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
Final Scholarly Project: Evidence-based Practice Guidelines for the Perioperative Management of Blood Glucose Levels in the Cardiac Surgery Patient, Chelsey Benner, DNP, Nursing
Using the Bispectral Index Monitor to Decrease the Incidence of Unintended Intraoperative Awareness in the High-Risk Population, Bridget Hayes, DNP, Nursing
Development of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Incorporating Paravertebral Blockade for Thoracic Surgery Adult Patients, India Hutchison, DNP, Nursing
Analysis of Clinical Outcomes and Cost Effectiveness of Neuromuscular Blocking Drug Reversal in Patients Classified as Obese, Trevor Mack, DNP, Nursing
Development of Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines for Utilizing Erector Spinae Plane Blockade for Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery, Gabrielle Metoyer, DNP, Nursing
Implementation of Guidelines for Preprocedural Ultrasound in Neuraxial Placement for Obstetric Patients with Scoliosis, Luther Nyirenda, DNP, Nursing
Final Scholarly Project: The Administration of Transversus Abdominis Plane Blocks in Patients Undergoing Anesthesia for Open Ventral Hernia Repairs, Brennon Pinion, DNP, Nursing
Development of Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Pediatric Preoperative Anxiety, Whitney R. Stant, DNP, Nursing
Guidelines for Intraoperative Use of Quantitative Neuromuscular Monitoring, Alex Thompson, DNP, Nursing
Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines for Perioperative Use of Dexmedetomidine in Pediatric Congenital Cardiac Surgery, Kayla Thomsen, DNP, Nursing
Final Scholarly Project: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Guidelines for Pancreaticoduodenectomies, Rebecca Wheeler, DNP, Nursing
Clinical Guidelines for the Perioperative Management of Patients with Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery, Owen Diehl, DNP, Nursing
Implementation Guidelines for Total Hip and Total Knee Arthroplasty to Reduce the Incidence of Deep Vein Thrombosis and Subsequent Pulmonary Embolism, Mitchell McCorkle, DNP, Nursing
Doctoral Scholarly Projects from 2024
Assessing Knowledge, Confidence, and Attitude Toward Virtual Care and Telehealth Among Graduate Nursing Students, Natasha Asante, DNP, Nursing
Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines: Anesthesia for Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty, Amanda Kleinfelder, DNP, Nursing
Final Scholarly Project: Development of Evidenced-Based Practice Guidelines for Female Patients Undergoing Anesthesia for Breast Cancer Surgery, Alexa High, DNP, Nursing
Educating Nurses on Frequent Oral Care for Mechanically Ventilated Patients: An Evidence-Based Practice Project Proposal, Grace Alford, Susan Butz, Ruth Chavez, and Joy Shoemaker, DNP, Nursing
Educating Nurses on Frequent Oral Care for Mechanically Ventilated Patients: An Evidence-Based Practice Project Proposal, Grace Alford, Susan Butz, Ruth Chavez, and Joy Shoemaker, DNP, Nursing
Educating Nurses on Frequent Oral Care for Mechanically Ventilated Patients: An Evidence-Based Practice Project Proposal, Grace Alford, Susan Butz, Ruth Chavez, and Joy Shoemaker, DNP, Nursing
Preprocedural Ultrasound for Labor Neuraxial Anesthesia: Evidence-Based Practice Recommendations, Nicholas Anderson, DNP, Nursing
General Anesthesia Clinical Practice Guidelines for Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Bradley Closson, DNP, Nursing
Development of Evidence-Based Practice Anesthesia Guidelines for Brain-Dead Organ Donors, Kelly Dzialowski, DNP, Nursing
Routine Evaluation with Gastric Ultrasound to Reduce Gastric Aspiration (REGURGA), Joel Jackson, DNP, Nursing
Viscoelastic Monitoring in Major Hepatic Surgery: An Evidence-Based Practice Project, Randy Kinietz, DNP, Nursing
Guidelines for the Optimal Assessment of Airway to Predict Difficult Intubation, Morgan Kleinfelder, DNP, Nursing
Recommending an ERAS Guideline for Patients Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty, Kahl Knapke, DNP, Nursing
An Evidence-Based Strategy for the Use of Simulation to Assess Situation Awareness in Applicants to Nurse Anesthesia Programs, Angela Lee, DNP, Nursing
Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines for the Surgical Patient with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Aaron McNeilan, DNP, Nursing
Development of an Evidence-Based CRNA Preceptor Training Program, Emmanuel Mensah, DNP
Development and Implementation of an Evidence Based Practice Guideline Related to the Management of Adult Angioedema, Megan Przybysz, DNP, Nursing
Incorporation of Mindfulness Application Use in Doctoral Nurse Anesthesia Curricula for Mitigation of Stress and Anxiety in Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Kerrie Rodgers, DNP, Nursing
Development of a ROTEM-guided Transfusion Algorithm in Cardiothoracic Surgery Patients, Kourtney Jane Snyder, DNP, Nursing
Evidence Based Practice Guidelines for the Pediatric Autistic Spectrum Disorder Population, Calvin Sparks, DNP, Nursing
Evaluating Nurses’ Turnover Intention and Organizational Commitment Following Stroke Unit Staffing Changes: An Evidence-based Quality Initiative, Heather Tatusko, DNP, Nursing
Evaluating Nurses’ Turnover Intention and Organizational Commitment Following Stroke Unit Staffing Changes: An Evidence-based Quality Initiative, Heather M. Tatusko Phiri, DNP, Nursing
Development of Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention of Peripheral Neurological Injury During Robotic-assisted Prostatectomies for Patients in the Steep Trendelenburg Position, Tyler Wolpert, DNP, Nursing
Final Scholarly Project: Optimal Perioperative Analgesic Management Guidelines for Elective Hip Arthroplasty in Adults, MaKyah Dittoe, DNP, Nursing
Evidence-Based Practice Recommendations for the use of a Cardiac Optimization Algorithm in Patients Undergoing a Whipple Procedure, Jarrod Genther, DNP, Nursing
Evidence-based Recommendations for the Use of Neostigmine Versus Sugammadex in Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgery, Ostap Dvorakevych, DNP, Nursing
Evidence-based Recommendations for the Use of Neostigmine Versus Sugammadex in Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgery, Ostap Dvorakevych, DNP, Nursing
Development of Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines for Perioperative Multimodal Analgesia during Spine Surgery, JONATHAN WAGNER, DNP, Nursing
Development of Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Pediatric Patients at Risk of Emergence Delirium, Christina Bensley, DNP, Nursing
Music for Anxiolysis in Primigravida Undergoing Cesarean Delivery Under Neuraxial Anesthesia, Jonathan Garcia, DNP, Nursing
Final Scholarly Project: Implementation Guidelines of Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia in Pediatric Cardiac Surgical Patients, Matthew Hall, DNP, Nursing
Final Scholarly Project: Clinical Guidelines for the Perioperative Management of Patients with Opioid Use Disorder Requiring Anesthesia, Jessica Kayla Joos, DNP, Nursing
Guidelines for Non-Anesthesia Providers Performing Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) for Airway Assessment in the Emergency Room, Shannen Steinbrunner, DNP, Nursing
Enhancing SRNA Confidence: Integrating Simulation-Based CRM Training with Didactic Education to Improve Intraoperative Recognition, Communication, and Management of Intraoperative Cardiac Arrest, Melissa Lee, DNP, Nursing
Enhancing SRNA Confidence: Simulation-Based CRM Training for the Management of Intraoperative Cardiac Arrest, Melissa Lee, DNP, Nursing
Evidence-Based Strategy to Improve Delirium Detection in Elderly Postsurgical Patients, Aimee Baker, DNP, Nursing
Implementation and Evaluation of a Structured Mentorship Program, Cary Bedinghaus and Caroline Hillman, DNP, Nursing
Doctoral Scholarly Projects from 2023
Use and Evaluation of a New Nurse Practitioner Fellowship Program, Brandi Herman, DNP, Nursing
Implementation of Evidence Based Practices to Reduce Postoperative Sore Throat, Anthony Brusadin, DNP, Nursing
Implementation of Evidence Based Practices to Reduce Postoperative Sore Throat, Anthony Brusadin, DNP, Nursing
Implementation of a Diabetes Education Program in the Correctional Setting: A Project Proposal, Raymond Lengel, DNP, Nursing
Inadequacies in Nutritional Counseling in the Perinatal Population, Tiffany Fry, , Nursing
Standardized Handoffs For Anesthesia Students, Shawn Barkalow and Noah Prebish, DNP, Nursing
Breastfeeding After Maternal Anesthesia: A Guideline Development, Megan Berens, DNP, Nursing
Early vs Late Referrals to Nephrology and its Effect on Patient Outcomes in End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Patients Who Are on Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) a Retrospective Chart Review, Tricia Brown, DNP, Nursing
Activated Clotting Times and Rebleed Rates in Pediatric Patients Post Cardiac Catheterization: A Pilot Project Proposal, Stacey Carey, DNP, Nursing
Development and Implementation of an Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Insertion Training Program for Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Nicholas Colangelo and Zachary Wise, DNP, Nursing
Communication Assessment Tools for Emergency Department Nurses who Interact with Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Holly Hunt, DNP, Nursing
Analysis of current practices in prehospital congestive heart failure care and protocol development to prevent readmission., Ayushma Neupane, DNP, Nursing
Increasing Awareness, Understanding, and Support for Healthcare Second Victims through the Creation and Distribution of an Infographic for Leaders and Executives, Theresa Reed, DNP, Nursing
The Effectiveness of Targeted Education on Improving Nurses’ Self-Efficacy in Caring for Psychiatric Patients on Medical Surgical Units, Rachel Shirey, DNP, Nursing
Ohio Forensic Nurse Examiners: Readiness to Care for Victims of Sexual Assault with Disability, Deanna Nicole Smith, DNP, Nursing
No-Show Rates in Community Mental Health Clinics, Teresa Jordan, DNP, Nursing
A Systematic Record Review of a Local Quality Improvement Impacts on Anesthesia Provider Knowledge and Attitudes Following a Presentation of Current Evidence-Based Practices Involving Intrathecal Mepivacaine Use in Total Joint Arthroplasty Surgical Patients, Kevin McClellan, DNP, Nursing
Examining the Need for Change by Describing the Attitudes and Perceptions of Team Communications Related to Patient Care and Safety Among Ambulatory Clinic Healthcare Staff, Peter Seivers, DNP, Nursing
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Testing Strategies, Carla Bonczak, DNP, Nursing
Evidence-based Practice Guidelines for the Optimal Assessment of the Airway in Predicting Difficult Intubation, Meredith Louden, DNP, Nursing
Evidence-Based Guidelines for Prevention of Inadvertent Hypothermia in Total Joint Arthroplasty, Courtney Morris, DNP, Nursing
Development of Guidelines for Early Implementation of Regional Anesthesia in United States Personnel with Peripheral Injuries, Matthew Baker, DNP, Nursing
Pectoralis Nerve Block Compared to Thoracic Paravertebral Nerve Block in the Mastectomy Patient: Evidence-Based Practice Recommendations, Eric Boyer, DNP, Nursing
Guidelines for Performing Caudal Blocks in Pediatric Sub-Umbilical Surgeries, Rachael Allen, DNP, Nursing
Development and Implementation of an Evidence-Based Practice Guideline Regarding Cricoid Pressure, William Carson II, DNP, Nursing
Doctoral Scholarly Projects from 2022
Nosocomial Antibiotic-Associated Clostridium Difficile Infections: An Organizational Assessment, Allison Bruce and Paxton Schwaderer, DNP, Nursing
Sedation Assessment and Management in the Intensive Care Unit, Kimberly Dyer and Courtney Garvey, DNP, Nursing
ERAS for Cardiac Surgery: Development of a Clinical Practice Guideline for Antifibrinolytic Administration in Cardiac Surgery, Christopher T. Foltz and Katonya C. Lawson, DNP, Nursing
Bridging the Gap Between Evidence Based Opioid Sparing Techniques and Anesthesia Provider Practice, Kelly Hempfling, DNP, Nursing
Change for the Ohio Nurse Practitioner Treating Worker's Compensation Patients: A Needs Analysis, Jessica Huff, DNP, Nursing
Protocol Development for Preventing Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia in Outpatient Surgical Patients, James Lower, DNP, Nursing
Evidence-Based Practice Guideline Development: Selection of Local Anesthetics and the Additive Dexamethasone in Brachial Plexus Blocks, Alexandra McGuire, DNP, Nursing
Clinical Recommendations for Non-Anesthesia Healthcare Providers Performing Emergency Airway Management Outside the Operating Room, Danielle Ridgway, DNP, Nursing
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, DNP, Nursing
Safety Measures in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit: An Organizational Assessment, Tina Yates, DNP, Nursing
Evidenced-Based Practice Guideline Development: Selection of Local Anesthetics and the Additive Dexamethasone in Brachial Plexus Blocks, Sabina Lamichhane Wagle, DNP, Nursing
The Development of an Assessment Plan for Wellness and Risk for Substance Use in Nurse Anesthesia Students, Tessa Friend and Lauren Zaleski, DNP, Nursing
Proposal of a Clinical Practice Guideline for a Non-Pharmacologic Music Listening Complementary Pain Therapy, Alec Smith, Sean Lawler, and Joel Griffith, DNP, Nursing
Analysis of Clinical Outcomes and Cost-Effectiveness of Neuromuscular Blocking Drug Reversal in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Samantha Kinglsey and Aaron "Mitch" Corn, DNP, Nursing
Doctoral Scholarly Projects from 2021
Eastern European Orthodox Christian Immigrant Women: A Pilot Study and Needs Assessment, Kimberly A. Babich-Speck, DNP, Nursing
Evaluating VA Nurse Acceptance of Virtual Healthcare Technology During the Coronavirus Outbreak, Francesca Bryan-Couch, DNP, Nursing
Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPI) in Critical Care: A Quality Improvement Project, Bonnie M. Fagan and Susan Butz, DNP, Nursing
Professional Quality of Life Indicators and Turnover Intention in Forensic Nurses, Leigh Anne Meyer, DNP, Nursing
Reducing Missed Appointments with Specialized Appointment Reminders, Lindsay Sanders, DNP, Nursing
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, DNP, Nursing
REPORT:Impact of Educational Modules on Knowledge among Neuroscience Nurses Working in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU), Shivani Bhatnagar and Joy Shoemaker, DNP, Nursing
POSTER: Creating and Piloting a Survey to Determine Readiness in Rural Populations in Ohio, Annie Bowen and Kay Ball, DNP, Nursing
REPORT: Creating and Piloting a Survey to Determine Readiness in Rural Populations in Ohio, Annie Bowen and Kay Ball, DNP, Nursing
POSTER: The Beat Stops Here: A Nurse-Driven Protocol to Manage Telemetry Orders, Holly Dripps and Kirk Hummer, DNP, Nursing
REPORT: The Beat Stops Here: A Nurse-Driven Protocol to Manage Telemetry Orders, Holly Dripps and Kirk Hummer, DNP, Nursing