The PhD dissertation is a summation of original research, conducted solely by the candidate on a topic of significance to the development of nursing science. Upon successful defense of a dissertation proposal, a student begins conducting dissertation research. A committee comprising of School of Nursing faculty, as well as external members, directs and evaluates the research and writing of each candidate's dissertation.

Recent Dissertation Titles

2021

Pamela S. Kallmerten
"Patient Portal Use, Health Information Technology Self-Efficacy, Electronic Health Literacy, and Self-Management of Heart Failure: A Cross Sectional Study."

Christine A. Lepianka
"The Cultural Worldview of Women Trafficked for Sex in the U.S.: An Ethnonursing Study Exploring Health and Well-Being Beliefs, Values, and Practices from an Emic Perspective"

Beth Tremblay
"Exploring and understanding the culture of young adults who vape: A focused ethnography"

Cecilia Zamarripa
"Subepidermal moisture measures and their relationship to early identification of pressure injuries in both dark and light skin tones in the acute care setting."

2020

Lisa Concilio
"The Impact of a Digital Intervention on Stress, Resiliency, Perceived Social Support, and Intention to Leave among Newly Licensed Nurses: A Randomized Controlled Trial"

Angela Karakachian
"Risk Factors Associated with Pressure Injury Development in Congenital Heart Disease Patients"

Mary Kitchura Kovaleski
"The Feasibility of a Music Listening Intervention on the Incidence, Severity, and Duration of Delirium in the Older Acute Care Patient. A Randomized Controlled Trial"

Jason Payne
"Exploring the Relationship between Dietary Self-monitoring with a Mobile App and Weight Change"

Lois Rajcan
"Trust in the Nurse and Perceived Quality Nursing Care by Adult Oncology Patients with Implantable Vascular Access Port Devices: A Mixed Methods Study"

Patricia D. Scott
"Coping Behaviors of African Americans with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Focused Ethnography"

Ashlee Shields
"Risk Factors Associated with Pressure Injury Development in Congenital Heart Disease Patients"

2019

Carmen Kiraly
"Exploring Maternal Factors Linked to Weight Status in Salvadoran Infants"

Katharine Mahalik
"The Lived Experience of Head and Neck Cancer Survivors Following Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS)"

Denise Van Sant
"The Physiological and Psychological Effects of an Online Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Intervention on Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes"

2018

Karen Alexander
"The Effect of Mindfulness Intervention on the Depression Symptoms of Mothers in Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder"

Marge DiCuccio
"The Relationship between Perceptions of Patient Safety Culture, Nurse Advocacy, and Nurse Sensitive Patient Outcomes"

Catherine Recznik
"The Comparison of Two Methods of Pediatric Triage Education"

Grace S. Tadzong
"Access to Care and the Use of Health Care Services by Women in Rural Cameroon: A Participatory Action Research Study"

2017

Salena Wright Brown
"The Experiences of Registered Nurses Who are Injured by Interpersonal Violence While on Duty in an Emergency Department"

Renee Gilhousen
"The Lived Experience of Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) While Residing in a Rural Region of Northern Appalachia"

Bill Gourash
"Retention and Attrition in Bariatric Surgery Research: A Qualitative Study"

April Kidd
"Mammography Utilization in African American Women"

Natalene Kramer
"Parents of Children Who Had Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Mixed Methods Study"

Debra Kramlich
"Experiences and Perceptions of Rural Postpartum Women with Substance Use Disorders Inclusive of Opioids Regarding Their Care"

Cathy Lyden
"Job Satisfaction and Empowerment of Self-Employed Nurse Practitioners: A Mixed Methods Study"

Courtney Proie
"An Examination of Factors Affecting Hemoglobin A1C Levels and Self-Care Behaviors among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Primary Care Settings"

Thecly Hines Scott
"Perceptions of Care During the Prenatal Period: An Ethnonursing Study of African American Childbearing Women within the Military Health System"