Nursing Commons^™

Nursing Faculty Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence: A Quantitative Causal-Comparative Cross-Sectional Study, Micaela Mcspadden

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare has highlighted the importance of understanding how nursing faculty perceive this technology. Although prior studies have explored public views, nurses’ perceptions, and faculty attitudes toward technology and curriculum change, limited research has focused on nursing faculty perspectives toward AI. Through the lens of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study examined factors that influence nursing faculty attitudes toward AI in nursing education. This study used a quantitative, causal-comparative, cross-sectional design with 263 nursing faculty participants from undergraduate pre-licensure programs in the United States. Participants …

Workplace Violence: A Paradigm Shift, Ann Marie Hutchens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Workplace violence (WPV) has reached epidemic proportions. WPV poses devastating results on the healthcare industry: affecting quality of care and patient outcomes, contribute to the development of physical and psychological conditions for nurses, and reduce the healthcare teams’ level of job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The United States is already facing a nursing shortage due to baby boomers retiring and an increase chronic disease and the elder population. Although strongly prevalent, WPV is significantly underreported. It is believed that the low rate of reporting is a consequence of apathy that violence is an occupational hazard, and that nothing will change. …

Bridging The Gap: Optimizing Outpatient Care Delivery In Rural Kenya Through A Telemedicine Workflow Training Initiative, Elizabeth K. Bennett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Access to timely, high-quality outpatient care in rural Kenya is constrained by workforce shortages, geographic barriers, and inefficiencies in care delivery. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project evaluated the impact of implementing a structured telemedicine workflow and training program for a regional mission hospital in the highlands of Western Kenya and its satellite outpatient clinic. Guided by the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice, Kotter's Change Theory, and the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, the project employed a quasi-experimental, pre-post design, with eight medical providers participating in structured workshops, interactive telemedicine simulations, and workflow integration exercises. Impacts were …

The Effect Of Community-Based Exercise For Individuals With Pre-Existing Health Conditions, Amy M. Stahl

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Physical inactivity is a growing problem for the health and wellbeing of the world’s population. Increases in physical activity may help to improve health outcomes for the general population of the United States. This study is two-fold and seeks to determine if community-based exercise groups are successful in improving the health of people with preexisting conditions and encouraging community members to adhere to an exercise program. A quasi-experimental 12-week comparison study consists of a control group of standard care and an intervention group that participates in a three-day a week community walking group. The purpose of the group is to …

Implementation Of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocols To Improved Maternal Pain Management, Stefanie Sherman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Cesarean sections remain the most common surgical procedures in the United States, but they come with significant risks, including increased pain, infection, longer recovery, and higher health care costs. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guidelines outline an evidence- based, multidisciplinary approach that optimizes surgical recovery and improves outcomes. The primary goal of this project was to evaluate the impact of the implementation of ERAS guidelines in a community hospital with women undergoing scheduled cesarean sections on postoperative pain management as measured by aggregate pain scores. The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice was used to guide this quasi-experimental pre-post project, which …

Exploring The Relationship Between Maternal-Fetal Training And Maternal Desert Workers’ Compassion Fatigue: A Predictive Correlational Study, Marissa Lemley Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to explore the relationship between maternal-fetal training and maternal desert workers’ compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress in the southeastern region of the United States. Maternal deserts are defined as areas without dedicated obstetric services and impact more than 28 million childbearing-age women. These areas are becoming more prevalent, leaving healthcare workers to face caring for maternal-fetal health concerns in generalist areas. The study utilized a predictive correlational design to analyze relationships where multiple variables could influence the study. Stamm’s Professional Quality of Life V-5 (ProQOL) scale was used to …

The Effects Of Escape Room Simulations On Stress Levels Of Sophomore Baccalaureate Nursing Students: An Experimental Study, Bethany L. Mcfann

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative experimental pretest -posttest design using an experimental and control group was to determine if gaming escape room simulation will decrease BSN nursing students' stress in high fidelity simulation (HFS). The sample size of 64 students had 32 students randomly assigned to each group, the control and the experimental group. The first-year sophomore Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) students at a state university were randomly assigned to either traditional or escape room simulation scenarios. Stress levels of each group were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) tool before and after the simulations with statistical …

The Role Of Forgiveness In Health And Healthcare: Perspectives From Graduate Nursing Students And Faculty At A Private Faith-Based University In The United State[S], Rachel A. Joseph, Shanna W. Akers, Jichan J. Kim

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Belonging Without Borders: A Missionary Kid Reflects On Nursing School, Julia Beth Stamp

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

This reflective essay examines the experience of pursuing a nursing degree while living far from home as a Missionary Kid. It explores how the absence of close family ties during nursing school intensified feelings of loneliness, challenged motivation, and strained emotional well-being. Interwoven with personal narrative and supported by recent literature, the reflection highlights the way that community— through peers, mentors, and faculty— emerged as a vital source of resilience. The essay argues that resilience in nursing education is not the product of individual grit alone but grows from interdependence and the willingness to seek and receive support. Through recounting …

Sacred Lessons In The Last Moments: Faith Integration And Holistic Nursing, Meredith Lemmi

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

No abstract provided.

Where Pain Meets Grace, Callie Messick

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

No abstract provided.

The Heart Of A Nurse, Mikayla Lang

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

No abstract provided.

Resistance Is Not Futile: Plotting A Future Of Critical Thinking With Ai In Nursing Education, Alex Boggs

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

No abstract provided.

Nurse Faculty Burnout: A Narrative Literature Review, Susan Braud, Cynthia Goodrich, Amanda Martin

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

Background: Nursing faculty burnout significantly impairs teaching effectiveness and contributes to high turnover rates, threatening the future nursing workforce and overall quality of patient care.

Purpose: This review explores the contributing factors, consequences, and potential interventions related to nurse faculty burnout—a key driver of faculty attrition.

Method: An integrative literature review guided by the Whittemore and Knafl (2005) framework was conducted using the Melynk’s Level of Evidence Scale applied to assess the strength and quality of selected studies.

Results: Burnout in nurse faculty is multifactorial, stemming from overwhelming workloads, insufficient institutional support, and persistent systemic challenges. If unaddressed, it leads …

What Methods Do Pre-Licensure Bsn Students At A Christian University Use To Improve Resilience: A Qualitative Case Study, Beth Kelley

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

The purpose of this mixed-methods single-case study was to explore methods that pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students at a Christian university used to improve their resilience. Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (1984) was employed as a theoretical framework, and the study asked: What methods did pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students at a Christian university use to manage stress and improve resilience? A convenience sample of 91 students was obtained to complete the demographic questionnaire, the Brief Resilience Scale, and the Perceived Stress Scale. Of those students, 25 volunteered for interviews …

Advancing Holistic Nursing: Bridging The Gap In Spiritual Care, Rachel Joseph

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

No abstract provided.

Empowered By The Almighty: A Journey Of Faith And Nursing, Diane Bridge

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

No abstract provided.

Volume 3, Issue 1 - Complete Issue

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

No abstract provided.

Bridging The Gap: Improving Medication Communication Through The Teach-Back Method At Discharge, Sangeeta Biju Varghese

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Patient experience and hospital readmission rates are both key performance indicators in value-based reimbursement, as defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Both these indicators have a negative impact not only on patients but also on hospital profitability, and they are closely tied to discharge education. Lack of proper discharge instructions, especially about medication regimen, can result in adverse effects in patients post-discharge, which could have been prevented had they gotten adequate discharge instructions. Research has shown that almost 20% of patients leaving the hospital have an adverse drug event after discharge. Nurses have a key role in …

The Lived Psychosocial Experiences Of Nursing Students Transitioning From In-Person Learning To Virtual Learning: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Lesley I. Gerald-Koram

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore and understand the lived psychosocial experiences of nursing students who transitioned from in-person learning to virtual learning at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the northeast region. The study comprised of 15 participants who were enrolled in accredited nursing programs across New York, who experienced the abrupt shift in learning platforms during a global crisis. The abrupt shift significantly affected the emotional, academic, and professional development of the nursing students. This research was rooted in the growing concern of nursing student mental health, academic engagement, and preparation for clinical …

Nurse Confidence In Mental Health Communication: Examining The Effect Of An Educational Intervention In Outpatient Specialty Departments, Joy-Ruth Mathews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The global prevalence of mental health illnesses has prompted a growing need for healthcare professionals to be prepared to identify and address these concerns. Many nurses in outpatient specialty departments report feeling underprepared and lacking confidence when communicating with patients about mental health concerns. This scholarly project utilized an educational intervention to improve nurse confidence in mental health communication, the application of therapeutic communication techniques, and resource identification. A quasi-experimental, one-group pretest/posttest design was implemented, with nurses from outpatient specialty departments at Duke Health’s Kernodle Clinic completing pre- and post-Likert scale surveys to assess changes in their self-reported confidence. The …

Nurse-To-Nurse Change-Of-Shift Handoff Communication: The Experience Among Senior Nursing Students In A Hospital Setting—A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Karen Bryson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of senior nursing students with nurse-to-nurse change-of-shift handoff communication during their clinical practicum at a major healthcare system in the United States. The guiding research question was: What are the lived experiences of senior nursing students when communicating shift-to-shift handoff reports to incoming nurses during senior clinical practicum in an acute care hospital setting? Bandura's social cognitive theory and Kolb's experiential learning theory are the two theories that support the conceptual framework of this study. Ten nursing students were purposefully recruited from local two-year and four-year nursing …

Experiences Of A Simulated Medical Malpractice Lawsuit On Nursing Students' Documentation Practices: A Transcendental Phenomenological Approach, Heide Thorne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, transcendental phenomenological study is to understand the perspectives of first semester nursing students participating in a simulated medical malpractice lawsuit and documentation practices. The theory guiding this study is Kolb’s experiential learning theory (ELT), as it explains the relationship of learning and knowledge transfer through a simulation-based learning activity (SBL). Data collection approaches included observations, anonymous reflective journals, and individual interviews or questionnaire capturing students’ personal experiences and emerging themes. Bracketing enhanced reflexivity, reduced bias, and strengthened the study’s credibility and dependability. Results of the study support the efficacy of a specific, powerful SBL activity …

Empowering Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners To Address Nutritional Deficits: An Educational Quality Improvement Study, Beatrice Joan Richards

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Psychiatry is a complex and multifaceted discipline, and treatment approaches often vary based on provider preference and philosophy. Some focus heavily on pharmacotherapies, while others use psychotherapeutic methods, and still others take a more holistic approach involving full-body wellness. All three strategies are beneficial, and providing psychiatric care with a combination of them all can address the full spectrum of factors that influence one’s mental health. Much research, education, and clinical focus have been put on pharmacotherapy and psychotherapeutics. However, there is a marked lack of understanding regarding the holistic realm of psychiatric care, specifically the role of nutrition, amongst …

Pilot Study: Integrating The Epic Stroke Narrator Into Inpatient Code Stroke Protocols To Improve Symptom Onset Identification And Reduce Intervention Times, Stacy L. Carter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In-hospital strokes are often underrecognized, leading to treatment delays and poorer outcomes compared to community-onset strokes. This scholarly project evaluated whether integrating the Epic Stroke Narrator into inpatient code stroke protocols could improve documentation of last known well time (LKWT) and reduce time to intervention. A 6-week quasi-experimental pilot study guided by the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice and Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory was conducted on a neuroscience telemetry step-down unit at a comprehensive stroke center in Richmond, Virginia. Education on the Stroke Narrator was provided to bedside nurses and was followed by implementation and evaluation of narrator use …

Overview Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Grace Ann Steiner

The Kabod

Traumatic events are often unexpected and can be experienced in a variety of ways; individuals may directly be involved, witness the event, or hear about traumatic events occurring to people that they know. Traumatic events can be due to human actions (such as war, terrorism, violence, or sexual abuse), but can also be secondary to nature (such as hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, or flooding); the event itself does not determine if an event is traumatic, but rather, the individual’s perception and experience of such an event. Thus, trauma can occur at any developmental age and vary between individuals due to personal …

Types Of Burns And Burn Care, Frances Hagberg

The Kabod

Burn treatment focuses on minimizing tissue damage, preventing infection, managing pain, and promoting optimal healing. The severity of burns—classified as first, second, or third degree—determines the appropriate therapeutic approach, which may include wound cleaning, topical antibiotics, dressings, fluid resuscitation, and surgical interventions such as debridement or grafting. Effective treatment requires careful monitoring and support through each healing stage to reduce complications and improve functional and cosmetic outcomes.

The Efficacy Of Emdr Therapy Compared To Tf-Cbt In Adopted Children To Manage Post-Traumatic Stress: An Integrative Review, Grace Ann Steiner

Senior Honors Theses

This integrative review examines the efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy compared to trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) in managing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adopted children. Children adopted from foster care tend to experience more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and maladjustment issues when compared to the general population, which necessitates effective therapeutic interventions to reduce PTSD symptoms and emotional dysregulation. Through analysis and comparison of the data, it was determined that both EMDR and TF-CBT effectively alleviated trauma-related symptoms, although one technique is not necessarily always more effective or efficient than the other. Along with reviewing …

The Science Of Sound: Studying The Cognitive, Emotional, And Physiological Effects Of Frequency, Genre, And Music, Jett Yarborough

Senior Honors Theses

Music influences emotion, physiology, and cognition, yet little is known about how the frequency it is tuned to affects these influences. Prior research has shown that music tuned to 432 Hz can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve sleep. My colleagues and I conducted two studies to investigate this. Our research found that music tuned to 432 Hz promotes a significant increase in memory retention and induces a state of focus and relaxation. These results suggest that shifting from the standard tuning frequency of 440 Hz to 432 Hz could have a profoundly positive impact on our daily lives. …

The Relationship Between Nursing Faculty Sense Of Belonging And Faculty Intent To Stay, Heather M. Bowers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative and correlational study was to evaluate the relationship between workplace sense of belonging and intent to stay in the current nursing faculty role among full-time nursing faculty. The shortage of nursing faculty impacts the ability to prepare the next generation of nurses needed to meet worldwide nursing demands. Strategies to effectively recruit and retain nursing faculty are important considering the current shortage and increasing retirements of nursing faculty. While sense of belonging has been studied for student retention and studies are beginning to explore the importance of workplace belonging, the impact of organizational sense …