Education Commons^™

Critical Thinking In Associate Degree Nursing Education, Nancy Tucker

Dissertations

Problem. This study sought to investigate the level of critical thinking (CT) of the associate degree in nursing (ADN) students and the relationship of CT and clinical judgment (CJ) with selected pre-admission and exit variables.

Method. A convenience sample of 112 ADN students (79 generic, 33 non-traditional) at a small, private liberal arts college on the West Coast participated in this exploratory study. The California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) was used to measure the level of CT, and CJ was measured using the Clinical Decision Making in Nursing Scale (CDMNS). Differences between the generic and non-traditional groups were explored …

The Relationship Between Leadership/Followership In Staff Nurses And Employment Setting, Elaine S. Vandoren

Dissertations

This study tested the hypothesis that staff nurses in hospitals used different leadership and followership behaviors than staff nurses in home care settings. Leadership behaviors were measured using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (Bass, 1995); followership was measured using Kelley’s Followership Style Questionnaire (1992). Three hospital and home care agencies belonging to a private nonprofit corporation in the Midwest provided data. A total of 136 surveys were used in data analysis; 57% of distributed surveys were returned.

Differences between the hospital and home care staff nurses were not found. Self-perception, difficulty in applying clinical behaviors to the MLQ, unknown aspects of …

Critical Thinking Attributes Of Undergraduate Nursing Faculty, Julie A. Coon

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the critical thinking skills of undergraduate nursing faculty to determine how these skills compared with the established critical thinking skill norms for undergraduate nursing students and if the critical thinking skills of nursing faculty were related to the type of program they teach in, their years of experience in nursing education, their level of formal education, their preferred methods of instruction, and their level of formal training in critical thinking. Nursing faculty from 17 Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) programs and 11 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs in the State of …

An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Critical Thinking Skills And Preferred Learning Styles Of First Year Nursing Students, Gloria J. Clocklin

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship existed between the manner in which nursing students preferred to learn and their ability to think critically. First year nursing students (N = 197) from four colleges in a rural Midwestern geographic region were the subjects for the study. Students represented practical nursing, associate degree nursing, and baccalaureate degree nursing programs and were all in their first nursing course. Entire cohort groups from each college were included in the study.

The Kolb (1985) Learning Style Inventory and the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA, Watson & Glaser, 1980) were administered …

An Analysis Of The Personalities Of A Sample Of Students At Grand Valley State University Who Consume Alcohol, Jeanette Mcdowell

Dissertations

Problem. Literature on alcohol abuse among college students suggests that drinking patterns differ according to the expectations that people have about consuming alcohol. These expectations are strongly aligned to the personality traits/characteristics of theconsumer. At Grand Valley State University, alcohol abuse on campus is a great concern. The purpose of this study was to analyze the personalities and needs of some students at the university who have been participants in the Time Out program--a program structured for those who have been involved in alcohol use and have violated the rights of others while under the influence.

Method. Three instruments, a …

Human Immunodeficiency Virus And Acquired Immune Deficiency : Beliefs, Knowledge, And Behaviors Of High-School Students Attending Seventh-Day Adventist Academies, Deborah L. Gray

Dissertations

Problem. Few attempts have been conducted to assess knowledge of HIV/AIDS in the adolescent population attending Seventh-day Adventist secondary schools. This present study was to investigate the HIV/AIDS-related beliefs, HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, and HIV/AIDS-related behaviors of adolescents according to gender, grade level, ethnicity, geographical location, and religious affiliation.

Method. The subjects for this study were 1,292 9th- through 12th-grade students attending selected non-boarding Seventh-day Adventist academies representing three geographical regions of the United States and the Virgin Islands. The survey instrument utilized was the "AIDS Survey for Students" obtained from the U.S. Center for Disease Control. Chi-square analysis was used to …

A Descriptive Study Of The Development And Validation Of A Curriculum Development Process For Occupational Therapy In An Institution Of Higher Education, Alfred G. Bracciano

Dissertations

This was a descriptive study of a curriculum development process for occupational therapy at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan. A four-stage process was designed and documented. These stages included: (1) feasibility , (2) curriculum design and development, (3) review and evaluation-validation for each component, and (4 ) implementation stage.

The study was conducted to develop a curriculum development process that was academically appropriate for occupational therapy programs for institutions of higher education and which met identified needs as set forth by the feasibility study and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), Division of Education. Further, the study undertook to …

Inclusion Of Gregorc's Mind Styles Concepts In Physical Therapy Curriculum And Instruction In Selected Baccalaureate And Post-Baccalaureate Programs, Keith R. Gaden

Dissertations

Topic

The topic under study in this paper was the application of Gregorc's mind styles concepts in two baccalaureate and two post-baccalaureate physical therapy programs.

Purpose

The purpose was to determine how these concepts were used while addressing the teaching and learning theory competency of the accreditation standards.

Sources

I examined intra- and extra-classroom activities, noting how information on styles was given and/or modeled to the students. Gregorc's Energic Model of Styles formed the basis for style determination. The research design was multiple-case study (embedded). Accreditation documents, curriculum file materials, handout materials, and videotaped classroom sessions were interpreted to determine …

The Academic Coordinator Of Clinical Education In Physical Therapist Educational Programs, Norene Clouten

Dissertations

In physical therapist educational programs the faculty member responsible for the clinical education portion of the curriculum is the Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education (ACCE). The factors that attract individuals to the career of ACCE and that influence them either to leave or remain in the position are of interest and concern to those planning for the future of the profession. The purpose of this study is to gather information about the career of the ACCE. The study was designed to determine the: (a) Personal characteristics and occupational status of ACCEs, (b) preparations made for the career of ACCE, (c) …

Nurse Leaders: The Relationship Between Return To School And Sex Role Traits, Family Demographics And Household Responsibilities, Mary Lynn Anderson

Dissertations

The purposes of this study were: (a) to describe differences , if any, in sex-role traits, age and number of children, proportionate income, and responsibility for household tasks and childcare between female registered nurses who return to college and those who do not; and (b) to extend the research regarding the adult learner's return to college in the specific area of baccalaureate degree completion by registered nurses. Chi square and analysis of variance of survey data, and interviews were used in determining differences between the student and nonstudent groups.

Four hypotheses were tested. The only hypothesis which was supported was …

Identification Of The Presence Of The Restoration Concept In Seventh-Day Adventist Nursing Programs In The United States, L. Phil Hunt

Dissertations

Problem. In 1976 Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) nursing educational leaders adopted a statement of philosophy and goals that incorporated the concept of restoring humans to God's image. Although Adventist education was founded upon restoration themes, no empirical evidence indicates that nursing faculty and students perceive restoration as important or evident in nursing education today. It was the purpose of this study to determine the extent to which the concept of restoration is manifested in SDA nursing programs in the United States.

Method. Ten summary statements provide a definition of restoration consistent with the beliefs and teachings of the SDA church. An …

Ideal And Real Performance Expectations Of Baccalaureate Nursing Graduates As Perceived By Graduates, Nurse Educators, And Nurse Administrators, Maureen Martin Fochtman

Dissertations

Nurse educators and nursing service administrators have different expectations for the baccalaureate graduate nurse. The difference in expectations has made the transition from student to practitioner difficult for the new graduate.

The purpose of this study was to identify the ideal and real expectations regarding entry level performance as perceived by nurses who graduated in 1985 from 17 of 31 baccalaureate programs represented in the Consensus on Entry project. The ideal and real expectations of the graduates were compared to the nurse educators' and the nursing service administrators' results from the consensus on Entry project.

One hundred fifty-four baccalaureate graduates …

Relationship Of Admission Variables To Success For Licensed Practical Nurses In Associate Degree In Nursing Ladder Program, Sally Kathryn Johnson

Dissertations

The problem and challenge for nurse educators in Practical Nursing/Associate Degree Nursing (PN/ADN) ladder programs is to identify admission criteria for Licensed Practical Nurse (PN) applicants entering the advanced standing level. The selected admission criteria should include those which are most likely to indicate success in the program and on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nursing (NCLEX-RN). Identifying such criteria would promote the most efficient use of scarce educational resources and help avoid loss of time, energy and financial resources for potential nursing students.

The records of 79 LPNs who entered a PN/ADN ladder program at the advanced …

A Preferred Interpersonal Leadership Style: Perceived By A Chief Board Officer As Compared To A Chief Executive Officer In A Hospital Setting, Nelson Alward

Dissertations

This study investigated the relationship of preferred interpersonal leadership style of chief board officers (CBOs) as compared to chief executive officers (CEOs) in hospital settings. Futher, the study explored the comparison of preferred interpersonal leadership styles of CEOs in selected areas of position, size of facility, age of the individual, years of experience, and time of last formal education degree. One hundred participants, 50 CEOs and 50 CBOs of hospitals, were surveyed in the study.

The interpersonal leadership style was identified using the four quadrant approach of leadership as reflected by Blake and Mouton (1964), Reddin (1980), and Hersey and …

Training Behavioral Assessment Interviewers: A Comparison Of Two Procedures, Raymond G. Miltenberger

Dissertations

Two procedures were used to teach behavioral assessment interviewing skills; a training manual and a one-to-one training procedure consisting of instructions, modeling, rehearsal and feedback. Four subjects, two graduate students and two seniors, were trained with each procedure. Interviewing skills were recorded in simulated assessment interviews conducted by each subject across baseline and treatment conditions. Each training procedure was evaluated in a multiple baseline across subjects design. The results showed that both procedures were equally effective for training behavioral interviewing skills, with all subjects reaching a level of 90-100% correct responding. Finally, a group of experts in behavior analysis rated …

Examiner Bias And Intelligence Test Scoring : A Study Of The Effect Of Speech-Handicapped Responses On The Scoring Of The Wisc-R Comprehension Subtest, Julia B. Peyser

Dissertations

Problem

One of the concerns in education today is bias in intelligence tests. Examiner bias and the expectancy effect is largely ignored. An unexplored variable in the research is an examinee's speech handicap and the effect it may produce in the scoring of an intelligence test.

Method

Identical responses to the Comprehension subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised were audiotaped on separate cassettes by two children, one with and one with no speech handicap. Sixty-four examiners, thirty-two practicing psychologists and thirty-two graduate students of psychology, were randomly assigned to score the responses on one of the tapes. Sixteen …

A Study Of The Ability, Achievement, Demographic, And Social Interaction Characteristics Of Three Groups Of Students: Dropouts, Marginals, And High Achievers, Judy Stewart

Dissertations

In this study the ability, achievement, demographic, and social interaction characteristics of three groups of baccalaureate nursing students were investigated. The three groups of students studied were dropouts, marginals, and high achievers. The purpose of the study was to identify predominant characteristics of dropout and marginal students that would act to direct the development of programs in nursing education.

The population studied consisted of the Nazareth College 1981-1982 freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior nursing students. In addition, the 1976-1980 graduating nursing classes were studied, including the freshman through senior year data for these classes.

The results of the data analysis …

The Development And Evaluation Of A Seminar For Teachers On The Awareness And Management Of Allergic Conditions Of Their Students In The Classroom, Elwin C. Munson

Dissertations

Problem. Many children with allergic problems go without treatment because their problems go unrecognized by both their parents and teachers. The purpose of this project was to bring about change on the part of teachers enabling them better to address allergic problems in their students. Literature was reviewed with respect to allergies and with respect to the use of inservice seminars for teachers. The posttest means for all three areas of measurement of the seminar group and control group were adjusted for pretest scores by analysis of covariance which indicated a significant difference in favor of the seminar group in …

An Exploratory Study Of Nursing Personnnel Needs In Seventh-Day Adventist Hospitals In The Continental United States With A View To Educational Assessment And Planning, Robert Thompson Andrews

Dissertations

Problem. The purpose of this study was to collect, organize, and analyze data from Seventh-day Adventist hospitals, nurses, SDA church leadership, and general statistics to provide nursing-personnel resource information for Adventist hospital and nursing education planning.

Some of the objectives of this study were to obtain a descriptive profile of nurses working in Adventist hospitals, to discover personnel selection patterns, turnover rates by position, annual job openings, numbers and percentages of Adventist-educated nurses, and the supply and demand for nurses in different nursing and administrative positions.

Method. Population of this descriptive study included all nurses working in forty-seven hospitals in …