Date of Graduation

Fall 12-12-2025

Document Access

Restricted Project/Capstone - USF access only

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Program

MSN project

First Advisor

Eliza Lopes

Second Advisor

Robert Patterson

Abstract

Objective: Gaps in peri-anesthesia documentation contribute to poor handoff communication, adverse events, and increased hospital costs. AORN (2021) identifies accurate documentation as a professional standard. Nearly 67 percent of sentinel events involve communication failures (Joint Commission, 2024). These lapses can cause adverse drug events and prolonged hospital stays (McCarthy et al., 2025), costing more than $20 billion annually (Rodziewicz et al., 2024). Improving documentation education can strengthen communication and enhance patient safety.

Aim: This project aims to increase the accuracy and compliance rate of electronic health record documentation in the pediatric perianesthesia unit from 85% to 95%, thereby improving the quality of nurse-to-nurse handoff communication. Progress will be measured through on-site documentation audits and handoff evaluations. The project will begin on September 1, 2025, and conclude on December 5, 2025.

Method (Interventions): The intervention was delivered in eight 3-hour sessions to train all peri-anesthesia nurses on the unit. Each session included a didactic review of OP-Time documentation requirements and I-PASS expectations, followed by a VR demonstration, and a brief quiz. Nurses completed a confidence survey before and after their session, and baseline and follow-up chart audits were performed to measure changes in documentation accuracy.

Results: Documentation compliance increased from 85% to 89% post-intervention, indicating a 4% positive trend towards the target goal.

Conclusion: The implementation of VR-supported education showed a 4 percent improvement in documentation accuracy in the initial post-training audit, indicating a trend toward the project’s 95 percent benchmark. Continued education and regular audits are recommended to sustain improvement and support patient safety in the perianesthesia microsystem.

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