Education Commons^™

Teaching Social Determinants Of Health In Physical Therapist Professional Education Programs: Exploring Curricular Approaches And Examining An Assessment Tool, Emily Jordan Hawkins

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

There is a growing emphasis and need for physical therapists (PTs) to serve not only as clinicians but also as advocates to pursue health equity. Clinical practice for preventing and rehabilitating injuries and promoting physical activity will not eliminate health disparities resulting from the social determinants of health (SDH). Leaders in the field of physical therapy have charged physical therapist professional education programs to teach future PTs to address SDH, however, as of August 2023, the Standards and Required Elements for Accreditation of Physical Therapist Education Programs does not specifically require curricular content regarding SDH. The purposes of this dissertation …

An Online Module To Promote Self-Care And Resiliency In Nursing Students, Karen Higgins, Janice Hawkins, Beth Tremblay, Lynn Wiles

Nursing Faculty Publications

Because the demands of nursing education can impact the physical and mental health of nursing students, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s revised Essentials require inclusion of self-care and resilience education in nursing curricula. This article describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a self-care module in a new online undergraduate course. Using the REST mnemonic (relationships, exercise, soul, and transformative thinking), students developed personalized self-care plans for the semester. End-of-course evaluations revealed an increase in self-care activities. The most used activities were exercise, humor, intentional rest, and healthy eating.

Contributing Factors To Withdrawal Decisions Of Military And Nonmilitary Nursing Students, Beth Tremblay, Janice E. Hawkins, Robert E. Hawkins, Karen Higgins, Lynn Wiles, Jamela Martin

Nursing Faculty Publications

Retaining nursing students in courses is key to increasing the number of new nurses. This study examined factors associated with nursing course or program withdrawal among students with and without prior military experience. The purpose of this study was to uncover differences between groups of students who withdrew compared to those who did not. A cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire surveyed current or recent nursing students (n = 420) using the Educational Requirement Subscale and the Student Withdrawal Questionnaire from Jeffreys’ toolkit. Uncovering differences between groups of students who did and did not withdraw from nursing courses or programs …

Creating A Primary Care Track In Prelicensure Nursing Education, Janice E. Hawkins, Lynn L. Wiles, Jamela Martin, Beth Tremblay, Karen Higgins, Ingrid Mahoney

Nursing Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: RNs practicing in primary care (PC) increase access to health care and contribute to better patient outcomes and cost savings, yet undergraduate nursing education traditionally focuses on disease-oriented care. This article describes a curricular track for infusing PC prelicensure programs.

METHOD: PC content is threaded across four semesters with targeted assignments and clinical experiences. Providing clinical immersion experiences with practicing RNs as preceptors in community and PC settings is a key component of this initiative.

RESULTS: Student feedback has been favorable. Students stated they gained insight to the role of RNs in PC through class assignments and clinical rotations. …

A Comparison Of Factors That Impact Retention Of Nursing Students With And Without Military Experience: A Mixed Method Study, Janice E. Hawkins, Karen Higgins, Jamela Martin, Lynn Wiles, Ingrid Mahoney, Robert Hawkins, Beth Tremblay

Nursing Faculty Publications

Military veteran students have unique characteristics and challenges that influence their academic success. The factors impacting retention of nursing students with prior military experience may differ from students with no military experience. This mixed methods study used an anonymous survey guided by Jeffreys' Nursing Undergraduate Retention and Success Model to identify factors that support or restrict prelicensure nursing program retention of military veteran students compared to students with no history of military service. Statistically significant differences between groups were detected for three factors including financial status, membership in nursing organizations or clubs, and financial aid and/or scholarship. There was a …

Executive Functions And Student Success During Physical Therapist Education: An Exploratory Study, Jane Roitsch, Martha L. Walker, Anastasia M. Raymer

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Clinical reasoning relies on executive functions (EFs) that manage attention, inhibition, organization, and decision-making. Assessment of EFs may help identify students who excel at clinical reasoning, yet data showing this relationship in physical therapy (PT) education programs are lacking. The primary purpose of this exploratory study was to examine EFs in relationship to success in PT educational programs. METHODS: Thirteen third-year PT graduate students completed two EF tests which were compared to culminating scores in the program and admissions scores. RESULTS: A relationship existed between National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and comprehensive exam results and one EF test score; …

Patient-Perspective Task Performance: Creating Contextually Relevant Student Clinical Training Through The Use Of Patient Experience, Candice L. Freeman

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

Patient-centered and patient-focused care purports that patients are at the center of all clinical decisions made for optimal medical outcomes. Optimal medical outcomes originate from accurately and reliably executed task performance by healthcare professionals trained to administer highly specific care for each patient condition. Many of these executed tasks are performed in the presence of the patient; this is defined as direct patient care. However, there are equally important tasks executed that are not performed in the presence of the patient; the performance of diagnostic laboratory testing is an example of such tasks.

Clinical training of healthcare laboratory professionals begins …

Nursing, Physical Therapy, And Cytotechnology Graduate And Undergraduate Students' Attitudes Toward Teamwork Before And After Participation In An Interprofessional Education Experience, Shelley C. Mishoe, Muge Akpinar Elci, Rebecca Poston, Kimberly Adams Tufts, Beth Thompson

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND Educating health professional (HP) students in environments wherein they can learn about, from, and with each other can prepare them for interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP), which may positively impact patient safety and satisfaction (Brashers et al., 2015; Health Professions Accreditors Collaborative [HPAC], 2019). IPCP is characterized by effective communication, shared values, respect for diverse disciplines and teamwork among health professionals (IOM, 2015). However, professional silos in practice can foster competition rather than collaboration. Knowledge of HP roles and responsibilities is a primary tenet of IPCP (Interprofessional Educational Collaborative [IPEC], 2011).

PURPOSE An interprofessional education (IPE) approach that combined book …

Qualitative Research In Pharmacy Education: An Exploration Of Pharmacy Education Researchers' Perceptions And Experiences Conducting Qualitative Research, Antonio A. Bush, Mauriell Amechi, Adam Persky

Educational Foundations & Leadership Faculty Publications

Objective. To investigate pharmacy education researchers’ experiences in conducting qualitative research and their perceptions of qualitative research in pharmacy education

Methods. A phenomenological approach was used to conduct one-time, in-depth interviews with 19 participants from 12 schools and colleges of pharmacy. Interview transcripts were coded and themes were identified using a modified form of the Sort and Sift, Think and Shift method of data analysis.

Results. Faculty members were the largest subgroup in the sample, followed by graduate students, postdoctoral fellows/scholars, and residents. Pharmacy education researchers had varying levels of training in conducting qualitative research and some had none at …

An Exploration Of Pharmacy Education Researchers' Perceptions And Experiences Conducting Qualitative Research, Antonio A. Bush, Mauriell Amechi, Adam Persky

Educational Foundations & Leadership Faculty Publications

Objective. To investigate pharmacy education researchers' experiences in conducting qualitative research and their perceptions of qualitative research in pharmacy education

Methods. A phenomenological approach was used to conduct one-time, in-depth interviews with 19 participants from 12 schools and colleges of pharmacy. Interview transcripts were coded and themes were identified using a modified form of the Sort and Sift, Think and Shift method of data analysis.

Results. Faculty members were the largest subgroup in the sample, followed by graduate students, postdoctoral fellows/scholars, and residents. Pharmacy education researchers had varying levels of training in conducting qualitative research and some had none at …

Pathways To Success In Anatomy And Physiology At The Community College: The Role Of Prerequisite Courses, Staci B. Forgey, Mitchell R. Williams, Shana Pribesh

Educational Foundations & Leadership Faculty Publications

Gatekeeper courses such as Anatomy and Physiology are often referenced in discussions regarding the national shortage of persons in allied health professions. In an attempt to bolster access to STEM professions, some community colleges are mandating prerequisite courses such as Natural Sciences and/or General Biology for STEM gatekeeping courses. In this study, we examined which of these prerequisite courses helped students to pass Anatomy and Physiology and whether the courses are an additional barrier to STEM field completion. This was the first study to evaluate whether a prerequisite course was predictive of success in Anatomy and Physiology, and it contributes …

An Evaluation Of Pathways To Community College Student Success In Anatomy And Physiology I, Staci Brooke Forgey

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

The demand for healthcare workers is increasing nationwide. Higher education is responding by examining various interventions designed to increase completion (Abele, Penprase, & Ternes, 2011). Anatomy and Physiology is often identified as a gatekeeper course for students, since many withdraw or fail this course (Hopper, 2011). Within the VCCS, two colleges have implemented a prerequisite course, NAS 2, for Anatomy and Physiology. This study analyzed student data from before and after NAS 2 implementation, and examined General Biology to determine if it was a predictor of success in Anatomy and Physiology.

When NAS 2 was a significant predictor of grade …

Physician As Teacher: Promoting Health And Wellness Among Elementary School Students, Jill E. Stefaniak, Victoria C. Lucia

STEMPS Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Every day, physicians engage in teaching during their patient encounters. It may be that medical students who are introduced to the principles of teaching and learning are more likely to become good communicators and learners. Service-learning may be an effective way for medical students to practice skills in teaching and communication in a real-world setting, while also filling a need within the community. The purpose of this study was to identify common themes within medical students' reflections on what they learned through participating in a teaching exercise with local elementary school children.

METHODS: As a required component of a …

Student Retention In Bsn Programs, Katherine Pittman Hensley

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

This study examined, by use of a researcher-developed survey instrument, perceptions between three groups on reasons why students drop out of nursing programs. Also examined are recommendations from the three groups on how to try to avoid nursing student attrition. Specific groups surveyed included native BSN students, RNB students, and a mixed group of nursing faculty. Survey items were divided into two general groups: student-related issues, and institutional issues. Since RNB students (which include a larger number of non-traditional students) and BSN students (which include more of the native university population of traditional students) have many differences, the author attempted …

Effects Of An Interprofessional Simulation Activity To Improve Students' Perceptions Of Other Healthcare Professions, Chase Raymond Poulsen

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

Healthcare professionals have historically been educated and trained by members of their own profession within a curriculum that reinforces their individual discipline-specific strengths. This differentiation has contributed to students having little interaction with other professionals until after they have entered the workforce and consequently little formal education in collaboration or integration. The purpose of this mixed-method study was to evaluate the impact of an interprofessional (IP) collaborative activity on student's perceptions of the others discipline for the improvement in care of medical patients.

The sample population consisted of students from two programs, nursing (n=40) and respiratory therapy (n=33). Students were …

I'M Still Standing: Five Strategies To Survive Going Back To School, Janice Hawkins

Nursing Faculty Publications

[First paragraph] Making the decision to return to school for a PhD was difficult for me. I feared the unknown but inescapable lifestyle adjustments. I’m resistant to change. When facing life’s cold waters, I wade, rather than plunge. There’s no wading into a PhD program. In spite of my cautious nature, I took the plunge.

The Socialization Of Bullying Through Community College Nursing Education: A Multiple Case Study, Margaret M. O'Conner Machon

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

Many recent studies propose that bullying in the workplace is prevalent and is a phenomenon which occurs in the nursing workplace as well as in nursing education. This qualitative study examined the effects of vertical bullying upon community college nursing students and graduates, and the effect of this behavior upon the socialization of those learning the nursing profession. The study is based on a theoretical framework based on the findings of Salin (2003) and Twale and De Luca (2008) adapting their theory of bullying in academia which incorporated enabling, motivating and precipitating factors leading to intensified bullying. The study investigated …

General Education Requirements In A Community College Baccalaureate Rn-To-Bsn Program, Jason Bentley Krupp

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

Increasing demand for nurses with bachelor degrees, the growing culture of accountability in higher education, and the community college baccalaureate phenomena provided the impetus for this study. This ex-post facto quantitative study examined the graduation rates and time to degree of 240 students who were enrolled in a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program at a community college in Florida between Fall of 2002 and Spring of 2004. The general education course enrollment patterns of the students were analyzed to determine if they impacted student graduation rates and time to degree. Graduation rates and time to degree of students …

Transition From High School To Associate Degree Nursing Education: A Qualitative Study, Kathy Jessee Mitchell

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

Nursing is facing a critical shortage and retention of nursing students is of paramount importance. Much research has been completed related to retention in nursing education and student success, but there is very little in current literature related to issues associated with the transition from high school to associate degree nursing (ADN) education. The purpose of this study was to explore this phenomenon through qualitative research involving ADN students who entered the nursing programs immediately after graduation from high school. This qualitative study involved students from a rural associate degree program. The intent was to provide a better understanding of …

Community College Student Learning In Phlebotomy Preceptor-Led Clinical Internship, Susan E. Phelan

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to describe how allied health preceptor-led clinical internship improves or expands community college student learning. There is a significant gap of information in the literature related to the importance of this clinical internship experience for the learning, socialization, and professional development of allied health students in general and community college students in particular. The absence of relevant data for these internships as a situated learning experience is evident in the literature review. The majority of the allied health work force is prepared by community colleges. Therefore, community college leaders need data to make data-driven …

Magnification Loupes In U.S. Entry-Level Dental Hygiene Programs, Leslie Mchaney Congdon

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine policies and practices regarding magnification loupes among accredited dental hygiene programs as measured by a 31- item, self-designed questionnaire titled Magnifying Loupes in U.S. Entry Level Dental Hygiene Programs. In addition, the study compared policies among dental hygiene programs in two year versus four year programs in terms of requirements for the use of magnification loupes.

Methods: After institutional review board approval, the questionnaire was emailed via Survey Monkey to 303 entry-level dental hygiene programs. An overall response rate of 75% was obtained. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and …

Persistence To An Associate Of Applied Science Registered Nurse Degree: The Impact Of Placing Into Developmental Education Courses On Student Success, Caroline Clark Rivera

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

Student retention and success in nursing school has gained favor in educational research due to an increasing shortage of Registered Nurses. The purpose of this study is to measure the impact of student placement recommendation into developmental education courses on persistence to an Associate of Applied Science Registered Nurse degree. Using ex post facto research methodology rooted in the retention theories of Tinto, Bean and Metzner, and Jeffreys, this study aims to measure the effect of high school diploma type, age, race/ethnicity, and pre-requisite courses on student placement recommendation in developmental education and persistence to an Associate of Applied Science …

Persistence Of Community College Transfer Students In A Private Liberal Arts University Nursing Program, Rita M. Amerio

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

The United States is bracing for the largest shortage of registered nurses that the United States health care system has ever experienced. As the population of "baby boomers," those born between 1946 and 1960, turns 65 beginning in 2011, the nation will be faced with providing health care services to the largest group of elderly Americans in history. Unlike previous generations, this group has had the advantage of advanced medical care that will allow them to live well into their 80s and even 90s.

The purpose of this study was to conduct a preliminary investigation to identify predictor variables that …

The Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner At The Master's-Degree Level: Is It Necessary?, Michele Leonardi Darby

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

The article reflects on the Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner (ADHP) curriculum proposed by the American Dental Hygienists' Association at the master's degree level. It is stated that dental hygienists and ADHPs can collaborate with other health care professionals for contributing towards the advancement of quality health care to the most vulnerable populations. It is mentioned that preparation at the master's degree is a logical pathway to the expanded scope of practice.

Application Of The Interactional Model Of Cultural Diversity To Identify Diversity Climate Factors Associated With Organizational Effectiveness In Accredited U.S. Physical Therapist Education Programs, Elizabeth Francis Giles

Health Services Research Dissertations

Accredited U.S. physical therapist education programs are responsible for the preparation of its graduates to provide culturally sensitive care to meet the physical therapy needs of an increasingly diverse population. While the importance of workforce diversity has been articulated, the effect of diversity climate on organizational effectiveness within accredited U.S. physical therapist education programs has not been described. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Interactional Model of Cultural Diversity (IMCD, Cox, 1993) as a theoretical framework to identify diversity climate factors associated with organizational effectiveness in accredited U.S. physical therapist education programs. A descriptive, …

Debate: A Teaching-Learning Strategy For Developing Competence In Communication And Critical Thinking, Michele Darby

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

The article highlights key benefits from debate as a teaching-learning strategy for developing critical thinking and analytical skills while fostering teamwork and communication. According to the author, it is an effective pedagogical strategy because of the level of responsibility for learning and active involvement required by all student debaters. She also notes that the debate strategy can be used as a method to achieve competencies in baccalaureate and graduate dental hygiene programs.

Predictors Of Student Success In An Entry-Level Baccalaureate Dental Hygiene Program, Mohammad J. Alzahrani

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to measure the utility of a variety of predictors that have been used by the Old Dominion University, Gene W. Hirschfeld School of Dental Hygiene and other baccalaureate dental hygiene programs in selecting dental hygiene students who are most likely to graduate and be successful in passing the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE). Specifically this study attempted to determine whether or not the following factors are reliable predictors of success in a an entry-level baccalaureate dental hygiene program as evidenced by graduation and successful entry into the profession as evidenced by passing the …

How Physicians Feel About Assisting Female Victims Of Intimate-Partner Violence, Ramani N. Garimella, Stacey B. Plichta, Clare Houseman, Laurel Garzon

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Purpose. To assess the feelings of physicians about assisting female victims of intimate-partner violence (IPV), and to examine factors related to positive and negative feelings about assisting victims of IPV.

Method. In 1998, a total site sample of 150 physicians practicing in a large general hospital in the area of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was surveyed by questionnaire via the mail. Four specialties were represented: emergency medicine, family practice, obstetrics-gynecology, and psychiatry. The questionnaire asked about medical training and training in assisting victims of IPV The physicians' feelings about working with victims of IPV were measured on a nine-item, five-point …

Cultural Adaptability Of Students Attending Culturally Diverse And Non-Culturally Diverse Dental Hygiene Programs, Katrina White Magee

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive investigation was to determine the cultural adaptability of students attending culturally diverse and nonculturally diverse dental hygiene programs throughout the U.S. The dental hygiene schools were identified according to their ethnic diversity as reported by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation in the 1996-1997 Survey of Dental Hygiene Education Programs. Once the programs were identified, a random sample was taken from the diverse and non-diverse dental hygiene programs. A 50-item inventory, the Cross-Cultural Adaptability Inventory (CCAI), was mailed to the participating dental hygiene programs. One-hundred eighty-eight students represented U.S. dental hygiene programs in the …

Course Selection Factors Deemed Important By Dental Hygienists Prior To And After The Initiation Of Mandatory Continuing Education In The Commonwealth Of Virginia, Melissa Lynn Sainsbury

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the factors deemed important by dental hygienists in their selection of continuing education courses prior to and after the initiation of mandatory continuing education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Under mandatory continuing education, dental hygiene educators must be able to plan continuing education courses that meet the needs of potential participants.

Results indicate that relative to each other, the 15 factors within this study, ranked in a hierarchy of importance in continuing education course selection by dental hygienists. Mandatory requirement for relicensure and course time ranked higher and course presenter and cost …