Nursing Commons^™

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- …

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 To Nurse Practitioners On Proper Std Treatment, Jolanda Monique Amey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project implemented a structured staff education project to strengthen nurse practitioner knowledge related to the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases in a public health setting. Nurse practitioners often serve as the primary providers of sexually transmitted disease care for underserved and uninsured populations. Maintaining current knowledge of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) treatment guidelines is essential to reducing reinfection, limiting transmission, and promoting safe, evidence-based care. When guideline knowledge is inconsistent or outdated, opportunities for appropriate treatment may be missed. The practice-focused question guiding this project was “Among nurse practitioners in …

Staff Education To Improve Medication Adherence Among Nurses, Philip Nkemgang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medication nonadherence among individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) contributes to relapse, hospital readmissions, and poor patient outcomes. Psychiatric nurses are central to promoting adherence, yet many lack standardized, evidence-based training. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project evaluated the effect of a structured nurse education program on medication adherence strategies, including psychoeducation and motivational interviewing, on nurses’ knowledge and confidence. Using the Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice model, an online educational intervention was developed and implemented with 18 psychiatric nurses. Pre- and post-education surveys measured changes in knowledge and self-reported confidence, with data analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results demonstrated significant …

Staff Education For Timely Sepsis Intervention At The Medical Center, Latonya Summers-Oliver

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project developed a staff education program to clarify the concept of “time zero,” essential for timely sepsis intervention, in alignment with the SEP-1 core measure by CMS, which prescribes evidence-based treatment bundles within specific time frames. Aiming to improve staff knowledge in sepsis identification, treatment, and management, the program incorporated a literature review supporting educational strategies that enhance mortality rates and clinical outcomes. Using pre- and posttest assessments, the study demonstrated significant improvements in staff knowledge following targeted education on sepsis recognition and timely management. The findings underscore the importance of standardized, accessible training programs to improve clinical response, …

Staff Education To Stop The Bleed Training, Sherron L. Butler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Uncontrolled hemorrhage remains a leading cause of preventable mortality, and timely intervention is critical to improving patient outcomes. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice staff education project was to evaluate the effect of a standardized Stop the Bleed (STB) education program on emergency department and outpatient clinic nursing staff readiness and confidence in managing hemorrhage emergencies. A pre- and post-education design was used to assess changes in participants’ knowledge, confidence, and technical proficiency related to hemorrhage-control skills, including tourniquet application, wound packing, and direct pressure techniques. Data were collected using pre- and post-training surveys and skills-demonstration assessments and …

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 …

Pro-Tip For Pro-Calcitonin: Fill It Up Or Miss The Mark​, Megan Dones, Yenci Marquez, Reese Parrish, Sanam Mistry

2025

No abstract provided.

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 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. …

Staff Education On Mindfulness-Based Intervention To Reduce Burnout Among Mental Health Clinicians, Abosede Oyeronke Oyedele

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Clinician burnout is increasingly prevalent in outpatient mental health settings due to high emotional demands, heavy caseloads, and limited organizational resources, contributing to reduced job satisfaction, increased turnover, and diminished quality of care. The gap in practice at the project center revealed a deficiency in knowledge among mental health clinic staff regarding effective stress management and burnout prevention, which led to the practice question: Does educating providers and staff on mindfulness-based interventions improve knowledge, as evidenced by pre- and postsurveys? To close this gap, this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project educated staff members on mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). The Walden …

Staff Education To Use Mindfulness Strategies To Prevent Burnout In Psychiatric Health Settings, Rebecca Ikeoluwa Gabriel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There was a significant gap in practice at an outpatient psychiatric mental health clinic regarding organized, evidence-based training on mindfulness techniques to reduce stress and emotional exhaustion among psychiatric mental health staff. This project’s practice-focused question was “Does educating psychiatric mental health staff on mindfulness strategies for burnout improve their knowledge, as evidenced by pre- and post-surveys?” This educational intervention was developed, implemented, and evaluated using the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice paradigm and the ADDIE instructional design model. A literature search was conducted using CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE/PubMed, ProQuest, and the Cochrane Library, with assistance from the librarians at Walden University. …

Lgbtq+ Cultural Competency Training For Mental Health Care Workers, Shyla Noelle Herndon-Dye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of the staff education project was to address a noticeable gap in training regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) cultural competencies for the multidisciplinary mental health care workers of an inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry unit. LGBTQ+ individuals commonly encounter discriminatory barriers to care, resulting in mental health disparities and medical distrust; thus, mental health care workers must engage in professional allyship and improve their capability to sufficiently care for this population. The practice question that guided this project was the following: Will a staff education program designed to educate multidisciplinary mental health care workers on …

Staff Education To Improve Tirzepatide Education And Lifestyle Counseling, Daisy Asemota

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was a practice-focused staff education initiative designed to improve clinical staff knowledge, confidence, and readiness to educate adult patients enrolled in a Tirzepatide weight-management program. Tirzepatide has demonstrated superior weight-loss outcomes compared to other glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists; however, inconsistent staff education practices related to medication administration, adverse-event management, and lifestyle counseling present a gap in practice. Variability in staff knowledge and teaching approaches may reduce confidence, contribute to inconsistent patient education, and limit the effectiveness of evidence-based care delivery. The purpose of this DNP project was to address this practice gap …

Staff Education In Standardizing A Nurse-Led Fall Prevention Bundle To Reduce Inpatient Falls In Teleneurology Units, Tiffany Scott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Due to complex neurological deficits that raise the risk of falls, falls among persons admitted to inpatient tele-neurology units represent a substantial and continuous problem in nursing practice. A preliminary evaluation conducted at the project site revealed inconsistent fall prevention procedures, inconsistent use of risk assessments, and a lack of a standardized, evidence based strategy to lower fall risk in this especially susceptible group. A practice focused investigation into whether the adoption of a standardized, nurse led fall prevention bundle would improve staff adherence to fall prevention protocols and lower the incidence of inpatient falls over a six month period …

Staff Education To Improve Detection And Treatment Of Adult Adhd In An Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic, Eveline Manyie Fohtung

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remains significantly underdiagnosed in outpatient psychiatric settings despite its substantial impact on functioning and long-term mental health outcomes. At the project site, inconsistent screening practices, limited clinician familiarity with DSM-5-TR adult diagnostic criteria, and variable application of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) contributed to delayed or missed diagnoses, representing a clear practice gap. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project implemented a structured, nurse-led staff education program to improve clinician knowledge, diagnostic accuracy, and standardized workflow adoption for adult ADHD screening using the ASRS. Guided by national evidence-based guidelines, the intervention emphasized DSM-5-TR criteria, …

Staff Education On Implementing Exercise For The Management Of Depression In Adults In A Comprehensive Mental Health Facility, Afolasade Jarrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a comprehensive mental health facility, patients diagnosed with major depression continue to experience depressive symptoms despite treatment. Despite using standard treatment with antidepressants and psychotherapy, facility data showed that 40% of these patients are still experiencing depression symptoms that negatively impact their overall functioning and quality of life. There is evidence supporting exercise as an effective strategy for depression treatment. Therefore, a staff education project was proposed to educate staff about exercise for depression management in adults. A thorough literature search in four databases yielded 12 articles with high quality evidence supporting educating staff to use exercise for depression …

Education To Nursing Staff On Evidence-Based Lifestyle Interventions For Hypertension, Meagan Deese

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was a staff education project that addressed a practice gap in a primary care setting related to limited nursing knowledge of evidence-based lifestyle interventions for hypertension management. Hypertension is a prevalent chronic condition and a major contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although clinical guidelines recommend lifestyle modification as first-line management, nurses may receive limited formal training in nonpharmacologic interventions. The practice-focused question was, in a primary care setting, does a nursing education program on evidence-based lifestyle interventions for hypertension improve nursing knowledge as measured pre- to post education? The purpose of the …

Staff Education On Standardized Appointment Reminder & Follow-Up Protocol, Sambila V. Zangre Congo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inconsistent staff performance in making appointment reminders and follow-up calls contributed to workflow variability and reduced patient engagement in outpatient primary care settings. This DNP Quality Improvement Project intended to enhance staff knowledge, confidence, and consistency in implementing standardized reminder and follow-up call protocols using an evidence-based educational intervention. A quantitative pre/posttest design was used to evaluate changes in staff competency, supported by descriptive and comparative analyses of test scores, percentage changes, and qualitative feedback. Seven clinic staff members attended the PowerPoint education session, and pretest and posttest data were used to address a practice-focused question about standardized communication workflows. …

Multimodal Education To Improve Metabolic Monitoring Knowledge Among Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, Tania Alfonso

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project was a multimodal educational intervention to improve outpatient psychiatric nurse practitioner (PNP) knowledge of metabolic monitoring guidelines for patients prescribed second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs). The project addressed low adherence to national monitoring standards that contribute to increased cardiometabolic risks associated with SGAs. The project question was: Does staff education regarding metabolic monitoring guidelines improve nursing knowledge as compared pre- to posteducation? The purpose was to enhance PNP knowledge of metabolic monitoring guidelines. Guided by the Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice (JHEBP) model, I conducted a focused literature search and identified 28 peer-reviewed articles …

Staff Education On Vital Sign Assessment And Electronic Health Record Documentation For Acute And Critical Care Nurses And Patient Care Technicians, Natalie Brock

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A staff educational quality improvement initiative aimed at enhancing the knowledge and accuracy of acute care nurses and patient care technicians (PCTs) in vital sign documentation was the focus of the doctoral project. Gaps in vital sign obtainment and electronic health record (EHR) documentation were identified through organizational serious safety event reviews, highlighting risks to patient safety and clinical decision-making. The project addressed the question of whether, in the inpatient hospital setting, a staff educational training program for acute and critical care nurses improves their knowledge of accurate vital sign documentation in the EHR. I analyzed pre- and posttest assessments …

Proned But Not Pressured: Saving Skin One Turn At A Time, Sophie Despres, Brandon Evans, Hannah Keetch, Destiny Lane

2025

No abstract provided.

Staff Education Project To Improve Hypertension Medication Adherence In An Underserved Clinic, Margaret Mboe Etukeni

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hypertension is one of the most common chronic conditions managed in primary care. The identified practice problem for this staff education project was the lack of structured staff training and inconsistent provider knowledge regarding evidence-based strategies to improve medication adherence among patients with hypertension. Poor medication contributes to preventable complications such as stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease. The purpose was to evaluate if an educational intervention could improve provider knowledge related to medication adherence strategies in an underserved clinical setting. The practice question guiding the project was: In clinical staff working in an underserved clinic, does a staff education …

It's About Time! Patient Schedules To Improve Care Team Compliance, Kaylie Pollard-Kedward, Maria Herrera, Megan Hook, Jazmin Butler, Skyler Mankins

2025

No abstract provided.

Hangout Hour: A Safe Space Fostering Community Within The Adolescent Young Adult (Aya) Community, Brooke Ashmore, Makena Krier

2025

Effective Education Prevents Readmission Rates, Taylor Johnson, Gabby Belanger, Ben Mittleman, Bella Ferguson

Nurse Residency

PICOT Question: In older adult patients, does nurse-driven education, compared with standard care, reduce hospital readmission rates?

Meeting Nurses Where We're At, Michal Brown, Kayley Mclaughlin, Lauren Damm

Nurse Residency

PICOT Question: For night shift nurses, how does implementing flexible shift-friendly educational strategies, such as reordered or alternatively scheduled sessions, compare with traditional morning in person education classes affect their ability to positively participate and engage in required education throughout the nurse residency program?

Making It Up As We Go: Midwives’ Perceptions Of Preparedness And Role Clarity In Surrogacy Birth Care, Jutharat Attawet, Leo Ng, Yunjing Qiu, Evie Kendal, Myles Ojabo, Sarah Jefford, Micah D.J. Peters

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background Surrogacy poses unique clinical, psychosocial, and organisational challenges. Midwives, often with limited experience, education, and guidance, may feel uncertain about providing appropriate care, potentially affecting the quality of care and experiences of surrogates, intended parents, and newborns. Objective This study explored how midwives navigate surrogacy birth care, with a focus on role clarity, involvement of intended parents, and preparedness across the intrapartum and postnatal continuum. Method An interpretative phenomenological design was adopted. Five midwives with experience in surrogacy births were recruited through professional networks and the Australian College of Midwives newsletter. In-depth interviews were conducted and analysed using reflexive …

Missed Care Prevalence And Associated Factors In Acute Care Settings: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Afia Achiaa Sarpong, Lucy Gent, Amanda Towell-Barnard, Diana Arabiat

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: The aim of the study was to comprehensively analyse the prevalence and factors associated with missed nursing care in acute care settings. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to estimate the prevalence of missed nursing care, types of activities missed and associated factors in acute care hospital settings. Five electronic databases (CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PubMed and Scopus) were searched from inception to 14th December 2022. Type of missed care and associated factors were classified based on missed care concepts, definition and measurement. Random effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate proportions and levels of types of nursing activities missed. Results: …

Children's Experiences Of Functional Constipation: A Qualitative Reflexive Thematic Analysis, Gunilla Flankegård, Patrik Rytterström, Berit M. Gustafsson, Evalotte Mörelius

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Childhood functional constipation, a common concern within child healthcare, necessitates oral and rectal medical treatments, that are mostly administered by parents in the home environment. It is important to gather children's perspectives in child- and family-centred care. The private nature of toileting, bowel movements, and faecal incontinence are areas of taboo and stigmatisation. Research is scarce on how children perceive this common but private situation of oral and rectal constipation treatment. Objective: To explore children's experiences of functional constipation and its treatments. Design: A qualitative interview study with a constructionist epistemology and a predominantly experiential orientation. Setting: Individual interviews …