Improving Nursing Adherence To Chg Bathing And Pivc Maintenance Practices To Reduce Hospital-Onset Bacteremia In An Adult Medical-Surgical Unit,
2026
University of San Francisco
Improving Nursing Adherence To Chg Bathing And Pivc Maintenance Practices To Reduce Hospital-Onset Bacteremia In An Adult Medical-Surgical Unit, Mohabat Barikzai, Dinazar Altamirano, Edward Rivas, Sarah Trilles
Master's Projects and Capstones
Preventing hospital-onset bacteremia (HOB) is a healthcare priority given its association with increased morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and healthcare costs. Literature identifies inconsistent adherence to evidence-based practices for chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing and peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) maintenance as a modifiable risk factor for HOB. This quality improvement (QI) project evaluated whether implementing standardized nurse education, routine compliance audits, and performance feedback would improve adherence to evidence-based CHG bathing and PIVC maintenance practices. The project aimed to achieve at least 90% nursing compliance with HOB prevention practices over an intended 8-week implementation period. A pre-post quality improvement design was implemented …
Food For Thought: Building Confidence In Healthy Food Choices Among Seniors In A Residential Facility Through Nutrition Education,
2026
University of San Francisco
Food For Thought: Building Confidence In Healthy Food Choices Among Seniors In A Residential Facility Through Nutrition Education, Amy Rodríguez
Master's Projects and Capstones
This quality improvement project evaluated the effectiveness of a 10-week nutrition education program designed to improve nutrition knowledge and confidence among independently living older adults residing in a low-income senior housing community. Aim By August 10, 2026, this project aimed to increase average nutrition knowledge and confidence scores related to selecting nutritious foods and preparing healthy meals by 20% among senior housing facility residents. Methods A microsystem assessment, literature review, SWOT analysis, fishbone diagram, and GANTT chart were completed to guide project development and implementation. Weekly nutrition education workshops were conducted over a 10-week period and included presentations, group discussions, …
Breaking The Silence: Standardizing Routine Intimate Partner Violence Screening At A Community Clinic Serving The Latinx Community,
2026
University of San Francisco
Breaking The Silence: Standardizing Routine Intimate Partner Violence Screening At A Community Clinic Serving The Latinx Community, Victoria M. Hall
Master's Projects and Capstones
Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects the Latinx population disproportionately due to socioeconomic status, cultural stigma, and language barriers. However, routine screening remains inconsistent and unstandardized at a local community clinic in San Francisco’s Mission District, despite evidence-based practices recommending it. The gap in IPV screenings across the Adult, Teens, and Women’s clinics resulted in only 1.6% of patients being screened in July 2025 and 4.1% in June 2026. This quality improvement project aimed to address low screening rates by standardizing IPV screening through a printed bilingual screener, a 60-minute staff in-service on IPV and the new screening protocol, and by …
Standardizing Gestational Diabetes Group Education In An Outpatient Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic: A Quality Improvement Project,
2026
University of San Francisco
Standardizing Gestational Diabetes Group Education In An Outpatient Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic: A Quality Improvement Project, Nina Prieto
Master's Projects and Capstones
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) requires timely and consistent education to support effective self-management and reduce maternal and fetal complications. Baseline assessment of an outpatient maternal-fetal medicine clinic identified variation in educational materials, teaching approaches, referral processes, scheduling, and workflows across English- and Spanish-language GDM group visits. This quality improvement project aimed to standardize the group visit process and increase staff compliance with standardized materials and workflows from 0% to 50% over a 12-week period. Data were collected through direct observation of group and individual education sessions, stakeholder feedback, review of existing materials, referral and attendance patterns, and workflow analysis. These …
“Now Serving… Not Quite Yet”: Improving Waiting Room Experience Through Consistent Communication In The Emergency Department,
2026
University of San Francisco
“Now Serving… Not Quite Yet”: Improving Waiting Room Experience Through Consistent Communication In The Emergency Department, Juan Carlos Serrato
Master's Projects and Capstones
Context: The quality improvement project was implemented in the front-end microsystem of a 36-bed emergency department (ED) in a non-profit, Magnet-designated California hospital. Problem: Communication with non-roomed patients at Hospital X was inconsistent, contributing to dissatisfaction. In June 2026, Press Ganey reported that 61.4% of patients felt they were informed about delays. Baseline observation identified gaps in staff explanations of estimated wait times, next steps in care, and opportunities to ask questions. Intervention: A 30-day pilot provided staff education on the AIDET communication framework through formal in-service education and daily huddles. Patient-facing materials explained the ED process …
Improving Pressure Injury Prevention Through Braden Scale Compliance And Education In The Emergency Department,
2026
University of San Francisco
Improving Pressure Injury Prevention Through Braden Scale Compliance And Education In The Emergency Department, Joycelyn Lee, Kira Simone Faerstain, Alyssa Kristine Ortiz, Ashley Briseida Cruz
Master's Projects and Capstones
Pressure injuries are a major burden in healthcare, particularly in the Emergency Department (ED). Patients can be sedentary for prolonged periods of time and don't always get their skin checked promptly. Patients visiting the ED often have comorbidities and patient-specific medical needs, such as seniors with fragile skin, malnourishment, immobility, etc. At a Southern Los Angeles Hospital, leadership found that there was a need for improvement in this area. Implementing standardized risk assessment methods can help to improve the consistent use of the Braden Scale as a predictive and preventive tool for identifying patients' risk for pressure injuries and promoting …
The Efficacy Of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block As An Adjunct To Spinal Anesthesia For Cesarean Delivery: An Evidence Synthesis And Implementation Toolkit,
2026
Bellarmine University
The Efficacy Of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block As An Adjunct To Spinal Anesthesia For Cesarean Delivery: An Evidence Synthesis And Implementation Toolkit, Alyssa Hebert, Alex Potts, Gabriela Robertson
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones
Postoperative pain hinders cesarean delivery recovery and overall patient experience. Although spinal anesthesia with intrathecal opioids remains the standard of practice, associated side effects and concerns regarding opioid exposure highlight the need for effective opioid-sparing strategies. Anesthesia providers play a critical role in advancing postoperative pain management through evidence-based protocol development, provider education, and interdisciplinary collaboration to optimize maternal outcomes. The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block provides somatic analgesia to the anterior abdominal wall by targeting the thoracolumbar nerves (T6–L1) and has increasingly been incorporated into multimodal postoperative pain management strategies for abdominal surgery. Nevertheless, a gap remains in obstetric …
The Parkinson's Pathway: Enhancing Knowledge And Care Management In Skilled Nursing,
2026
University of San Francisco
The Parkinson's Pathway: Enhancing Knowledge And Care Management In Skilled Nursing, Kaitlyn Chau
Master's Projects and Capstones
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is commonly diagnosed among the older population, contributing to high utilization of skilled nursing facility (SNF) services. Objective: SNF A’s current onboarding and training program for staff discussed general geriatric topics but failed to include structured PD-specific education. This may lead to gaps in competence, confidence, and workflow related to PD care and management, resulting in low quality of patient care, poor health outcomes, and decreased safety and satisfaction. Aim: The project aimed to establish and incorporate a structured PD-specialized education program within a SNF located in Northern California, to increase employees’ self-reported confidence, competence, …
Urine Good Care: Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection Prevention At The Bedside,
2026
University of San Francisco
Urine Good Care: Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection Prevention At The Bedside, Ruby Yost
Master's Projects and Capstones
Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs) have been associated with increased morbidity, mortality, healthcare costs, and length of stay and is one of the most common healthcare-acquired illnesses accounting for up to 40% of hospital-acquired infections (Rubi et al., 2022). Because 65-70% of CAUTIs are preventable, reducing the incidence has become a focus area for infection control and nursing quality management among hospital organizations (Tang et al. 2025). CAUTIs are urinary tract infections that occur in patients with indwelling urinary catheters and are typically associated with bacterial colonization of the urinary tract. The aim of this QI Project is to increase …
Reducing Variation, Improving Outcomes: Standardizing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Education In A Clinical Microsystem,
2026
The University of San Francisco
Reducing Variation, Improving Outcomes: Standardizing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Education In A Clinical Microsystem, Thanh Le
Master's Projects and Capstones
Objective: Variations in referral, scheduling, delivery of educational information, patient materials, and documentation hampered the quality of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) education in the outpatient maternal-fetal medicine clinic. Purpose: The aim of the quality improvement project was to boost adherence to a standardized GDM group education framework from 0 to 50% in the course of 12 weeks and assess attendance at group visits. Methods: The microsystem analysis was conducted based on observations of group visits conducted in Spanish and English, examination of current processes and resources in use, educator pre-survey, SWOT analysis, and cause and effect analysis. The implementation of …
Standardizing Group Visits For Gestational Diabetes Education: A Quality Improvement Initiative In An Outpatient Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic,
2026
The University of San Francisco
Standardizing Group Visits For Gestational Diabetes Education: A Quality Improvement Initiative In An Outpatient Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic, Nha Nguyen
Master's Projects and Capstones
Objective: At an outpatient maternal-fetal medicine clinic in Northern California, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) education is delivered inconsistently across nurse practitioners (NPs) and registered dietitians (RDs), with no standardized curriculum, referral criteria, or educational materials. Aim: By August 12, 2026, this project aimed to develop and implement a standardized GDM group visit framework for NPs, RDs, and scheduling staff in maternal-fetal medicine clinic, increasing compliance with standardized referral, enrollment, and educational processes from a baseline of 0% to 50%. Methods: Using baseline observations, workflow assessment, stakeholder input, and a literature review, the QI team developed standardized bilingual slide …
Closing The Loop: Strengthening Cauti Prevention With Urinary Catheter Management,
2026
University of San Francisco
Closing The Loop: Strengthening Cauti Prevention With Urinary Catheter Management, Erika N. Braun
Master's Projects and Capstones
Objective: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are among the most common preventable healthcare-associated infections and are associated with significant patient harm and increased healthcare costs. Baseline assessment across five adult cardiovascular and critical care units within a community-based acute care hospital identified four CAUTI events during the first half of 2026 and revealed important nursing knowledge deficits related to bladder scanning protocols and urinary catheter management practices. Aim: This Quality Improvement (QI) Project aimed to improve nursing knowledge of evidence-based bladder scanning protocols and urinary catheter management practices through targeted educational interventions implemented over a 10-week period, with …
Implementation Of A Nurse-Led Self-Measured Blood Pressure Program In Rural Primary Care,
2026
Walden University
Implementation Of A Nurse-Led Self-Measured Blood Pressure Program In Rural Primary Care, Stephanie Marie Montgomery
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Hypertension remains a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, yet blood pressure control remains suboptimal among many adults, particularly those receiving care in rural primary care settings. Reliance on office-based blood pressure measurements may limit opportunities to identify uncontrolled hypertension and actively engage patients in disease self-management. This Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project evaluated the implementation of a standardized self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) program for adult patients with hypertension in a rural primary care practice. The intervention included validated home blood pressure monitors, standardized patient education, teach-back to verify measurement competency, structured home blood pressure …
Staff Education To Improve Hand Hygiene And Personal Protective Equipment Compliance,
2026
Walden University
Staff Education To Improve Hand Hygiene And Personal Protective Equipment Compliance, Suliat Oluwa
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This doctoral project is a staff education initiative designed to strengthen hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE) practices among interdisciplinary staff in a long-term care (LTC) facility. The practice problem addressed inconsistent hand hygiene and PPE use across shifts and departments, contributing to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Because LTC residents are highly vulnerable due to advanced age, multiple comorbidities, and shared living environments, improving adherence to infection prevention practices is essential for enhancing resident safety, reducing preventable infections, and supporting compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) infection prevention standards. …
Weekly Team Validation Rounding Focused On Chlorhexidine Gluconate Bathing And Bath Completion And Documentation Compliance,
2026
Walden University
Weekly Team Validation Rounding Focused On Chlorhexidine Gluconate Bathing And Bath Completion And Documentation Compliance, La-Toya Therese Fong
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This quality improvement project evaluated whether weekly team validation rounding improved chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bath completion and documentation compliance among eligible adult inpatients, with particular attention to differences in compliance outcomes between Pod 5C and Pod 4B. Background. Hospital-acquired infections continue to increase morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and healthcare costs. Although CHG bathing is an evidence-based strategy for reducing infection risk and the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms, inconsistent documentation at the practicum site limited accurate monitoring of compliance across validation data, electronic medical record documentation, and DOMO reports. Method. Participants included eligible adult inpatients admitted within the previous 24 …
Staff Education On Fall Reduction For Residents Of Long-Term Care Facility,
2026
Walden University
Staff Education On Fall Reduction For Residents Of Long-Term Care Facility, Lauretta Ifeoma Iwuala-Mcwilliams
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Falls pose a major safety risk for elderly individuals living in long-term care facilities, leading to injuries, hospitalizations, loss of autonomy, increased healthcare expenses, and higher morbidity and mortality rates. In the facility involved in this project, the incidence of falls was above anticipated benchmarks. Factors such as high staff turnover and reliance on agency staff resulted in inconsistent knowledge among personnel regarding fall prevention measures. Purpose: This Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement initiative aimed to implement and assess an evidence-based educational program designed to enhance staff understanding and skills related to fall-risk assessment, the identification of both intrinsic …
Staff Education To Improve Staff Knowledge On Fall Prevention,
2026
Walden University
Staff Education To Improve Staff Knowledge On Fall Prevention, Nginjoh Presilia Njofang
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Patient safety risks associated with falls are a major issue in adult inpatient medical-surgical environments because nursing inconsistencies with regard to fall risk assessments, individualized fall prevention interventions, and documentation could impede adherence to best practices. To overcome this knowledge gap among RNs in the selected environment, a DNP education project aimed at standardized fall-prevention staff education was initiated. The question for the practice was whether standardized staff education would increase knowledge among nurses regarding fall-risk assessments, preventive measures, and documentation requirements, based on pretest and posttest results. In the course of a one-hour educational session conducted face-to-face, twenty RNs …
Creating Consistency: Standardizing Gestational Diabetes Group Visit Framework In High-Risk Obstetric Care,
2026
University of San Francisco
Creating Consistency: Standardizing Gestational Diabetes Group Visit Framework In High-Risk Obstetric Care, Danielle Pack
Master's Projects and Capstones
Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) requires timely and consistent education to promote effective self-management and improve maternal and fetal outcomes. Baseline observations at a Santa Clara County high-risk obstetric clinic identified variation in educational materials, educator delivery, referral processes, and workflows between English- and Spanish-language GDM group visits. A review of the literature supported standardized diabetes education and group prenatal care as strategies to improve consistency, efficiency, and patient access. Aim: This quality improvement project aimed to develop and implement a standardized GDM group visit framework for nurse practitioners, registered dietitians, and scheduling staff, with the goal of increasing compliance …
You Haven’T Been Forgotten: Driving Improvements In Trust, Transparency, And Accountability Through A Patient-Centered Communication Initiative In The Emergency Department,
2026
University of San Francisco
You Haven’T Been Forgotten: Driving Improvements In Trust, Transparency, And Accountability Through A Patient-Centered Communication Initiative In The Emergency Department, Ellie Mead
Master's Projects and Capstones
Objective: In Spring 2026, the Emergency Department (ED) at Hospital X identified difficulties securing high levels of patient satisfaction. Over one third of patients did not feel adequately “informed about delays,” and observation of nurse-patient interactions in front-end care areas confirmed these communication gaps: in 87% of interactions, nurses did not explain next steps to the patient, and in none of the 51 interactions observed did nurses proactively inform patients about possible delays. Aim: This quality improvement initiative sought to improve the patient experience in the ED and drive a 10% increase in Press Ganey patient satisfaction survey results relating …
Staff Education To Improve Diabetic Care In A Primary Care Setting,
2026
Walden University
Staff Education To Improve Diabetic Care In A Primary Care Setting, Sally Uyen Nguyen
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Inadequate patient education, inconsistent screening, missed referrals, and follow up with diabetes patients are challenges primary care managers and staff must overcome. Patients may experience negative effects that lead to poor health outcomes, delayed diagnosis, and undertreatment when provider and staff members are not educated about diabetes. The practice-focused question guiding the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project involved exploring whether a staff education intervention on standardized diabetes care and screening protocols could improve physicians, managers, and medical assistants’ (MAs) knowledge of diabetes care in primary care clinics. The purpose of this project was to enhance staff knowledge …
