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- To submit your Culminating Experience Project, follow the Submit Research link in the sidebar.
- For details about the process, visit the Submission Guidelines page.
- If you have questions about ScholarWorks@GVSU, contact the University Libraries' Scholarly Communications team.
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.
Doctoral Projects from 2020
Implementation of Early Mobility in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Kelly Lubbers
Benefits of Inclusion: Supports and Strategies for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, Molly M. McCain
Video Education for Improved Education of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis Patients, Theresa McCrumb
Developing Lactation Support in a Primary Care Pediatric Office, Charlotte Minnema
Increasing Annual Retinal Exams among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes, Afokoghene H. Odhu
An Examination of Distance Learning and the Achievement Gap, Stephanie Owens
Differentiating Literacy Instruction Through Guided Reading, Emily Clare Ringquist
The Impact of a Pediatric Nurse Residency Program on Newly Licensed Registered Nurses at Six Months, Amy Rohn
Dosimetric Comparison of Hypofractionated Prostate Radiation with Simultaneous Integrated Boost and Conventional Fractionation with Sequential Boost, Kristina Sammon
Process Improvement to Reduce Route of Medication Administration Errors in Patients with Enteral Feeding Tubes, Elizabeth Scott
Evidence-Based Policy and Procedure Review System, Meredith A. Stokes
The Effect of the Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Model on Adult Depression in an Outpatient Setting, Genevieve E. Sweeney
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
An Evaluation of IMRT for External Beam Partial Beast Irradiation Utilizing Robust Optimization, Gregory Thomas
Evaluation of the Integration of Behavioral Health Services into Primary Care, David B. Vander Ark
Process Improvement to Improve Quality Measures in a Rural Primary Care Clinic, Lucille Yurko VanderWoude
Using an Integrative Framework to Address Teacher Workforce Engagement in LGBTQ-Supportive Policies and Interventions, Callie Youngman
Doctoral Projects from 2019
Evidence-based Toolkit for Reduction of Overdose Risk in Primary Care Patients on Opioid Therapy, Katelin A. Aris
An Evaluation of a Nerve Block Protocol in Patients with Hip Fractures, Jenna Buchman
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
Screening for Social Determinants of Health in Diabetic Patients Served in Primary Healthcare Centers, Hewan K. Chekol
Identifying Gaps in Care in the Geriatric Trauma Patient with Rib Fractures, Kathy A. Crystal
Final Defense: Sepsis Screening Tool Assessment at a Freestanding Children’s Hospital in the Midwest, Cassandra Cummings
Improving Patient Handover from the Pediatric Emergency Department to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Kathryn DeVinney
Implementation of an Evidenced-Based Intervention for Pain Management in Lumbar Spine Surgery, Mary R. Draper
Pathways to a Sustainable Community Health Worker Program in a Rural Native American Community, Hannah R. Duby
Evidence-Based Toolkit to Evaluate Telemedicine Delivery of Palliative Care, Aubrey E. Dwyer
Developing an Evidence-Based Supportive Services Program for Cancer Survivors in a Private Oncology Practice, Joseph Ellul
Improving Depression Screening and Follow-up in Primary Care through Implementation of an Evidence-Based Protocol, Cheryl Fowler
Increasing Prevention and Recognition of Delirium in a Non-ICU Acute Care Population, Anne Gembrowski
Improving Communication of Asthma Related Care Between Pediatric Primary Care Providers and Schools, Jessica N. Heichel
Development of a Process for Adoption and Attainment of PCMH Recognition Requirements for an Urban Primary Care Clinic, Jamie L. Hendricks
Prior Authorizations and Continued Treatment in Addiction Medicine, Wendy Hunting
Management of Distress in Adult Oncology Patients, Lauren Jongsma
Nurse Care Manager Impact on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at a Rural Primary Care Practice, Patrick Joswick
Optimizing Clinical Processes Using the Electronic Health Record to Improve Patient Outcomes in Primary Care, Alex Jubril
Implementation of Evidence-Based Chronic Non-malignant Pain Management Protocol for Primary Care, Jenny E. Kipp
An Implementation Toolkit for Increasing Breastfeeding Sustainability, Regina Kirwin
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
An Evidence-Based Toolkit for Early Identification of Frail Inmates, Morgan A. Kochajda
Introduction of Auricular Acupuncture, Monica Lyons
Improving Rural Pediatric Patient Management through Streamlined High-Volume Patient Clinical Pathways Enhanced by Standardized Nursing Education for Care Confidence, Marie-Cassandre O. MacDonnell
Improving a Midwestern Community Mental Health Organization's Smoking Treatment Services for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness, Leah J. Magnuson
Increasing Utilization of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Morbid Obesity in a Primary Care Setting, Erin J. McCue
Nutrition and Neurosurgery: Designing a Perioperative Pathway for Elective Spine Fusion Patients, Abigail J. McKay
Adult Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Quality Improvement Project, Danielle Miller
Preoperative Anemia Management in Adult Outpatient Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgical Patients to Improve Treatment of Preoperative Anemia, Katherine Mills
Implementation Strategies to Increase Uptake of Hester Davis Tool Tailoring of Fall Prevention Interventions, Beena Philip
Increasing Screening and Education for Human Trafficking in the Obstetric Department, Chibwe Caroline Powell
Improving Advance Care Planning Documentation in a Home Based Primary Care Program, Emily Radtke
A Need for a Culturally Congruent Obesity Intervention at a Community Safety-Net Clinic, Claudia D. Rivera-Salas
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Diabetes Class: A Project to Improve Quality Metric Measures, Miriam O. Russell
Implementation of the Vaccines for Children Program in A Midwest, Urban Clinic Dedicated to the Underserved Population, Akmal Saydazamov
Evidence-Based Intervention to Improve Assessment of Headache Pain and its Functional Capacity, Mavjuda Saydazamova
An Integrated Model of Palliative Care in the Emergency Department to Improve Referrals, Jennifer L. Schlatter
Interprofessional Collaboration During Discharge Planning for a Large Midwestern Hospital, Sarah Shepler
Interprofessional Collaboration to Improve Discharge Planning, Erica L. Spalding
Implementation of an Evidence Based Screening Protocol to Improve the Diagnosis of Dementia in a Home-Based Primary Care Setting, Lauren Liesbeth Sutton
Development of a Depression Screening Protocol for At Risk Patients Based on the Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire, Brittany J. Taylor
Growing Elementary Education with Curriculum Founded in Place, Sally A. Triant
Evidence-Based Cardiac Monitoring: A Practice Change, Joseph Paul Urbanski
Evaluation of a Simulation-Based Nurse Residency Program, Cheri A. Van Wyngarden
Improving Heart Failure Care Plan Coordination Across the Health Care Continuum, Amy Veltkamp
Comparison of a Self-Audit Tool to Accrediting Health Care Agencies’ Standards of Care in a Corrections Setting, Matthew C. Widerman
Doctoral Projects from 2018
Structure, Process, and Outcomes: The Foundation for Continuous Quality Improvement in Primary Care, Mark A. Contreras
A Quality Protocol for a Federally Qualified Health Center: A Pilot Project, John K. DeKock
Effect on Opioid Use following the Implementation of Evidence-Based Pain Management, Kathryn L. Ellens
Evidence Based Toolkit to Improve Oncology Referrals to Palliative Care, Katelyn M. Gettel
An Education Intervention to Increase Rounding and Toileting and Reduce Falls in a Hospital Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) Unit, Amelia Grayson
Evaluation of Short Term Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention in a Primary Care Setting, Kevin Hengeveld
Implementation of a Multimodal Hand Hygiene Intervention at a Rural Critical Access Hospital, Amy J. Hopp
Care of Adult Cancer Survivors, Kelsey Kloosterman
Feasibility Trial Intervention “Let’s Move Away From Screen”, Oksana K. Lidke
Evaluation of a Health System’s Community Targeted Program for Individual’s with Increased Risk for Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes, Phallon LoveLady
A Multidimensional Approach to Improve Cardiovascular Quality Measure Documentation in a Native American Population, Jessica A. Mastbergen
Increasing Post-Acute and Long Term Care Coding for Advance Care Planning in an Outpatient Setting, Emily M. McCloskey
Implementation of Standardized Heart Failure Educational and Documentation Processes within an Outpatient Heart and Vascular Clinic, Mallory Myslenski
Improving Adolescent Risk Behavior Screening: Implementation of the I-Cloud Rapid Assessment Adolescent Preventive Screening (RAAPS) Tool, Donna L. Rinker
Improving Office Workflow to Increase Developmental Screening Using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) in a Primary Care Setting, Shelby L. Sikkila
Evaluation of Processes and Procedures for Care of the Opioid Recipient Patient in the Primary Care Setting, Anne Sproat
Improving the Patient Handoff from OR to PICU in Children Who Have Undergone Cardiac Surgery Using a Standardized Handoff Tool, Amanda Taylor
Improving Adolescent Risk Assessment in a Primary Care Setting, Kristin N. Vanderwell
Proposal Defense: Improving Patient Portal Adoption in Primary Care, Melissa Wagner
Prevention of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) in Adult Oncology Patients, Christina Winkelman
Doctoral Projects from 2017
Development of a Protocol for Implementing a Registered Nurse-Led Annual Wellness Visit in a Primary Care Setting, Jennifer R. Campbell
Implementing Clinical Practice Guideline Recommendations to Address Prenatal Smoking: A Practice Change in a Community Health Department, Rachel L. Danks
The Design of an Evidence-Based Protocol for Primary Care of Patients with Dementia, Kaitlin B. DeMaagd
A Technical Integration of Primary Care into a Behavioral Health Site, Lara M. Dengerink-VanTil
A Quality Improvement Initiative to Provide Comprehensive Diabetic Management in a Rural Midwestern Clinic, Jodi A. Drenth
A Quality Improvement Program in a Safety Net Clinic Serving Vulnerable Populations, Kaitlin J. Hendriksma
Acceptability of the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory and qualitative analysis of barriers to palliative care services for rural and non-rural populations, Daniel M. W. Johnson
Implementation of an Evidence-Based Process for the Management of Concussions in Adolescent Patients for a Primary Care Office, Ashley D. Karczewski
Return on Investment Comparison of Three Payment Models for Chronic Care Management Under Medicare in a Northwestern Physician Hospital Organization, Megan J. Madole
Implementation of a Patient-Centered Communication Model in the Emergency Department, Carrie Mull
Improving Care of Behavioral Health Patients in a Rural Emergency Department: A Needs Assessment, Margaret Perec
