Date of Graduation

Spring 5-18-2023

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Department/Program

Nursing

Program

Executive Leader DNP

First Advisor

Dr. Nicholas Webb, ESQ, DNP, RN

Second Advisor

Dr. Elena Capella, EdD, MSN/MPA, RN, CNL, CPHQ, LNCC

Abstract

Responding to a Deteriorating Patient:

An Educational Intervention for Outpatient Clinic Nurses

Background: Dynamic and evolving healthcare practices require nurses to continually acquire knowledge and confidence to provide optimal care. Organizations that recognize nurses’ educational needs and develop strategies to meet them empower nurses to improve the quality and safety of patient care.

Local Problem: The need for a continuing education program to improve outpatient clinic nurses’ knowledge, skills, and self-confidence prompted the implementation of this project.

Method: Single cohort education intervention as a test of change to assess the knowledge and confidence participants acquired in a pre- and post-survey using Berning’s 2018 questionnaire on nurses’ knowledge and recognition of early signs of clinical deterioration.

Intervention: Two discrete educational intervention sessions, including (1) one-hour didactic session that reviewed vital signs and signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, stroke, and cardiac arrest and (2) two hours of mock code using case scenarios of a patient with changes in vital signs of hypoglycemia, stroke, and cardiac arrest.

Result: Twenty-one participants responded to the pre-implementation questionnaire, and sixteen responded to the post-implementation questionnaire. A non-statistically significant five percent increase in knowledge and confidence scores suggests improvement.

Conclusion: An effective educational process with the support of stakeholders is an ongoing opportunity to build on nurses’ knowledge and confidence in the outpatient care setting.

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