Works in this series are the final written component of a masters or doctoral degree program at Grand Valley State University. Culminating Experience Projects demonstrate a student's competence in their discipline while producing original research, investigating a scholarly topic, or producing a creative work.

For GVSU Students

Note: in some graduate programs, students may instead create a Thesis or Dissertation. These can be found as separate series in the Graduate Research and Creative Practice collection.

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Theses/Dissertations from 2021

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Evaluating the Caprini Risk Assessment in an Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility, Alissa Payne, Kelsey Boersma, and Sarah Nechuta

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Incorporating Systematic Phonics Instruction Into Daily Reading Curriculum, Rachel Pennock

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Sickle Cell Disease: Development of an Acute Pain Management Program in a Hematology/Oncology Practice, Elizabeth Pohl

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Providing High-Quality, Diverse Literature for Kindergarten Classrooms, Tamara Powell

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Play-Based Learning Beyond Preschool: Implementing Guided-Play into a First Grade Classroom, Jennifer Powers

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Evaluating the Impact of Nurse Server Standardization on Patient Safety, Megan L. Priebe

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Meeting the Unmet Social and Emotional Needs of Children and Adolescents 
by Advocating for the Role of School Counselors in Elementary and Middle Schools, Haley Prins

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A Dosimetric Study on Photon Beam Energies With and Without a Flattening Filter in SBRT Treatments for Prostate Cancer, Alexis F. Puruleski

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Bladder and Rectal Dosimetric Doses Upon Magnetic Resonance Imaging Integrated Into Tandem and Ovoid Brachytherapy Treatment Planning, Courtney Raney

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A comparative study between conventional VMAT-Total Body Irradiation (TBI) and VMAT Simultaneous Integrated Marrow Boost (SIB) TBI to determine dosimetric feasibility in pediatric patients, Candace R. Ray

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A Dosimetric Evaluation of Increasing Scalp Sparing Between Varied Energy Photon Beams and MLC Blocking Techniques Among Whole-Brain Irradiation Patients, Addah Riebschleger

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Dosimetric Evaluation of Fixed Jaw and Jaw Tracking VMAT Treatment Plans for Prostate Cancer with Involved Pelvic Nodes, William Rios

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Rising Student Burnout: A Distributive Leadership Approach to Creating Student Well-Being, Taylor J. Ross

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Dosimetry implications of anatomic versus consensus Nature Reviews Genetics (NRG) Oncology rectum contours among prostate cancer patients, Enoch Sarkodee

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Gender Bias in the Classroom: An In-Service to Create Change, David Schmidt

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A Program Evaluation to Assess Readiness for the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Patient Centered Medical Home Model Application, Alida M. Semrinec

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Developing an Online Orientation Program for Adult Learners at Grand Valley State University, Justin Thomas Sims

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Negative Impacts of Mandatory Standardized Testing on Teachers and Students, Nicole Stefanko

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Building Resilience for Parents and Children Through Community Early Childhood Playgroups, Amanda Stevenson

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Enteral Nutrition Protocol for Pediatric Burn Patients: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Margaret Tepe

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A Trauma-Informed, Resilience-Based, Collaborative Community Approach for the Adverse Childhood Experience Student, Jessica L. Tiefenbach

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A Dosimetric Comparison Study of Whole Brain Volumetric Arc Therapy Hippocampal Sparing Techniques in Radiation Oncology, Taylor Renee Tucker

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Evaluation of a Chewing Gum Protocol for Postoperative Spinal Patients, Lauren E. Vachon

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Peer Mentoring Programs for Students with Disabilities Attending Center-Based Schools, Andrea L. Vargo

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The Importance of Preschool to Help Close Literacy Achievement Gaps in Kindergarten, Alicia Wagner

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The Importance of Within-class Ability Grouping, Matthew Wagner

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The Effects of Bullying and Solutions to Bullying of LGBTQ+ Students in Schools, Mandy K. Wallstead

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Improving Reading Comprehension in Arabic English Language Learners, Amanda Watson

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Standardized Testing and the call for Alternative Assessment Methods, Rebekah Weiss

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“Warm Handoff” to Increase Enrollment in a Maternal Infant Health Program, Samantha Worthem

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A quantitative investigation of the impact roll has on the percent change in position of breast phantoms of various volumes, Clayton N. Young

Theses/Dissertations from 2020

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Using multi-tiered systems of support to improve student outcomes, Kevin Daniel Annis

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Improving Blood Pressure Control Among Patients Diagnosed with Hypertension in a Primary Care Setting, Eriko Apriliando

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Analysis of PTV Margins for VMAT Treatment of Rectal Cancers Utilizing Prone Bellyboard Device., Ben Armbuster

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Dosimetric Effect When Treating Multiple Lesion SRS Using VMAT With and Without Jaw Tracking, Mindy Bui

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Developing a Sustainable Group Tobacco Control Program in a Community Mental Health Clinic, Jennifer Burns

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The Air Gap Effect Between a Bolus and the Skin Surface for Chest Wall Irradiation, Marisa Clark

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Creating a Quality Improvement Toolkit to Identify & Address Gaps in the Care of Older Adults with Hip Fracture, Amanda J. Covell

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Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment: A Project Evaluation, Ann L. Cudney

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A Comparison Between Rectal Dose in Prostate Radiotherapy Patients Treated with Spaceoar Hydrogel Present Versus Patients Treated Without Spaceoar Hydrogel., David DeSano

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Elementary College and Career Readiness Curriculum: A School Counselor Intervention, Alexandra Evans

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Irradiating Internal Mammary Nodes in Right Sided Breast Cancer Patients: A Dosimetric Comparison Considering if Deep Inspiration Breath Hold Provides Significant Organ Sparing, Emily Foster

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A Quality Improvement Project to Improve Financial Sustainability of Home-Based Palliative Care Program, Andrea L. Giffel

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Trauma-Informed Schools: A Strategy for Problem Behaviors in the Classroom, Timothy Hall

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A Policy Analysis of Adult Lead Exposure Screening in Michigan, Omoyemi A. Idowu

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Utilization of Patient Toolkit and Discharge Algorithm for Providers to Reduce Readmission due to Repeat Ground Level Fall, Sara Karl

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Using Space OAR to Spare Multiple At-Risk Organs in Prostate RT, Caroline Kendra

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Honoring Patient Do Not Resuscitate Wishes and Reducing Harm During Transitions of Care: A Quality Improvement Project, Emily L. Kraus

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Implementation Strategies to Reduce Hospital Readmission Rates in Adults with Sepsis: A Quality Improvement Project, Erin Kucharek

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Self-Monitoring of Blood Pressure in Community – Dwelling Senior Adults, Laura N. Love

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Implementation of Early Mobility in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Kelly Lubbers

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Benefits of Inclusion: Supports and Strategies for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, Molly M. McCain

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Video Education for Improved Education of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis Patients, Theresa McCrumb

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Developing Lactation Support in a Primary Care Pediatric Office, Charlotte Minnema

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Increasing Annual Retinal Exams among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes, Afokoghene H. Odhu

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An Examination of Distance Learning and the Achievement Gap, Stephanie Owens

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Differentiating Literacy Instruction Through Guided Reading, Emily Clare Ringquist

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The Impact of a Pediatric Nurse Residency Program on Newly Licensed Registered Nurses at Six Months, Amy Rohn

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Dosimetric Comparison of Hypofractionated Prostate Radiation with Simultaneous Integrated Boost and Conventional Fractionation with Sequential Boost, Kristina Sammon

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Process Improvement to Reduce Route of Medication Administration Errors in Patients with Enteral Feeding Tubes, Elizabeth Scott

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Evidence-Based Policy and Procedure Review System, Meredith A. Stokes

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The Effect of the Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Model on Adult Depression in an Outpatient Setting, Genevieve E. Sweeney

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A Collaborative Approach to Incentivizing Healthy Food Choices among Uncontrolled Diabetic Patients at a Local Federally Qualified Health Center to Improve Health Outcomes, Briauna J. Taylor

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An Evaluation of IMRT for External Beam Partial Beast Irradiation Utilizing Robust Optimization, Gregory Thomas

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Evaluation of the Integration of Behavioral Health Services into Primary Care, David B. Vander Ark

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Process Improvement to Improve Quality Measures in a Rural Primary Care Clinic, Lucille Yurko VanderWoude

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Using an Integrative Framework to Address Teacher Workforce Engagement in LGBTQ-Supportive Policies and Interventions, Callie Youngman

Doctoral Projects from 2019

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Evidence-based Toolkit for Reduction of Overdose Risk in Primary Care Patients on Opioid Therapy, Katelin A. Aris

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An Evaluation of a Nerve Block Protocol in Patients with Hip Fractures, Jenna Buchman

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Using the Rapid Assessment for Adolescent Preventive Services (RAAPS) to Screen for Risk Taking Behaviors of 13 to 18 Year-Olds in a Regional Family Practice Office, Megan E. Carpenter

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Screening for Social Determinants of Health in Diabetic Patients Served in Primary Healthcare Centers, Hewan K. Chekol

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Identifying Gaps in Care in the Geriatric Trauma Patient with Rib Fractures, Kathy A. Crystal

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Final Defense: Sepsis Screening Tool Assessment at a Freestanding Children’s Hospital in the Midwest, Cassandra Cummings

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Improving Patient Handover from the Pediatric Emergency Department to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Kathryn DeVinney

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Implementation of an Evidenced-Based Intervention for Pain Management in Lumbar Spine Surgery, Mary R. Draper

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Pathways to a Sustainable Community Health Worker Program in a Rural Native American Community, Hannah R. Duby

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Evidence-Based Toolkit to Evaluate Telemedicine Delivery of Palliative Care, Aubrey E. Dwyer

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Developing an Evidence-Based Supportive Services Program for Cancer Survivors in a Private Oncology Practice, Joseph Ellul

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Improving Depression Screening and Follow-up in Primary Care through Implementation of an Evidence-Based Protocol, Cheryl Fowler

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Increasing Prevention and Recognition of Delirium in a Non-ICU Acute Care Population, Anne Gembrowski

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Improving Communication of Asthma Related Care Between Pediatric Primary Care Providers and Schools, Jessica N. Heichel

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Development of a Process for Adoption and Attainment of PCMH Recognition Requirements for an Urban Primary Care Clinic, Jamie L. Hendricks

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Prior Authorizations and Continued Treatment in Addiction Medicine, Wendy Hunting

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Management of Distress in Adult Oncology Patients, Lauren Jongsma

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Nurse Care Manager Impact on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at a Rural Primary Care Practice, Patrick Joswick

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Optimizing Clinical Processes Using the Electronic Health Record to Improve Patient Outcomes in Primary Care, Alex Jubril

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Implementation of Evidence-Based Chronic Non-malignant Pain Management Protocol for Primary Care, Jenny E. Kipp

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An Implementation Toolkit for Increasing Breastfeeding Sustainability, Regina Kirwin

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Implementing use of the MOSS (Michigan Opioid Safety Score) Tool and Interventions to reduce Opioid-Related Overdose Events in High Risk Patients, Michelle J. Kloss

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An Evidence-Based Toolkit for Early Identification of Frail Inmates, Morgan A. Kochajda

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Introduction of Auricular Acupuncture, Monica Lyons

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Improving Rural Pediatric Patient Management through Streamlined High-Volume Patient Clinical Pathways Enhanced by Standardized Nursing Education for Care Confidence, Marie-Cassandre O. MacDonnell

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Improving a Midwestern Community Mental Health Organization's Smoking Treatment Services for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness, Leah J. Magnuson

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Increasing Utilization of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Morbid Obesity in a Primary Care Setting, Erin J. McCue

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Nutrition and Neurosurgery: Designing a Perioperative Pathway for Elective Spine Fusion Patients, Abigail J. McKay

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Adult Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Quality Improvement Project, Danielle Miller

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Preoperative Anemia Management in Adult Outpatient Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgical Patients to Improve Treatment of Preoperative Anemia, Katherine Mills

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Implementation Strategies to Increase Uptake of Hester Davis Tool Tailoring of Fall Prevention Interventions, Beena Philip

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Increasing Screening and Education for Human Trafficking in the Obstetric Department, Chibwe Caroline Powell

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Improving Advance Care Planning Documentation in a Home Based Primary Care Program, Emily Radtke