The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Post Masters MSN to DNP degree is a practice-focused doctorate designed for expert advanced practice nurses and nurse executives. This is a collection of dissertations written by Otterbein University DNP students.
Most theses and dissertations completed after 2014 are included in Digital Commons @ Otterbein. Search the Library catalog to locate theses and dissertations completed prior to 2014.
Note to Otterbein Alumni: If you completed a thesis or dissertation as part of your graduate coursework at Otterbein University and would like us to add it to Digital Commons @ Otterbein, please email library@otterbein.edu.Doctoral Scholarly Projects from 2025
Using the Bispectral Index Monitor to Decrease the Incidence of Unintended Intraoperative Awareness in the High-Risk Population, Bridget Hayes
Development of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Incorporating Paravertebral Blockade for Thoracic Surgery Adult Patients, India Hutchison
Development of Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines for Utilizing Erector Spinae Plane Blockade for Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery, Gabrielle Metoyer
Implementation of Guidelines for Preprocedural Ultrasound in Neuraxial Placement for Obstetric Patients with Scoliosis, Luther Nyirenda
Development of Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Pediatric Preoperative Anxiety, Whitney R. Stant
Doctoral Scholarly Projects from 2024
Preprocedural Ultrasound for Labor Neuraxial Anesthesia: Evidence-Based Practice Recommendations, Nicholas Anderson
Evidence-Based Strategy to Improve Delirium Detection in Elderly Postsurgical Patients, Aimee Baker
Implementation and Evaluation of a Structured Mentorship Program, Cary Bedinghaus and Caroline Hillman
Development of Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Pediatric Patients at Risk of Emergence Delirium, Christina Bensley
General Anesthesia Clinical Practice Guidelines for Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Bradley Closson
Development of Evidence-Based Practice Anesthesia Guidelines for Brain-Dead Organ Donors, Kelly Dzialowski
Evidence-Based Practice Recommendations for the use of a Cardiac Optimization Algorithm in Patients Undergoing a Whipple Procedure, Jarrod Genther
Routine Evaluation with Gastric Ultrasound to Reduce Gastric Aspiration (REGURGA), Joel Jackson
Final Scholarly Project: Clinical Guidelines for the Perioperative Management of Patients with Opioid Use Disorder Requiring Anesthesia, Jessica Kayla Joos
Viscoelastic Monitoring in Major Hepatic Surgery: An Evidence-Based Practice Project, Randy Kinietz
Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines: Anesthesia for Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty, Amanda Kleinfelder
Guidelines for the Optimal Assessment of Airway to Predict Difficult Intubation, Morgan Kleinfelder
Recommending an ERAS Guideline for Patients Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty, Kahl Knapke
Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines for the Surgical Patient with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Aaron McNeilan
Development of an Evidence-Based CRNA Preceptor Training Program, Emmanuel Mensah
Development and Implementation of an Evidence Based Practice Guideline Related to the Management of Adult Angioedema, Megan Przybysz
Development of a ROTEM-guided Transfusion Algorithm in Cardiothoracic Surgery Patients, Kourtney Jane Snyder
Evidence Based Practice Guidelines for the Pediatric Autistic Spectrum Disorder Population, Calvin Sparks
Evaluating Nurses’ Turnover Intention and Organizational Commitment Following Stroke Unit Staffing Changes: An Evidence-based Quality Initiative, Heather Tatusko
Doctoral Scholarly Projects from 2023
Development of Guidelines for Early Implementation of Regional Anesthesia in United States Personnel with Peripheral Injuries, Matthew Baker
Standardized Handoffs For Anesthesia Students, Shawn Barkalow and Noah Prebish
Breastfeeding After Maternal Anesthesia: A Guideline Development, Megan Berens
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Testing Strategies, Carla Bonczak
Implementation of Evidence Based Practices to Reduce Postoperative Sore Throat, Anthony Brusadin
Implementation of Evidence Based Practices to Reduce Postoperative Sore Throat, Anthony Brusadin
Activated Clotting Times and Rebleed Rates in Pediatric Patients Post Cardiac Catheterization: A Pilot Project Proposal, Stacey Carey
Development and Implementation of an Evidence-Based Practice Guideline Regarding Cricoid Pressure, William Carson II
Development and Implementation of an Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Insertion Training Program for Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Nicholas Colangelo and Zachary Wise
Inadequacies in Nutritional Counseling in the Perinatal Population, Tiffany Fry
Use and Evaluation of a New Nurse Practitioner Fellowship Program, Brandi Herman
No-Show Rates in Community Mental Health Clinics, Teresa Jordan
Implementation of a Diabetes Education Program in the Correctional Setting: A Project Proposal, Raymond Lengel
Evidence-based Practice Guidelines for the Optimal Assessment of the Airway in Predicting Difficult Intubation, Meredith Louden
Evidence-Based Guidelines for Prevention of Inadvertent Hypothermia in Total Joint Arthroplasty, Courtney Morris
Analysis of current practices in prehospital congestive heart failure care and protocol development to prevent readmission., Ayushma Neupane
The Effectiveness of Targeted Education on Improving Nurses’ Self-Efficacy in Caring for Psychiatric Patients on Medical Surgical Units, Rachel Shirey
Ohio Forensic Nurse Examiners: Readiness to Care for Victims of Sexual Assault with Disability, Deanna Nicole Smith
Doctoral Scholarly Projects from 2022
Nosocomial Antibiotic-Associated Clostridium Difficile Infections: An Organizational Assessment, Allison Bruce and Paxton Schwaderer
Sedation Assessment and Management in the Intensive Care Unit, Kimberly Dyer and Courtney Garvey
ERAS for Cardiac Surgery: Development of a Clinical Practice Guideline for Antifibrinolytic Administration in Cardiac Surgery, Christopher T. Foltz and Katonya C. Lawson
The Development of an Assessment Plan for Wellness and Risk for Substance Use in Nurse Anesthesia Students, Tessa Friend and Lauren Zaleski
Bridging the Gap Between Evidence Based Opioid Sparing Techniques and Anesthesia Provider Practice, Kelly Hempfling
Change for the Ohio Nurse Practitioner Treating Worker's Compensation Patients: A Needs Analysis, Jessica Huff
Analysis of Clinical Outcomes and Cost-Effectiveness of Neuromuscular Blocking Drug Reversal in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Samantha Kinglsey and Aaron "Mitch" Corn
Evidenced-Based Practice Guideline Development: Selection of Local Anesthetics and the Additive Dexamethasone in Brachial Plexus Blocks, Sabina Lamichhane Wagle
Protocol Development for Preventing Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia in Outpatient Surgical Patients, James Lower
Evidence-Based Practice Guideline Development: Selection of Local Anesthetics and the Additive Dexamethasone in Brachial Plexus Blocks, Alexandra McGuire
Clinical Recommendations for Non-Anesthesia Healthcare Providers Performing Emergency Airway Management Outside the Operating Room, Danielle Ridgway
Proposal of a Clinical Practice Guideline for a Non-Pharmacologic Music Listening Complementary Pain Therapy, Alec Smith, Sean Lawler, and Joel Griffith
Evidence Based Practice Strategies: Using Price Lists and Peer Coaching to Improve Medication Cost Containment and Documentation Practices in Anesthesia Providers at an Urban Level One Trauma Center, Abigalle Ryan Sparrow
Safety Measures in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit: An Organizational Assessment, Tina Yates
Doctoral Scholarly Projects from 2021
Eastern European Orthodox Christian Immigrant Women: A Pilot Study and Needs Assessment, Kimberly A. Babich-Speck
Evaluating VA Nurse Acceptance of Virtual Healthcare Technology During the Coronavirus Outbreak, Francesca Bryan-Couch
Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPI) in Critical Care: A Quality Improvement Project, Bonnie M. Fagan and Susan Butz
Professional Quality of Life Indicators and Turnover Intention in Forensic Nurses, Leigh Anne Meyer
Reducing Missed Appointments with Specialized Appointment Reminders, Lindsay Sanders
Doctoral Scholarly Projects from 2020
POSTER: Impact of Educational Modules on Knowledge among Neuroscience Nurses Working in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU), Shivani Bhatnagar and Joy Shoemaker
REPORT:Impact of Educational Modules on Knowledge among Neuroscience Nurses Working in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU), Shivani Bhatnagar and Joy Shoemaker
POSTER: Creating and Piloting a Survey to Determine Readiness in Rural Populations in Ohio, Annie Bowen and Kay Ball
REPORT: Creating and Piloting a Survey to Determine Readiness in Rural Populations in Ohio, Annie Bowen and Kay Ball
POSTER: The Beat Stops Here: A Nurse-Driven Protocol to Manage Telemetry Orders, Holly Dripps and Kirk Hummer
REPORT: The Beat Stops Here: A Nurse-Driven Protocol to Manage Telemetry Orders, Holly Dripps and Kirk Hummer
Doctoral Scholarly Projects from 2019
Poster: Toward Expert Consensus on Guidelines for the Use of Yoga in the Treatment of Anxiety in Children and Adolescents, Laura J. Abels
Toward expert consensus on guidelines for the use of Yoga in the treatment of anxiety in children and adolescents., Laura J. Abels
Poster: The Opioid Epidemic: Assessment of Primary Prevention Interventions in Muskingum County Public Schools, Terra Armstead
The Opioid Epidemic: Assessment of Primary Prevention Interventions in Muskingum County Public Schools, Terra Armstead
Creating Voice in School Nurses through Increasing Self-efficacy, Kate King
Poster: Creating Voice in School Nurses through Increasing Self-efficacy, Kate King
Malignant Hypothermia Preparedness for Labor and Delivery Nurses, Patricia Rabinowitz
Poster: Malignant Hyperthermia Preparedness for Labor and Delivery Nurses, Patricia Rabinowitz
Increasing Awareness of Proper Disposal Practices of Unwanted Household Medications in Muskingum County, Ohio, Joseph Shaeffer
Poster: Increasing Awareness of Proper Disposal Practices of Unwanted Household Medications in Muskingum County, Ohio, Joseph Shaeffer
Evidence-Based Practice Self-Efficacy and Outcome Expectancy in the Nurse Resident, Amy L. Smith
Poster: Self-Efficacy and Outcome Expectancy in the Nurse Resident, Amy L. Smith
Doctoral Scholarly Projects from 2018
Impact of Student Nurses' Clinical on the Workload of RN's on a Medical-Surgical Unit of a Critical Access Hospital, Reta Hamilton
Nursing Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Trans* and Gender-Nonconforming Patients, Christine Humphrey
Poster: Nursing Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Trans* and Gender-Nonconforming Patients, Christine Humphrey
Doctoral Scholarly Projects from 2017
Succession Planning and the Identification of Future Perioperative Leaders: A Mixed Methods Study, Donna J. Doyle, DNP, RN, CNOR, NE-BC
Communication Strategies for the School Nurse Mentor: A pilot training program, Amy Hotler DNP, RN, LSN, APHN-BC
Poster: Communication strategies for the school nurse mentor: A pilot training program, Amy Hotler DNP, RN, LSN, APHN-BC