Quality Improvement Project: Implementation Of The Surgical Safety Checklist To Improve Adherence To Time-Out At In-Office Procedure,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Quality Improvement Project: Implementation Of The Surgical Safety Checklist To Improve Adherence To Time-Out At In-Office Procedure, Funke Osaremwinda
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
Surgical errors in ambulatory and in-office procedural settings continue to rise despite well-established safety standards, such as the time-out (TO) protocol. Literature consistently links non-adherence to the TO protocol to preventable events such as wrong patient, wrong site, or wrong surgery. At the cardiovascular ambulatory clinic where the quality improvement (QI) project was implemented, the baseline needs assessment indicated inconsistent TO practices and the absence of a standardized tool to support TO. The purpose of this project was to improve adherence to the TO safety protocol through staff education and implementation of the evidence-based World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety …
Quality Improvement Project: The Impact Of Hypertension Management Education In Primary Care,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Quality Improvement Project: The Impact Of Hypertension Management Education In Primary Care, Toyin K. Aliu
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
Hypertension (HTN) is one of the leading causes of clinic visits and prescription medication use in primary care settings. Despite the availability of evidence-based guidelines to improve HTN management, adherence in clinical practice is often lacking. At the project site, 30% of patients have uncontrolled HTN. This is attributed to providers’ inadequate knowledge of the JNC-8 HTN management guidelines and inconsistent adherence to them. This project aimed to improve hypertension management in a primary care setting by educating providers on the JNC-8 guidelines to enhance adherence to evidence-based practices over six weeks. The purpose was to align medical providers with …
Quality Improvement Project: The Influence Of Education On Provider Self-Efficacy And Utilization Of The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-Ssrs),
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Quality Improvement Project: The Influence Of Education On Provider Self-Efficacy And Utilization Of The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-Ssrs), Doreen Nwaogwugwu
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, underscoring the critical need for consistent, evidence-based suicide risk screening in mental health facilities. Despite being a validated, evidence-based tool, the use of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is often hindered by inadequate provider training. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of provider education on self-efficacy and utilization of the C-SSRS in an outpatient mental health clinic. This quality improvement project used a quasi-experimental, one-group pretest-posttest design guided by the Health Belief Model, Lewin’s Change Theory, and the …
Quality Improvement Project: Enhancing Nurse Communication, Courtesy, And Respect At The Bedside,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Quality Improvement Project: Enhancing Nurse Communication, Courtesy, And Respect At The Bedside, Rachel Kemp
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
Effective communication is key to the nurse-to-patient relationship, patient outcomes, and patient satisfaction. The literature widely shows that barriers such as increased workplace violence and fear and biases within patient interactions hinder communication. This quality improvement project aimed to enhance nurse-to-patient communication, using an evidence-based tool, and leveraged Foli’s Theory of Nurses’ Psychological Trauma to explain and predict barriers. Success is measured by improvement of patient experience in the three nursing domains; courtesy and respect, listen to you, and explain in a way you understand. Lewin’s Change Theory and the plan, do, study, act (PDSA) framework was used to promote …
Quality Improvement Project: Building Competence And Confidence: Updating Nursing Faculty Knowledge Of The Flipped Classroom Model,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Quality Improvement Project: Building Competence And Confidence: Updating Nursing Faculty Knowledge Of The Flipped Classroom Model, Jamie Newman
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
The increasing complexity of healthcare requires undergraduate nursing education to move beyond traditional lecture-based instruction toward teaching strategies that promote clinical judgment. Although the flipped classroom model is shown to support these outcomes, faculty at the project site reported uncertainty and inconsistency in flipped classroom implementation. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of a structured, evidence-based faculty development intervention on undergraduate nursing faculty confidence, readiness, and competence to implement the flipped classroom model. Guided by Lewin’s Change Theory and the Stetler Model of Evidence-Based Practice, this quality improvement project used a quantitative, pre-experimental one-group …
Improving Benzodiazepine Refill Workflow And Communication Via Telehealth Using A Standardized Sbar Protocol,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Improving Benzodiazepine Refill Workflow And Communication Via Telehealth Using A Standardized Sbar Protocol, Hendricks Agwu
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
The development in telehealth operations in outpatient mental health care has enhanced access to care at the expense of creating challenges in communication and workflow, especially when it comes to dealing with high-risk substances like benzodiazepines. The role ambiguity, inaccurate refill timeline, documentation lapses and high chances of medication errors are caused by inconsistent communication during the process of telehealth refills. This quality improvement project was aimed at assessing the effects of applying a standardized Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) communication and documentation protocol to workflow efficiency, interprofessional communication, and medication safety when making benzodiazepine refills in a telehealth outpatient …
Quality Improvement Project: Impact Of Evidence-Based Self-Care Practice On Burnout In Nursing Faculty,
2026
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Quality Improvement Project: Impact Of Evidence-Based Self-Care Practice On Burnout In Nursing Faculty, Lori Boyd
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
Nursing faculty burnout is a national concern supported by literature, which compromises faculty well-being, creativity, retention, and sustainability of nursing programs. Burnout is characterized by the subscales of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and feelings of reduced personal accomplishment. At the project site, leaders reported that faculty often left their roles due to increased workload and being overwhelmed by the rigorous expectations of the role, underscoring the need for a process to support nursing faculty burnout. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to evaluate the impact of evidence-based self-care practices on nursing faculty burnout using Maslach's Burnout Inventory Toolkit, a valid and …
Prevalence And Factors Associated With Delayed Surgery Among Children With Wilms Tumor At Mulago Hospital: A Mixed-Method Study,
2026
Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London
Prevalence And Factors Associated With Delayed Surgery Among Children With Wilms Tumor At Mulago Hospital: A Mixed-Method Study, Lule Daniel, Shamim Nabidda, Abraham Muhwezi, Ronald Naitala, Anne Akullo, Enid Kawala Kagoya, Ruth Namazzi, Nasser Kakembo, Joan N. Kalyango
School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa
Introduction: Wilms tumor (WT) is a highly treatable form of childhood cancer, with five-year survival rates greater than 90% in high-income countries. In low- and middle-income countries, survival is still low. Delayed surgery is one of the leading factors for poor survival, as it leads to tumor complications, making subsequent treatment more complex. However, there is a paucity of information in Uganda on the prevalence and factors associated with delayed surgery. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with delayed surgery, and to explore the barriers and facilitators of timely surgery among children with WT at …
Improving Blood Pressure Control In Home Care Patients Through Implementation Of Acc/Aha Hypertension Guidelines And Structured Blood Pressure Monitoring,
2026
Walden University
Improving Blood Pressure Control In Home Care Patients Through Implementation Of Acc/Aha Hypertension Guidelines And Structured Blood Pressure Monitoring, Farrah Lynn Yuille
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This clinical practice guideline addressed the practice problem of the lack of standardized and consistent hypertension management in the home setting. Addressing this practice problem is important within nursing practice, as uncontrolled blood pressure increased the risk of hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and long-term cardiovascular complications. The practice question focused on translating evidence-based hypertension guidelines into clinical practice and evaluating their impact on patient outcomes in the home care setting. The purpose of the project was to engage three voluntary participants in evaluating the clinical practice guideline per the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association hypertension guidelines within …
Clinical Practice Guideline For Universal Anxiety Screening For Advanced Practice Providers,
2026
Walden University
Clinical Practice Guideline For Universal Anxiety Screening For Advanced Practice Providers, Kelechi Blanton
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This project was a clinical practice guideline (CPG) focused on anxiety screening in a primary care setting using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) screening tool. The practice problem addressed general anxiety disorder and the need for standardized assessments for risk, as recently been recommended by the U.S. Prevention Service Task Force (USPSTF). Anxiety disorder is common but frequently untreated, due in part to low rates of screening. Lack of an evidence-based guideline for anxiety screening may contribute to delayed diagnosis and inconsistencies. The practice-focused question was, Does the evidence support development of an evidence-based CPG for universal anxiety screening in …
Psychiatric Nursing Staff Promoting The Use Of Long-Acting Injectables Antipsychotics,
2026
Walden University
Psychiatric Nursing Staff Promoting The Use Of Long-Acting Injectables Antipsychotics, Yetunde Oloto
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This project is a staff education aimed at improving psychiatric staff knowledge regarding the use of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics among patients with schizophrenia. The practice problem addressed was the limited use of LAIs among psychiatric nurses when treating schizophrenia patients, which contributes to medication non-adherence and subsequent relapse, hospitalization, increased healthcare costs, and diminished quality of life. In nursing practice, this problem is important because nurses are frontline practitioners who administer medications, provide education, and monitor patient adherence. The problem-focused question developed was “Among psychiatric nurses, does staff education on the use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics compared to oral …
Staff Education To Decrease Polypharmacy And Improve Medication Adherence In Older Adults In Primary Healthcare Settings,
2026
Walden University
Staff Education To Decrease Polypharmacy And Improve Medication Adherence In Older Adults In Primary Healthcare Settings, Nadine Pean Noel
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was a staff education initiative to address polypharmacy and increase medication adherence among older adults in a primary care setting. Polypharmacy is a prevalent and significant safety concern in older adults, increasing the risk for adverse drug events, medication nonadherence, hospitalizations, and decreased quality of life. The purpose of the project was to implement and evaluate a structured staff education focused on evidence-based strategies for medication review, deprescribing, and the integration of smartphone-based adherence tools. The practice-focused question guiding this project was as follows: Will an evidence-based staff education program focused on polypharmacy …
Staff Education Using A Workplace Violence Reduction Bundle,
2026
Walden University
Staff Education Using A Workplace Violence Reduction Bundle, Julla Panneh
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project addressed the ongoing issue of workplace violence (WPV) among medical-surgical nurses in an acute care setting. WPV poses significant risks to staff safety, psychological well-being, and the overall care environment. Guided by current evidence and professional guidelines, the project implemented a structured educational intervention focused on the Workplace Violence Reduction Bundle, incorporating the Broset Violence Checklist (BVC) and evidence-based de-escalation strategies. Medical-surgical nursing staff participated in tailored educational sessions; knowledge was assessed through pre- and post-intervention surveys, and program acceptability was evaluated through staff feedback. Data analysis revealed modest improvements in …
Staff Education To Nurses To Lmprove Routine Foot Examinations For Diabetic Patients,
2026
Walden University
Staff Education To Nurses To Lmprove Routine Foot Examinations For Diabetic Patients, Sarah Abrefi
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Diabetes-related foot complications remain a significant cause of morbidity, hospitalization, and lower-extremity amputation, despite strong evidence supporting routine preventive assessments. In many outpatient settings, variability in nursing knowledge, skill, and documentation practices contributes to inconsistent implementation of comprehensive diabetic foot examinations. The purpose of this practice-focused quality improvement project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured staff education program designed to improve nurses’ knowledge and competency in performing comprehensive diabetic foot assessments in an outpatient diabetes clinic.A pretest–posttest evaluative design was used to measure changes in knowledge following the educational intervention. Ten registered nurses participated in a structured educational …
Immediate Skin-To-Skin Contact At Very Preterm Birth And Effect On Infant Socio-Emotional Stress Response And Mother–Infant Cortisol Co-Regulation: Secondary Outcomes From The Randomised Clinical Immediate Parent-Infant Skin-To-Skin Study (Ipistoss),
2026
Edith Cowan University
Immediate Skin-To-Skin Contact At Very Preterm Birth And Effect On Infant Socio-Emotional Stress Response And Mother–Infant Cortisol Co-Regulation: Secondary Outcomes From The Randomised Clinical Immediate Parent-Infant Skin-To-Skin Study (Ipistoss), Karoline Lode-Kolz, Siri Lillieskold, Hanne Brit Hetland, Eleonora Mascheroni, Stina Klemming, Hanne Pike, Agnes Linner, Nils J. Bergman, Bjorn Westrup, Ulrika Ådén, Evalotte Morelius, Rosario Montirosso, Wibke Jonas, Siren Rettedal
Research outputs 2022 to 2026
Objective To explore the effects of immediate parent–infant skin-to-skin contact (iSSC) at very preterm birth on maternal–infant behavioural responses and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity to age-appropriate socio-emotional stress at 4months corrected age. Design Two secondary outcomes from a multicentre randomised controlled trial with two non-blinded parallel groups. Setting Three Scandinavian neonatal intensive care units, level 2 and level 3. Participants 91 infants born at gestational age 28+0to 32+6 from April 2018 to June 2021. Singletons and twins with a second caregiver present were included, regardless of mode of birth. Higher-order births, infants with congenital infections and major malformations were excluded. …
Staff Education To Improve Rn Accountability In Interdisciplinary Rounds Using Qr Code Tracking,
2026
Walden University
Staff Education To Improve Rn Accountability In Interdisciplinary Rounds Using Qr Code Tracking, Jennifer L. Zimmerman
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Interdisciplinary rounding is essential for effective communication, coordinated care, and patient‑centered decision‑making; however, baseline observational audits on pediatric inpatient units at a large northeastern hospital revealed that nurses were present for only 54% of rounding opportunities, with no formal accountability process. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project aimed to improve registered nurse (RN) engagement and accountability in interdisciplinary rounds through a structured staff education intervention paired with a QR code–based tracking process. The practice‑focused question examined whether educating nursing staff on a QR code rounding system would increase nurses’ knowledge of rounding expectations and positively influence accountability behaviors. Fourteen RNs …
Staff Education On Preventing Benzodiazepines Related Falls In Older Adults,
2026
Walden University
Staff Education On Preventing Benzodiazepines Related Falls In Older Adults, Dafnee Gilles
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
In geriatric psychiatric setting, falls rates are higher than general wards and could reach up to 13-25 falls per 1000 hospital days. High use of benzodiazepines in older adults is a major cause of increased falls despite recommendations to avoid its prescription to the population. This DNP staff education project focused on training nurses working in an 80 bed capacity geriatric psychiatric facility on best evidence based practice of preventing falls associated with use of BZDs. The identified practice issue was knowledge deficit on evidence based best practices to prevent falls in older adults under BZDs medications. The project aims …
Staff Education To Improve Knowledge On Early Recognition Of Staff Burnout In Nurses Working In Long-Term Care,
2026
Walden University
Staff Education To Improve Knowledge On Early Recognition Of Staff Burnout In Nurses Working In Long-Term Care, Geraldine Ndeng Akonwah
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This doctoral project was a practice-based staff education project aimed at educating nurses concerning early burnout recognition. The educational intervention was chosen to promote awareness and knowledge related to the concept of burnout and self-care among nurses employed in a long-term care facility. The practice problem addressed was the high prevalence of nurse burnout and the limited ability of nurses to recognize early signs of burnout. The problem is significant in nursing practice as burnout is detrimental to the clinical judgment, patient safety, job satisfaction and staff retention. The guiding question of the project was as follows: Does a staff …
Staff Education Project Staff Education To Integrate Nutrition Into Mental Health Care In An Acute Medical Setting,
2026
Walden University
Staff Education Project Staff Education To Integrate Nutrition Into Mental Health Care In An Acute Medical Setting, Yolene Auguste
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was a staff education initiative designed to support the implementation of a protocol that integrates nutrition and mental health screening in an acute medical setting. The practice problem addressed inconsistent identification of nutrition-related needs and mental health concerns, along with variable follow-through on referral pathways, limiting holistic care and contributing to unmet needs during and after hospitalization. Nutrition and mental health are bidirectionally related, with dietary quality and lifestyle factors influencing mental health outcomes and overall well-being (Dubois & Giroux, 2025). The practice-focused question guiding this project was: In adult patients receiving care …
Emergency Nurses’ Perspectives On Workload, Stress, And Violence In The Context Of The U.S. Nursing Shortage,
2026
Walden University
Emergency Nurses’ Perspectives On Workload, Stress, And Violence In The Context Of The U.S. Nursing Shortage, Wanda Marie Haynes
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The nursing shortage is a critical global issue that significantly impacts emergency nurses (ER), leading to increased workloads, psychological stress, and heightened exposure to workplace violence (WPV). This phenomenon raises concerns among healthcare administrators and nurse leaders who seek strategies to improve retention and ensure quality patient care. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the meaning of workload, stress, and WPV among ER nurses during the U.S. nursing shortage. Guided by Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the study employed a phenomenological approach to capture nurses’ lived experiences. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eight ER nurses from diverse …
