Nursing Commons^™

Enhancing Sbar Documentation And Telecommunication Between Nursing And Anesthesia Teams In The Obstetric And Labor And Delivery Unit, Apollonia C. Anderson, Celeste Meda

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

Effective communication during obstetric handoffs is essential for promoting maternal and neonatal safety, yet communication failures remain a significant contributor to adverse events due to inconsistent and unstructured handoff practices. This Doctor of Nursing Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) quality improvement project was developed following the recommendations of the 2025 DNAP project, which implemented the OB/L&D-specific SBAR tool. This project evaluated the use of this communication tool in areas of OB interdisciplinary team communication accuracy, efficiency, and collaboration, particularly during obstetric epidural requests within a community-based labor and delivery unit. Guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2020). Utilized …

Reducing Falls In The Cardiac Care Unit: An Improvement Project, Andrea Otero, Aryanna Campa, Nia Butac

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

Abstract

Background: Patient falls persist as a leading cause of preventable harm in hospitals, particularly among cardiac care patients who are at increased risk because of medication effects and mobility limitations. Despite existing fall `prevention measures in the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, 43 falls occurred, highlighting the need for improved patient education and consistent staff communication.

Purpose: This quality improvement project evaluated the effectiveness of implementing a standardized fall prevention communication script to reduce the average monthly fall rate in the CCU from 3.583 to fewer than 2 falls per month.

Methods: Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act …

Exploring Student Feelings, Knowledge Related To Menstruation And Menstrual Education: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Ella A. Handel

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Menstrual, reproductive, and sexual health education in the United States remains inconsistent in both content and delivery. This inconsistency often leaves adolescents underprepared for developmental milestones such as menarche and contributes to ongoing stigma and discomfort surrounding menstruation. This study examined participants’ feelings and perceptions related to menstruation and menstrual education. Using a cross-sectional descriptive survey design, a mixed-methods approach was employed to collect data from 29 college students aged 18 to 19 years at a large public university in Arkansas. Quantitative data from Likert-scale items were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative open-ended responses were reviewed and organized into …

The Impact Of Structured Family Meetings In The Intensive Care Unit, Loyce T. Mofor

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

The Impact of Structured Family Meetings in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Purpose

Train providers at an academic institution in a large metropolitan area to conduct family meetings using a structured approach and evaluate this intervention's impact on family satisfaction with communication in the ICU.

Background

Inadequate communication between families and healthcare teams leads to lower family satisfaction, heightened feelings of guilt, and diminished capacity for making clinical decisions.

Methodology

VitalTalk training was utilized to improve providers’ communication skills. Structured family meetings were conducted for Surgical and Thoracic ICU patients with an ICU length of stay of > 5 days or …

Peri-Op Protect: A Unified Pre-Op To Pacu Medication Reconciliation System, Tyler G. Van Note, Ariana Amalia Anast, Samantha Ashley Steiner, Tara Gilbert

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Peri-Op Protect: A Unified Pre-Op to PACU Medication Reconciliation System

Peri-Op Protect is a nurse-led change initiative designed to improve medication safety and communication during surgical patient transitions from pre-operative care through the operating room and into the post-anesthesia care unit at a local hospital. Transitions of care are among the most vulnerable moments in the surgical process, as critical medication information – including home medications, last doses, allergies, intraoperative medications, and pain management plans – must be accurately communicated across multiple teams. Communication breakdowns are a leading contributor to adverse events in healthcare, and inconsistent medication handoff processes can …

Improving Patient Satisfaction In The Emergency Department Waiting Room Through Enhanced Communication Strategies: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Wael P. Karaki

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose: This QI project aimed to improve ED waiting room experience by standardizing communication to increase transparency and expectation management, targeting an increase in Net Promoter Score (NPS) from 33.5 to ≥35.4 within three months.

Background: ED waiting room dissatisfaction is driven by uncertainty (unclear wait times, inconsistent updates, and limited understanding of triage and ED flow), supporting structured communication over individual clinician delivery.

Methodology: A 3-month, single-site QI project in an urban ED used iterative PDSA cycles and included all ED encounters (n=17,444). The bilingual intervention included orientation pamphlets (print/QR-based), standardized triage verbalization of …

Bridging The Language Gap: The Impact Of In-Person Versus Remote Interpreter Services On Medication Adherence And Patient Safety In Adult Spanish-Speaking Patients, Ashley E. Alarcon Martinez, Jocelyn N. Lopez Maradiaga

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Significant health inequities are caused by language barriers between patients and health care staff, resulting in miscommunication among adult Hispanic patients with low English proficiency, reducing medication adherence, impairing patient safety, and raising the possibility of medical errors. To address this issue, interpreter services, both in-person and remote translation, have been introduced in healthcare settings to enhance communication. Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in patient safety and medication adherence between in-person and remote translation services for adult Hispanic individuals with limited English proficiency in healthcare settings. Methods: The proposed research involves five local …

Implementing A Standardized Patient Report Sheet To Improve Timeliness And Efficiency Of Patient Handoff Reports: A Quality Improvement Project, Brian F. Mclaughlin

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Background: A successful patient handoff report is a foundational element of nursing care, it encompasses the patient's medical history, current treatment plan, patient-centered goals, and notes of consideration. Blazin et. al. (2020) identified unsuccessful patient handoff reports as the root cause of many medical errors. Improving the patient handoff report process provides opportunities for increased registered nurse job satisfaction, reduced medical errors, and increased time efficiency.

Local Problem: Anecdotal discussions with nursing staff on an adult medical-surgical unit  revealed frustration with the patient handoff reporting process. Nursing staff cited interruptions, lengthy patient handoff report times, and the need to …

Building Confidence And Team Communication: Implementation Of A Rapid Response In Situ Simulation Program In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Janell F. Hacker

DNP Projects

Background: Neonatal code events are high-risk, low-frequency occurrences in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Simulation-based training is used to support skill development, maintain competencies, and enhance team performance.

Purpose: The purpose was to determine if a multidisciplinary, high-fidelity, rapid response in situ simulation program would impact confidence and communication among frontline healthcare providers during neonatal code events.

Methods: A quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest study was conducted in a 90-bed Level IV NICU. A multidisciplinary, high-fidelity in situ rapid response simulation program was implemented over a 3-month period for frontline NICU healthcare providers. Pre- and post-surveys assessed perceptions of role clarity, …

Effects Of Communication Boards On Improving Communication In Assisted Living Care Facilities, Koleen Beatrice Arribas

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: A Residential Care facility utilizes paper charting causing limited access to vital information such as code status, allergies, and/or diet for those caring for the resident.

Context: Exceptional charting only when a resident’s condition changes may not provide enough vital information for the caregiver to administer medication or provide proper support during an emergency, such as the resident’s DNR status.

Interventions: A communication board was placed in a secure space near the nurses’ station with key resident information. Nurses would huddle at the board at before the change of shift and make updates as necessary.

Measures: Staff input in …

Bridging The Language Gap: The Impact Of In-Person Versus Remote Interpreter Services On Medication Adherence And Patient Safety In Adult Spanish-Speaking Patients, Ashley E. Alarcon Martinez, Jocelyn N. Lopez Maradiaga

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Significant health inequities are caused by language barriers between patients and health care staff, resulting in miscommunication among adult Hispanic patients with low English proficiency, reducing medication adherence, impairing patient safety, and raising the possibility of medical errors. To address this issue, interpreter services, both in-person and remote translation, have been introduced in healthcare settings to enhance communication. Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in patient safety and medication adherence between in-person and remote translation services for adult Hispanic individuals with limited English proficiency in healthcare settings. Methods: The proposed research involves five local …

Nurse-To-Nurse Change-Of-Shift Handoff Communication: The Experience Among Senior Nursing Students In A Hospital Setting—A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Karen Bryson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of senior nursing students with nurse-to-nurse change-of-shift handoff communication during their clinical practicum at a major healthcare system in the United States. The guiding research question was: What are the lived experiences of senior nursing students when communicating shift-to-shift handoff reports to incoming nurses during senior clinical practicum in an acute care hospital setting? Bandura's social cognitive theory and Kolb's experiential learning theory are the two theories that support the conceptual framework of this study. Ten nursing students were purposefully recruited from local two-year and four-year nursing …

Supporting Discharge Preparation For Children With Medical Complexity: A Scoping Review, Emily Moore, Mia Waldron, Darlene Acorda, Cara Gallegos, Barbie Giambra, Stacee M. Lerret, Christine R. Platt, Danielle A. Sarik, Zara Sajwani-Merchant, Nesibe Sumeyye Kutahyalioglu, Pamela Gampetro, Susan Groshong, Marianne Weiss, Teri L. Hernandez, Sandra Staveski

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background

The transition from hospital to home is a critical period for children with medical complexity (CMC) and their caregivers, often associated with increased risks and stress. Both registered nurses and advanced practice nurses play a pivotal role in facilitating this transition through discharge preparation, including planning, coordination, and teaching. However, best practices for optimizing discharge processes for CMC remain unclear. The need for a comprehensive understanding of hospital discharge during this crucial time is apparent as adverse events following discharge are common and are often attributed to insufficient preparation and communication. This scoping review aims to identify key nursing …

Quality Improvement Project Implementing Teamstepps 3.0: Impact On Perception Of Teamwork, Angela Allen

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The clinical practice site is a rural health clinic that has experienced 28% staffing turnover in the last year, and opportunities for improvement in communication and teamwork were identified. The principal investigator (PI) used the Iowa Model Revised (IMR) as a theoretical framework and Lippitt’s change theory to promote change for the identified priority issue. TeamSTEPPS is an evidence-based program designed to improve communication and teamwork in healthcare teams with the goal of improving patient outcomes and safety. The quality improvement project utilized a quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-intervention surveys to answer the question: among staff at a rural …

Behavior Change Communication Strategies On Human Immunodeficiency Virus /Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Risk Reduction For Long-Distance Truckers In Kenya, Cyrus Mutie, John Gachohi, Kawira Kithuci, Grace Mbuthia

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background Long-distance truckers (LDTs) not only experience heightened risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections due to risky sexual networks, but are also hard to reach with consistent risk reduction messages due to their often disruptive work schedules. Besides, evidence of the existing behavior change communication (BCC) strategies to enhance HIV/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) risk reduction is limited. Thus, the study sought to explore the most effective and preferred BCC strategies for adoption among LDTs in Kenya.

Methods and Methodology Nine key informants and 18 in-depth interviews were used to gather qualitative data from purposively sampled participants at Kenya's …

Improving Collaboration With Hospital Security And Nursing Staff, When Treating Patients In Acute Crisis, By Implementing A Modified Sbar Card., Yuna Choi

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Inpatient psychiatric units provide assistance to patients experiencing acute mental health crises such as psychosis or suicidal ideation. Patients experiencing acute mental health crises can sometimes become agitated or aggressive towards staff, themselves, or other patients, which can pose a significant risk to everyone’s safety. The purpose of the project is to improve staff satisfaction and collaboration by standardizing the interdisciplinary communication between hospital security and nursing staff. Over a period of two weeks, the facilitator educated security and unit staff on a SBAR card during shift huddle to implement on the unit in the event of an acute mental …

Development And Implementation Of An Ob/L&D Sbar Framework To Enhance Communication Between Obstetric Nurses And Anesthesia Providers: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Jenna E. Bigam, Laina J. Uzarski

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

Effective communication between obstetric (OB) nurses and anesthesia providers is critical to ensure patient safety during epidural placements in labor and delivery (L&D) settings. At a large teaching hospital, communication gaps were identified when OB nurses requested anesthesia for epidural placements without consistently providing vital patient information. The lack of structured communication can result in important details being overlooked, which may lead to delays in care and potential patient harm. To address this, the SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) communication framework was implemented to standardize and improve information exchange. This Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) project aimed to enhance …

Commit To Sit: Does Purposefully Sitting With Adult Medical-Surgical Patients At A Rural Hospital Impact Patient Satisfaction?, Jolie A. Puckett

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Patient satisfaction surveys encourage patients to provide feedback about their experiences with healthcare organizations, and the surveys also play a critical role in identifying gaps in care that may contribute to patient harm. Effective communication between nurses and patients is crucial for delivering high-quality healthcare; therefore, initiatives to enhance this communication should be explored and implemented.

Purpose: This quality improvement project aimed to evaluate whether sitting with patients improved patient satisfaction scores for a medical-surgical unit within a Northwest Georgia inpatient facility.

Project Design: A pre- and post-design method was utilized to compare patient satisfaction scores before and after …

Preventing Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries Using Turn Teams And Verbal Reminders, Joyce O. Blaboe

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are a preventable, yet persistent issue in healthcare, particularly in the pulmonary and infectious disease unit of a Northeastern U.S. hospital. HAPIs prolong hospital stays, increase healthcare costs, and pose potential legal risks. Despite implementing evidence-based protocols, including the leaf patient monitoring system, the hospital reported six avoidable HAPIs cases in the early fiscal year 2025.

Aim: The quality improvement (QI) project aimed to reduce HAPIs incidents by 10% within 12 weeks by introducing turn teams and verbal reminders to enhance existing protocols.

Evidence Review: Regular turning and repositioning are essential to HAPIs prevention. Additionally, …

Strengthening Communication Between Staff And Health Providers In A Mental Health Setting, Michael Tricoli

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Communication between nursing staff and providers is essential for supporting optimum patient outcomes. Each component of the communication process needs to be clearly defined to create an environment of safety for both patients and caregivers. The SBAR (situation, background, assessment, recommendation) is a nurse-driven protocol that is widely used as a communication and documentation template in health care organizations. This format is currently not being used effectively on the mental health units where the evidence-based project was implemented. Recognizing and reiterating the value of SBAR as a communication tool is necessary when communication deficits are noted. The purpose and scope …

A Qualitative Study Of Registered Nurses’ Perceptions Of The Impact Communication Modalities Have On Patient Care Outcomes In Primary Care, Eleanor M. Chapital

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Communication plays a vital role in the provision of patient care and directly impacts patient care outcomes across the care continuum. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and determine registered nurses’ perceptions of the communication modalities that facilitate optimum patient care outcomes in the primary care setting. Registered nurses play a critical role in the provision and coordination of patient care. Therefore, it is imperative to study their experiences and perceptions to facilitate communication within primary care teams. The central research question for this study was the following: How do registered nurses describe their use of communication …

More Than A Diagnosis: Elevating Person-Centered Care In The Surgical Intensive Care Unit Through Personalized Communication Boards, Sierra B. Poe

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: Intensive care units are associated with complex care and high acuity interventions, however, there is a potential for dehumanization of patients. With the focus being placed on life-saving interventions, many patients and their family members feel that they are not being treated beyond their medical diagnosis. Aim: This quality improvement project aims to address these barriers in care by designing and implementing communication whiteboards in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) at Hospital A to enhance patient and family-centered care, improve patient satisfaction, and enhance interdisciplinary communication. Post-implementation, the goal was to increase utilization of the standardized whiteboards from …

Improving Communication And Job Satisfaction: Utilizing Team Strategies And Tools To Enhance Performance And Patient Safety (Teamstepps) For Interventional Service Areas, Sukhbinder Kaur Sangha

Doctoral Projects

Purpose: Improved communication and job satisfaction among staff are essential for those working in high-stress critical care environments like the cardiac catheterization laboratory (Cath Lab). The purpose of this investigation was to utilize the quality improvement initiative Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS) to improve attitudes and job satisfaction in the Cath Lab. Method: A total of 30 subjects participated in a TeamSTEPPS educational intervention. After obtaining informed consent, a demographic survey, a pre- and post-test TeamSTEPPS Teamwork Attitudes Questionnaire (T-TAQ) and Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) were administered. The post-test included open-ended questions for feedback …

In-Person And Virtual Adaptation Of An Interprofessional Palliative Care Communications Skills Training Course For Pediatric Oncology Clinicians, Karen Moody, Clark R. Andersen, Robert M. Arnold, Julie Bradley, Allie Carter, Lauren Draper, Timothy Garrington, Jonathan B. Gill, Douglas J. Harrison, Masanori Hayashi, Amy Heaton, Cynthia Holladay, Alex Lion, Alakh Rajan, Beatriz N. Rozo, Daniel V. Runco, Shermini Saini, Laura K. Salvador, Kathryn Sutton, Verna Ferguson

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Introduction

Empathic communication is crucial for clinicians when discussing palliative and end-of-life (PC/EOL) care with parents of children with cancer. Unfortunately, many parents report inadequate communication at these distressing times. This study evaluates the communication skills training (CST) clinicians received to deliver a PC/EOL communication intervention as part of a multi-site randomized-controlled trial (RCT). Training was provided using an in-person format and then adapted to a virtual platform to accommodate remote learners.

Methods

Clinicians were trained in dyads (one physician and one nurse [RN] or advanced practice provider [APP]) over 3 days (in-person or virtually). Four pediatric oncology cases were …

Creating Standard Work To Improve Length Of Stay, Jennifer Burris, Patricia Dumonceaux, Lindsay Kephart

Nursing Posters

Plan:

Improve the geometric mean length of stay (GMLOW) from 1.071 to 1.024 by creating and implementing patient flow and throughput standard work.

Do:

Implement standard work for interdisciplinary team members.

• Create a culture of accountability with consistent use of the expected discharge date (EDD) and patient milestones in Epic, during hand offs, and use of My Care Boards.
• Ensure provider to nurse communication occurs daily using ALWAYS, a standardized tool
• Create and ensure beside nurse-to-nurse hand off occurs using a standardized method known as iALWAYS.
• Create and implement patient education tools.
• Enhance discharge readiness tools to improve real-time communication …

Design And Implementation Of A Notification System For The Purpose Of Improving Communication Between Nurses And Patients, Aindrila Bhattacharya

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Communication is an important part of how nurses administer treatment to their patients. Without proper communication, it is difficult for the nurses to connect with their patients and vice versa. This paper will be going into some previous literature about communication between patients and nurses in general, communication with respect to pediatric patients and how notification systems have been implemented in the past. It will then discuss the methodology and implementation of a notification system for a medical app. The medical app is meant to facilitate communication from the side of the patient to the nurse, while the notification system …

Leveling Up Epic Tools To Streamline Care, Lindsay Kephart, Holly Kockler, Emily Eggert

Nursing Posters

The aim for this project was to improve discharge planning collaboration amongst the entire care team in 4 inpatient pilot depts at St. Cloud Hospital

Key Drivers:

• Improve communication across the care team
• Help to efficiently review a patient's discharge plan
• Track patient progress toward discharge in real-time
• Increase the visibility of outstanding care team tasks and discharge delays
• Improve data collection to enhance the discharge process

Responsible Pain Management For Postpartum Patients, Anna Beth Wyatt, Isabella B. Conwell, Kaley E. Edelbrock, Missy M. Sterkel

SPARK Symposium Presentations

At Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s postpartum unit on 4 East, uncontrolled pain is a leading cause of decreased patient satisfaction and increased risk for complications. Effective, timely, and conscientious pain management plays a crucial role in improving patient satisfaction and promoting safer recoveries. Given the wide range of pain management needs due to varied birth experiences and complications, nursing judgment and clear patient communication are essential in ensuring both comfort and long-term safety. This makes 4 East an ideal unit to explore standardizing communication strategies to optimize patient care. The primary goal of our intervention is to enhance patient satisfaction …

Provider-Nurse Rounding Checklist: A Qi Project, Danielle Ursone Rn, Bsn, Jennifer O'Neil Bsn, Rn, Ccrn, Susan Penque Ph.D, Anp-Bc, Ne-Bc, Nc-C

Posters

• Communication between healthcare providers and nurses is an essential component for a good working relationship.
• Increased collaboration has been shown to improve staff attitudes and job satisfaction.
• Interprofessional rounds with a rounding checklist provide an organized way to perform rounds to increase satisfaction with teamwork and decrease miscommunication.
• At the DNP project site, a rounding checklist is not being used, resulting in a disconnect between the nurses and healthcare providers.

Student Described Importance Of Nurse Educator Caring Actions In Various Class Settings, Jessica Leiberg

Dissertations (1934 -)

Caring pedagogy is a well-known and proven nurse educator instructional approach resulting in improved student attrition, enhanced attitude towards the students’ nursing program, and a caring approach extending into professional practice. Despite much research and development of nurse educator caring actions, the possible effect of different class settings on the student perception of these nurse educator caring actions is unknown. The purpose of this study aimed to identify how students’ rate and rank order the importance of nurse educator caring actions within the different class settings. A descriptive quantitative design was conducted to explore student perceptions of the importance of …