Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

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 Evaluation Of The Efficacy Of Selected Nonpharmacologic Pain Interventions In Infants, Cindy Smith Greenberg Dnsc, Ms, Rn, Cpnp

Dissertations

Infants subjected to painful stimuli respond with deleterious physiologic and metabolic effects, behavioral changes, and potentially long term effects on painful stimuli processing and response. There are few studies that address effective pain interventions for infants, particularly those interventions that staff nurses can implement independently. Interventions must be identified and their effectiveness must be validated for this vulnerable population. Pharmacologic management of pain may cause deleterious side effects and needs to be ordered by physicians or nurse practitioners. Nonpharmacologic methods to manage pain can usually be implemented by staff nurses independently. This study evaluated the efficacy of two nonpharmacologic pain …

The Clastogenic Effects Of Cyclophosphamide And A Sixty Hertz Electronagnetic Field On Bone Marrow Cells Of Cd-I Mice, Kevin K. Block

Dissertations

Extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) have been correlated with the induction of cancer in a number of epidemiological studies (Feychting and Ahlbom, 1993; T,m and Lee, 1994; London e t al. 1991; Lovely et al., 1994; Tomenius, 1986; Wertheimer and Leeper, 1979, 1982). Two hypothesis were tested in the present study. The first hypothesis tested was that exposure to a 7.3 G magnetic field for 24 hours would increase the frequency of clastogenic and/or mutagenic events in bone m arrow cells of mice. The second hypothesis tested was that exposure to a 7.3 G magnetic field for 24 …

The Lived Experience Of Women Prior To Hospitalization For Acute Myocardial Infarction, Llamae R. Hughes Dnsc

Dissertations

Recent research indicates that the majority of women underestimate their risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD claims the lives of more women than all forms of cancer; however, women have not received the symptom recognition or treatment that has been accorded to men with CAD. Review of literature indicated a lack of research regarding the experiences of women with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This phenomenological study explored the lived experience of women with AMI immediately prior to hospitalization. The lines of inquiry focused on descriptive language regarding pre-event feelings, the symptoms experienced at AMI onset, their response to …

A Phenomenological Inquiry Of Nurse Transition To Family-Centered Perinatal Nursing, Paula Kaye Lilja Dnsc, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to obtain a better understanding of how nurses caring for perinatal patients and their families view their clinical practice role after experiencing the transition from traditional maternity care to family-centered perinatal nursing. The volunteer participants in the study were 13 female registered nurses employed on a family-centered perinatal unit in one of four hospital settings. The researcher conducted unstructured interviews with the participants and analyzed the qualitative data. The history of the transition and the context in which the family-centered perinatal nursing model was being practiced are presented. Two major features of the …

Estimating Ibnr Reserves With Robust Statistics, Daniel Cheung

Dissertations

There is often a considerable time lag between an incurred of an accident, such as medical malpractice or product liability, and the time it is reported to the insurance company. These Incurred But Not Reported (IBNR) losses need to be predicted in order to determine the necessary loss reserves. Many actuarial methods have been developed for IBNR reserves estimation. However, none of the methods being used for loss reserving is robust to outliers, nor do they provide adequate statistical inferences to support the actuarial decisions. The rank-based method proposed in this thesis is robust to outliers, and provides statistical inference …

The Experiences Of Taiwanese Women Caregiving For Parents-In-Law, Shu-Yuan Chao Dnsc

Dissertations

Using grounded theory, a semi-structured in-depth interview was conducted to explore the experiences of Taiwanese women who were caregivers for their parents-in-law. Thirty-one Taiwanese women aged 23 to 58 participated in this study. Just Doing was identified as the core category to indicate the caregivers' striving process once they committed to their in-laws' care. Recognizing Duty, Experiencing Trials, and Responding to Caregiving were subcategories and reflected how a caregiver perceived her role, how she was affected by caregiving tasks, and what responses she had to the caregiving situation. The findings also suggested that caregiving behaviors were influenced by cultural expectations …

Correlates Of Staff Nurse Work Satisfaction In Hospitals With Shared Governance, Mary Kay Flynn Dnsc, Rn, Ccrn

Dissertations

Lack of staff nurse participation in hospital decision-making has been cited as a major reason for the dissatisfaction in nursing. Shared governance has been proposed as an organizational model that provides staff nurses with both the structure and the mechanism for having increased decision-making authority. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of organizational culture, perceived importance of involvement and actual involvement in decision-making, the discrepancy between importance and involvement, staff nurse years of involvement in shared governance, control over nursing practice, and work satisfaction among staff nurses working in hospitals with shared governance. A descriptive, correlational …

The Work Of Living With Hiv: A Study Of Binational Groups, Christina Joy Dnsc

Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to study the experience of individuals who live with and manage HIV infection and AIDS. The context of living with HIV/AIDS, the prevailing conditions, the actions/strategies used, and the consequences of the actions were considered using grounded theory methodology and dimensional analysis. A purposeful sample of 21 individuals HIV positive or diagnosed with AIDS from San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico were interviewed using semi-structured questions. Data were analyzed using open and axial coding, the constant comparative method, and dimensional analysis. The work of living with HIV emerged as the central dimension within the …

Igniting The Mind: Engaging Nursing Students In The Process Of Learning, Jo-Ann L. Rossitto Dnsc, Ma, Rn

Dissertations

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to explore the perceptions of associate degree nursing faculty regarding their classroom teaching experiences. A purposive, convenience sample of twenty-one educators volunteered to participate in the study. Data were primarily obtained through semi-structured interviews over a period of six months. Data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously utilizing the constant comparative method. Igniting the Mind emerged as the core category of the study. This category represented the methods nurse educators use to involve students in the process of learning. Igniting the Mind entails making a connection, letting go, getting buy-in, trying something new, …

Determinants Of Health-Promoting Lifestyle Among Nurses In Taiwan, Chou Chuan-Chiang Yao Dnsc, Ms, Rn

Dissertations

This two-phase study was undertaken to: (1) determine the relationships of self-efficacy, perceived health status, perceived social support, age, marital status, education, work shift, work setting, and years employed as a registered nurse (RN) to the practice of a health-promoting lifestyle; (2) determine the combination of predictor variables explaining the variance in the practice of a health-promoting lifestyle; and (3) investigate other personal and environmental cues and characteristics related to health-promoting lifestyles among nurses (N = 218) in Taiwan. Findings of the quantitative approach in Phase One indicated that a health-promoting lifestyle was significantly related to self-efficacy, perceived health status, …

Living With Changing Health: Perimenopause Among Chinese Women In Taiwan, Lee-Ing Tsao Dnsc, Mnsc, Rn

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to generate theory about women's perimenopausal life experiences. Thirty-five Taiwanese women aged 40 to 59 who perceived themselves as perimenopausal and who were not using hormone therapy were interviewed. Data were generated from interviews which were conducted in Mandarin. Living with Changing Health was the core category for describing and guiding the process of perimenopause. During this process, Awareness was identified as the antecedent condition. Once the woman became aware, she would begin the process of living with her changing health. This process would be marked by action and interaction among the categories …

The Process Of Ending Domestic Violence Among Latinas: Aguantando No Mas, Nancy A. Coffin-Romig Dnsc, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the sociocultural factors which play a role in the process of ending an abusive relationship among Latinas. Dimensional analysis was the method employed for the development of a grounded theory. Aguantando or enduring emerged from this study as pivotal in gaining an understanding of the process of ending an abusive relationship for Latinas. Participants indicated that personal and religious beliefs, the importance of family, and the needs of their children were reasons for aguantando or enduring the abuse. The decision to no longer aguantar, or endure, occurred through a series of encounters …

The Perspectives Of The Woman/Nurse/Executive Working In The Managed Care Environment Of Southern California, Cheryl Lynn Brandi Dnsc, Ms, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of the woman/nurse/executive working in the managed care environment of Southern California. This research was extremely timely because (a) Southern California leads the nation in managed care market penetration, (b) changes in health care financing have resulted in a prolific expansion of nurse executive responsibilities, and (c) nurse executive experiences regarding increased responsibilities have not been researched. Role expansion impacts both male and female nurse executives, but female nurse executives must confront the dilemma of functioning in administrative domains which have been largely dominated by men. Knowledge about their experiences …

Role Expectation Of Chief Nurse Executive Officers In Integrated Healthcare Systems Located In Highly Managed Care Markets, Daniel L. Gross Dnsc

Dissertations

The healthcare industry is undergoing radical transformation. Healthcare's transformation is characterized by new patterns of organization, alliance, management, administration, and governance. Traditional fee-for-service reimbursement strategies are rapidly dissolving and managed health care is proliferating. Managed care and managed competition are forcing hospitals and healthcare providers to reduce expenses and identify improved methods for healthcare delivery. Integrated healthcare delivery systems (IDSs) and networks are at the center of healthcare reform. Chief Nurse Executive Officers (CNEOs) are increasingly finding themselves in roles within complex IDSs located within highly managed care markets (HMCMs). This new work environment is altering old and mandating new …

Cultural Discovery In Nursing Practice: The Experience Of Nurses' Who Work With Vietnamese, Evelyn Labun Dnsc, Mscn, Rn

Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to generate a substantive theory of cultural discovery among nurses who work with Vietnamese. A grounded theory approach involving dimensional analysis was employed. A purposive sample of 27 registered nurses with experiences working with Vietnamese in acute care, community, and clinic settings was interviewed using a semi-structured format. Data were analyzed for dimensions as well as conditions, context, action strategies, and consequences. The theory of cultural discovery described how nurses learn to see their Vietnamese clients, how they saw a common humanity with others, and how they learn to see health. Nurses who made …

The Isolation And Characterization Of Plv22a, A Mobilizable Plasmid From Bacteroides Fragilis, Thomas Joseph Novicki

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Norf1, A Putative Human Group I Rna Helicase That Regulates Nonsense Mrna Levels, Steven E. Applequist

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Role Of Tgf-† In Heart Development: Analysis Of The Type Ii Tgf-† Receptor, Patricia S. Grutkoski

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Persisting While Wanting To Change: Research Guided By Parse's Theory, Florence Beryl Pilkington

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Mending A Torn Fish Net: Parse's Theory-Guided Research On The Lived Experience Of Hope, Ching-Eng Hsieh Wang

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Phenomenology Of Being Restrained, Mary Elizabeth Johnson

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Too Familiar For Words: An Analysis Of "Invisible" Nursing Work, Frances R. Vlasses

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Physical Activity On Perimenopause, Suling Li

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Teenage Pregnancy In St. Kitts-Nevis: Psychosocial And Familial Factors, Ermine T. Leader

Dissertations

Problem. This study was conducted to examine some of the factors that are related to teenage pregnancy in St. Kitts-Nevis. It focused on the relationship between teenage pregnancy and father absence/presence, intergenerational teenage pregnancy, childhood sexual abuse, and domestic violence. A young girl's view of her relationship with both parents, the self-esteem of respondents, and their level of attendance and participation in church-related activities were also studied.

Method. Two instruments were incorporated into the questionnaire administered to females in St. Kitts and Nevis between the ages of 12 and 21, some of whom had experienced a pregnancy, and others who …

Negative Consequences Of Undergraduate Alcohol Usage : A Multivariate Gender Comparison, Leonald Dean Robinson

Dissertations

Problem. While the literature indicates that many male undergraduates suffer numerous negative consequences from alcohol usage, little is known about what, if any, consequences female undergraduates experience. Therefore, this study empirically tested if female undergraduates, ages 17-24, who share similar demographics, perceptions, and alcohol use locations as male undergraduates, also share similar alcohol usage patterns, negative consequences, and predictors for both.

Method. Secondary analysis was conducted on 1992 and 1993 United States Department of Education CORE Survey data collected from 345 male and 584 female undergraduates at two Midwestern private liberal arts colleges. Frequency, chi-square (p

Results. Both genders' …