Nursing Commons^™

Implementation Of An Education Program For A Ptsd Screening Tool To Increase Knowledge Among Providers Within The Primary Care Setting, Kimberly Inez Schat

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is frequently underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed in primary care settings, leading to delays in treatment and poorer patient outcomes. This scholarly project aims to enhance primary care providers' knowledge and application of PTSD screening tools, specifically the PC-PTSD-5, through a structured educational intervention. The project follows a quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design, assessing providers' baseline knowledge, delivering targeted education, and measuring changes in knowledge and confidence post-intervention.

Data analysis revealed a statistically significant improvement in providers' ability to identify PTSD symptoms, utilize appropriate screening tools, and refer patients for timely treatment. The project highlights the clinical significance of routine …

Decreasing Medication Errors Among Unlicensed Assistive Personnel, Tamara J. Carroll

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Unlicensed assistive personnel, although their role is controversial, are present in many different settings and have many varying roles and job responsibilities. Yet, removing this type of healthcare worker from the job pool may lead to increased labor costs, which could be stifling to some organizations and facilities. Digging deeper, data suggests errors are due to lack of a defined scope of practice, a lack of understanding of job roles and responsibilities and decreased confidence when working in the healthcare setting. The purpose of this project utilizes a setting specific educational intervention and skills check off to increase job self-efficacy …

Provision Of Transportation To Psychiatric Follow-Up Appointments, Eliane Sandrine Tueche Fankam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quality improvement initiative is focused on the lack of transportation as a significant barrier to obtaining health care services for patients with severe psychiatric disorders. Transportation issues remain an important factor that hinders the attainment of health care services by the members of this population. Transportation challenges should be addressed as much as possible for improving healthcare accessibility and providing timely care. Prior to the implementation of the transportation service, only 30% of patients with severe mental illness (SMI) attended their scheduled appointments, demonstrating the need for intervention. This project focused on whether providing transportation services would improve compliance …

Staff Education To Educate Healthcare Providers On Effective Communication And Support Strategies For Child Sexual Abuse Victims, Njideka Ajemba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With this project, I sought to enhance the quality of care provided to child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors by improving healthcare providers’ skills in trauma-informed communication and support strategies. The project was undertaken at a large, private behavioral health facility located in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, where an assessment of the practice environment revealed a critical gap in provider training. This gap often resulted in missed indicators of abuse, limited emotional support, and poor therapeutic outcomes for children affected by sexual abuse-related trauma. To address this, the project implemented a targeted educational intervention grounded in current evidence …

Hypotension-Specific Rapid Response Team Nurse-Geared Protocol, Quennie Xserenity

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctor of nursing practice (DNP) project was conducted to develop a clinical practice guideline (CPG) to address a gap at a southeastern hospital where frontline nurses often call rapid response teams for severe hypotension without a standard guideline for necessary interventions. Therefore, the practice gap identified at the project site was the lack of a CPG geared for rapid response nurses (RRNs) to use when responding to a call to intervene on a patient with hypotension. RRNs are nurses with advanced clinical training who provide immediate medical care to rapidly hemodynamically declining patients. The guiding question for this DNP …

Quality Improvement Project Reducing Pediatric Anesthesia In Magnetic Resonance Imaging: The Role Of Preparedness And Education, Rachel Turner

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Pediatric hematology-oncology patients undergo general anesthesia (GA) for various medical procedures, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Overexposure to GA increases the potential for long-term neurocognitive effects in pediatric patients. Despite the growing research literature on GA-related neurotoxicity and the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) warnings, advanced practice providers (APP) often lack the knowledge to advocate for and support reductions in pediatric GA use. The Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP) quality improvement (QI) project aimed to reduce unnecessary GA in pediatric hematology-oncology patients undergoing MRI scans by addressing the primary clinic APPs' knowledge deficits through interprofessional education (IPE). Structured in …

Did You Clean It? - An Evidence-Based Project To Improve Environmental High Touch Area Cleaning Practices, Lauren Hagglund, Hailey Holt, Ainsley Ingebrigtsen, Emily Keller, Stuti Khadka, Kit Mallari, Gavin Martinez, Sahira Monroy, Hannah Pendarvis, T.A. Stockton

2024

No abstract provided.

Yucky Mouth? Clean It Up., Alexandra Thomson, Catherine Barry, Katie Spallo, Sabreen Al Bashiti, Chandler Conerly, Linda Smith

2024

No abstract provided.

Fostering Bright Beginnings: Exploring The Impact Of Cycled Ambient Lighting On Neurological Outcomes Of Infants In A Level Iv Nicu, Julie Acton, Cameron Hartnett, Abeni Kratzmeyer, Grace Madrinan, Elicha Saunders, Alexis Serrano, Morgan Van Der Weert, Erin Wood

2024

No abstract provided.

Do You Have A Second? Nurse Interruptions And Medication Errors, Beaux Brownlow, Camryn Fleming, Sarah Jermstad, Lydia Moore, Nicole Rickert, Sydney Snyder

2024

No abstract provided.

Increasing Safe Sleep Compliance Among Caregivers & Staff, Alexandra Dyer, Rupanpreet Kaur, Hannah Mueller, Alexis Olivares, Haley Payne, Nancy Silva, Julianna Sicilian, Krista Valencia

2024

No abstract provided.

Burning Questions: All About Fevers, Lauren Bowen, Julia Dyer, Janeth Castillo Hernandez, Coral Lucas

2024

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Bedside Handoff In The Pediatric Emergency Department, Kristina Aryee, Haleigh Hogan, Ainsley Knight, Kelsey Matas, Garrett Matlock

2024

No abstract provided.

Rolling With The Bss: Standardizing Stool Assessments In Pediatric Care, Herlinda Cardenas Arce, Allison Hoffman, Hannah Holmes, Sierrah Martinez, Cinthya Mondragon

2024

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of I-Shaped Nursing Hand-Off To Improve Nurse Hand-Off Satisfaction, Layla Awad, Denise Hood, Octavia Sandifer

2024

No abstract provided.

Preventing Nurse Burnout And Improving Retention Rates, Abigail Rannow, Kayla Bernius, Camellia Le, Stephanie Cardenas Parra, Cesar Lopez

2024

No abstract provided.

No More Line Mix-Ups: The Label Solution, Alexis Spain, Holly Mckeethan, Lindsey Garvey, Molly Andersen, Natalie Romei, Catherine Fritz, Abigail Munoz, Kc Chamberlain

2024

No abstract provided.

Improving Ambulation And Safety Related To Complex Medical Equipment In Inpatient Settings, Kellie Chin, Allie Fox, Destiny Gaines, Luke Hernandez, Natalie Kauppila, Taylor Potraza

2024

No abstract provided.

From Bed To Better: An Interdisciplinary Approach To Establish Early Mobility & Routine Among Pediatric Hematology Oncology Patients, Emerson Emerson, Kayla Boxer, Kennedi Mcclain, Kylie Hollander, Mckenna Landon, Shannon Wheeler

2024

No abstract provided.

Quality Improvement Project Impact Of Weekly Mentorship On Compassion Fatigue In Critical Care Nurses, Susan Livengood

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Compassion fatigue is defined as the physical and mental exhaustion and emotional withdrawal experienced by those who care for sick or traumatized people over an extended period. Without proactive intervention, compassion fatigue will continue to affect healthcare workers, leading to dissatisfaction in the workplace. Mentorship is an intervention that has been identified for improving the incidence of compassion fatigue. This quality improvement project implemented and evaluated a mentorship program for critical care nurses in a 227-bed acute care facility that has a 36-bed intensive care unit. The project evaluated the impact of weekly mentoring sessions on compassion fatigue in critical …

Quality Improvement Project Educating Family Of Patients Dealing With Substance Use Disorder, Emmanuella Edekobi

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) creates significant hardships for individuals and their families. Although families play a vital role in recovery, they may not know how to provide effective support. To address this, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project introduced a structured educational program for non-professional caregivers at an outpatient psychiatric clinic. The goal was to enhance caregivers' confidence and readiness to support their loved ones during recovery (Filiz & Polat, 2022). Participants completed the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) before and after the intervention. Statistical analysis showed a significant improvement in confidence (t(9) = -26.00, p < .001, Cohen's d = 8.22), supported by the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test (z = -2.88, p = .004) (Rezaie et al., 2022). The project was grounded in Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, using observational learning, reinforcement, and real-life examples. Caregivers gained practical strategies, emotional support, and a clearer understanding of their role (Mardani et al., 2023). Initial uncertainty gave way to increased comfort through group support. These findings suggest that even low-cost, brief interventions can strengthen caregiver self-efficacy. Incorporating family education into addiction treatment may improve outcomes in outpatient mental health settings (Kellar & Kelvin, 2020).

Quality Improvement Project Improving Nurse Self-Efficacy In Completing Person-Centered Care Plans, Divya Iype

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Person-centered care planning (PCCP) is a cornerstone of psychiatric nursing practice, yet many nurses lack the training and confidence to implement it effectively. This quality improvement project addressed a practice gap in nurse self-efficacy regarding PCCP completion at an acute psychiatric hospital. A care plan completion rate of 88%, below the institutional benchmark of 100%, prompted an intervention. This project’s purpose was to enhance nurse self-efficacy in implementing PCCP by providing focused training on trauma-informed care, cultural competence, and person-centered care planning. The project used a pre-post intervention design to assess the impact of the intervention, with self-efficacy measured using …

Quality Improvement Project Implementing A Hand Hygiene Compliance Program, Daisy Jean-Pierre

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Hand hygiene remains a cornerstone of infection prevention in healthcare, yet gaps in compliance persist among nursing staff, contributing to preventable healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and patient harm. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project, conducted at Piedmont Henry Hospital, was to implement and evaluate an educational intervention targeting nurse managers, with the aim of enhancing their knowledge, self-efficacy, and leadership in promoting hand hygiene compliance. The project addressed the identified problem of inconsistent hand hygiene practices among frontline staff, which was linked to insufficient leadership engagement and ongoing barriers such as time constraints and resource limitations. The …

Quality Improvement Project The Impact Of Increased Use Of High-Fidelity Nursing Simulation On Transfer Of Knowledge And The Correlation With Course Pass Rates, Debra Kilcrease

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Ongoing nursing shortages and limited clinical preceptor availability have made it increasingly difficult for nursing programs to secure traditional clinical placements. In response, simulation-based learning (SBL) has gained support as an evidence-based strategy to supplement clinical education while maintaining transfer of knowledge. This quality improvement project examined whether increasing SBL hours, as a partial replacement for traditional clinical hours, impacted course pass rates in a practical nursing program. Course pass rates served as an indicator of knowledge transfer. Guided by the Jeffries Simulation Theory, the intervention emphasized learner engagement, structured simulation design, and debriefing to support clinical reasoning. A retrospective, …

Quality Improvement Project Improving Employee Satisfaction And Retention Through A Structured Training Process, Dawn Lundgren

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The DNP project aimed to evaluate the impact of a structured new-hire training program on employee retention and job satisfaction within a hospice organization. Insufficient training for new employees can lead to a high staff turnover rate, stress, decreased job satisfaction, and poor quality of care. The quality improvement project utilized a pre-post intervention design over an eight-week period, comparing retention rates and job satisfaction scores before and after project implementation. Employee retention was measured as a binary outcome (retained or left), and job satisfaction was assessed through a seven-item survey rated on a five-point Likert scale. A total of …

Quality Improvement Project Impacting Provider Efficiency And Burnout With Standardized Ordering Tools, Carly Meredith

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems promises better interoperability, transparency, patient safety, and care quality. However, concerns about increased provider stress and burnout are rising, suggesting a link between burnout and EHR use. This project aimed to evaluate whether improving EHR efficiency could reduce burnout rates. While literature highlights the need for enhanced training, effective methods remain unclear and challenge whether there is data supporting improvements or merely the perceived usefulness of these activities as identified through the Technology Acceptance Model. For this project, a preference list was created for commonly used orders with pre-selected defaults to streamline …

Quality Improvement Project Improving The Management Of Diabetes In A Primary Care Setting Through Staff Education, Chibuzo Okereke

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Managing chronic disease, such as type 2 diabetes, requires effective patient education. This quality improvement project aimed to improve staff knowledge and confidence in delivering diabetes education using the evidence-based teach-back method. Eight staff members (physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, medical assistants, and a clinic manager) of a suburban primary care clinic in Houston, Texas, were involved in the project by participating in structured educational sessions. The Always Use Teach-Back Conviction and Confidence Scale (CCS) and a Diabetes Knowledge Test 2 (DKT2) were validated instruments to measure data pre- and post-intervention. A quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design was used, and the …

Enhancing Pre-Licensure Bsn Students' Clinical Knowledge And Confidence In Blood Transfusion Via Postpartum High-Fidelity Simulation, Tresia Rouse

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Blood transfusion administration is a complex nursing skill registered nurses require in bedside settings, regardless of experience level. Nursing students are expected to be practice-ready upon graduation. A significant concern in nursing academia is the insufficient exposure to administering blood products, which many pre-licensure nursing students lack in clinical and educational environments. This gap in nursing curricula can compromise students’ preparedness to perform this skill in real-world scenarios. The core purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement (QI) project was to enhance clinical knowledge and impact self-confidence regarding blood transfusion administration and management, specifically by implementing a …

Quality Improvement Project Evaluating The Impact Of Specialized Blood Pressure Measurement (Bpm) Training On Nursing Faculty's Knowledge And Self-Efficacy In Teaching Bpm, Heba Sadaka

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Accurate blood pressure measurement (BPM) is crucial for the proper diagnosis and management of hypertension. However, BPM errors are common and may lead to under- or overtreatment, negatively impacting patients. The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to retrain nursing faculty on BPM practices based on the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) clinical guidelines. A quasi-experimental pre-/post-intervention design was used. The intervention consisted of an online specialized training video developed by the Idaho Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke Prevention Program. Nursing faculty’s BPM knowledge and self-efficacy were measured before and after the training using the …

Quality Improvement Project Enhancing Self-Efficacy In Managing Patient No-Shows: A Staff-Focused Intervention, Aaron Wabang

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

No-shows are widely reported in behavioral health venues. They hinder continuity of care, decrease clinic efficiency, and compromise patient care. The solution requires addressing patients’ behavior and internal facility processes. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to reduce no-show rates by providing staff with tools and enhancing their self-efficacy in managing appointments. The project was conducted in a rural East Texas behavioral clinic. Clinic staff reported challenges with patient reminders, scheduling, and follow-up issues that cause increased no-shows. The QI project aimed to empower staff by providing evidence-based scheduling strategies and decision support resources to enhance their confidence and attendance …