Quality Improvement Project: Empowering Nurses And Medical Assistants To Improve Medication Adherence: A Screening-Based Quality Improvement Initiative,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Quality Improvement Project: Empowering Nurses And Medical Assistants To Improve Medication Adherence: A Screening-Based Quality Improvement Initiative, Maria Garcia
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
Medication nonadherence is a persistent challenge in clinical settings that negatively influences patient outcomes and is often driven by cost, access, and patient-related barriers, as widely documented in the literature. Nurses and medical assistants play a critical role in identifying these barriers; however, inconsistent screening and limited staff confidence may hinder intervention. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of implementing the Brief Medication Questionnaire (BMQ) on staff confidence in addressing medication adherence and to assess clinic-wide utilization of the tool. The project was guided by the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice and Lewin’s Change …
Quality Improvement Project Standardizing Simulation In Nursing Education: A Faculty Training Initiative,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Quality Improvement Project Standardizing Simulation In Nursing Education: A Faculty Training Initiative, Andrea Reyes
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
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- …
Improving Diabetes Care: Staff Training On Updated Ada Guidelines,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Improving Diabetes Care: Staff Training On Updated Ada Guidelines, Jeffrey Wilson
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
The incidence of diabetes is rising, requiring clinical staff to stay current with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Care. A lack of knowledge and outdated practices were revealed during the needs assessment at the project site. This quality improvement (QI) project sought to determine whether ADA‑centered educational training could impact staff members' knowledge of diabetes. Orem’s Self‑Care Deficit Nursing Theory and Lewin’s Change Theory served as the theoretical frameworks to promote provider competence and adherence to evidence‑based diabetes treatment. Quasi‑experimental pre–post design was used with a convenience sample of four clinical staff at a rural outpatient clinic. Study …
Quality Improvement Project: Protecting Young Kidneys: Optimizing Albuminuria Management In Youth With Diabetes,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Quality Improvement Project: Protecting Young Kidneys: Optimizing Albuminuria Management In Youth With Diabetes, Mili Vakharia
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
Diabetic nephropathy is a major microvascular complication and the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among individuals with diabetes. Children and adolescents with type 1 and type 2 diabetes face a higher risk of developing CKD earlier in life due to longer disease duration, poor glycemic control, and delayed CKD diagnosis. Guidelines emphasize timely detection and intervention to slow disease progression. Albuminuria is an early marker of glomerular injury and signals the need to initiate CKD treatment. Despite evidence supporting early detection and treatment, standardized management of albuminuria in pediatric diabetes care remains inconsistent. This Doctor of Nursing Practice …
Quality Improvement Project: Use Of The Behavioral Risk Assessment Tool To Enhance The Utilization Of The Behavioral Emergency Response Team,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Quality Improvement Project: Use Of The Behavioral Risk Assessment Tool To Enhance The Utilization Of The Behavioral Emergency Response Team, Joseph Sindhu
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
Workplace violence is a global challenge, and nurses often encounter patient aggression. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to enhance the use of a behavioral assessment tool derived from the Brøset Violence Checklist and the Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT) to de-escalate workplace violence. This project aimed to improve behavioral assessment documentation and BERT use in a critical care unit by 30% within 5 weeks. Guided by the Donabedian Model theoretical framework and Lewin's Change Theory, the project employed a quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design in an advanced heart failure unit with full-time nurses as participants. The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework …
Standardizing Patient-Centered And Trauma-Informed Communication Practices Among Staff In A Behavioral Health Setting,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Standardizing Patient-Centered And Trauma-Informed Communication Practices Among Staff In A Behavioral Health Setting, Jayla Brown
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the effect of an evidence-based educational intervention on staff attitudes toward trauma-informed and patient-centered communication in an outpatient behavioral health clinic. Guided by Lewin’s Change Theory and Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, the project aimed to improve staff knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in applying trauma-informed communication strategies across all clinic roles. An eight-week educational intervention based on the SAMHSA Trauma-Informed Care Toolkit was implemented for clinical and administrative staff. A quantitative pretest–posttest quasi-experimental design was used, with outcomes measured using an adapted Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care scale. All …
A Nurse-Led Clinical Practice Guideline To Improve Medication Adherence Among Psychiatric Home-Health Patients,
2026
Walden University
A Nurse-Led Clinical Practice Guideline To Improve Medication Adherence Among Psychiatric Home-Health Patients, Amber Murillo - Alonzo
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Medication nonadherence among psychiatric patients receiving home-health services contributes to symptom relapse, preventable hospitalizations, and decreased quality of life. Inconsistent medication education and adherence monitoring within home-health settings may further exacerbate this problem. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to develop and evaluate a nurse-led clinical practice guideline (CPG) designed to improve medication adherence among psychiatric home-health patients. The practice-focused question asked: What evidence, based on content expert review using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument, supports the quality and usability of a CPG to improve medication adherence in a …
Quality Improvement Project: Impact Of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction On Nurse Burnout In Skilled Nursing
Facilities,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Quality Improvement Project: Impact Of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction On Nurse Burnout In Skilled Nursing Facilities, Chinenye Okafor
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
Burnout is a persistent and critical problem in skilled nursing facilities, contributing to reduced job satisfaction, increased turnover, and compromised quality of care. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program on burnout among registered nurses in a skilled nursing facility. Guided by the Job Demands–Resources framework and Lewin’s Change Theory, a quantitative pretest–posttest design was implemented using the Plan–Do–Study–Act. Ten nurses consented to participate in an eight-week intervention, and four completed both pre- and post-intervention measures. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services …
Quality Improvement Project: Improving Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates Through Provider Education In Primary Care,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Quality Improvement Project: Improving Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates Through Provider Education In Primary Care, Leikasha Allen
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
Pneumococcal disease remains a major cause of illness and mortality among adults aged 65 years and older, leading to severe pneumonia, bacteremia, and meningitis, particularly in vulnerable populations. Although effective vaccines and clear Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Advisory Committee Immunization Practice (ACIP) guidelines, vaccination in this age group remains inadequate. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project aimed to determine the impact of pneumococcal vaccination compliance through evaluating provider knowledge, confidence, and adherence to evidence-based guidelines through targeted education. Guided by Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory and the Health Belief Model, a 20-minute evidence‑based educational session …
Implementation Of A Mentoring Toolkit: A Quality Improvement Project,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Implementation Of A Mentoring Toolkit: A Quality Improvement Project, Joshlyn Neu
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
Nursing faculty mentorship is an essential component of professional development, job satisfaction and faculty retention. However, many schools lack a structured approach to preparing their faculty members to act as mentors. This quality improvement project set out to determine whether the implementation of a formal mentoring toolkit would improve nursing faculty members perceived competency to act as mentors. Guided by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), Lewin’s Change Theory, and the latest evidence-based research, this project sought to answer the following question: In full-time nursing faculty members teaching in a BSN program at a small, private college (P), how does the …
Staff Education To Improve Psychiatric Nurses’ Use Of Evidence-Based Strategies For Supporting Medication Adherence In Outpatient Settings,
2026
Walden University
Staff Education To Improve Psychiatric Nurses’ Use Of Evidence-Based Strategies For Supporting Medication Adherence In Outpatient Settings, Lilian Ndifon
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Psychiatric medication nonadherence remains a persistent barrier to effective outpatient mental health care and contributes to relapse, rehospitalization, and disrupted continuity of care. In outpatient psychiatric settings, nurses are often responsible for patient education and follow-up, yet many lack formal training in evidence-based strategies to support medication adherence. This staff education project was implemented at an outpatient psychiatric facility to address this practice gap. The practice-focused question asked whether a structured staff education intervention would improve outpatient psychiatric nurses’ knowledge of evidence-based medication adherence strategies. Twelve outpatient psychiatric nurses participated in a one-hour educational session focused on motivational interviewing, psychoeducation, …
Staff Education For Hypertension Diagnosis, Management, And Treatment,
2026
Walden University
Staff Education For Hypertension Diagnosis, Management, And Treatment, Philomena Ifeyinwa Chinemelu
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Hypertension (HTN) is a significant public health concern, and educating nursing staff is crucial to improving patient outcomes and supporting public health initiatives. This staff education project focused on improving the quality of hypertension management by empowering nurses to provide evidence-based, patient-centered care. The practice-focused question is as follows: Will HTN education improve staff knowledge of HTN diagnosis, treatment, and management? I employed a quantitative pre-test/post-test design to measure changes in staff (n = 10) knowledge before and after training. Descriptive statistics measure knowledge gain and the effectiveness of educational strategies. The pre-test percentage of correct answers improved from 79% …
Staff Education To Reduce Compassion Fatigue In Acute Care Staff Nurses,
2026
Walden University
Staff Education To Reduce Compassion Fatigue In Acute Care Staff Nurses, Kamala C. Mcgee
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Compassion fatigue (CF), burnout, and moral distress are common in high-acuity nursing environments, yet nurses are rarely taught how to recognize or manage these challenges. The guiding question for this staff education project was about whether education focused on CF and mindfulness-based coping strategies would improve nurses’ knowledge and attitudes in an acute care VA medical center. Posteducation results (n = 20) showed meaningful, statistically significant improvements. Familiarity with CF increased from baseline (M = 2.35; SD = 1.04) to post implementation (M = 3.75; SD = .91), t(19) = −5.085, p < .001. Confidence in recognizing CF in oneself improved from baseline (M = 2.6; SD = .875) to post implementation (M = 3.60; SD = .821), p = .004. Confidence in recognizing CF in colleagues increased from baseline (M = 2.40; SD = .821) to postimplementation (M = 3.15; SD = .671), p = .012. Agreement that seeking help is a sign of weakness decreased from baseline (M = 2.00; SD = .503) to postimplementation (M = 1.40; SD = .951), p = .024. Although perceptions of organizational support did not change, nurses reported greater use of mindfulness, peer support, and boundary setting, supporting nurse wellbeing and psychological safety. Several recommendations emerge from this project. CF education should be integrated into routine staff development, annual competencies, and onboarding for new nurses. By reducing stigma around seeking help and promoting peer awareness, this work supports fostering a workplace culture where all nurses feel safe, supported, and valued, a positive social change.
Optimizing Patient Adherence Through Improved Technology-Based Communication By Enhancing Staff Efficiency At An Opiate Treatment Program Clinic,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Optimizing Patient Adherence Through Improved Technology-Based Communication By Enhancing Staff Efficiency At An Opiate Treatment Program Clinic, Jennifer Parsons
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
High rates of missed appointments and unreliable follow-up remain a problem in outpatient opioid treatment clinics. This project improved the communication workflow at a methadone maintenance clinic by strengthening reminder systems and staff coordination. A needs assessment found several problems: appointment reminders were inconsistent, tracking was unreliable, and staff communication often relied on manual handoffs. The project was to test a technology-based workflow designed to improve staff communication and reduce missed appointments. The Technology Acceptance Model and Lewin’s Change Theory guided the change. The clinic implemented automated reminders, secure messaging, and clearer documentation to support daily communication. A pre-post evaluation …
Addressing Faculty Gaps In The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Addressing Faculty Gaps In The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program, Shea Brock
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
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 …
Quality Improvement Project: Integrating Modified Early Warning Score (Mews) Criteria Into A Local Community College's Nursing Curriculum,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
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
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 …
Quality Improvement Project: Leveling Pharmacology: A Faculty Development Initiative,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Quality Improvement Project: Leveling Pharmacology: A Faculty Development Initiative, Allison Berg
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project was to address limited faculty self-efficacy in developing higher-level, competency-based pharmacology questions for clinical quizzes within an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. A faculty needs assessment identified an overreliance on recall-based pharmacology assessments, contributing to gaps in students’ clinical reasoning and medication competency. Guided by Bandura’s Theory of Self-Efficacy and Lewin’s Change Theory, a structured faculty development session was implemented to improve faculty confidence and skills in writing application-based pharmacology questions. A pre- post intervention design was used with ADN faculty participants (N = 5) at a …
Improving Lunch Break To Enhance Nurse Happiness And Job Satisfaction,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Improving Lunch Break To Enhance Nurse Happiness And Job Satisfaction, Evelyn O. Dumkwu
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
Nurses frequently forgo scheduled lunch breaks due to high workload demands, inadequate staffing, and organizational cultures. Consistently skipping breaks has been associated with reduced happiness and lower job satisfaction, which may ultimately compromise the quality of patient care. This quality improvement (QI) project examined whether the structured observance of scheduled lunch breaks enhances nurses’ subjective happiness and job satisfaction. Guided by Lewin’s Change Theory and the Donabedian Theoretical Framework and implemented using the Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) framework, the project employed a quasi-experimental pre–post design during a six-week implementation period. Ten full-time nurses participated in the project. Investigator-designed Subjective Happiness and Job …
Quality Improvement Project: Effectiveness Of Staff Education On Fall Prevention,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Quality Improvement Project: Effectiveness Of Staff Education On Fall Prevention, Theresa Oahre Okoyomo
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
Falls increase injury and mortality rates and decrease patients' quality of life. Hospital falls also incur enormous financial burdens on hospitals. In 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) stopped reimbursing hospitals for fall-related injuries. The problem addressed in this quality improvement project was staff confidence in fall prevention and hospital fall rates. The purpose is to improve staff confidence and reduce fall rates by 95 % within six weeks. The 2025 CDC/STEADI Algorithm for Fall Risk Screening, Assessment, and Intervention was the program of choice because it aligns with the hospital's fall-prevention policy. This project design is …
Management Of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome In The Emergency Department,
2026
Walden University
Management Of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome In The Emergency Department, Janet Fuller
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This Doctor of Nursing Practice project involved development and approval of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) for management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) in the emergency department (ED) of a large community trauma center in the southeastern United States. AWS is a common, potentially life-threatening condition requiring timely assessment and intervention to prevent. Variability in ED screening and treatment contributes to delayed intervention, increased rapid response activations, and intensive care transfers. The project purpose was to develop and obtain expert approval of an evidence-based CPG using the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol–Revised (CIWA-Ar) tool to support standardized screening, symptom-triggered …
