Date of Graduation
Fall 12-15-2017
Document Access
Project/Capstone - Global access
Degree Name
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
College/School
School of Nursing and Health Professions
First Advisor
Dr. Mortell
Abstract
This Clinical Nurse Leader project aims to improve the discharge process to increase the percentage of patients discharged before 11:00 AM on the Progressive Care Unit (PCU). One evidence-based approach to help alleviate capacity constraints in the hospital is to create an effective and timely discharge process. The goal of this project is to educate the front line staff, care coordinators, and providers to a standardized discharge process. The PCU is a cardiac telemetry unit with 30 private rooms. The patients on the PCU are post-cardiac surgery with some overflow medical patients throughout the unit. Kotter’s theoretical framework was chosen to implement the discharge before 11:00 AM project because of its adaptability to the microsystem. Method and teaching aids used to implement the project consisted of a four-page tip sheet that was presented to staff prior to implementation of the discharge process. In evaluating the discharge by 11:00 AM process, baseline data was compared to data one month and two months post-implementation. Overall, great improvements were made. The data showed an improvement from an average of 4.5% of discharges occurring before 11:00 AM to 8.44% after one month and 10.11% after two months. Throughout each phase of the discharge before 11:00 AM project, the data was analyzed and the processes were reviewed to look for potential opportunities and to celebrate successes. For sustainability, early discharge before 11:00 AM will be integrated into policy, a permanent part of new employee orientation, and an addition to the training for registry staff.
Recommended Citation
Bravo, Gena, "Discharge by 11:00 AM and the Effects on Throughput" (2017). Master's Projects and Capstones. 651.
https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/651
