National University System Repository
Not a member yet
5119 research outputs found
Sort by
Advanced Practice Nurses, Physician Assistants, and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists in Rural Colorado: Why Choose Rural Medicine?
Get PDFThe problem addressed by this qualitative case study was the shortage of primary care providers in the rural areas of Colorado. Because of the shortage of healthcare providers, rural communities face health disparities at a higher rate than in other areas. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the reasons currently practicing Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) choose rural medicine in defined Colorado counties. The research questions were as follows: What do APNs and PAs, in Colorado, perceive influenced their decision to choose a career in rural medicine? What do APNs and PAs, in Colorado, perceive influence their decision to continue their careers in rural medicine? What do APNs and PAs in Colorado perceive might increase other APNs and PAs to choose a career in rural medicine? The design of this study was a case study. The conceptual framework used for this study was the Pfarrwaller et al. (2017) conceptual framework. The study used qualitative methods as the interviews and questionnaires used open-ended questions so that the participants could express their reasoning openly without being forced to choose from categorical answers. The population of interest included practicing PAs and APNs in designated rural, medically underserved areas of Colorado. Of the 250 potential participants, 12 participated in the study. The data collected from both the interviews and online questionnaires were entered into NVivo qualitative analysis software. Data saturation, validation, and triangulation were achieved by comparing data from the interviews and online questionnaires to clarify obscure concepts. The results of the APNs and PAs study may have several applications in practice, including helping schools identify groups of students or working adults who would be more likely to enter a career in rural medicine, and for rural healthcare facilities to understand the factors that drive APNs and PAs to choose and maintain a rural practice. By understanding those factors, training programs, rural communities, and lawmakers could develop plans for recruitment and retention of providers in rural areas
Assessment Matters: A Case Study of Building a Culture of Assessment Within a Public Four-Year College
No full textAssessment in higher education serves multiple purposes, including determining the efficacy of student learning outcomes and institutional advancement in support of accreditation. However, the establishment of a culture in which assessment is celebrated and embraced by all members of a college community is no small feat, and not many institutions can claim a robust culture of assessment. This case study focused on a public four-year university and its growing culture of assessment within a state or city university system at the conclusion of its successful reaccreditation visit in spring 2025. The purpose of the study is to determine general best practices for developing and maintaining a culture of assessment within institutes of higher education and utilizes the theoretical frameworks of Banta and Suskie to generate guiding questions for interviews; the impetus for establishing a culture of assessment was established using the change management model as proposed by Kotter. In this study, 12 assessment professionals were interviewed about the culture of assessment on their SUNY or CUNY campus and how the campus community is involved in the assessment process. Responses were coded by categories and analyzed through NVivo 14. Results indicated that cultures of assessment can be established through the use of supportive materials such as software, professional development opportunities, and data sharing sessions. Assessment professionals noted common issues that can hinder or work against establishing effective assessment practices on their campus. Providing assessment stakeholders with devoted assessment staff and time to analyze and draw conclusions from assessment results may provide support toward establishing robust cultures of assessment on other IHE campuses
Buying-Shopping Disorder: A Culturally Responsive Approach To Treatment
No full textBuying-shopping disorder (BSD) is a complex and often misunderstood behavioural addiction that intersects with psychological, relational, and sociocultural forces. Although not currently recognized as a standalone disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, BSD is increasingly acknowledged in the literature as a significant clinical concern requiring specialized understanding and treatment. This capstone paper explores the environmental and systemic influences that shape the prevalence and treatment of BSD through an ecological systems lens. A thematic analysis of the literature revealed four key themes: (1) the dual role of interpersonal relationships as both risk and protective factors; (2) the increasing impact of the online shopping environment on the onset and intensity of BSD; (3) the role of macrosystemic messages around consumption and worthiness; and (4) the fluid and identity-linked nature of BSD symptoms. The research argues for an expanded conceptualization of BSD that locates the disorder within its full social and environmental context, highlighting the need for systemic prevention efforts and multimodal treatment approaches. Without this broader understanding, interventions risk pathologizing individuals while ignoring the structural conditions that perpetuate their distress
Lost in Transition: An Exploration into the Contributors to Male Loneliness
No full textThis capstone explores the many intersections and complexity of chronic loneliness amongst men. Specifically, this paper examines masculinity norms, socio-economic factors related to loneliness and masculinity, as well as shifting relational expectations and their contributions to the feelings of perceived loneliness. These elements are examined through the theoretical frameworks of hegemonic masculinity, caring masculinities, social support theory, neoliberalism and offer unique insight into the experience of loneliness and disconnection that men feel. Some key findings highlight how rigid gender norms may prevent men from effectively creating and maintaining meaningful relationships due to a strong cultural emphasis on self-reliance and competition and prevent them from engaging in help-seeking behavior during periods of emotional distress. Furthermore, economic factors such as wage stagnation, job insecurity and lack of education perpetuate feelings of purposelessness and discourage some men from engaging in life more fully. Gender-informed interventions that help men engage in healthier forms of masculinity are touched upon and express the need for more role sharing between men and women, and safe spaces for men to express their emotions without judgment, but this remains an area that is generally under researched
Exploring the Benefits of Incorporating Exercise Into Traditional Therapeutic Practice
No full textThis capstone explores the benefits of incorporating exercise into traditional counselling sessions. With increasing prevalence of sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity globally and continued stigma associated with mental health treatments, there is an urgent need to address these pressing health concerns. This capstone explores the benefits for clients to participate in counselling that incorporates exercise into psychotherapy compared to traditional psychotherapy. The literature review was guided by holistic health theory and common factors research. The literature review reveals mixed results about the benefits of exercise psychotherapy for clients' mental and physical health. Several studies highlight the benefits of exercise psychotherapy with six of them providing clients with superior outcomes compared to traditional counselling. Three studies demonstrated that exercise psychotherapy achieved the same outcomes as traditional counselling. The literature review also highlights the importance of accommodating client preferences to develop a strong therapeutic alliance. Despite these findings, many limitations to the quality and generalizability of this research were identified, including the small sample size of some of the studies, double meanings of search terms used for this study, and the need for more research focused on identifying individuals or presenting problems that would particularly benefit from exercise psychotherapy. This capstone contributes to the field of counselling psychology by providing evidence to suggest that exercise psychotherapy is beneficial to those who participate in it and that it can be part of a holistic approach to treating physical and mental health issues
Understanding the Leadership Pathways and Barriers to Success for Asian American Public Library Leaders
No full textAs Asian Americans are the fastest-growing U.S. immigrant group and are projected to become the largest immigrant group by 2065, more work will be needed to ensure the library field's demographics reflect the communities we serve (Kim et al., 2021). The lack of representation of Asian Americans in all levels of library work, especially in executive roles, may make it more difficult to create culturally relevant services and programs for these communities (Le, 2021). This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to understand the lived experiences, leadership pathways, and barriers of Asian American public library leaders in California. The target populations of this study were mid- to senior-level East, Southeast, and South Asian American public library leaders who worked in California. The research method was qualitative, the design was phenomenology, and data was collected through individual interviews using purposeful sampling. I examined what these leaders experienced in their leadership pathways in the library field, guided by the following theories: Critical Race Theory, Asian American racial development theory, and the model minority myth. I analyzed and interpreted the data from interview transcripts through coding, a basic qualitative analysis technique, and a detailed explanation of the values of Asian American library leaders, their leadership pathways, and barriers in the library field. The major findings that emerged from the participants’ experiences were: (a) navigating racism within the workplace was a part of their professional experiences; (b) intersectionality of identities had an impact on some of their careers; (c) most participants believed that leaders must work hard, develop their voice, and advocate for what is right; and (d) most participants prioritized community interests. This study may benefit communities interested in diversifying their public library staff and leadership (i.e., library leaders and Asian American library staff) as well as library users, who may be looking for library staff, collections, and programs that represent the diversity of their community. From this study's findings, library leaders and library associations can glean some insight into what kinds of barriers this group faces and identify ways to help encourage more Asian Americans to obtain leadership roles in public libraries
Beyond Norms: Exploring Connection, Identity, and Resilience in Gay Male Relationships
No full textThis capstone explores the psychological, relational, and sociocultural processes that shape intimacy and resilience in gay male relationships. Guided by the primary research question, what processes support connection, resilience, and fulfillment among gay men, this project critically reviews the literature through three intersecting frameworks: attachment theory, minority stress theory, and queer relational perspectives. The review examines how attachment dynamics interact with minority stress, how heteronormativity and mononormativity constrain relational possibilities, and how diverse structures such as ethical non-monogamy expand models of intimacy. Findings suggest that while gay men face unique challenges including internalized stigma, concealment, and rejection sensitivity, they also demonstrate resilience through humour, adaptability, chosen family, and identity-affirming practices. Chapter 3 proposes an integrative, attachment-based group therapy program informed by Emotionally Focused Therapy, Gottman’s relational repair research, and Jessica Fern’s HEARTS resilience framework. The program aims to strengthen emotional safety, repair attachment injuries, affirm diverse relational structures, and reduce the impact of minority stress. Ethical and diversity considerations are addressed in alignment with professional codes of conduct. This work concludes that identity-affirming, culturally responsive therapeutic models are essential for supporting gay male clients and calls for more longitudinal, intersectional, and strengths-based research on gay male relationships
Navigating Loneliness in a Technologically Mediated World
No full textThis Capstone project explores the multifaceted relationship between technology and loneliness, examining its psychological, social, cultural, and ethical dimensions. The first chapter introduces the inherent dualism of technology as both a potential alleviator and exacerbator of loneliness, highlighting its significant health and societal impacts, and outlining foundational models for understanding this complex interplay. The second chapter’s literature review examines loneliness across different age groups and genders, considering the influence of stigma, self-esteem, fear of negative evaluation, role loss, and attachment styles. The chapter then examines cultural contexts, contrasting societal types and focusing on Canada’s immigrant and Indigenous experiences. It also analyzes technology’s dual capacity to connect and isolate, considering advancements like AR/VR, AI, and online support, while reviewing loneliness measurement methods. The final chapter discusses the ethics of using technology for loneliness (privacy, consent, bias, autonomy) via CPA guidelines, and proposes future research into diverse populations, ethical tech frameworks, and equitable interventions
The Case for Case Conceptualization Training: Skills and Strategies to Enhance Competence in Novice Practitioners
No full textCase conceptualization is the very heart of clinical practice, and effective formulation is associated with better clinical outcomes. Graduate programs are charged with educating novice practitioners to become skilled at case conceptualization, yet there is a dearth of literature supporting specific teaching methods or outlining the skills needed for mastery. Much of the empirical research on teaching and learning case conceptualization skills is decades old; this topic has not experienced a resurgence in the literature. However, there are many experts who espouse the importance of case conceptualization in counselling practice, offering best practice recommendations
Exploring the Power of Therapeutic Humour Through the Lens of Two-Eyed Seeing
No full textThis capstone examines the therapeutic use of humour as a powerful yet underexplored tool for building rapport in psychotherapy. Using the lens of Two-Eyed Seeing, Indigenous knowledge systems can be integrated with Western psychological research to highlight humour’s relational, cultural, and healing potential. The paper critiques the "joy deficit" in Western clinical practice and presents humour as a meaningful intervention that fosters connection, reduces power imbalances, and supports emotional well-being. Ethical considerations and cultural humility are emphasized throughout, advocating for a more inclusive and relational approach to therapy