Date of Award

Summer 7-30-2024

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

First Advisor

Virginia Hawkins, DNP, RN, CPHQ

Second Advisor

Daleen Penoyer, PhD, RN, CCRP, FCNS, FCCM, FAAN

Abstract

Practice Problem: Patients on the intervention unit reported via HCAHPS surveys a lack of understanding of the nurse provided education on their medications’ side effects and purpose after discharge home from the hospital. Nurses at the intervention unit’s organization do not use any formal or standardized method of patient education to ensure patient comprehension.

PICOT: Among adult inpatients (18 years or older) on a step-down unit in an acute care facility (P), does implementing an education bundle related to patient medication education (I), compared to current practice of no formal education process (C), increase patient satisfaction as measured by HCAHPS scores on patient medication (O) in eight weeks (T)?

Evidence: Through rigorous literature review, evidence-based methods proven to assist patients’ learning were discovered. The literature states that to enhance comprehension, education should be provided using plain language, in patients’ preferred language, and utilizing their preferred learning method. Healthcare providers can then ensure their understanding with the use of the teach-back method.

Intervention: Nurses on the intervention unit were educated on an education bundle and implemented the bundle as new practice throughout patients’ hospitalization. Use of this bundle was promoted for each alert and oriented patient during medication administration and at discharge.

Outcome: The intervention of a medication education bundle resulted in a statistically significant increase of the intervention unit’s patients’ satisfaction of provision of medication education HCAHPS scores over time.

Conclusion: When used together, multiple education interventions are effective in increasing patient satisfaction of education and reported understanding of medications’ side effects and purpose.

Comments

Scholarly project submitted to the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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