Evaluating The Implementation And Progress Of A Bereavement Care Program In An Acute Care Adult Hospital, Nancy Abraham

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Manuscripts

Bereavement care is a significant component of patient and family centered care; however, it remains inconsistently addressed in acute adult hospital settings. Families of patients who die in hospitals frequently experience grief, anxiety, and emotional distress, which may be exacerbated by fragmented or inadequate bereavement support (Kustanti et al., 2021). Evidence supports the use of structured, interdisciplinary approaches to bereavement care to ensure timely, consistent, and compassionate support for families. To address this gap, a Bereavement Committee was established at a Level I trauma center in eastern Pennsylvania to implement a standardized Bereavement Care Program aimed at improving bereavement practices …

From Novice To Competent: Enhancing Orientation And Readiness For Post-Anesthesia Care Nurses, Gerri Y. Young

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Manuscripts

Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurses are responsible for managing complex postoperative patients requiring advanced clinical judgment, airway management, hemodynamic monitoring, and rapid recognition of complications. Many nurses transition into the PACU without formal perianesthesia education, resulting in variability in orientation practices, competency validation, and preparedness for independent practice. At a military treatment facility (MTF) in Mississippi, 78% of newly assigned PACU nurses had only one to two years of medical-surgical experience, and a standardized orientation program was not available.

This quality improvement project aimed to implement and evaluate a standardized, evidence-based PACU orientation program designed to improve nurse knowledge, confidence, …

Quality Improvement Project From Novice-To-Expert: Training Nurse Faculty On Virtual Simulation, Dae'visha Kinniebrew

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Virtual simulation is an evidence-based teaching strategy that enhances student learning; however, inconsistent faculty preparation limits its implementation in nursing education. A needs assessment identified a practice gap, with 70% of nursing faculty reporting no virtual simulation training within the previous 12 months. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement (QI) project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured non-immersive virtual simulation training program on nursing faculty confidence, perceived competence, and technology readiness in an Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program. The aim was to improve faculty preparedness to implement non-immersive virtual simulation. A quantitative, quasi-experimental, …

The Impact Of A Structured Education Program On Artificial Intelligence Use For Nursing Faculty On Teaching Practices, Katy White

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into nursing education; however, nursing faculty report inconsistent preparedness, including gaps in AI knowledge and self-efficacy for responsible AI integration. This quality improvement project addressed inconsistent faculty preparedness through an asynchronous AI educational program. The purpose was to address gaps in AI knowledge and self-efficacy, and the aim was to evaluate changes in AI self-efficacy and AI knowledge while supporting AI integration into nursing education. Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations Theory served as the change theory, the Technology Acceptance Model served as the theoretical framework, and the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework guided implementation. A quantitative one-group pretest-posttest …

The Measles Serology Initiative: A Quality Improvement Intervention To Increase Provider Compliance With Rubeola Serology Screening, Erika S. Martinez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to increase provider adherence to Rubeola IgG serology screening during prenatal visits at an outpatient women’s health clinic by 10% from a baseline adherence rate of 63.3%.

Background

Rubeola remains a highly contagious viral infection that poses health risks for nonimmune pregnant patients and their newborns. With increasing Rubeola cases and the importance of identifying immunity status during pregnancy, consistent prenatal screening practices are essential. Baseline data demonstrated inconsistent adherence to Rubeola IgG screening recommendations, highlighting the need for workflow interventions to improve provider compliance.

Methodology

A pre-post QI design …

Reducing Potentially Preventable Emergency Department Visits (Ppvs) Through A Telehealth Intervention In Children With Asthma Within A Managed Care Organization (Mco), Renee A. Roker

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Abstract

Purpose:  The purpose of this quality improvement project was to reduce unnecessary ED utilizations among children with asthma enrolled in a Medicaid managed care health plan. The project aimed to improve access to care and enhance asthma self-management.

Background:  Asthma is one of the leading causes of Emergency Department (ED) utilization, among vulnerable populations. Members experience barriers to timely primary and specialist care, contributing to Potentially Preventable ED Visits (PPV) rates. This places managed care organizations (MCOs) at risk for financial penalties if not meeting the Texas PPV benchmark.

Methodology:  Guided by the Chronic Care Model, Lean Six Sigma …

Quality Improvement Project: Experienced Nurse To Novice Adjunct Educator: Bridging The Gap, Karen Liddy

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

A formal mentoring program is an effective approach for enhancing mentee satisfaction and self-efficacy and decreasing turnover rates. Although evidence supports the benefits of mentoring, many universities lack formal mentoring programs for adjunct faculty. Utilizing the PDSA framework, this quality improvement Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project executed and evaluated a structured adjunct faculty mentoring program to improve faculty self-efficacy and mentee satisfaction. The project was led by Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory and the Theory of Change and used a pre- and post-test design involving adjunct nursing faculty members with fewer than three years of academic teaching experience. Mentors and …

Improving Implementation Of The Cmqcc Obstetric Hemorrhage Risk Assessment Tool To Improve Maternal Hemorrhage Response And Outcomes, Emily Hobbs, Karla Beiswenger

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

Abstract Background: Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains a leading cause of preventable maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States, despite advances in obstetric care and the availability of evidence-based management strategies (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists [ACOG], 2017; Federspiel et al., 2023). Standardized tools, such as the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC) Obstetric Hemorrhage Risk Assessment Tool, have been shown to improve early identification of at-risk patients and enhance team preparedness when consistently implemented (Main et al., 2017; CMQCC, 2022). However, variability in clinical utilization limits their effectiveness. Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to …

Improving Recognition And Communication Of Early Patient Condition Changes Through An Evidence-Based Staff Education Program, Raymond Mwanje

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project is a staff education project aimed at enhancing recognition and communication of early changes in patients' conditions in a long-term care rehabilitation environment. Delayed recognition of patient deterioration is a major challenge in nursing practice, as subtle changes in a patient's condition may go unnoticed, leading to delayed intervention, avoidable complications, and unnecessary hospital transfers. Poor communication among staff can also hinder the escalation of care, impacting patient safety and quality of care. There is evidence that structured communication strategies and education interventions can help enhance communication between clinicians and aid earlier detection of patient deterioration. Resolving …

Clinical Practice Guideline For A Capstone‑To‑Residency Transition Program, Rebecca Ginika Chinonso

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The transition from student nurse to professional practice remains a vulnerable period marked by role ambiguity, stress, and early turnover. At a large medical center, the lack of a structured bridge between the final capstone experience and the residency program contributed to inconsistent onboarding, reduced confidence, and diminished resilience among new graduates. Addressing this gap is essential for strengthening retention, supporting workforce stability, and improving patient outcomes within nursing practice. An evidence‑based clinical practice guideline (CPG) outlining best‑practice recommendations for a new graduate transition program from capstone to residency was developed for the facility. The practice‑focused question asked whether the …

Standardized Proactive Glp-1 Prior Authorization Workflow, Ebote Etape

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary This quality improvement project evaluated an organizational process change from a reactive, pharmacy-initiated prior authorization (PA) process to a standardized, proactive PA workflow for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists in an outpatient primary care clinic. The evidence-based practice PICOT question was: In adult primary care patients prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonists (P), does a standardized, proactive prior authorization workflow (I), compared with a reactive pharmacy-initiated process (C), reduce time to approval and improve approval rate (O) over a 4-week period (T)? Baseline data showed that 3 of 19 PA requests were approved, while 16 were denied, resulting in a 15.8% …

Reducing Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries In Acute Care Using Structured Prevention Strategies, Yemisi Adesuyi Akinfenwa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pressure injuries that patients develop while hospitalized continue to be a major safety concern in hospitals treating very sick patients. These wounds hurt, make infections more likely, keep people in the hospital longer, and increase expenses. On many units, the steps meant to stop these injuries, like checking each patient's risk level and turning patients regularly are not carried out the same way for everyone. Because of this inconsistency, some patients develop preventable pressure injuries. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to create a clinical practice guideline (CPG) for organized pressure injury prevention and to …

Reducing Seclusion In Inpatient Psychiatric Units Through Staff Education, Amaka Nkala

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Seclusion remains a restrictive intervention used in inpatient psychiatric settings despite evidence linking it to psychological trauma, physical harm, and adverse patient outcomes. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project evaluated the effectiveness of a trauma-informed care and de-escalation education program in improving nurses' confidence in managing patient escalation. The project used a pre- and post-intervention quality improvement design with 24 inpatient psychiatric nurses. Participants completed a 10-item, 5-point Likert-scale confidence survey before and after a 30-minute educational session delivered via PowerPoint. Descriptive statistics were used to compare pre- and post-intervention confidence scores. Mean confidence scores increased from …

Staff Education To Increase Knowledge For Reducing Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia, Tenika Monique Mcmillan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to address a critical gap in nursing knowledge regarding oral care and its role in preventing hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) through staff education. Although the relationship between oral care and pneumonia is well established, staff knowledge at the site varied, leading to inconsistencies in oral care practices. To address this problem, a targeted educational session using a pre- and post-test design was delivered to nursing staff. The practice-focused question was “Among nursing staff working in community living centers, does the implementation of targeted education on evidence-based oral hygiene guidelines, compared …

Staff Education Project To Teach Mobility And Sensory Aid Optimization Delirium Prevention Bundle For Older Patients In A Hospital Health System, Lerato Catherine Modise

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Delirium is a preventable and manageable neuropsychiatric condition characterized by acute fluctuations in attention, awareness, and cognition. The burden of this acute confusion syndrome among older adults aged > 65 years is disproportionate higher, due to age-related neurocognitive vulnerabilities. Nurse-led delirium prevention interventions can reduce incidence from 70% to 20% following structured education, gaps persist in nursing knowledge around evidence-based prevention strategies. The purpose of this project was to evaluate whether a structured nursing education intervention on enhanced mobility and sensory aid optimization strategies, as components of the ABCDEF bundle, improved nursing knowledge compared to standard care practices. Nineteen registered nurses …

Staff Education On Improving Staff Knowledge Of Medication Adherence In An Outpatient Psychiatric Facility, Okechukwu Chidiadi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project was a staff education initiative designed to improve staff knowledge of medication adherence at an adult psychiatric outpatient clinic. Addressing this matter is critical because it directly impacts the quality of patient care. The practice focus question was: Among psychiatric mental health staff in a behavioral health facility, what is the impact of a staff educational program on teaching medication adherence to patients on the staff’s knowledge? The purpose of this staff education project was to improve staff knowledge of medication adherence by equipping them with the tools and strategies needed to help patients manage their treatment plans …

Reducing No-Show Rates In An Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic Through A Multimodal Patient Engagement Intervention, Gwendoline Osong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Reducing No-Show Rates in an Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic Through a Multimodal Patient Engagement Intervention

Development And Implementation Of A Clinical Practice Guideline To Standardize Social Determinants Of Health Screening And Social Services Referrals In Primary Care, Patricia Pottinger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social determinants of health (SDOH) significantly influence health outcomes, yet many primary care organizations lack a standardized, evidence-based process for identifying patients' social needs and facilitating referrals to appropriate community resources. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice executive leadership project was to develop and implement a clinical practice guideline (CPG) to standardize SDOH screening and social services referrals in a primary care setting. The practice-focused question asked whether a CPG designed to standardize social services referrals would be approved by a panel of subject matter experts using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument. …

Staff Education To Improve Staff Knowledge, Confidence, And Competency In The Use Of The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Theresa Buabeng

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Staff Education to Improve Staff Knowledge, Confidence, and Competency in the Use of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale

Improving Medication Adherence Through Structured Telephone Follow-Up To Reduce 30-Day Readmissions Among Adult Patients With Heart Failure, Angela Dean Hamilton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) evidence-based quality improvement (QI) project addressed high 30-day hospital readmission rates among adults with heart failure (HF), a problem associated with poor medication adherence and inadequate transitional care that nurses are uniquely positioned to address through discharge education, medication reconciliation, and postdischarge follow up to improve patient safety and quality of care. The practice-focused question asked: In adult patients discharged with HF, how does a structured, nurse-led, telephone follow-up intervention focused on medication adherence, compared with usual discharge care, affect 30-day hospital readmission rates over a 90-day implementation period? The purpose of this DNP …

Staff Education To Improve Skills In Detecting And Addressing Medication Nonadherence Among The Psychiatric Nursing Staff, Uchenna Owunna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was a staff education project focused on addressing the knowledge gap of medication nonadherence patterns by the psychiatric nurses in outpatient settings. Nonadherence to psychiatric medications is a major health issue that leads to disruptions of care and symptom relapse, hospitalization, and suboptimal treatment outcomes as well as high healthcare costs. Thus, improving the capacity of the psychiatric nurses to enhance medication adherence through staff education is essential. The purpose of this DNP project was to determine if a comprehensive medication adherence education program would increase psychiatric nurses’ knowledge and skills in assessing …

Implementation Of A Standardized Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale Screening Process In An Outpatient Psychiatric Practice, Dela Mensah Frimpong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project was an organizational change initiative designed to implement a standardized suicide risk screening process in an outpatient psychiatric practice. The identified practice problem was inconsistent staff use and documentation of suicide risk screening, which could result in missed warning signs, delayed provider notification, incomplete documentation, and inconsistent follow-up care. Suicide risk identification is an essential nursing responsibility and a key component of patient safety (The Joint Commission, 2024; Zero Suicide, n.d.). The practice-focused question examined whether staff education and implementation of a standardized Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) workflow would improve staff compliance, documentation completion, and knowledge …

Staff Education On Medication Nonadherence In Primary Care Clinic, Priscillia Adaugo Obasi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctor of nursing practice (DNP) project was a staff education initiative designed to address the practice problem of a lack of evidence-based approaches to patient education on medication compliance in a primary care clinic. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library search engines/databases, revealing nine studies that supported the premise that patient education can promote medication compliance. A practice-focused question underpinning this project was: Will staff education on evidence-based methods for educating patients about the importance of medication adherence result in increased staff knowledge? Baseline staff knowledge and educational needs were obtained using …

Improving Pcu Nurses’ Knowledge Of Evidence-Based Mindfulness Techniques Through Targeted Education, Dairia Moore Mohammed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The progressive care unit (PCU) is a high-acuity setting in which nurses manage patients with complex health conditions, respond to rapid changes in clinical status, and navigate ongoing physical and emotional demands. The practice problem that I addressed was, presently, stress-management support is typically informal, optional, and reactive rather than systematic, evidence-based, and preventive. The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate a structured educational intervention designed to increase nurses’ knowledge of evidence-based mindfulness breathing techniques that could be integrated into the daily PCU workflow. The practice-focused question was: In PCU nurses in an acute care setting, how …

Reducing Urinary Tract Infections In Long-Term Care Residents, Felicity Antwi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quality improvement (QI) project addressed delays in diagnosing urinary tract infections (UTIs) at a skilled nursing facility (SNF), where reliance on urine culture testing and patient monitoring resulted in an average diagnostic period of 72 hours. A high UTI incidence and UTI-involved hospitalization rate are both nurse-sensitive indicators that are important to address in the nursing practice context because they portend negatively for nursing quality and safety. This quality improvement (QI) project addressed the practice-focused question: among long term care (LTC) residents with suspected UTIs in a nursing home (NH), how does reducing the diagnostic period from 72 hours …

Implementation Of An Electronic Gad-7 Screening Tool To Improve Anxiety Screening Completion And Documentation, Obiageli L. Ukatu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Quality Improvement Initiative Implementation of an Electronic GAD-7 Screening Tool to Improve Anxiety Screening Completion and Documentation

Implementation Of A Fall-Prevention Clinical Practice Guideline In A Neurological Rehabilitation Center, Ron L. Adolph

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This executive summary presents the final plan for implementation of an evidence-based fall-prevention clinical practice guideline on an open neurological rehabilitation unit. It does not propose a new device, a new electronic platform, or a separate education-only initiative. The practice change is the implementation and evaluation of a structured interdisciplinary clinical practice guideline designed to reduce inpatient falls and improve the reliability of daily prevention practices. The unit reports a baseline fall rate of 6.3 falls per 1,000 patient days. Thirty-five staff members from nursing, therapy, and support roles completed the survey, and 57% reported that patients had experienced falls …

Staff Education To Increase Knowledge Of Universal Protocol And Surgical Readiness Documentation Among Ambulatory Surgery Staff, Miranda Gould

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project evaluated the impact of a structured staff educational intervention on ambulatory surgery center (ASC) staff knowledge of Universal Protocol and SOAP (Surgeon, Operating Room, Anesthesia, and Preprocedure Ready) documentation. A practice gap was identified in staff knowledge of perioperative safety processes that are essential for preventing surgical safety events. The purpose of this doctoral project was to improve ASC staff knowledge of Universal Protocol and SOAP readiness documentation through an evidence-based educational intervention designed to strengthen perioperative safety practices. The practice-focused question was: According to the evidence, in multi-specialty ASC staff, what is …

Executive Summary On Prolonged Emergency Department Waiting Period, Peace Adaugo Ezirim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emergency departments (EDs) are essential access points to healthcare for patients with urgent and emergent conditions. Yet, many EDs face persistent challenges, including overcrowding, prolonged wait times, and delays in care. These challenges can significantly affect patient safety, quality of care, and overall healthcare outcomes. Patients presenting with symptoms, such as cardiac, pulmonary, or abdominal discomfort, may initially appear clinically stable, but their conditions can deteriorate rapidly while awaiting evaluation by a provider. Without structured reassessment processes and efficient communication systems, early warning signs of clinical decline may be missed. ED crowding has become a widespread operational and patient safety …

Staff Education On Evidence-Based Weight Management Strategies For Adults With Mental Health Disorders And Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus, Abimbola Oluwafunmilayo Somoye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary The type of project is a staff education project, specifically on evidence-based weight loss strategies that the facility can use to manage adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and co-morbid mental health disorder(s). The evidence-based practice (EBP) question is: Does educating staff on weight loss strategies for T2DM with mental health disorder(s) improve staff knowledge and confidence within one month of staff education program implementation? The facility’s staff managed these patients using standardized diabetes management practices and have no formal staff education program that focuses on evidence-based weight loss strategies for this population. The staff has a vast …