Date of Graduation

Summer 5-15-2025

Document Access

Project/Capstone - Global access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Program

MSN project

First Advisor

Elizabeth Lopes

Abstract

Problem: Preventable hospital errors are often associated with inconsistent nursing competency, especially in high-acuity areas such as pediatric peri-anesthesia units. Traditional evaluation tools like checklists have limited effectiveness, as they frequently fail to engage staff or adapt to changing clinical demands (Wright, 2005). Context: At a Bay Area children’s hospital, baseline data from August 2024 revealed that only 65% of peri-anesthesia nurses reported feeling “very” or “somewhat” comfortable with key clinical skills. To address this, a quality improvement project was launched with the goal of increasing comfort levels by 15% using the Donna Wright Competency Model, which emphasizes staff engagement, relevance, and shared responsibility in competency development. Intervention: A “Skills Day” was implemented using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle and featured educational lectures, hands-on stations, and clinical simulations. Topics were selected based on staff input to ensure relevance, and real-time feedback was used to guide adjustments throughout the intervention. Methods: Nurses completed pre- and post-intervention surveys using a 4-point Likert scale to assess self-reported comfort with seven core skills. A total of 30 nurses participated in both assessments. Results: Results showed a 32.09% increase in overall high comfort levels, with “very comfortable” responses rising from 36.9% to 55.7%. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the Donna Wright Competency Model can significantly enhance nurse confidence through interactive, staff-driven learning. Continued evaluation, improved survey tools, and integration of this model into long-term professional development strategies are recommended to sustain and expand these improvements.

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