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Quality Improvement Project: Effectiveness Of Staff Education On Fall Prevention, Theresa Oahre Okoyomo

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Falls increase injury and mortality rates and decrease patients' quality of life. Hospital falls also incur enormous financial burdens on hospitals. In 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) stopped reimbursing hospitals for fall-related injuries. The problem addressed in this quality improvement project was staff confidence in fall prevention and hospital fall rates. The purpose is to improve staff confidence and reduce fall rates by 95 % within six weeks. The 2025 CDC/STEADI Algorithm for Fall Risk Screening, Assessment, and Intervention was the program of choice because it aligns with the hospital's fall-prevention policy. This project design is …

Quality Improvement Project: Reducing Medication Errors To Improve Patient Safety, Paulina Irish

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Medication administration errors remain a persistent threat to patient safety in emergency department settings, where high acuity, rapid throughput, and workflow interruptions increase vulnerability to preventable adverse events. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project was to increase medication-safety knowledge scores by at least 10% and reduce medication administration error rates by 20% within eight weeks among registered nurses in a freestanding emergency department in South Texas. The project was grounded in Lewin’s Change Theory as the theoretical framework and implemented using the Plan–Do–Study–Act quality improvement model. A quasi-experimental, single-group pretest–posttest design was used with a …

Staff Education On Evidence-Based Interventions To Improve Patient Engagement In An Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Gloria Egeh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this project, I implemented a staff education initiative at an outpatient psychiatric facility in Michigan to address gaps in clinicians’ and office managers’ knowledge of evidence-based patient engagement strategies. Limited understanding had hindered patient participation in treatment planning, symptom self-management, and shared decision-making, key components of recovery-oriented care. The education initiative was aimed at enhancing staff competencies to strengthen therapeutic alliances, improve treatment adherence, and support positive mental health outcomes. Guided by a practice-focused question, in the project I examined whether an evidence-based staff education program would improve patient engagement among adults receiving outpatient mental health services. A pre-/postintervention …

Quality Improvement Project: Reducing Test Anxiety: Faculty Training For Supporting Students, Chichi Markham

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Test anxiety significantly affects nursing students’ academic performance and well-being. Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) offer a non-pharmacological method for alleviating anxiety; however, research on faculty-centered approaches in nursing education is limited. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to evaluate the impact of EFT training on nursing faculty’s knowledge, attitudes, and confidence regarding test anxiety, as well as on student exam performance. Guided by Lewin’s Change Theory, Stetler’s Model, and the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, the initiative aimed to enhance faculty capacity to identify and address test anxiety within a prelicensure nursing program. A pre-post quality improvement design involved faculty …

Staff Education To Improve Knowledge Of Nurse-Led Telemonitoring For Suicide Prevention, Finny Ngozi Rogers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project was a staff education initiative addressing a critical practice gap: clinical staff at a mental health facility lacked the practical knowledge to implement evidence-based telemonitoring protocols for suicide prevention, despite strong supporting research. High rates of suicide attempts and readmissions underscored the urgency for this intervention. The practice-focused question was: “Will a staff education program designed to educate healthcare providers on nurse-led telemonitoring protocols increase staff knowledge?” The purpose of this project was to develop, implement, and evaluate an educational program for providers to increase their knowledge on how a telemonitoring protocol can reduce …

Staff Education To Prevent Falls Among Older Adults In Primary Care, Chioma Nwosu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Falls are a significant health concern for the elderly population and a major cause of injury and functional decline among older adults, yet fall prevention practices are inconsistently applied in primary care. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the impact of staff education on fall risk screening and prevention for adults aged 65 years and older using the CDC’s Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries (STEADI) framework. This project employs a pre–post quality improvement design in a primary care clinic. Clinical staff received education on STEADI-based fall risk assessment, documentation, and evidence-based interventions. Data were collected through chart …

A Nurse-Led Staff Education Program To Prevent And Detect Elder Abuse By Caregivers In The Home, Nicola Violet Brown-Walters

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was a nurse-led, evidence-based staff education initiative designed to improve the prevention and detection of elder abuse in the home by caregivers within an outpatient primary care setting. Elder abuse places older adults at risk for physical harm, neglect, medication mismanagement, and violations of autonomy and patient rights. Elder abuse remains a pervasive and underrecognized problem in nursing practice, often resulting from limited staff education, inconsistent screening practices, and uncertainty regarding mandatory reporting requirements. The practice-focused question examined whether implementing a nurse-led targeted education program guided by the ADDIE instructional design model and …

Staff Education Project Staff Education On Medication Adherence, Blessing Nwoke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medication adherence is a critical component of effective psychiatric treatment, yet staff understanding and consistent reinforcement of adherence strategies are often limited in outpatient behavioral health settings. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project implemented a staff education initiative to improve knowledge and awareness of medication adherence using the ESPACOMP Medication Adherence Reporting Guideline (EMERGE) as the foundational framework. The program was conducted in an outpatient psychiatric facility and aimed to align staff knowledge with evidence-based standards for monitoring and supporting adherence. Educational sessions were delivered to clinical staff, incorporating key components of EMERGE to clarify terminology, enhance consistency in …

Quality Improvement Project: Enhancing Nurse Communication, Courtesy, And Respect At The Bedside, Rachel Kemp

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Effective communication is key to the nurse-to-patient relationship, patient outcomes, and patient satisfaction. The literature widely shows that barriers such as increased workplace violence and fear and biases within patient interactions hinder communication. This quality improvement project aimed to enhance nurse-to-patient communication, using an evidence-based tool, and leveraged Foli’s Theory of Nurses’ Psychological Trauma to explain and predict barriers. Success is measured by improvement of patient experience in the three nursing domains; courtesy and respect, listen to you, and explain in a way you understand. Lewin’s Change Theory and the plan, do, study, act (PDSA) framework was used to promote …

Quality Improvement Project: Building Competence And Confidence: Updating Nursing Faculty Knowledge Of The Flipped Classroom Model, Jamie Newman

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The increasing complexity of healthcare requires undergraduate nursing education to move beyond traditional lecture-based instruction toward teaching strategies that promote clinical judgment. Although the flipped classroom model is shown to support these outcomes, faculty at the project site reported uncertainty and inconsistency in flipped classroom implementation. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of a structured, evidence-based faculty development intervention on undergraduate nursing faculty confidence, readiness, and competence to implement the flipped classroom model. Guided by Lewin’s Change Theory and the Stetler Model of Evidence-Based Practice, this quality improvement project used a quantitative, pre-experimental one-group …

Quality Improvement Project: The Impact Of Hypertension Management Education In Primary Care, Toyin K. Aliu

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Hypertension (HTN) is one of the leading causes of clinic visits and prescription medication use in primary care settings. Despite the availability of evidence-based guidelines to improve HTN management, adherence in clinical practice is often lacking. At the project site, 30% of patients have uncontrolled HTN. This is attributed to providers’ inadequate knowledge of the JNC-8 HTN management guidelines and inconsistent adherence to them. This project aimed to improve hypertension management in a primary care setting by educating providers on the JNC-8 guidelines to enhance adherence to evidence-based practices over six weeks. The purpose was to align medical providers with …

Quality Improvement Project: The Influence Of Education On Provider Self-Efficacy And Utilization Of The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-Ssrs), Doreen Nwaogwugwu

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, underscoring the critical need for consistent, evidence-based suicide risk screening in mental health facilities. Despite being a validated, evidence-based tool, the use of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is often hindered by inadequate provider training. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of provider education on self-efficacy and utilization of the C-SSRS in an outpatient mental health clinic. This quality improvement project used a quasi-experimental, one-group pretest-posttest design guided by the Health Belief Model, Lewin’s Change Theory, and the …

Quality Improvement Project: Impact Of Evidence-Based Self-Care Practice On Burnout In Nursing Faculty, Lori Boyd

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nursing faculty burnout is a national concern supported by literature, which compromises faculty well-being, creativity, retention, and sustainability of nursing programs. Burnout is characterized by the subscales of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and feelings of reduced personal accomplishment. At the project site, leaders reported that faculty often left their roles due to increased workload and being overwhelmed by the rigorous expectations of the role, underscoring the need for a process to support nursing faculty burnout. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to evaluate the impact of evidence-based self-care practices on nursing faculty burnout using Maslach's Burnout Inventory Toolkit, a valid and …

Clinical Practice Guideline For Universal Anxiety Screening For Advanced Practice Providers, Kelechi Blanton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project was a clinical practice guideline (CPG) focused on anxiety screening in a primary care setting using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) screening tool. The practice problem addressed general anxiety disorder and the need for standardized assessments for risk, as recently been recommended by the U.S. Prevention Service Task Force (USPSTF). Anxiety disorder is common but frequently untreated, due in part to low rates of screening. Lack of an evidence-based guideline for anxiety screening may contribute to delayed diagnosis and inconsistencies. The practice-focused question was, Does the evidence support development of an evidence-based CPG for universal anxiety screening in …

Staff Education Using A Workplace Violence Reduction Bundle, Julla Panneh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project addressed the ongoing issue of workplace violence (WPV) among medical-surgical nurses in an acute care setting. WPV poses significant risks to staff safety, psychological well-being, and the overall care environment. Guided by current evidence and professional guidelines, the project implemented a structured educational intervention focused on the Workplace Violence Reduction Bundle, incorporating the Broset Violence Checklist (BVC) and evidence-based de-escalation strategies. Medical-surgical nursing staff participated in tailored educational sessions; knowledge was assessed through pre- and post-intervention surveys, and program acceptability was evaluated through staff feedback. Data analysis revealed modest improvements in …

Staff Education To Nurses To Lmprove Routine Foot Examinations For Diabetic Patients, Sarah Abrefi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes-related foot complications remain a significant cause of morbidity, hospitalization, and lower-extremity amputation, despite strong evidence supporting routine preventive assessments. In many outpatient settings, variability in nursing knowledge, skill, and documentation practices contributes to inconsistent implementation of comprehensive diabetic foot examinations. The purpose of this practice-focused quality improvement project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured staff education program designed to improve nurses’ knowledge and competency in performing comprehensive diabetic foot assessments in an outpatient diabetes clinic.A pretest–posttest evaluative design was used to measure changes in knowledge following the educational intervention. Ten registered nurses participated in a structured educational …

Staff Education On Preventing Benzodiazepines Related Falls In Older Adults, Dafnee Gilles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In geriatric psychiatric setting, falls rates are higher than general wards and could reach up to 13-25 falls per 1000 hospital days. High use of benzodiazepines in older adults is a major cause of increased falls despite recommendations to avoid its prescription to the population. This DNP staff education project focused on training nurses working in an 80 bed capacity geriatric psychiatric facility on best evidence based practice of preventing falls associated with use of BZDs. The identified practice issue was knowledge deficit on evidence based best practices to prevent falls in older adults under BZDs medications. The project aims …

Staff Education To Improve Knowledge On Early Recognition Of Staff Burnout In Nurses Working In Long-Term Care, Geraldine Ndeng Akonwah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project was a practice-based staff education project aimed at educating nurses concerning early burnout recognition. The educational intervention was chosen to promote awareness and knowledge related to the concept of burnout and self-care among nurses employed in a long-term care facility. The practice problem addressed was the high prevalence of nurse burnout and the limited ability of nurses to recognize early signs of burnout. The problem is significant in nursing practice as burnout is detrimental to the clinical judgment, patient safety, job satisfaction and staff retention. The guiding question of the project was as follows: Does a staff …

Emergency Nurses’ Perspectives On Workload, Stress, And Violence In The Context Of The U.S. Nursing Shortage, Wanda Marie Haynes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The nursing shortage is a critical global issue that significantly impacts emergency nurses (ER), leading to increased workloads, psychological stress, and heightened exposure to workplace violence (WPV). This phenomenon raises concerns among healthcare administrators and nurse leaders who seek strategies to improve retention and ensure quality patient care. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the meaning of workload, stress, and WPV among ER nurses during the U.S. nursing shortage. Guided by Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the study employed a phenomenological approach to capture nurses’ lived experiences. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eight ER nurses from diverse …

Immediate Skin-To-Skin Contact At Very Preterm Birth And Effect On Infant Socio-Emotional Stress Response And Mother–Infant Cortisol Co-Regulation: Secondary Outcomes From The Randomised Clinical Immediate Parent-Infant Skin-To-Skin Study (Ipistoss), Karoline Lode-Kolz, Siri Lillieskold, Hanne Brit Hetland, Eleonora Mascheroni, Stina Klemming, Hanne Pike, Agnes Linner, Nils J. Bergman, Bjorn Westrup, Ulrika Ådén, Evalotte Morelius, Rosario Montirosso, Wibke Jonas, Siren Rettedal

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective To explore the effects of immediate parent–infant skin-to-skin contact (iSSC) at very preterm birth on maternal–infant behavioural responses and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity to age-appropriate socio-emotional stress at 4months corrected age. Design Two secondary outcomes from a multicentre randomised controlled trial with two non-blinded parallel groups. Setting Three Scandinavian neonatal intensive care units, level 2 and level 3. Participants 91 infants born at gestational age 28+0to 32+6 from April 2018 to June 2021. Singletons and twins with a second caregiver present were included, regardless of mode of birth. Higher-order births, infants with congenital infections and major malformations were excluded. …

Prevalence Of Premenstrual Syndrome, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, And Dysmenorrhea In Nursing Students: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, And Evidence-Based Recommendations, Sabyasachi Maity, Bharathi Gadad, Hansapani Rodrigo, Seham Noorani, Ayesha Usman, Chloe Lark, Mona Attarpour, Ivy Mageto, Lucas Schwartz, Nikhilesh Anand

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction: Menstrual disorders—including premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and dysmenorrhea—are highly prevalent among women of reproductive age and are associated with impaired academic performance, psychological distress, and reduced social functioning. Nursing students are particularly vulnerable due to the combined demands of intensive academic schedules and clinical training, yet prevalence estimates and institutional responses remain inconsistent.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251109363). PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL Ultimate, and APA PsycINFO were searched for studies published between 2016 and 2025. Eligible studies reported prevalence or …

Staff Education On Motivational Interviewing And Culturally Responsive Education To Reduce No-Shows And Appointment Cancellations, Aisha Adigun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No-show and late appointment cancellations remain significant challenges in outpatient psychiatry clinics, negatively impacting continuity of care, clinic efficiency, and patient outcomes. Motivational interviewing (MI) and culturally responsive communication are evidence-based approaches that support patient engagement and understanding, yet they are not consistently incorporated into staff education related to appointment adherence. This project evaluates whether staff education on MI and culturally responsive communication increases staff knowledge and skills in educating patients about no-show and appointment cancellation policies and whether this education contributes to improved appointment attendance. A pre–post intervention design will be used in an outpatient psychiatry clinic. Clinical and …

Staff Education To Improve Timely Intake Response And Follow-Up Communication, Evelyn Noel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of staff knowledge regarding timely intake response and follow-up communication processes resulted in inconsistent management of client follow-up at the private mental health clinic in Florida. This gap in practice guided the practice-focused question: Does educating mental health clinical staff on timely intake response and follow-up communication improve staff knowledge in managing client follow-up processes in a private mental health clinic, as evidenced by pre- and post-surveys? This educational initiative employed the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) model, the Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice (JHEBP) model, the Walden University DNP Project Checklist, and the DNP Project Process …

Staff Education Project Staff Education To Increase Knowledge Of The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Screening Tool, Linda Ejem

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education doctoral project focused on educating nursing staff about the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression screening in inpatient psychiatric care. Addressing this issue is crucial, as poor adherence leads to missed diagnoses and treatment, increased hospital visits, and poor patient outcomes. Low adherence to the PHQ-9 depression screening protocol has emerged as a significant practice gap. The purpose of this doctoral project was to increase nursing staff knowledge of the PHQ-9 depression screening tool in psychiatric care through staff education. The practice-focused question was: Does education on PHQ-9 depression symptoms improve nursing staff knowledge as compared pre- …

A Quality Improvement Staff Education To Reduce Mental Health Stigma Among Healthcare Professionals, Chinwe Anthonia Chukwumerije

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health stigma among healthcare professionals remains a barrier to help-seeking behaviors, workforce well-being, and psychological safety. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project addressed a practice gap by providing standardized, evidence-based staff education to reduce mental health stigma. The practice-focused question examined whether implementing an evidence-based staff education guideline improved healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and confidence regarding mental health stigma. An evidence-based educational intervention was developed using the ADDIE instructional design model and informed by an integrative literature review. The intervention was delivered through structured staff education sessions and evaluated using pre- and post-intervention design. Results demonstrated improved knowledge of …

Staff Education To Improve Consistent Utilization Of The Phq-9 Depression Screening Tool, Ekaette Akpabio

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project addressed the inconsistent use of standardized depression screening tools in an outpatient behavioral health setting. The purpose of the project was to implement a structured staff education intervention to improve clinician knowledge, confidence, and consistency in PHQ-9 documentation. Guided by the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model, the project involved delivering targeted education to behavioral health clinicians and evaluating practice implications. Findings support that staff education promotes improved documentation practices, supports accurate symptom assessment, and enhances patient safety. Incorporating standardized screening education into onboarding and ongoing professional development may contribute to sustainable, evidence-based mental …

Resilience Education To Increase Staff Knowledge Regarding Stress Management, Patricia Ngozi Egwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project implemented a staff education program to promote nursing knowledge of resilience training and stress management at an outpatient mental health clinic. Workplace stress contributes to medication errors and to poor Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Nurse Communication scores, both of which undermine patient safety. The practice-based question was: Does resilience education enhance stress management strategy knowledge from pre- to post-education? The purpose was to evaluate whether structured resilience education improved nursing knowledge of stress management, guided by the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) model. Using the Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice (JHEBP) …

Staff Education To Reduce The Incidence Of Bias In Managing Patients With Opioid Use Disorder In A Rehabilitation Center, Almarie Alison Mclaren

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project addressed stigma and implicit bias toward individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) within a rehabilitation subacute care setting. OUD remains a significant public health concern and at the project site, inconsistent staff education was identified as a practice gap requiring intervention. The purpose of this practice-focused DNP project was to evaluate the impact of a structured staff education intervention on healthcare staff knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in caring for patients with OUD. The project was guided by a thorough evidence search. The project was implemented using brief, unit-based educational sessions delivered to interdisciplinary …

Staff Education Program To Improve Pediatric Medication Adherence Knowledge In Primary Care, Coby Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project was focused on a staff education program aimed at addressing the knowledge gaps of primary healthcare providers regarding pediatric medication adherence. Nonadherence among pediatric patients is a significant issue leading to adverse health outcomes and increased healthcare costs. The project underscores the necessity of enhancing provider knowledge and communication skills, alongside implementing systematic strategies to promote adherence. My objective with the project was to elevate primary healthcare providers’ understanding and practical application of pediatric adherence techniques through targeted, evidence-based education. I developed the practice-focused question to examine whether this tailored staff education could bolster …

Staff Education On Implementation Of De-Escalation Techniques In An Adult Psychiatry Facility: A Quality Improvement Program To Enhance Knowledge And Reduce Aggressive Behavior, Lilian Agbonzebeta Azenabor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Managing aggression and violence is a persistent issue in adult psychiatric facilities. Frequent aggression and violence can cause serious harm to staff, increase absenteeism and burnout, and lower job satisfaction. Stakeholders’ reports from the project site indicated inconsistent staff use of de-escalation techniques, highlighting gaps and the need to improve staff knowledge. The practice-focused question was: Will a staff education program specifically designed to implement a comprehensive staff training on de-escalation strategies increase staff’s knowledge? The purpose of this staff education project was to evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based training program designed to enhance staff knowledge on de-escalation techniques. …