Date of Conferral
2021
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Diane Whitehead
Abstract
AbstractChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the US. A 301-bed rural hospital in the Midwest had experienced excessive 30-day hospital readmissions with their COPD patients. Two gaps in practice were identified: a lack of uninterrupted time to plan and execute discharge instructions and inconsistent discharge instructions provided to these patients as. The purpose of this project was to educate staff nurses on the importance of implementing a protected time, evidence-based discharge plan for patients diagnosed with COPD. The project explored whether a discharge education program nurses would decrease the 30-day readmission rate for these patients. The Knowles theory of adult learning framed the project components. A 10-question pretest/posttest was administered to all participants (144 registered nurses). A paired sample t test was conducted to compare the pre- and posttest results. Two questions showed a significant difference: The use of protected time (p = .045) and an interdisciplinary team approach (p = .006). Deidentified data for 30-day readmissions 3 months prior to the education program were 17, while 3-month data post program revealed 1 readmission. Thus, nursing administration was recommended to continue to have protected time during discharge instructions and to continue to use the discharge tool. Decreasing 30-day readmissions through comprehensive discharge planning has the potential to promote positive social change for patients, families, and healthcare providers.
Recommended Citation
Marinaro, Randee S., "Discharge Instructions to Decrease COPD Readmissions" (2021). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 10049.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/10049
