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Point-of-Care Gastric Ultrasound for Preoperative Assessment of Gastric Contents: An Objective Structured Clinical Examination
No full textPulmonary aspiration remains a leading cause of anesthesia-related mortality. The current nil per os (NPO) guidelines are proving unreliable in the presence of delayed gastric emptying due to comorbidities and the increasing use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. Gastric point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use provides a non-invasive, evidence-based, and cost-effective approach to assess gastric content and volume directly. However, limited formal training exists for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and this lack of training contributes to the lack of its utilization. This doctoral project evaluated the effectiveness of an educational intervention that incorporated a didactic lecture as well as a hands-on simulation to train APRN faculty and students at The University of Southern Mississippi in gastric POCUS. Using a quasi-experimental pre-/post-test design with Likert-scale surveys, ten participants completed a single-session educational intervention at USM. Results of this study demonstrated a significant improvement in knowledge, with mean test scores increasing from 44.4% to 76.6% (p \u3c .001, Cohen\u27s d = 2.0). Participants also reported a high level of satisfaction and confidence in the training, rating the intervention\u27s clinical relevance and educational value highly (M = 4.4/5). Findings support the feasibility and value of structured, simulation-based education to enhance APRN competency in gastric POCUS, suggesting its potential for integration into nurse anesthesia curricula. By strengthening provider skills and confidence, this project contributes to advancing evidence-based practice, promoting patient safety, and addressing a critical educational gap in preoperative aspiration risk assessment
2024-25 A Review
No full textThis document highlights the achievements, services, and collections of University Libraries at The University of Southern Mississippi. Read about the de Grummond Collection reaching its $2 million goal for an endowment to support the collection, how the Libraries uses instruction to reach students across all disciplines at the University, or how our Libraries are providing unique methods for learning and growth.https://aquila.usm.edu/ulannualreport/1010/thumbnail.jp
The Road to \u3ci\u3eA Raisin in the Sun\u3c/i\u3e: The Hansberry Family of Floster, Mississippi, and Its Link to Alcorn A&M College
No full textTalk with Ramona Elder, St. Tammany Parish\u27s Genealogy Librarian
No full textRamona Elder, our alum, who is working as a genealogy librarian at the St Tammany Parish Library, does extensive work with the community, helping connect people with their family histories and enabling them to shape their futures. In this talk, she has covered how she develops genealogy collections and tackles on rare books and primary sources for genealogy research
Examining Nonprofit Social Service Sector Burnout and Turnover: Trait Mindfulness as a Moderator of Work-Life Balance and Compassion Fatigue
No full textNonprofit burnout and turnover surpass all national industries, specifically in the social services subsector. In contrast to their for-profit counterparts, nonprofit turnover rates remain on the rise. While literature indicates that one of the primary drivers of nonprofit turnover is burnout, more granular research proposes that nonprofit social service employees encounter a distinct form of burnout generated by the exposure to secondary traumatic distress known as compassion fatigue. This study investigated the antecedents of this phenomenon by examining trait mindfulness as a moderator of work-life balance and compassion fatigue among nonprofit social service providers. To sustain a workforce that provides vital services and programs to families and communities in need, nonprofit organizations must prioritize work-life balance, facilitating employees’ recuperation from operating in high-demand, low-resource work environments. To mitigate the individual and organizational effects of compassion fatigue and promote a positive work-life balance, nonprofit leadership may consider nontraditional cognitive approaches growing in popularity, such as mindfulness. This quantitative correlational study employed a cross-sectional purposive sampling method utilizing Prolific, an online crowd-sourcing platform, and gathered data from 252 study participants. The findings revealed a significant correlation between the variables; however, trait mindlessness was not determined to moderate the relationship between them. Considering the study’s diverse demographics across job roles and subsectors, additional research is necessary to test the moderation further. The research outcomes are significant for nonprofit leadership and the academic community, as they enhance the understanding and inform strategies that improve work-life balance and manage compassion fatigue. The study’s results are particularly relevant to the nonprofit social service workforce, whose meaningful and purpose-driven efforts contribute to greater societal advancement
Investigating the Relationship Between Followership Styles, Follower Engagement in Leadership Behaviors, and Role Perspectives
No full textIn contemporary discussions surrounding effective leadership within government organizations, considerable emphasis has been placed on the role of the leader. However, emerging research suggests equal attention should be given to studying and analyzing followership characteristics. This dissertation will support the need to invest in understanding followers’ traits, behaviors, and attitudes as a strategic approach to organizational advancement, enhanced morale, innovation, and talent management.
Although leadership has been viewed primarily as the driving force of organizational success, recent studies of the leader-follower dynamic highlight followers’ critical role in shaping organizational outcomes. By investigating and studying followership characteristics, government organizations can gain valuable insights into the diverse perspectives, motivations, and needs of the workforce, thereby developing a more inclusive and collaborative organizational culture. Additionally, government organizations can promote innovation and creativity in problem-solving and decision-making processes, leveraging individual follower talents and perspectives.
This study employs a quantitative approach to analyze the relationships between these variables, demonstrating that role perspectives significantly moderate the link between followership styles and engagement in leadership behaviors. Findings indicate that individuals with a strong sense of role clarity and proactive followership styles exhibit higher levels of leadership engagement, reinforcing the importance of developing organizational cultures that support and empower followers. The study\u27s implications extend to leadership development, strategic human resource management, and human capital development, highlighting the necessity of fostering exemplary followership to enhance organizational effectiveness. These insights contribute to the growing body of followership literature and provide practical recommendations for organizations seeking to maximize follower potential in the current era of extreme government workforce transformations.
Organizations can identify and nurture emerging leaders from the ranks of existing followers, building a robust leadership pipeline and assuring continuity in governance. Significantly, government agencies can enhance aspects of talent management, such as employee retention and succession planning, by aligning management strategies with understanding followership characteristics. By acknowledging the value of these characteristics, government agencies can intentionally build more resilient organizations capable of meeting a myriad of changes and complex challenges, such as the 2025 federal government restructuring
Does Resilience Moderate the Relation Between Caregiver Behaviors and Post-Traumatic Symptoms in Young Adults?
Get PDFExposure to a potentially traumatic event (PTE) is not an uncommon experience for children and adolescents. After exposure to adverse events, youth may experience significant maladjustment and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). As such, researchers continue investigating potential risk and protective factors contributing to youth post-trauma adjustment. Considering their critical role in children’s development, caregivers likely play a key role in youth post-trauma adjustment. However, the field lacks studies on caregiver behaviors following youth PTE exposure and on factors, such as resilience, that could influence how children respond to stress and caregiver environments. I aimed to evaluate: (a) how perceived caregiver practices, post childhood PTE exposure, influenced young adults’ current PTSS; and (b) whether resilience moderated the relation between perceived caregiver practices and young adults’ PTSS. Participants were 199 young adults (ages 18-25) who met criteria for at least one childhood PTE; recruited via several methods (SONA, flyers); and completed consents and surveys electronically (Qualtrics). Our results suggest that (a) parental involvement may protect against PTSS; (b) corporal punishment may exacerbate PTSS; and (c) positive parenting practices may be more influential than the absence of negative practices on PTSS. However, in our sample, (d) resilience did not moderate caregiver practices and current PTSS. Results and limitations were discussed in context of the extant literature. Findings underscore the need for continuing to investigate these relationships. Practically, caregivers and practitioners might benefit from actionable parenting strategies to foster resilience and mitigate the risk of PTSS following children’s trauma exposure
Doin\u27 Time: Entertainment and Exploitation at Decommissioned Prison Museums in the United States
Get PDFThis thesis aims to explore how decommissioned prison museums in the US, such as Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary (BMSP), shape societal attitudes and understanding of the carceral system as a whole and the presence of systemic racism within by addressing three questions: (1) What histories do prison museums tell, and which are erased?, (2) How do objects displayed in prison museums reflect past and present racial attitudes toward the incarcerated?, and (3) Does visiting or working at a prison museum affect individual attitudes regarding the US carceral system? Grounded in James Scott’s (1992) concept of “hidden transcripts” and Michel Foucault’s (1986) concept of heterotopias, this study explores how these sites obscure the realities of systemic racism while promoting the dominant narrative of a necessary carceral system. Analysis focuses on the development of BMSP through the ratification of the 13th Amendment, the Tennessee convict leasing program, enacted after, and the Coal Creek War of 1891 to contextualize BMSP’s role in the perpetuation of systemic racism and exploitation of minority individuals. Through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and archival research, this research demonstrates how decommissioned prison museums perpetuate dominant carceral narratives while erasing the subversive. Through its public record, the prison is framed as a “stone-cold fortress” marked by “notorious crimes and chilling deaths,” a place forever known as “the end of the line.” Findings suggest that these sites, while marketed for tourism, reinforce the erasure of Black voices in history and normalize the injustice experienced in these spaces