• Nature's Resillence: African American Males Countering Barriers To Garner Academic And Social Success

      Rose, Ashley Marie
      The social science discourse that labels African American males as endangered has contributed to the grand social, political, economic, and racial metanarrative that has served to reduce African American males to popular, yet negative, stereotypes of their true existence. As a contribution to social science discourse, this dissertation offers a a counter to the current deficit-laden narrative that has been constructed about African American males. Through an analysis of narrative field texts, this study seeks to elucidate the resilience factors that lead to an African American male’s ability to develop his best possible self and garner academic success. In addition, this study sought to offer African American males a voice with which to share their stories of success. The findings from this study revealed that protective factors with in the family, school and community lent to the students’ ability to garner resilience in the face of adversity. Additional findings suggest the there is a need for culturally affirming curriculum in the k-12 schooling environment. As a contribution to the existing body of literature, this success oriented narrative recommends a an investigation of the school connectedness and the specific elements that determine a student’s connectedness to their school environment.
    • Need For Transitional Guidance And Training For New Pastors In The CME Church

      Kirkland, Tracey Andrea
      THE NEED FOR TRANSITIONAL GUIDANCE AND TRAINING FOR NEW PASTORS IN THE CME CHURCH The biblical foundation of this project stems from the notion and belief that Jesus operated in a manner that resembled an itinerant minister. I contend that pastors and the church are best served if the incoming first-year pastor has received some measure of significant transitional guidance and training prior to their appointment. Some denominations prepare their pastors accordingly and implement requirements that allow them to acquire guidance and training that will help them in their transition. My project is seen from the lens of the United Methodist Church which provides a short transitional period for pastors and churches to come together to confirm if the “new marriage” is a fit for both pastor and church. The purpose of this project is to capture first-year experiences and stories of pastors in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME) to identify common ideologies that there is a need for significant guidance and substantial training prior to their appointment. Perhaps some other ideas and suggestions may arise from this study. My methodology entails qualitative research in the form of a survey that was used to gather data on the views of new pastors in the CME Church. United Methodist provides resources of information to their pastors to help facilitate their transition process before they take ownership of a new appointment. My mission is to build upon their transition process which includes appointing a transition team to the pastor. This project revealed there is a need for more substantial training and guidance for first-year pastors in the CME Church. Although 93% felt they transitioned into the role well, their responses reveal they lack certain skills or expertise in certain areas that may have helped with the transition. There is a lot of growth potential in the CME Church in the areas of training, grooming, preparing, mentoring, educating, and teaching new pastors on how to transition into a new ministry. The training needs to be revamped for Probationary Ministers or Ministers on Trial. I believe if pastors had well-developed classroom training opportunities or direct guidance from a mentor or another seasoned pastor, they would be better prepared for their appointment. The new training should entail a resource guide that covers various topics that can aid in the training and transition of new pastors. Additionally, the Committee of Ministerial Assessment (CMA) should make it a point to charge the Committee on Ministerial Examination (COME) to take a significant role in the training of ministers and make sure they are adhering to the Bishop’s Course of Study (BCS) in its full capacity. Furthermore, the CME Church at some point must address the requirements of its ministers in the areas of seminary schooling or theological training. I believe ministers must have theological training or a mandated program that covers material one would receive had they attended seminary. If changes can be made in the areas of curriculum requirements, mandated programming, mentoring training, and ministerial assessment, the CME Church could make great strides in the preparation of its ministers.
    • Neuroscientific Strategies For Managing Stress Related To Pervasive Change In Public Education

      Hamlin, Cami Rae
      ABSTRACT CAMI RAE HAMLIN NEUROSCIENTIFIC STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING STRESS RELATED TO PERVASIVE CHANGE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION Under the direction of EDWARD L. BOUIE, JR., Ed.D. The purpose of this research was to look to neuroscientists for help in identifying strategies that may help bypass the fight-or-flight response of stressed educators undergoing the chronic stress of reform. Educator stress is a pervasive problem equally matched by the level of pervasive attempts of reform that exists in P-16 education. Neuroscience findings that the brain registers change equal to that of threat poses a problem of ongoing inappropriate responses to change, contributing to a crisis of up to a 50% mass exodus of new teachers in some markets. The study results provided strategies suggested by neuroscientists for educational leaders to implement to help educators reduce stress, stay cognitively engaged, and improve success with pervasive change environments. A panel of expert neuroscientists from the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives (DABI) participated in surveys in three rounds of the Delphi method. Twenty-four experts initially responded and collectively identified 16 strategies. Using a 5-point Likert-type rating scale, 12 experts in Round 2 of the Delphi rated their degree of agreement of the appropriateness of each of the suggested 16 strategies. Using mean and sampling standard deviation, the researcher rank ordered the results of the Round 2 Delphi strategies suggested by DABI members. In Round 3, the experts reviewed the collective contributions for final recommendations of strategies for implementation by educational leaders to reduce stress and increase cognition of their employees when confronted with reform and change in schools, essentially bypassing or inoculating themselves against the reflexive “flight or fight�? mode. The 17 experts participating in Round 3 agreed to the use of four strategies: benefits of sleep; understanding the causes and preventions of stress; hands-on strategies; and active, collaborative learning in small groups. One hundred percent disagreed to the use of medication-based strategies. Because half of the experts expressed uncertainty of whether neuroscience could contribute to the field of educational leadership, future recommendations pointed to a need for more empirical research around this infancy partnership.
    • Newly Graduated Registered Nurses' Perceptions About And Use Of Principles Of Palliative Care In Acute Care Settings: An Interpretive Phenomenology Study

      Geyer, Latrina T
      LATRINA T. GEYER NEWLY GRADUATED REGISTERED NURSES’ PERCEPTIONS ABOUT AND USE OF PRINCIPLES OF PALLIATIVE CARE IN ACUTE CARE SETTINGS: AN INTERPRETIVE PHENOMENOLOGY STUDY Under the direction of LANELL M. BELLURY, PhD, RN, AOCNS, OCN The terms serious or life-threatening illness now included in current palliative care literature indicate the broadened scope of palliative care. However, the change in defining terminology has not consistently translated to a broadened understanding or advanced clinical practice for many healthcare professionals in acute care settings. The purpose of this research study was to discover NGRNs’ perceptions, meanings, and use of principles of PC for seriously ill patients in acute care settings. The research question for this study was: What are NGRNs’ lived experiences of providing PC for seriously ill patients in acute care settings? A conceptual framework adapted from Kolcaba’s (2003) comfort theory and Benner’s (1984) competencies of the helping role were developed for this study. Interpretive phenomenology research design was utilized. A purposive sample of 12 NGRNs participated in this study. Using Saldaña’s coding methods, and guided by van Manen’s (1990) thematic analysis, four themes and six subthemes were developed: 1) Trying to Figure Out What the Balance Is; 2) Working in the Dark; 3) It’s Just Who I Am; and 4) The Kairos Effect. Newly graduated registered nurses’ common and valued experiences demonstrated insight and understanding of comfort (interventions) and comfort (outcomes) for seriously ill patients in acute care settings, as well as professional formation in nursing practice. The lived experience of providing palliative care for these NGRNs included experiencing a continuum between extreme measures and giving up and the weighty emotionally and ethically taxing nature of caring for seriously ill patients. The NGRNs also applied principles of palliative care daily and found the experience rewarding, validating, and important for professional formation. The innovative framework was useful in understanding the lived experiences of NGRNs and, further research is needed to apply the framework in additional practice settings and nursing populations. Additional research is also indicated to explore whether the findings were influenced by organizational factors including structured transition to practice programs and organizational culture.
    • No Longer Remaining Silent: Defining, Addressing, and Exploring Silence Experienced Among Black Female Clergy

      Mitchell, Pamela Shantel; McAfee School of Theology
      This research project is designed to explore a “silence and silencing” that appears to happen to Black Female Clergy serving in ministerial leadership in Protestant Black Churches. Silence covers a range of topics: sexism, patriarchy, and misogyny to name a few and little, if anything is ever said to address these behaviors toward them. Each participant has been seminary trained, licensed, and/or ordained in their denomination and currently or has served in leadership in a Protestant Black church. There is not adequate literature available to explain the gap between Black Female Clergy completing seminary and pursuing senior leadership positions in protestant Black churches. This research study questions whether the silence and silent treatment Black Female Clergy receives serving as pastoral leaders is correlated with this gap. This research study conducted uses a peer group interview method and will take place via Zoom and lasts approximately three (3) hours. Participants received pseudonyms to protect their identity and to increase their potential to openly discuss their individual experiences serving in protestant Black churches. This interview was both audio and video recorded, and the results were transcribed for analysis. Six participants anonymously attended the virtual session and shared subjective experiences with serving as Black Female Clergy in their respective congregations. Participants openly shared some situations they had previously remained “silent” about. The participants were allowed the opportunity to reflect on the instances of silence and how it felt to share among other Black Female Clergy with similar experiences. The feedback from this interview has identified opportunities for pastoral care for Black Female Clergy and StrongBlackWomen in Protestant Black Church congregations.
    • Novel Akt Pathway Inhibitors: An Integrated Approach Between Theory And Experiment

      Uko, Nne
      The AKT kinase signaling pathway regulates growth and survival of cells, and it is linked to the progression of numerous types of human cancers. Several studies have shown that deactivation of Akt can promote inhibition of cancer cell growth. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of novel AKT pathway inhibitors in terms of their ability to deactivate AKT and inhibit human tumor cell growth. These compounds were identified using computer-assisted drug design (CADD) methods. Pharmacophore modeling was used to screen hundreds of small molecule compounds as potential AKT pathway inhibitors. Five commercially available putative AKT pathway inhibitors were identified that had the necessary pharmacophoric features. Three compounds, labeled B, C and D were modeled after solenopsin, an alkaloid from the venom of fire ants and the remaining two, compound A and E were designed after a known Akt inhibitor. Cultured tumorigenic ras-transformed cells (WBras1) and human lung carcinoma cells (H2009) were treated with one of the test compounds at varying non-cytotoxic concentrations, or with the vehicle (DMSO). Akt phosphorylation levels at the Ser473 and Thr308 site were monitored. Among all the cells treated, compound B significantly decreased. phosphorylation at varying time points in both tumorigenic cell types at low micromolar concentrations. Downstream Akt effectors were assessed for alternations in pathway regulatory activity. The results indicated that compounds B and C effectively downregulated Akt pathway activation through reduced phosphorylation of Akt and downstream effectors in the Akt pathway. To determine whether any of the CADD compounds directly inhibit Akt, an in-vitro Akt kinase kit assay was utilized. The study revealed that none of the CADD compounds inhibited Akt phosphorylation at the ATP activation site. In this dissertation, it has been revealed that only compounds B and C decreased cancer cell growth in human lung carcinoma cells. The outcome of this investigation confirmed that by inhibiting activation of Akt, inhibition of cancer cell growth can be achieved. Compound B was the most effective of the 5 compounds in inhibiting AKT phosphorylation. Compound B was also the most effective in inhibiting H2009 cell growth. In addition, we studied and showed that an extract of an anticancer herbal mix (labeled as BAH), comprised of plantain (Musca paradisiaca), yam (Dioscorea rotundata) and fish (Atlantic herring), significantly decreased Akt phosphorylation, blocked cancer cell growth and inhibited the activity of Akt in the presence of ATP. Taken together, this study highlights the utility of CADD in identifying promising anti-cancer agents and for the first time unveils novel solenopsin derivatives that hamper the activation of Akt, including alteration of Akt signaling in the pathway. The inhibitory effect in vitro of a proprietary anticancer herbal extract for the first time in human lung cancer cells is also demonstrated.
    • NOVEL MICROPARTICLE-BASED MICRONEEDLE VACCINE FOR ZIKA VIRUS

      Kale, Akanksha; College of Pharmacy
      NOVEL MICROPARTICLE-BASED MICRONEEDLE VACCINE FOR ZIKA VIRUS (Under the guidance of Dr. Martin D’Souza) Zika is an infectious viral disease caused due to the Zika virus. The primary mode of transmission for this virus is through mosquito bites. The common symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, conjunctivitis, muscle pain, and joint pain. Vertical transmission during pregnancy can result in microcephaly, congenital Zika syndrome, and other congenital abnormalities. Zika can also lead to Guillain-Barr Syndrome – an autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system. After the global outbreak of Zika in 2015-2016, the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern. Research related to Zika has been included in the R and D priority list by the WHO. However, there are no approved treatments or vaccines available for Zika. Current vaccine candidates in research include whole-inactivated vaccines, nucleic acid vaccines, vectored vaccines, and subunit vaccines that are administered via conventional intramuscular or subcutaneous routes. These routes are invasive and painful, thereby reducing patient compliance. To explore a less painful alternative, we investigated the feasibility of the transdermal route as a vaccine delivery strategy for the Zika virus using polymeric microparticle-loaded microneedle patches. Integration of the particulate vaccine strategy and the transdermal route of administration together presented the potential to be efficacious in preventing Zika in a patient-compliant manner. The first part of the project included the formulation of poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) polymeric vaccine microparticles (MP) encapsulating the inactivated Zika virus, along with adjuvant MP encapsulating Alhydrogel® and MPL-A®. We characterized the vaccine MP for size, surface charge, morphology, encapsulation efficiency, and antigen integrity. Further, we evaluated the immunogenicity and cytotoxicity of vaccine MP in vitro in murine dendritic cells. Vaccine MP with adjuvants induced significantly higher production of nitric oxide, a marker of innate immunity, when compared to the untreated cells. In addition, vaccine MP with or without adjuvants induced increased autophagy in murine dendritic cells when compared to inactivated Zika virus, which is critical in antigen presentation. Vaccine MP along with adjuvant MP also enhanced the expression of antigen-presenting molecules – MHC I and MHC II as well as co-stimulatory molecules – CD80 and CD40 in murine dendritic cells. Next, we evaluated in vivo efficacy of vaccine MP with and without adjuvants in a preclinical murine model by measuring the immune response after intramuscular administration. Vaccine MP with adjuvants induced significant IgG, Ig2a, IgG1, and IgG3 titers as compared to the control group of untreated mice. After the challenge with live Zika virus, vaccinated mice showed higher antibody titers and enhanced expression of helper CD4 and CD8 cell surface markers in splenocytes and lymphocytes. Splenocytes of vaccinated mice also showed enhanced expression of IFN-γ required for cytotoxic cell-mediated immune response. Thus, the immunogenic efficiency of the particulate Zika vaccine was established. In the next part of the study, we embedded Zika vaccine MPs with adjuvant MPs in dissolving microneedles (MNs) administered via the transdermal route as a pain-free vaccine strategy. We characterized the MNs for needle length, pore formation, and dissolvability when applied to murine skin. Further, we evaluated the in vivo efficacy of vaccine MPs-loaded MNs with or without adjuvants by measuring immune response after transdermal immunization. Vaccine MPs-loaded dissolving MNs with adjuvants induced significant IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG3 titers in immunized mice compared to the untreated control group. After the dosing regimen, animals were challenged with the Zika virus, monitored for seven days, and sacrificed to collect spleen and lymph nodes. Lymphocytes and splenocytes from immunized mice showed significant expression of helper (CD4) and cytotoxic (CD8a) cell surface markers than the control group. Thus, the promising results of this study put forth a ‘proof-of-concept’ for a pain-free transdermal vaccine strategy against Zika.
    • Novel Pain-Free Immunization of a Combination Microparticulate Vaccine for COVID-19 and Influenza

      Vijayanand, Sharon Christina Pearline; College of Pharmacy
      Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Influenza are contagious respiratory viruses that can only be effectively prevented by vaccination. Both COVID-19 and Influenza have previously caused Pandemics that have significantly affected the well-being of people globally. Although there are several approved vaccines for both diseases, the limitations and shortcomings of these vaccines are why there is constant research for developing a better vaccine. The current vaccines are primarily painful and non-patient-friendly intramuscular injections, resulting in vaccine hesitancy in children and older adults. IM injections also require trained healthcare professionals for vaccine administration, contributing to the workforce's burden. There is also a requirement to store these vaccines in a cold temperature setting to preserve the life of these biologicals. However, such conditions pose an issue during the transportation and distribution of these vaccines worldwide. Developing and underdeveloped countries are affected by such limitations in storage and distribution. All these factors lead to declining vaccination rates and an increase in the frequency of the emerging mutant strains. Considering all these factors, we tested an inactivated microparticulate vaccine for COVID-19 and a combination microparticulate vaccine for COVID-19 and Influenza. Utilizing a microparticle matrix to encapsulate the vaccine antigen protects the antigen from degradation. Additionally, particle-based vaccines are being investigated for stability at various temperatures, including room temperature. The vaccine was tested via different non-invasive routes such as transdermal using microneedles, buccal using oral dissolving films, and intranasal route to minimize or eliminate pain during vaccination. First, the microparticle vaccines were prepared, characterized, and assessed in vitro for their immunogenicity, cytotoxicity, autophagy, and antigen presentation. Next, the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and the inactivated combination SARS-CoV-2-Influenza vaccine were tested in vivo in a preclinical mouse model and evaluated for immunogenicity and efficacy upon administration to mice. The study's results are summarized in this dissertation and clearly show that non-invasive vaccination strategies can induce effective immune responses in mice. A microparticle vaccine approach can solve multiple problems in vaccine development, distribution, storage, and administration when combined with a non-invasive vaccination strategy. However, like every vaccine, novel vaccination strategies warrant further investigation.
    • Nurse Educators' Experiences Teaching Professional Values To Prelicensure Baccalaureate Nursing Students: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study

      Dunnington, Celeste S.
      ABSTRACT NURSE EDUCATORS' EXPERIENCES TEACHING PROFESSIONAL VALUES TO PRELICENSURE BACCALAUREATE NURSING STUDENTS: AN INTERPRETIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY Nursing's professional values, while important today, were first recognized in 19th century Europe by Florence Nightingale. Today's professional values, based on the American Nurses Association (ANA) code of ethics, include altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justice. Nurse educators are afforded the opportunity to provide foundational underpinning for the development of professional values in prelicensure baccalaureate nursing students. The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of teaching professional values to prelicensure baccalaureate nursing students from the perspective of nurse educators. Interpretive hermeneutic phenomenology was the method chosen for this study because it provides for understanding through interpretation of lived experiences. Face-to-face and Skype interviews were completed with 15 participants. Following transcription, each interview was analyzed using van Manen's research guidelines. These guidelines included focusing on the lived experience, collecting experiences as they were lived, reflecting on essential themes as they emerged, writing and rewriting, staying focused on the phenomenon, and looking at the parts and the whole (van Manen, 1990). xii The phenomenological approach allows nurse educators, as participants, to describe their lived experiences of teaching professional values to prelicensure baccalaureate nursing students. Journey work described the nurse educator's journey in teaching professional values which included personal struggles and professional growth. “There is a disconnect�? offered the opportunity to express the effect of generational differences and lived experiences on teaching professional values illustrating educators’ assumptions of their students. Shaping outcomes acknowledged the educator’s firm belief in the centrality of role modeling and building relationships to teaching professional values. The ultimate goal of teaching professional values was to see the transformation as students began with the basics, reached the crossroads of accepting professional values, and the final step of entering the professional practice of nursing having embraced nursing's professional values as their own.
    • Nursing Faculty's Experience With Disruptive Work Environments: A Mixed Method Study Of The Phenomenon Of Bullying Behaviors Among Nursing Faculty And Their Intent To Stay In Academe

      Shugart, Kelli Palmer
      ABSTRACT KELLI PALMER SHUGART NURSING FACULTY’S EXPERIENCE WITH DISRUPTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENTS: A MIXED METHOD STUDY OF THE PHENOMENON OF BULLYING BEHAVIORS AMONG NURSING FACULTY AND THEIR INTENT TO STAY IN ACADEME Under the direction of ELAINE M. ARTMAN, Ed.D Because of the limited research on the perceptions of nursing faculty on horizontal violence, this convergent mixed method study investigated the phenomenon of bullying behaviors among nursing faculty and the faculty’s intent to stay in academe following exposure to bullying. 300 nursing faculty members of the Nursing Educator Discussion list responded to a survey. The quantitative survey included demographics and the use of the NAQ-R, a two-page self-administered Likert-type questionnaire with constructs referring to work and personal related bullying as well as physically intimidating bullying. Participants who agreed to complete the survey were then invited to volunteer in the qualitative interview if they had been exposed to bullying behaviors by a peer. Twenty interviews were collected from these volunteers. The qualitative portion used Giorgi’s phenomenological method of analysis with interview data. Of the 300 completed surveys, descriptive and inferential statistics indicated some important findings. Finding indicated that overall bullying behaviors were low (x̅ =36, SD = 14.2) although work place bullying (x̅=13.35, SD = 5.66) and personal bullying (x̅=18.97, SD=8.01) had the greatest extent of bullying while physical bullying was the least reported type of bullying (x̅=3.9, SD = 1.6). Results indicated that those who indicated their intent to not stay in their current position reported significantly greater bullying behaviors for the total NAQ-R, work bullying, personal bullying, and physical bullying subscales (p< .001). The majority (89%) reported working in smaller institutions with enrollment less than 20,000. Surprisingly only 15.7% held a PhD in nursing, doctorate in nursing, and nursing doctorate combined. More than one in five participants (21.7%) indicated total years in teaching 5 or fewer years and 41.7% of respondents reported teaching less than 10 years. These numbers possibly reflects the number of young nursing academics in a field where nurses reportedly “eat their young,�? and may feel “ignored�? by the more than 31% of those with 20 plus years of teaching experience. While the quantitative results illustrated that more than 31% had at least 20 years of experience teaching, only 17.4% reported teaching in their current institution for more than 20 years. The qualitative results illustrate these learned patterns of abuse exist despite interviewees disbelief that bullying “could be possibly true�? with the older nursing faculty “in charge.�? The narrative data illustrates that while older faculty may “be in charge,�? they may feel threatened by younger competition. There was a perception of a laissez-faire leadership style for the deans that allow bullying to occur. Participants described no or ineffective policies, transitional environments including leadership change, turnover created enabling structures that allowed inappropriate behavior. In addition, turnover may not be mitigated by the fact that only 22% of the participants are tenured faculty. Qualitative data indicated that bullying behaviors can be direct, indirect or covert, with emotional-social interactions. Examples of indirect bullying are gossiping, leaving others out on purpose, or spreading rumors to destroy another’s reputation. Results indicated that bullying behaviors affect nurse educator both physically (depression, gastrointestinal upset, and insomnia) and emotionally (being scared, humiliated, sad, angry, devastated, and hopeless) and played a role in whether faculty remain in nursing education. Eventually, all nursing faculty that experienced bullying made a decision to stay or go. Remarkably, the relationship they had with students and other faculty and their love of teaching influenced their decision to stay. Nursing faculty, even those who are bullied, revealed that they are committed to the nursing profession and to making a difference in the lives of nursing students. Furthermore, the enabling structures within the institution play an important role on the climate of the institution. Institutions that are under transition, lack a policy regarding bullying, or have a laissez-faire leadership style are at risk for a bullying culture to exist. Leaders need to be cognizant that bullying does occur and investigate ways to prevent faculty from bullying each other. Academic leaders need to implement a zero tolerance policy regarding bullying behaviors and role model positive behaviors. Academic culture is extremely important because nurses play a vital role in the care and outcomes of patients. It is imperative for nurse educators to role model positive behaviors when socializing nursing faculty and students to do their part to stop bullying behaviors from entering the nursing work environment.
    • Nursing Student Perceptions of Presence in a Virtual Learning Environment: A Qualitative Description Study

      Thrift, Jason R; Georgia Baptist College of Nursing
      Multifaceted approaches to learning are used for educating student nurses. One common teaching modality in nursing education, simulation, provides hands-on experiences in a safe environment to prepare student nurses for professional roles. High quality simulation standards recommend an engaging immersive experience, with physical, emotional, and conceptual fidelity to clinical practice. Presence is the perception of being there in a simulation as if it were real. Studies have reported improved learning outcomes with increased sense of presence. A simulation modality seldom used in nursing education is virtual reality simulation (VR-Sim) a three dimensional, immersive experience. VR-Sim with head mounted visual and haptic enhancements has the potential to increase presence and improve learning. Student perceptions of presence in VR-Sim is unknown. The purpose of this study was to explore student nurses’ perceptions of presence during simulation. A qualitative description design included a VR-Sim of a patient needing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Each participant (N=11) performed two repetitions in the VR-Sim followed by debriefing and a guided interview. The conceptual framework for the study was informed by extant literature including theoretical frameworks. Two research questions guided the study to 1) explore student perceptions of presence in VR-Sim and 2) align findings with current theories of simulation and presence. Braun and Clarke’s (2006) steps for theme development and Saldaña’s (2016) coding informed the data analysis. For Research Question 1, three themes and eight subthemes described participants perceptions of being there in the VR-Sim environment. Findings showed all participants reported experiencing presence during the simulation (Theme: What Brought Me In, What Brought Me Out), but glitches, feel of compressions, and sensing the real physical environment outside the simulation interrupted the experience of presence (Theme: Issues in VR-Sim). Additionally, participants described the experience of learning CPR with the VR-Sim (Theme: Higher Level of Learning). For Research Question 2, the main constructs from the extant theories aligned with the perceptions of participants including ideas about presence, fidelity, individual factors, learning outcomes, and collaboration. The study conceptual model provided a sound framework for continued research of the efficacy of VR-Sim in nursing education.
    • Nurturing Connection To God In A Small Group Of Women At Tomoka Christian Church With The Use Of Lectio Divina

      Humbert, Susan; McAfee School of Theology
      (Under the direction of William Loyd Allen, Ph.D.) Opportunities to connect individuals to God through engaging the Holy Spirit on deep levels, after the point of conversion, are not readily available to my constituency. With a desire to strengthen disciples in my ministry context, I sought a project that could respond to the problem. Through the method of qualitative research, eight women with no previous knowledge of or experience with Lectio Divina were gathered for an eight-week experience with this prayer method. The purpose was to learn if this method was effective in nurturing connection to God. A comparison of the pre-project and post-project interviews, along with shared journal entries in a weekly group meeting, revealed that there was perceived nurtured connection to God. This conclusion was based on the spiritual themes which emerged from the participants over the course of those eight weeks as well as conclusionary comments at the post-project interviews.
    • Odd Woman Out: Women in Non-Traditional Post-Secondary Career and Technical Education

      Pellom, Renee Denise; Tift College of Education
      The approval of legislation in the United States granting women equal entry into non-traditional career and technical education (CTE) occupational fields has not guaranteed their equitable inclusion into non-traditional occupations. In general, government, education, and industry leaders have not been successful in their attempts to adequately recruit, retain, and provide necessary supports for females to enroll in and remain in non-traditional post-secondary CTE careers. The purpose of this study is to describe the lived experiences of current and post-graduate women in post-secondary non-traditional CTE. This description of their experiences of navigating a predominantly male environment is considered through the lens of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in self-determination theory. The researcher utilized a qualitative phenomenological line of inquiry to describe and understand the under-told experiences of the participants. A purposeful sampling strategy was used to recruit 11 adult women (18 years or older) who were current students or recent graduates from a non-traditional CTE program in the last 18 months. Participants who were graduates were required to be currently employed in their field of study. The researcher engaged in semi-structured one-on-one interviews and utilized strategies to address data credibility that included transferability of the data by way of a thick, rich description, triangulation, engagement in reflexivity, verification through an audit trail, and utilization of external auditors. Results of the research show that participants were highly motivated, self-determined individuals who actively engaged in multi-dimensional behaviors that expressed a marked sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness throughout their academic, professional, and personal lives. The women utilized diverse forms of strategy and dynamic engagement to aid them in navigating relationships with individuals at their schools, on their jobs, and among family members and friends. Most women identified physical or interpersonal challenges at school or work because of their gender. They also reported ultimately forming positive relationships with many of the men around them, but several women continued to lack needed physical and social supports. Recommendations for future research include utilizing participant observations, and conducting additional qualitative and quantitative studies with women from diverse non-traditional post-secondary CTE careers and institutions.