Digital Commons Network^™

Stewardship In Action: Reducing Unnecessary Antimicrobial Use In Long-Term Care, Mariatu Sulaiman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Antimicrobial overuse in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) contributes to antimicrobial resistance, avoidable healthcare costs, and adverse drug events, particularly when antibiotics are prescribed for asymptomatic bacteriuria rather than symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs). Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, including the McGeer Criteria, provide standardized approaches for differentiating true UTIs from asymptomatic bacteriuria and supporting appropriate antimicrobial prescribing. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project was to evaluate the development and implementation of a clinical practice guideline incorporating the McGeer Criteria into an antibiotic stewardship program in an LTCF. The practice-focused question examined what evidence supports strategies for reducing unnecessary antimicrobial use …

Staff Education To Improve Obesity Risk Assessment And Referral Practices, Omolara Aminat Oshokoya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary This staff education project addressed inconsistent obesity risk assessment practices in an adult primary care setting. Obesity is associated with increased rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic conditions. At the project site, obesity assessment practices relied largely on body mass index (BMI), resulting in inconsistent identification of obesity-related risks and referral needs. The purpose of this project was to educate providers on the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS) to improve obesity risk identification and referral practices. The project evaluated whether the staff education intervention improved providers' knowledge and use of the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS) …

Operating Room Scheduling And Workflow Optimization In Acute Care Hospitals, Waleed Tawfik

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Operating room scheduling inefficiencies in acute care hospitals contribute to delays, prolonged turnover times, cancellations, underused capacity, overtime, higher costs, and reduced timely access to surgery. This integrative review examined evidence-based, systems-oriented scheduling and workflow strategies to improve operating room utilization, reduce delays, and enhance operational efficiency. Guided by general systems theory, a structured search identified 196 database-level records; 28 articles underwent full-text review, and 20 sources were retained for thematic synthesis after critical appraisal using the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice criteria. The thematic analysis revealed four main themes: standardized workflow coordination, data-driven scheduling and decision support, integrated resource and …

Public Defenders' Perceptions Of Communication Breakdowns: Supplemental Materials, Katherine Mendez, Linda Jarmulowicz

School of Communication Sciences and Disorders Dataset

This is supplemental data from a study exploring a critical and highly language-dependent component of the criminal-legal system that has not been fully investigated, specifically, the attorney-client relationship and communication that occurs within it.  Using a cross-sectional, descriptive census survey design, this exploratory study investigates whether public defenders notice the characteristics of language disorders among their clients, how they interpret and respond to any resulting communication challenges, and whether communication challenges interfere with their ability to serve their clients.

Reducing Live Discharges Using A Tiered Protocol In A Rural Hospice: A Quality Improvement Project, Jemma Lowak

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose: To reduce 30-day caregiver-driven hospice revocations by implementing a tiered post-admission nursing visit protocol based on caregiver preparedness. Background: Caregiver distress and inadequate support contribute to hospice revocations and interruptions in care. Increased nursing contact during the first week of enrollment may improve caregiver preparedness and reduce crisis-driven hospitalizations. Methodology: An eight-week quality improvement project using the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework was implemented at a rural hospice agency. Caregivers completed a Caregiver Preparedness Survey to assign preparedness tiers and guide additional nursing visits during the first week. Process measures included survey completion and protocol adherence. Outcome measures included caregiver preparedness and …

Strategic Information System Leadership And Information System Function Performance In Universities In Kenya: A Pls-Sem Analysis, Joseph K. Muchina, James M. Njihia Prof., Agnes N. Wausi Prof.

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Information systems as enablers have evolved from an efficiency and effectiveness focus to enterprise-wide performance, placing strong demands on information system leadership. Emerging leadership models call for collaborative practices. Information systems leadership in higher education is a challenging task. Universities' top management team members and their information system executive counterparts lack a common and shared vision and understanding of information systems capabilities and roles. As the highest-ranking officers in organizations, they make strategic IS decisions. Yet, noting that existing approaches are ineffective, there is a growing concern about the kind of leadership needed to guide the institutions. Four sets of …

Sustainability Challenges And Opportunities In A University Police Fleet: A Case Study Of Idling, Emissions, And Electrification Potential, Van Slusser

School of Political Science, Public Affairs, Legal and Security Studies Faculty Publications

This case study examines fleet sustainability challenges within the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Police Department, a multicampus public safety agency operating aging gasoline vehicles central to daily patrol and administrative functions. Rising maintenance costs, increased vehicle downtime, and extensive idling created both operational strain and avoidable environmental impacts. Aging internal-combustion vehicles contributed to elevated emissions and fuel consumption, particularly under high-heat conditions and equipment demands typical of campus policing. Telematics monitoring indicated that approximately 48% of total engine-on time consisted of idling, highlighting a substantial source of avoidable fuel use and emissions. The study employed a qualitative case …

Lindenwood Digest, August 12, 2026, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

• Event & Date: Lindenwood University Employee Digest, published August 12, 2026.

• Geographic Grounding: Lindenwood University, St. Charles, Missouri.

• Key Honorees/Awards: Brandon Perkins was recognized in Q2 Moments for revisions to the faculty performance evaluation guidebook.

• Institutional Context: Key scheduled institutional programs include the 2026 Football Fan Fest on August 14, the Welcome Week Kickoff Meeting featuring Dr. John Porter, Dr. Kathi Vosevich, and keynote speaker Dr. Stephanie Afful on August 17, and the launch of the rebranded Office of Careers, Internships, and Achievements (C.I.A.) directed by Sara VonBokel on August 19.

Techniques, Skills, And Synthesis For “Cooking” In The Organic Laboratory, Emily C. Sylvester, Tim Evans

Open Education Materials

Lab manual for CHEM 211L, Organic Chemistry I Laboratory. Provides background and procedures for laboratory experiments, including fundamental techniques and several organic syntheses.

Creative Commons attribution.

From Prairie To Practice: Environmental Controls And A Forensic Taphonomic Framework In Southeastern Nebraska, Jessica F. L. Gammage

Nebraska Academy of Sciences: Programs and Proceedings

Forensic taphonomy examines the postmortem processes that affect human remains, but much of the existing research has been developed in environments that differ significantly from those encountered in the Central Great Plains. This creates limitations when applying established models to regions like southeastern Nebraska, where decomposition is shaped by tallgrass prairie ecosystems, loess-derived soils, and strong seasonal variability. Addressing this gap is important for improving the accuracy and reliability of medicolegal interpretations.

This study evaluates how environmental conditions influence decomposition in southeastern Nebraska and proposes a regionally grounded framework for forensic taphonomic research. Drawing on existing literature, regional ecological data, …

The Use Of Chitosan-G-Poly (Acrylic Acid-Co-Acrylamide) In The Delivery Of Imatinib In The Small Intestine, Dawson Ohrt, Clint Everard

Nebraska Academy of Sciences: Programs and Proceedings

The use of hydrogels as drug delivery systems is the future of biotechnology, hydrogels can offer a new way of controlled delivery to specific areas of the body. Hydrogel also create new possibilities for treatments of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). There are many different types of hydrogels that can be used in drug delivery. Hydrogels offer customizability in regard to the release of drugs in specific environments. The chemical properties of hydrogels allow for them to be manipulated for specific functions such as release at a specific pH . The hydrogel being used in the study is Chitosan-G-Poly (Acrylic Acid …

Improving Adherence To Remote Patient Monitoring (Rpm) For Patients With Hypertension, Chioma Udegbune

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Hypertension is a leading contributor to cardiovascular disease, and suboptimal adherence to remote patient monitoring (RPM) limits opportunities for timely intervention and effective blood pressure management in outpatient primary care.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: Among outpatient clinic nursing staff responsible for remote patient monitoring (RPM) in adults with hypertension (P), how does implementation of a structured nurse-led education and reminder protocol (I), compared to standard RPM practices consisting of routine onboarding and passive reminder processes (C), influence patient adherence to RPM protocols (O) over a 10-week period (T)?

Evidence: Evidence supports nurse-led education, …

Confidence Versus Competence: Addressing Nursing Knowledge Gaps In Catheter Care To Reduce Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections, Leslie Anne Villanueva Bautista

Master's Projects and Capstones

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) remain among the most prevalent and preventable healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), contributing substantially to patient morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and healthcare expenditures. Most hospital-acquired UTIs are related to urinary catheters, and this burden costs the United States alone an estimated $340 to $450 million annually (Yang et al., 2022). CAUTIs are UTIs that occur in patients with indwelling urinary catheters. This quality improvement project aimed to increase adherence to existing bladder scanning protocols and strengthen urinary catheter care to prevent CAUTI. Baseline staff nurse knowledge was obtained, and reinterpretation of the facility’s existing protocols and bundles …

Brandon Timmons V. Bohinski

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Lessons Learned In Improving Comprehension And Retention Of Content, Mark Johnson

PD Day 2026

In this highly dynamic presentation, participants will recognize key factors to delivering content that will help students understand the content more easily and retain concepts faster. Participants will learn about the detrimental effect of latency on learning and how teachers can overcome it with a few simple steps. Participants will identify how to increase learning and retention for all their students. not just some.

Teaching Research Writing With Ai: Practical Strategies Using M365, Onedrive, And Copilot, Phil Rudd

PD Day 2026

This interactive session demonstrates practical strategies for integrating Microsoft 365, OneDrive, and Copilot into undergraduate research writing courses. Drawing on ENGL 299, participants will explore how AI can support topic development, source analysis, drafting, and revision while reinforcing critical thinking and academic integrity. Attendees will participate in hands-on activities and leave with adaptable assignment ideas for their own courses.

Your Research Partner: Discovering The Services Of The Office Of Research And Sponsored Programs, Megan Whitney, Glenn Storey, Brighid Dawson

PD Day 2026

Join us for an informative session introducing the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) and the comprehensive services available to support faculty. From pre-awards to post-awards, ORSP provides the administrative support that allows researchers piece of mind in the submission/management process. We will cover strategies to find funding, proposal preparation and submission, budget development, and post-award management and compliance. Our goal is to demonstrate how ORSP serves as a collaborative partner in the research process by providing administrative expertise and guidance that allows investigators to focus on conducting high-quality research.

Engaging University Students In A Non-History Course With History, Cynthia Huffman Ph.D., William Huffman

PD Day 2026

Incorporating history into a non-history university classroom builds real-world relevance, sharpens critical thinking, and boosts engagement. By anchoring abstract theories in historical case studies, origin stories, and ethical dilemmas, educators bridge the gap between textbook concepts and professional practice. In this session, we will discuss reasons for using history in non-history courses and provide examples of a variety of subject-specific implementation strategies.

Partner With Entrepreneurship: Assign Student Trade Shows For High Impact, Experiential Education, Jane Talkington

PD Day 2026

Want students to shift from passive learners to active advocates for their ideas? Partner with the Entrepreneurship Program to harness high-impact experiential education as we build interdisciplinary problem-solvers.

By assigning (or incentivizing) your students to participate in our low-stakes campus trade shows—the Wicked Problems Forum (October 29) and The Idea Fest: Ventures, Side Hustles, and Pop-ups (March 25)—you push them to think on their feet and engage directly with the public. Last year, 33 student teams participated in inaugural Idea Fest and were delighted by how deeply impactful the experience was for their professional growth, networking with 50 judges who …

Small Teaching, Big Impact: Igec Cohort 1 Faculty Roundtable, Rebeca Book, Goldie Prelogar, Chris Anderson, Janet Lewis, Grant D. Moss, Tim Bailey, Catherine Hooey, Donna Zerr

PD Day 2026

Faculty from the first IGEC (Innovative General Education Course) cohort will share practical teaching strategies they learned about, selected, and implemented in general education courses. In this interactive panel/roundtable discussion, participants will hear brief examples of small teaching changes designed to strengthen student engagement, learning, reflection, and success. Panelists will discuss what they tried, what worked well, what they adjusted, and what they would recommend to colleagues interested in making meaningful, manageable changes in their own courses. Participants will leave with realistic, adaptable ideas they can apply across disciplines and course levels.

Green Open Access: Publishing Research For Peer Review And Reach Of Scholarship, Madison Price

PD Day 2026

In this session, Madison Price will present the idea of hosting pre-prints on PSU’s institutional repository for the purpose of open access and peer review. A common concern faculty in and outside of PSU have with open access works and adopting open education resources [OER] in the classroom is the uncertainty of its quality. Implementing a peer review process at PSU with Digital Commons, a platform all faculty have access to, could assist in the quality assurance of the materials that we create. Plus, some research grants require pre-prints be deposited in an open access or institutional repository [IR] for …

Addressing Haitian High School Students’ Educational Challenges Through Their Self-Cultural Awareness, Gregory Louis

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The study is grounded in the understanding that culturally responsive education practices can promote academic success and empower students to navigate multiple cultural contexts. A review of literature highlighted the complexities of Haitian students' educational experiences, the impact of cultural identity on academic achievement, and the need for further research on this topic.

The research employed in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Haitian high school students and their parents to gather data on their experiences, perceptions, and attitudes towards education and cultural identity. The study aimed to contribute to a deeper understanding of the educational experiences of Haitian students and inform strategies …

Professional Development And Coaching To Support Teachers In Implementing Reading Interventions To Students With Dyslexia In Catholic Schools, Payton Elise Bosma

Masters Projects

Students with dyslexia need explicitly designed and implemented instruction in order to combat deficits in phonological, language, and executive functioning processes, yet teachers in Catholic Schools may not have the necessary training for successful reading intervention due to a lack of dyslexia policy in private schools. This project aims to fill this need by providing one Catholic School in an urban setting with a year-long professional development series which includes 5 professional development sessions to be implemented alongside individual coaching sessions. The purpose of the professional development sessions is twofold. They were created to increase teacher awareness of the etiology …

Clinical Practice Guideline For Fall Prevention And Reduction, Wendy Zitzloff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Falls are a significant concern for residents in long-term care facilities who are 65 years old or older, which places them at a higher risk of injury. The risk of falling is unique to each patient and cumulative with advanced age and complex comorbidities. A Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility in Minnesota had 6.6% of long-stay residents experience a fall resulting in a major injury, higher than the Minnesota average of 4.1%. This Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) outlines foundational components for preventing and reducing falls among geriatric patients in long-term care facilities. The purpose of the CPG is to outline the …

Underrepresented Students’ Perceptions Of Precollege Programs And Challenges Of Transitioning To Postsecondary Education, Dana Truesdale

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is that underrepresented students (low-income and first generation college students) face challenges associated with the transition from secondary education to postsecondary education. Grounded in Schlossberg’s transition theory, the purpose of this study was to explore underrepresented students’ perceptions of support provided by precollege programs and remaining challenges when transitioning to higher education. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews with 11 underrepresented students who participated in a precollege program were conducted. Braun and Clarke’s six-phase data analysis was used. After deductive and inductive analysis, the following themes emerged: Students indicated that the …

Public Defenders’ Challenges Representing Erroneous Prosecution Cases In The Black Community, Kayla Kristine Stephens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public defenders in a southern state continue to face significant challenges when representing Black individuals in the criminal justice system, particularly in cases involving erroneous prosecution. These challenges are intensified by high caseloads, limited funding, and systemic inequities, which can be stressors affecting the prosecutors wellbeing and hinder the provision of adequate legal representation. Public defenders, appointed to represent indigent defendants, frequently navigate complex legal and social circumstances that intersect with racial disparities in the justice system. For this qualitative study the research question was, how do public defenders perceive and manage any stresses representing erroneous prosecution cases in the …

Exploring The Definition Of Democracy And Rule Of Law From Afghan Women’S Perspective, Lynda Boswell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although the United States funded programs from 2001 to 2021 to promote democracy, the rule of law, and opportunities for Afghan women, existing reports and evaluations focused primarily on expenditures, implementation, outputs, and accountability rather than Afghan women’s perspectives, particularly after the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. This study addressed that gap by exploring how Afghan women experienced and understood democracy and the rule of law before and after the U.S. withdrawal and how U.S.-supported programs influenced their perceptions and experiences. Guided by theoretical frameworks of democracy and the rule of law as applied in Afghanistan and other …

Recent Failures And Lessons In Self-Regulating Professions In Canada From A Historical Organization Perspective, Richard James Dixon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Canadian self-regulating professions govern the conduct of professionals through legislatively mandated organizations, yet the conditions under which their management fails, and self-regulatory authority is lost, remain poorly understood. Governing boards and provincial governments need to understand this concern as a leading indicator of governance failure, erosion of public confidence, and conditions that may precipitate the loss of self-regulatory authority. The purpose of this descriptive, historical, multiple-case study was to explore how recent management failures in three Canadian self-regulating professional organizations can guide decision-makers in choosing sustainable management practices and governance models. Freidson's professionalism framework, neo-institutional theory, and strategic management grounded …

Development Of A Clinical Practice Guideline For Hpv Vaccination In Low-Income Adolescents Using The Agree Ii Framework, Jariatu Fatu Bundu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is an effective strategy for preventing HPV-related cancers; however, vaccination initiation and series completion remain suboptimal among adolescents, particularly those from low-income and underserved populations. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project addressed an evidence-to-practice gap involving the absence of a standardized clinical practice guideline (CPG) for HPV vaccination in a family practice setting serving predominantly low-income adolescents. The purpose of the project was to develop and validate an evidence-based CPG to standardize provider recommendations and support improvement in HPV vaccination initiation and series completion. Evidence was appraised and synthesized using the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model, …

Implementation Of A Standardized Antibiotic Order Set To Improve Evidence-Based Antibiotic Prescribing In Oral Surgery, Lashundra Miles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inconsistent antibiotic prescribing practices in an oral surgery clinic contributed to variation in antibiotic selection, timing, dosing, redosing when indicated, and duration. This variation limited adherence to evidence-based prescribing recommendations and highlighted the need for a workflow-based strategy to support antibiotic stewardship. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase use of a standardized antibiotic order set through reminder-based reinforcement and to improve evidence-based prescribing practices. The practice-focused question examined whether implementing the standardized antibiotic order set, supported by workflow-integrated reminders and ongoing performance feedback, would improve order-set utilization during a 6-week implementation period. The project was guided …