Nursing Commons^™

Quality Improvement Project Ai-Powered Conversations: Enhancing Nursing Students’ Interview Skills, Judy K. Staley

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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Professional communication is an essential skill for nursing students, particularly in job interviews. Deficits in professional communication can negatively impact future employment and accreditation outcomes. Current practices in faculty-led mock interviews can be limited by time constraints and the need for consistent feedback, underscoring the need for a more consistent and effective method supported by current evidence-based literature. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to evaluate whether integrating AI-assisted mock interviews into faculty-led practices influences faculty perceptions of student preparedness. Guided by Kotter’s Change Model and supported by the constructivist framework, the project aimed to enhance the effectiveness …

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New Nurse Faculty Mentorship: A Quality Improvement Project, Kimberly B. Porter

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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The ongoing nursing faculty shortage limits program capacity and makes it harder to retain novice nurse educators transitioning from clinical practice to academia. The literature highlights issues such as insufficient mentorship, role confusion, and a lack of structured support as key factors contributing to early faculty attrition. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to implement and evaluate an evidence-based mentorship program to improve perceptions of mentorship effectiveness among new-to-academia nurse faculty in a School of Nursing in Arkansas. The purpose was to implement and evaluate a mentorship program designed to improve perceptions of mentorship among new-to-academia nurse faculty. The project …

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Quality Improvement Project: Gpt Prompts As Tools For Cultural Competence In Undergraduate Nursing Education, Elizabeth K. Hobbs

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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In rural nursing programs, student exposure to diverse cultures is limited, which can hinder development of cultural competence. Artificial intelligence (AI) simulation is an evidence-based strategy to improve cultural competence and clinical decision-making, a practice gap exists due to lack of structured, accessible tools. This quality improvement project evaluated whether Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT)–based structured prompts would increase culturally inclusive simulation activities and improve faculty perceptions of usefulness and ease of use at a rural community college. The guiding PICOT asked: Among nursing faculty, how does the use of GPT-based structured prompts, compared to an unstructured approach, impact perceived usefulness, …

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Quality Improvement Project: Impact Of Faculty Competency And Classroom Application Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai), Clydea Hale

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare has created a growing need for nursing faculty to develop competency in AI to adequately prepare students for modern clinical practice. Despite this need, limited faculty knowledge and low classroom application of AI persist. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of an evidence-based AI educational intervention on nursing faculty competency and classroom application. Guided by the Stetler Model of Evidence-Based Practice and Lewin’s Change Theory, a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was implemented with nursing faculty at a rural community college in …

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Impact Of Provider Self-Efficacy On Caring For Patients With Prediabetes, David R. Knight

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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Prediabetes affects millions of adults in the United States, yet inconsistent provider knowledge and confidence limit evidence-based screening and management in primary care, a gap well-documented in the literature. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate whether a structured educational intervention improved provider self-efficacy related to prediabetes identification and management. Guided by Social Cognitive Theory and the Transtheoretical Model, with implementation guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle, this project asked: among family practice providers, how does prediabetes education affect provider self-efficacy over four weeks? A quasi-experimental pre/post design was used. Four asynchronous educational modules focused on evidence-based screening, …

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Associate Degree Nursing Students’ Lived Experiences With Simulation: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Jamie O'Connor Florez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of prelicensure associate degree nursing (ADN) students related to skills acquisition and workplace readiness through simulation-based learning at community colleges in California. Skills acquisition and workplace readiness were defined as students’ perceptions of their ability to competently perform nursing skills and prepare for entry into the healthcare workforce. Guided by Kolb’s experiential learning theory, data were collected from 13 ADN students through questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and reflective journaling and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis.

Three themes emerged: varying emotions from excitement to feeling overwhelmed; experiences of collaboration and unprofessionalism …

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An Evidence-Based Educational Intervention To Enhance Nurses' Knowledge Of Metabolic Syndrome In Residential Care Facilities, Marie Tanyi

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

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The project addresses a critical gap in nursing education by implementing a structured, evidencebased educational intervention led by an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) to improve nurses’ knowledge of metabolic syndrome in residential care facilities. The purpose was to determine whether this intervention could significantly enhance nurses’ understanding and management of metabolic syndrome, a complex cluster of disorders present in adult populations. Nine nurses participated in targeted educational sessions focusing on definition, diagnosis, complications, and evidence-based prevention and management strategies. Each participant completed the Metabolic Syndrome Knowledge Scale (MSKS) questionnaire before and after the intervention to assess changes in knowledge. …

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Effect Of The Senior Clinical Practicum On Baccalaureate Nursing Student Self-Efficacy, Allyson N. Mattingly

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

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While nursing shortages are increasing and nurses are reporting higher rates of burnout and job-related stress, it is critical that educators in pre-licensure nursing programs identify strategies to better prepare novice nurses for entering the workforce. Using Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory as a framework, this study sought to investigate whether a senior clinical practicum experience increases general and nursing competence self-efficacy, which may indicate better ability to cope in the face of adversity. This study was a quantitative one-group pretest-posttest design, investigating undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students from accredited institutions in Kentucky. Results suggest that the clinical …

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Nurse Educators’ Understanding Of Social Justice As A Core Professional Value, Julie Larson, Msn, Rn

College of Nursing Posters

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Background

• Health disparities persist along socially constructed lines
• Equity and social justice are prioritized as core values in The Essentials¹ and The Future of Nursing², yet social justice in nursing remains “abstractly defined and poorly operationalized”³ 
• Growing social determinants of health (SDoH) focus in nursing education with limited attention to structural causes

Key literature findings:

• Limited curricular inclusion of social justice; unclear understanding of student learning ^4,5,6
• Faculty hesitancy; lack of preparation to teach equity/social justice content ^7,8
• Predominance of Whiteness in nursing education ^9,10

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Building Capacity, Changing Teaching Practices: Insights From A Professional Development Program For Educators In A Low-Income Country, Caroline Havery, Mary Kililo, Julie Dopsie, Mary Roroi, Di Brown, Ali Moloney, Lisa Townsend, Amanda Neill, Michele Rumsey, Chris Rossiter, Thelma Ali

Pacific Journal of Health

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Background

Building capacity of health professional educators in low- and middle-income countries can improve population health outcomes through upskilling the health workforce. However, education programs must respond to local contexts and challenges including participants’ needs and expectations, language difficulties, and resource limitations. This paper evaluates a program for nursing and community health worker educators in Papua New Guinea.

Methods

This qualitative descriptive study was designed and implemented using a collaborative partnership approach. It comprised six focus groups with 26 educators who were program participants. Thematic analysis examined participants’ perceptions of the program and their implementation of change projects.

Results

Four …

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Quality Improvement Project Standardizing Simulation In Nursing Education: A Faculty Training Initiative, Andrea Reyes

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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Simulation-based education is essential in nursing programs as clinical placement opportunities decline. However, inconsistent faculty preparation can compromise the quality of simulation delivery. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement and evaluate a standardized simulation faculty training initiative to determine its impact on nursing faculty's confidence in simulation facilitation. Guided by the Jeffries Simulation Framework and Lewin’s Change Theory, a quasi-experimental pre-post design was used to examine changes in faculty confidence following participation in a training program aligned with national standards and guidelines. Faculty confidence was measured using the Simulation Educator Needs Assessment Tool (SENAT) administered pre- …

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Addressing Faculty Gaps In The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program, Shea Brock

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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Graduate nursing programs increasingly rely on adjunct faculty to sustain enrollment growth; however, inconsistent onboarding processes may contribute to variability in faculty preparedness and job satisfaction. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement a standardized adjunct faculty education program and evaluate its impact on adjunct faculty knowledge and job satisfaction within an online Psychiatric–Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program. A quantitative, quasi-experimental one-group pre–post design was utilized. Six adjunct faculty members (n = 6) completed a 10-item EXXAT Knowledge Survey and a 10-item Faculty Satisfaction Survey before and after participation in a structured one-hour education session focused …

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Quality Improvement Project: Integrating Modified Early Warning Score (Mews) Criteria Into A Local Community College's Nursing Curriculum, Breanna C. Bell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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There is an international priority for early recognition of patient deterioration with adequate responses to facilitate patient safety. The modified early warning score (MEWS) tool is commonly used to identify and respond to acute patient deterioration, so it is effective to educate nursing students on its use to influence their future practice. However, there is a lack of a curriculum to integrate MEWS criteria for associate degree in nursing (ADN) students at a local community college. This quality improvement project aimed to enhance ADN faculty’s self-efficacy and ability to integrate MEWS criteria into the didactic curriculum at a community college …

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

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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

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

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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

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Resuscitating ‘Code Sepsis’ In The Nursing Workforce, Adrianna Lorraine Watson, Carmel Bond, Debra Jackson

Faculty Publications

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Sepsis ranks among the top global health threats, responsible for approximately one in every fivedeaths and accounting for over 30 million cases and 5.3 million deaths annually (Rudd et al.,2020). Clinically, sepsis arises from a dysregulated host response to infection that featuresboth hyperinflammation and immunosuppression, leading to organ dysfunction and, too often,shock and death if recognition and treatment are delayed. Sepsis is not always immediatelyapparent, and its recognition can be complicated when patients present with other acute illnessesor underlying chronic conditions. Comorbid conditions may blur the clinical picture, delayingsuspicion of sepsis until the illness has progressed. More than half of …

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Emerging Workforce Nurse Resilience-Enhancement Program: A Qualitative Descriptive Phenomenological Study, Adrianna Lorraine Watson, Hiromi Tobe, Gabriela Marquez, Rachel Detrick

Faculty Publications

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Background: Nursing students experience heightened stress and emotional burden during clinical training, but opportunitiesfor structured resilience skill development remain limited.

Aim: To explore undergraduate nursing students' lived experiences of participation in a resilience-enhancement program.

Design: Qualitative descriptive phenomenology.

Methods: Undergraduate students participated in a resilience-enhancement pilot program adapted from Japan for Americannursing students. Upon program completion, four semi-structured focus groups were conducted. Sessions were audio-recorded,transcribed and analysed inductively.

Findings: Three themes were identified: (1) Intrapersonal Resilience Strategies; (2) Interpersonal & Accountability Supports; and(3) Intervention Design & Delivery Factors. Students described increased emotional insight, stronger coping tools and the value ofsocial …

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Care Without Judgement: Political Awareness In Nursing Beyond Divides, Carmel Bond, Debra Jackson, Adrianna Lorraine Watson

Faculty Publications

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In everyday nursing practice, political regimes and power structures must be recognised as essential influences. These forcesshape resource access, funding priorities, and the invisible biases that threaten equitable, non-judgemental care. In contexts of global armed conflict, forced displacement and system collapse, these dynamics are magnified, producing avoidable suffering along deeply stratified social lines. The disproportionate suffering experienced by marginalised populations in contexts of conflict, displacement and system collapse is not accidental but is produced through discursive and policy regimes thatnormalise exclusion, justify scarcity and render some lives lessworthy of care. Nursing is not external to these forces. It is practiced …

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A Quality Improvement Project: Enhancing Nursing Knowledge And Patient Safety In The Prevention Of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries (Hapis) In A Medical-Surgical Unit, Kristen Vartabedian

Master's Theses and Capstones

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Background: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are a significant quality indicator within the hospital system. HAPIs increase hospitalization, morbidity, and associated healthcare costs. The current evidence suggests that ongoing nursing education can improve pressure injury prevention and help in the early identification.

Local Problem: Nurses within a medical-surgical unit demonstrated a gap in knowledge in the identification of hospital acquired pressure injuries and lack of accuracy when charting skin findings. Thus, contributing to a delay in recognition and treatment of HAPIs.

Methods: This quality improvement project utilized the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework to guide implementation of educational flipbooks. Materials contained standardized wound …

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Reducing 30-Day Readmission Rates In Patients With Heart Failure, Charles Mccoy

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

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Abstract

Globally, heart failure affects approximately 54 million individuals and has reached pandemic levels, contributing to elevated 30-day readmission rates (Sa et al., 2024). Background: In the United States, 30-day readmission rates range from 18% to 20%, with similar rates across all states. The current rate was documented as 29% at the study setting hospital. Objective: Implement a Quality Improvement project based on education, evidence-based order sets, and referral to palliative care to reduce 30-day readmission rates among adults with heart failure. Methods: Nursing staff completed education specific to heart failure, and patients received the American Heart Association Self-Check assessment. …

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Storytelling & Simulation-Based Experiences (Sbes): Immersive Environments That Support Student Learning, Meredith Deegan, Lauren Goeke, Kristina Sandberg, Josh Blubaugh, Kimberly Davis, Mary Murigi

School of Nursing Publications

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Storytelling and Simulation-Based Experiences (SBEs) offer a powerful, equity-minded approach to teaching population health. Drawing on the NLN Jeffries Simulation Theory, Kolb’s experiential learning model, and the AACN 2021 Essentials, this session presents a SBE that integrates narrative design to immerse learners in community-centered care through a simulated Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) waiting room experience.

This SBE places students in a crowded FQHC waiting room to explore cultural humility, empathy, and health promotion in underserved settings. After the prebrief establishing purpose and psychological safety, students enter a conference room transformed with tight seating, limited walking space, and ambient noise. …

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Combating Pressure Injuries In Critical Care: A Dnp Project On Nursing Education And Prevention Strategies In The Icu, Tijuana M. Johnson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are preventable complications that significantly increase patient morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and healthcare costs, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs). At a rural 146-bed hospital, the ICU pressure injury rate of 1.17 per 1,000 discharges exceeded the national benchmark of 0.58 per 1.000 discharges, identifying a critical gap in prevention practices. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to improve ICU nurses' knowledge of pressure injury prevention and reduce unit-based educational intervention grounded in Patricia Benner’s Novice to Expert Theory and implemented using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) quality improvement framework.

A pre-and post-intervention design was …

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Building Clinical Competency In Central Line Care: A Nurse-Focused Initiative To Prevent Clabsis, Glenda A. Robbins

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are a significant yet preventable source of increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs in acute care settings. Despite established evidence-based prevention bundles, inconsistent nursing adherence remains a primary contributor to elevated CLABSI rates. A 241-bed acute care hospital reported CLABSI rates above the national benchmark. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project utilized Neuman’s Systems Model. The intervention consisted of a structured educational module on central line care and maintenance, including pre- and post- knowledge assessments. Additionally, standardized daily central line visual audits were reinforced by the Vascular Access Team. A total of 363 bedside …

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Enhancing Mass Casualty Incident Preparedness: Bridging The Gap Between Education And Practice, Emily M. Coggins

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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The increasing amount of mass casualty incidents (MCIs), such as natural disasters, large-scale emergencies, and active shooter events, has emphasized the need for healthcare professionals to respond effectively. Traditional undergraduate nursing curriculum often offers limited opportunities for students to practice disaster preparedness through simulated experiences. This DNP project was created to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing an MCI training simulation to increase the confidence and competence of senior pre-licensure nursing students when responding to a mass casualty event. The project implemented a 1-day, simulation-based MCI event for senior nursing students enrolled in an Adult Health II course. The event included …

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Becoming A Nurse: A Lifelong Journey Beyond The Transition To Professional Practice-An Analytical Discursive Paper, Seung A. Park, Eckert, Rebecca Sharp, Judy Duchscher, Micah D.J. Peters

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

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Aim: To reconceptualise becoming a nurse as a lifelong developmental journey that extends beyond the traditional focus on new graduate transition, and to inform policies and practices supporting recruitment, retention and career sustainability. Background: The global nursing shortage persists, exacerbated by high attrition rates among new graduates and an aging workforce. While existing literature predominantly examines the transition from student to professional practice, we propose that ‘becoming a nurse’ begins earlier and extends beyond clinical roles into retirement. Design: An analytical discursive paper. Data Sources: Key theoretical frameworks (Schlossberg's Transition Model, Kennedy's Integrated Transition Model, Benner's Novice-to-Expert framework and Duchscher's …

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The Effectiveness Of Virtual Reality Aggression And Violence De-Escalation Training For Nursing And Midwifery Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Joshua Johnson, Brennen Mills, Luke Hopper, Sara Hansen, Kelley Mumford, Renju Joseph, Susan Philip, Gina Kruger, Abdi D. Osman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

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Background: Nursing students experience substantial exposure to aggression and violence while attending clinical placement. De-escalation training can effectively prepare students for aggressive encounters, yet is resource-intensive to deliver. Immersive virtual reality (VR) may improve training accessibility for nursing students. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of a VR de-escalation training program to improve nursing students’ confidence in managing patient aggression and its perceived usability. Methods: This study utilized a single-group quasi-experimental pre-/post-test design. Undergraduate Australian nursing students (n = 221) completed a VR de-escalation training program, providing pre-/postintervention self-reported confidence in coping with patient aggression, system usability, and motion sickness data. …

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Facilitators And Barriers To Teach And Assess Clinical Judgment In The Context Of Ngn And Interpreted Through The Nln Framework, Patricia L. Pence, Seon Yoon Chung, Lisa D. Broderson, Vicki Moran, Myoungjin Kim

Faculty Publications - Mennonite College of Nursing

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Background

The shift to Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) requires that nurse educators (NEs) align strategies to teach and assess clinical judgment (CJ). However, gaps remain in NEs' formal preparation to effectively teach and assess CJ as they prepare graduates for success on the evolving licensure examination.

Purpose

This study identified facilitators and barriers to teaching and assessing CJ within the context of NGN.

Method

A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted with 143 NEs across the United States (September 2022–April 2023). Findings were interpreted through the National League for Nursing (NLN) Core Competencies and Scope of Practice framework rather than reported …

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Developing An Educational Session And Epic-Based Tools To Help Nurses Provide Culturally Sensitive Care To Their Muslim Patients, Laila Albutmeh

Nursing | Senior Theses

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Background: Islam is currently the fastest growing religion in the world and the chances of nurses having a Muslim patient is exceptionally high yet many nurses lack the knowledge and resources on how to accurately provide culturally sensitive care to Muslim patients. Hospitals lack educational sessions/training as well as Epic tools to help nurses provide culturally sensitive care to Muslim patients which leads to a knowledge deficit in cultural sensitivity of Islamic beliefs, values, and practices. Purpose: This thesis paper proposes a research design for a nurse education/training program on Islamic beliefs, values, and practices along with an implementation of …

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Methodological Approaches To Assessing Clinical Reasoning In Simulation-Based Education: An Integrative Review, Dhanya Anand Anil Kumar, Natasya Raja Azlan, Hugh Davies, Debbie L. Massey, Karen Strickland

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

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Aims: Clinical reasoning is a critical skill for nurses, developing progressively through structured education and clinical experience. Simulation-based learning provides nursing students with a safe, immersive environment to develop this skill if it is thoughtfully designed and rigorously implemented. This review addresses a key gap in nursing education research by exploring methodological trends and key elements to consider for developing simulations to assess clinical reasoning in nursing students. Design: An integrative review using Whittemore and Knafl's framework. Data sources: Six databases (CINAHL, PubMed, ScienceDirect, MEDLINE, PsycInfo and Google Scholar) were searched for studies published from 2014 to September 2025. Review …

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Factors Influencing Senior Practicum Readiness For Nursing Practice: A Descriptive Correlational Study, Beth Nease Phd, Dnp, Rn, Ne-Bc, Cynthia F. Corbett Phd, Rn, Faan, Stephanie Armstrong Phd, Msn, Rn, Kesheng Wang Phd, Ma, Bs, Kathy Casey, Kong Chen

Faculty Publications

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Background:

This study investigated the influence of belongingness, self-efficacy, and clinical learning support on readiness for nursing practice and explored the role of demographic factors and nursing program differences.

Method:

A quantitative, descriptive approach was used to explore undergraduate prelicensure senior nursing students' perceptions across the United States.

Results:

Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression demonstrated students in traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs reported significantly higher scores across all domains compared with those in associate degree programs (p < .01). Similarly, students in programs with ≤400 clinical hours and those assigned only one preceptor scored significantly higher on all measures (p < .01 and p < .05, respectively). Regression analysis indicated self-efficacy and learning support explained 47.9% of the variance in practice readiness (p < .05).

Conclusion:

These findings share how clinical experiences shape students' readiness for nursing practice. Recommendations …

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