gender, academic year, sport, and ethnicity). The survey did not require any identifying information to allow participants to remain anonymous.  Data collection occurred over two waves through emailing both coaches and athletic directors. …

Investigating The Prevalence Of Eating Disorder Risk And Body Image Dissatisfaction Among Division Iii Track And Field Athletes, Ravyn S. Goodson

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

Context: Eating disorder (ED) risk, and body image dissatisfaction (BID) are increasingly recognized concerns in collegiate athletes due to sport-specific and sociocultural pressures. However, limited research has looked at these factors within NCAA Division III track and field athletes.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of eating disorder risk and body image dissatisfaction among division III track and field athletes and explore differences based on gender and event group Design A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design

Setting: NCAA division III athletic program within the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), during the 2025-2026 competitive season.

Participants: A total of 32 NCAA Division III track …

Is More Better? The Influence Of Visual Entropy And Color On Brand Identity And Engagement, Maryana Kopyt

Honors Capstones

Brands in the beauty industry rely heavily on visual content to differentiate themselves and communicate their identity on social media. However, it remains unclear how visual complexity affects consumer engagement and perceptions, and limited research has combined visual entropy, sentiment, and engagement.

This project examines how three beauty brands: Glossier, Rhode, and Clinique, use color and visual complexity in their Instagram content and how these different strategies relate to emotional tone, brand identity consistency, and consumer engagement. A dataset of approximately 150 posts was collected, and deep learning-based visual analysis was used to extract the dominant colors and calculate visual …

Burnout & Moral Injury Metrics Inform Evidence-Based Nursing Workplace Solutions, Sarrah Spohnholtz, Brian Douthit, Carolyn Audit

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Purpose: To implement real time burnout data that enables nurse leaders to identify and respond based on environmental risk factors.

Background: Burnout and moral injury among nurses are driven by increased demands and emotional toll of care delivery. These conditions compromise nurse well-being and affect patient outcomes and safety.⁴ Many contributing factors stem from under-resourced environments where nurses cannot provide the care they believe patients need. Resilience training can help mitigate stress, but systemic reform is needed to prevent burnout and moral injury before they occur.²

Methods: In September 2025, the WellNurse Program implemented environmental risk metrics into …

Neurodiversity In The Workplace: Organizational Approaches To Supporting Neurodiverse Employees, Madison Vasquez

M.S. in Leadership

Despite growing conversation around neurodiversity in the workplace, many organizations lack clear understanding and structured strategies to support neurodivergent employees. This study examines existing research on how organizations can more effectively support neurodiverse employees across the employee lifecycle. Using a qualitative literature review, this study addresses the research question by examining literature on neurodiversity within workplace contexts. This includes investigating common representations of neurodiversity and reviewing the strengths and challenges of neurodiverse individuals, including those who have autism, ADHD, and other forms of neurodivergence. The study also reviews workplace barriers, support strategies, and organizational outcomes identified across the literature. Key …

Hlafreq: Download And Combine Hla Allele Frequency Data, David A. Wells, Michael Mcauley

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes encode cell-surface proteins which play an important role in immunity. Since different HLA alleles enable different immune responses, the population frequency of HLA alleles is often considered when designing vaccines (Gulukota & DeLisi, 1996). Specific HLA alleles have been linked to autoimmune disease (Simmonds & Gough, 2007) and associated with adverse drug reactions (Fan et al., 2017). Further, the success of solid organ and stem cell transplants is related to HLA matching between donor and recipient (Fürst et al., 2019; Morishima et al., 2002). We present HLAfreq, a Python package which can be used to …

Self-Guided Stress Reduction Program Among New Graduate Nurse Residents, Allison A. Norful, Yilei Yang, Simon Paul P. Navarro, Marin Skariah

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: Evidence suggests that younger, less experienced nurses have higher burnout risk, thus yielding higher turnover rates, poorer psychological health, and decreased resilience or job satisfaction. To address this, it is critical to support new nurses by providing training aimed at building resilience and stress management. However, formal curricula designed to help nurses adapt to high-stress environments and unexpected changes are limited. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of an online self-guided resiliency training curriculum.

Methods: Using a pragmatic trial design, we recruited a pilot sample of 26 nurse residents (with …

The Effect Of Stress Hormones On Memory Formation And Academic Performance, Emma L. Hooks

Senior Honors Theses

With chronic stress becoming increasingly prevalent in academic settings, researchers have identified significant effects on learning and academic performance. Cortisol, a glucocorticoid hormone, is released following the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and plays a vital role in the stress response. Although acute increases in cortisol can improve attention and memory, sustained activation of the stress response can impair memory, executive functioning, and academic performance. This thesis draws on neuroscience, psychology, and education research to examine how chronic cortisol exposure affects the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and how the effects manifest in learning and academic performance, particularly in developmental …

From Central To Refinery: Labor And Hierarchy In The American Sugar Empire (1919-1962), Ben Woloch

History Honors Projects

From 1919 until 1962, the American Sugar Refining Company (ASRC) oversaw an empire, stretching from two Cuban sugar estates (centrales) to its Brooklyn refinery. The relationship between workers at both poles of the ASRC’s empire constituted a transnational labor hierarchy. Divergent management programs at the Brooklyn refinery and the centrales Jaronú and Cunagua confined the workers to distinct social positions. Brooklyn workers pursued labor-management collaboration in support of the sugar industry’s exploitative system, while workers in Cuba reimagined the sugar empire's power structure. The transnational workforce of the ASRC maintained a disunified relationship, which fractured the possibilities of working-class solidarity.