Nursing Commons^™

Enhancing Sepsis Prevention In Long-Term Care Facilities: Development Of An Infection Prevention Sepsis Toolkit, Emmalyn A. Tuhin

Student Scholarly Projects

Objectives: The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to create, validate, and refine an Evidence-Based Sepsis Prevention Toolkit to enhanced early sepsis recognition and interprofessional coordination of care within long-term care facilities (LTCFs).

Background: Sepsis remains a leading cause of mortality and preventable transfer to the hospital for the elderly residents within the LTCFs. A significant practice gap persists because sepsis in this population often presents atypically, resulting in delayed or inaccurate diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: This project was guided by the following PICOT question: For healthcare professionals caring for patients aged 65 years and older …

How Instructor Engagement Shapes Nursing Students’ Perceptions And Specialty Preference, Marissa M. Sigel

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: As nursing students approach graduation, choosing a specialty becomes a key decision. Although clinical rotations offer exposure to different practice areas, the role of the clinical instructor is equally influential. Instructor engagement extends beyond teaching skills and may shape how students perceive clinical environments. Objective: This study examines how clinical instructor engagement influences senior nursing students’ specialty preferences. Method: A longitudinal cohort design will be used with pre-licensure BSN students at a small private university in Northern California. Students will complete the same survey twice during their program, and paired t-tests will be used to assess changes in specialty …

Social Media/Cyberbullying Correlation To Adolescent Eating Disorders, Nicoli A. Panelo

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Social media is very prevalent in today’s society, particularly in adolescents. This time period is crucial for this age group in terms of developing a sense of purpose and identity. Although social media may keep many of our children entertained, they also can create negative impacts on them and ultimately hinder their overall development both mentally and physically through negative body image and unrealistic self-expectations. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find the correlation between social media use and the rise of eating disorders in adolescents. Doing so would allow us to find ways to lower the …

Mental Wellness: Breaking Down Barriers To Mental Health Treatment For Veterans, Merita Dallta

Capstones

No abstract provided.

Facilitating Timely Initiation Of Hiv Care Through An Interdisciplinary, Algorithm-Guided Approach, Courtney Harris

DNP Projects

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) within twenty-four hours of an HIV diagnosis is safe, shortens time to viral suppression, improves retention in care, and contributes to reduced HIV transmission at the community level (Bacon et al., 2021). Despite this evidence, patients across the United States do not universally receive timely HIV care (Bertolino et al., 2023). Barriers to early ART initiation include lack of staff buy-in, logistical challenges, and socioeconomic factors affecting patients (Doshi et al., 2023).

LOCAL PROBLEM: A small HIV care clinic in the southern United States observed a similar discrepancy, noting inconsistent timely initiation of …

Quality Improvement Project: Trauma-Informed Care For Nurse Faculty, Nicke R. Wilson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Recent research in nursing education highlights trauma-informed care, noting that nurse faculty often understand the concept but lack formal training to apply it consistently. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to address this gap by developing an evidence-based Trauma-Informed Care training module to help faculty acquire the skills needed for psychologically safe and inclusive learning environments. This initiative aligned with the priorities of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Trauma-informed care is especially important in high-stress fields like nursing, where trauma can impact the performance, engagement, and well-being of both students and faculty. The project, conducted at …

Quality Improvement Project: Enhancing Nursing Documentation Of Patients’ Chief Complaints And Anatomical Site Markings In Radiographic Imaging Requests, Clara Odili

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Incomplete or inaccurate radiographic imaging requests remain a persistent barrier to diagnostic accuracy and patient safety in urgent care settings. The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) initiative was to enhance nursing documentation of patients’ chief complaints and anatomical site markings through an evidence-based educational intervention targeting nurse-trained X-ray technicians. Guided by Benner’s Novice-to-Expert framework and principles of evidence-based practice, this project employed a pre- and post-intervention design over a two-week implementation period. Data was collected using structured knowledge and competency assessments. Post-intervention findings demonstrated substantial improvements in documentation accuracy, with mean knowledge scores increasing by approximately 30% and self-reported …

Improving Lung Cancer Screening Rates Through Low-Dose Computed Tomography, Pauline Adhoch

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Tobacco use is the leading cause of lung cancer and one of the most preventable causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.25 billion people smoke, resulting in significant social, economic, and health burdens. Despite this, opportunities to screen and refer eligible patients for lung cancer screening are often missed in primary care, contrary to the recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). This quality improvement (QI) project educated clinical staff about the USPSTF guidelines for lung cancer screening to increase referral rates. Lewin’s Change Model guided behavior change, and the Iowa …

Quality Improvement Project: Nursing Faculty Mental Health Literacy Assessment And Evaluation, Elesha Roberts

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Mental illness is a major healthcare concern affecting young adults enrolled in college. College students enrolled in nursing programs in particular face intense academic pressure due to the demands and rigor of the program. Students commonly report symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and suicide. Nursing faculty often do not feel comfortable approaching students about these concerns and other related mental health issues. Many faculty members lack the knowledge and skill to identify mental health issues and provide resources to support students in need. Faculty should be mental health literate and aware of campus resources. The purpose of this quality improvement …

Quality Improvement Project: Provider Education On An Evidence-Based Clinical Pathway For Diagnosing Adult Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oluwadayo B. Adeyemo

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Accurate diagnosis of adult Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) remains challenging in outpatient behavioral health settings, as variations in clinician training, diagnostic tools, and assessment methods can hinder accuracy and delay treatment. At the project site, providers reported low confidence and inconsistent use of standardized tools when evaluating adult ADHD, underscoring a critical need for structured education to improve diagnostic consistency and provider confidence. This quality-improvement (QI) project assessed the impact of an educational intervention on provider knowledge, confidence, and utilization of validated screening tools for adult ADHD. Guided by Donabedian’s Model of Quality Improvement and Lewin’s Change Theory, the project …

Quality Improvement Project: The Impact Of Genetic Testing Education For Mental Health Providers In An Outpatient Clinic, Ifeoma Uzoh-Anigbogu

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Despite growing evidence supporting the use of genetic screening in psychiatric medication management, many mental health providers lack the confidence and knowledge to utilize this tool effectively. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to enhance provider self-efficacy and increase the utilization of genetic screening through a structured education and training program in an outpatient mental health clinic. The purpose of the project was to determine whether provider education on pharmacogenetic testing improves confidence and screening frequency compared to those who do not receive the intervention. The Donabedian Model guided evaluation of structure, process, and outcome measures, while Rogers’ Diffusion of …

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

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

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 …

Quality Improvement Project: Reducing Hospitalizations In The Long-Term Care Setting, Nenna Nzeocha

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Hospitalizations in the long-term care setting can lead to higher costs incurred by skilled nursing home residents and a poorer quality of life. This quality improvement (QI) project evaluated whether an educational intervention on the Reducing Avoidable Facility Transfers (RAFT) model impacted hospitalization rates in the skilled nursing facility (SNF), while also assessing the confidence level of facility staff on the intervention. The project utilized Lewin’s change theory and the Donabedian model framework and was aimed at developing interventions that impact hospitalizations in the SNF using the RAFT model. A quasi-experimental design was used and consisted of a pre-and-post implementation …

Quality Improvement Project: Development And Implementation Of A Structured Certification Support Program And The Impact On Nurses’ Confidence And Medical Surgical Certification Rates, Mary Tran

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Professional nursing certification is an important criterion of Magnet designation, and increased certification rates have been associated with positive patient outcomes. The literature supports peer support and group study as beneficial strategies to assist nurses in preparing for certification exams. A quality improvement project among medical-surgical (med-surg) nurses at a community hospital pursuing Magnet redesignation addressed the lack of formal processes and nursing perceived barriers to certification that may contribute to low certification rates. The purpose of this project was to develop and implement a structured medical-surgical certification support program following the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle utilizing evidence-based strategies, including a …

Quality Improvement Project: Improving Nurse Competency In Caring For Patients With Dementia With Behavioral Disturbances In Long-Term Care, Lashunta Jackson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Dementia-related behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) present major challenges for nurses in long-term care settings, often leading to inconsistent care, staff stress, and safety risks. Evidence-based, person-centered interventions are proven to improve outcomes but are frequently underutilized due to limited staff training. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to improve nursing staff competency in managing residents with dementia and behavioral disturbances through structured, evidence-based education. The problem identified was a lack of dementia-specific knowledge and confidence among nurses, which contributed to suboptimal care and increased behavioral incidents. A quasi-experimental pre-/post-intervention design guided by Knowles’ Adult …

Improving Self-Efficacy Among Clinical Instructors: The Impact Of Communication Education On Handling Lateral Violence, Emma Guidry

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The quality improvement (QI) project aims to determine if clinical instructors perceive changes in self-efficacy in communication skills specific to lateral violence (LV) situations secondary to an educational intervention. Currently, clinical nurse instructors lack education specifically addressing communication strategies to utilize when LV occurs in the clinical setting. Banduras Social Cognitive Theory, Lewin’s Change Theory and the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) were employed as frameworks in the development of this project. Methods used in this quasi-experimental design project include administration of the Self Efficacy to Address Disruptive Behaviors Scale (SADBS) survey to project participants, nursing clinical instructors. The evidence-based practice (EBP) intervention …

Resiliency For Nurse Educators: Incorporating Resiliency Training For Nursing Faculty, Rachael Holder

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nursing faculty frequently experience high levels of stress, workload demands, and burnout, which can negatively affect teaching effectiveness and retention. Literature supports resilience as a protective factor that enhances well-being and professional sustainability. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to impact resilience levels among full-time undergraduate nursing faculty through a self-paced online resiliency training program. Guided by Pender’s Health Promotion Model and Lewin’s Change Theory, this pre- and post-intervention design used the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) to assess changes in resilience. Eleven faculty members completed the pre-survey, and two completed the post-survey. The post-survey mean CD-RISC-10 scores …

Quality Improvement Project Implementation Of A Peer Mentoring Program In An Associate-Degree Nursing Program, Heather Baker

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Peer mentoring is recognized as an evidence-based strategy that offers support to students and enhances retention. This project aimed to implement a peer mentoring program based on the Nursing Universal Retention and Success (NURS) model. The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework and Havelock’s Theory of Planned Change guided the implementation process. The goal was to assess the program's impact on first-semester nursing student retention rates and students’ perceptions of success. First-semester nursing students in a traditional associate-degree nursing program volunteered to participate in the peer mentoring program for one semester. At the end of the semester, an anonymous post-survey was distributed to …

Quality Improvement Project: Improving Emergency Medication Administration Safety In An Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, Sandra Anusiem

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Psychiatric emergencies contribute to medication safety issues due to increased stress, inconsistent practices, and communication breakdowns. The problem was high rates of medication errors in psychiatric emergencies due to the lack of a structured, standardized medication management protocol. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project aimed to reduce medication errors in administering emergency medications in an inpatient psychiatric unit by using the Medication Administration Cross-Check (MACC) checklist. The project was completed using a quasi-experimental research design guided by the Donabedian Model of Healthcare Quality and Lewin’s Change Model. Pretest and posttest knowledge, confidence, attitude, and perceptions were obtained …

Reducing Falls In The Acute Care Setting: A Quality Improvement Project, Elorm M. Adzokpa

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Falls remain one of the most common adverse events in acute care settings and are associated with increased morbidity, extended hospital stays, and higher healthcare costs. Orthopedic and trauma patients are particularly vulnerable due to mobility limitations, postoperative recovery, and complex medical conditions. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to reduce inpatient falls on an adult orthopedic and trauma unit by implementing a visual aid to reinforce the 5P fall-prevention framework. A pre–post quality improvement design was used during an eight-week implementation period. The intervention included a standardized fall prevention bundle that reinforced existing Fall TIPS board use …