Nursing Commons^™

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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Enhancing Readiness Of Novice Nurse Educators To Use Concept Mapping As An Active Learning Strategy, Kaitlyn Dutch

MSN Student Capstones

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No abstract provided.

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Nursing Faculty Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence: A Quantitative Causal-Comparative Cross-Sectional Study, Micaela Mcspadden

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare has highlighted the importance of understanding how nursing faculty perceive this technology. Although prior studies have explored public views, nurses’ perceptions, and faculty attitudes toward technology and curriculum change, limited research has focused on nursing faculty perspectives toward AI. Through the lens of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study examined factors that influence nursing faculty attitudes toward AI in nursing education. This study used a quantitative, causal-comparative, cross-sectional design with 263 nursing faculty participants from undergraduate pre-licensure programs in the United States. Participants …

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Charting The Course: Improving Psychotropic Medication Documentation Through Staff Education To Promote Patient Safety And Cms Compliance, Anne J. Bertram Rn

Master's Projects and Capstones

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The University of San Francisco master’s level nursing program culminates with a clinical nurse leader (CNL) quality improvement project. The objective of this project is to reinforce the program’s didactic CNL classes by allowing students the opportunity to design, implement, and analyze a quality improvement project in a microsystem. SETTING: Skilled nursing facilities often prescribe psychotropic medications to help manage residents’ behavioral and psychological symptoms. Due to the possibility of side effects and increased sedation, there are concerns for patient safety and quality of life. Inadequate management of these patients and symptoms compromises patient safety and breaches state and federal …

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The Impact Of High-Fidelity Simulation On Graduate Nursing Students’ Knowledge And Confidence In Septic Shock Management, Shaden Mustafa

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) Doctorate of Nursing (DNP) project was to create and evaluate the impact of high-fidelity simulation-based training (SBT) on graduate nursing students’ knowledge and confidence in diagnosing and treating septic shock. Outcomes were measured with pre- and post-simulation tests featuring competency questions and Likert-scale confidence ratings.

Accordingly, the two research questions guiding this project were: (1) How effective is high-fidelity simulation training in improving students’ knowledge and competence in managing septic shock? (2) How effective is high-fidelity simulation training in enhancing students’ confidence when caring for patients with septic shock?

Septic shock was selected …

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A Quality Improvement Project: Faculty Education On Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Principles, Ashley Mcdoulett

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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According to the literature, social injustices, inequities, and implicit bias influence health outcomes in marginalized populations. To eliminate health disparities, nurses should be prepared to provide care that addresses these issues, and faculty should be able to effectively integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles into the nursing curriculum. A literature review suggests the integration of DEI into nursing education is lacking, and by offering an educational session for faculty on best practices for curriculum incorporation, this project aimed to address that gap. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) model guided this project. RE-AIM emphasizes targeting a population to …

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The Effects Of Escape Room Simulations On Stress Levels Of Sophomore Baccalaureate Nursing Students: An Experimental Study, Bethany L. Mcfann

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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The purpose of this quantitative experimental pretest -posttest design using an experimental and control group was to determine if gaming escape room simulation will decrease BSN nursing students' stress in high fidelity simulation (HFS). The sample size of 64 students had 32 students randomly assigned to each group, the control and the experimental group. The first-year sophomore Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) students at a state university were randomly assigned to either traditional or escape room simulation scenarios. Stress levels of each group were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) tool before and after the simulations with statistical …

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Quality Improvement Project, Communicating With The Dying Patient: A Simulation Experience For Nursing Students, Jason Weger

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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Effective communication with patients near the end of life is a crucial yet often underdeveloped skill among nursing students. Previous research highlights a persistent gap in training for end-of-life communication in nursing schools. This quality improvement project implemented a simulation-based educational intervention to improve end-of-life communication skills among first-semester nursing students at a community college in Oklahoma. A needs assessment identified significant gaps in students' readiness for emotionally charged patient interactions. Guided by Prosci’s Change Model and Jeffries Simulation Theory, the project used a faculty-led simulation experience to teach evidence-based communication strategies, including appropriate word choice, therapeutic presence, and active …

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Quality Improvement Project: Educating Nursing Faculty On Medication Administration Labs To Improve Student Competency, Chelsea Pacheco

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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Medication administration errors are a leading cause of preventable harm in healthcare. Faculty play a critical role in ensuring nursing students develop the knowledge and confidence to give medications safely. A needs assessment at the project site revealed that only course coordinators were teaching medication administration and dosage calculation, leaving other faculty uncertain about how to teach these skills. This quality improvement project aimed to strengthen faculty confidence and create consistency in first-year instruction through a recorded educational video. Constructivist Learning Theory provided the foundation for active, experience-based learning. Lewin’s Change Theory guided the structured implementation process to support adoption …

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Establishing Nursing Excellence: A Quality Improvement Approach To Nursing Administration Evaluation Using Frontline Feedback, Meredith Sykora

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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In the increasingly complex environment of nursing education, leadership quality and responsiveness significantly influence workplace culture, faculty satisfaction, professional development, and student outcomes. Despite these realities, many academic nursing programs, including the Division of Nursing at a community college in Arkansas, lack formal structures for bidirectional leadership evaluation. This gap limits frontline faculty’s ability to provide formative feedback to program leaders, weakening shared governance and transparency. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate leadership effectiveness following the implementation of a structured bidirectional feedback process between nursing faculty and program leaders. Guided by Kouzes and Posner’s Leadership Practices …

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The Role Of Forgiveness In Health And Healthcare: Perspectives From Graduate Nursing Students And Faculty At A Private Faith-Based University In The United State[S], Rachel A. Joseph, Shanna W. Akers, Jichan J. Kim

Faculty Publications and Presentations

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No abstract provided.

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Shared Decision Making In Women's Health: A Quality Improvement Project, Brittney Butler

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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Shared decision-making (SDM) is the best practice in contraceptive counseling, yet it remains underutilized in primary care, particularly within underserved communities. Limited SDM use reduces patient autonomy, weakens satisfaction, and contributes to inconsistent documentation. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to evaluate whether an educational intervention on SDM for contraceptive counseling improved provider self-efficacy and the electronic medical record (EMR) documentation of SDM practices. Guided by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory and Lewin’s Change Management Model, the project sought to enhance provider confidence and foster sustainable behavioral change. A quasi-experimental, one-group pretest–posttest design was implemented at a rural Federally Qualified Health …

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Quality Improvement Project: Nursing Education In Relation To The Use And Effect Of Neuromuscular Blockade Agents, Lauren Danielle Bowen

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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Neuromuscular blockade agents are a medication class that requires education and knowledge to ensure protocols, assessments, and tools are utilized in acute care facilities. Quality improvement (QI) project focused on the use of neuromuscular blockage agents to ensure nursing staff, who have direct patient contact, received proper education. A quasi-experimental, pre-post project intervention design was used to evaluate evidence-based practice interventions with a literature review, assessment, and tools used by the population studied. Aim and purpose of the QI project was to increase nursing staff educational knowledge on the use of neuromuscular blockade agents in patients who are sedated requiring …

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Assessing Community Readiness And Benefits Of A Nursing Program: Implications For Healthcare And Education, Mary Anne Frances D. Reyes, Aaron A. Funa, Robert Jamisola, Ma. Joahna D. Perdigon, Jerica D. Latonero

Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia

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In response to recent policy shifts allowing the establishment of new nursing programs in the Philippines, this study assesses the perceived readiness of Sorsogon, a geographically underserved province, to implement a bachelor of science in nursing program. It also explores the anticipated benefits that such a program may offer to students and the local community. A cross-sectional survey of 375 stakeholders, selected through purposive sampling, was conducted using a validated instrument developed through expert consultation. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative responses were examined through thematic analysis. The findings reveal widespread support for the proposed program, emphasizing …

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