Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Robert McWhirt

Abstract

Abstract

The relationship between adequate nurse staffing and patient outcomes is well documented. The local organization identified a concern with appropriate weekend staffing due to repeated callouts by nurses. The purpose of this DNP project was to determine whether an educational intervention on the relationship between adequate staffing and positive patient outcomes, coupled with a review of the organization’s policy regarding weekend staffing, increases knowledge and awareness among nurses working weekends. Benner’s novice to expert theory and systems theory were used to ground this project. Following an invitational email, 20 individuals participated in the educational intervention. Most participants (n = 19) were female, and nearly half (n = 9) were aged 30 to 39. Participants completed a pretest knowledge survey before attending the educational intervention. Participants were also asked to rate their awareness of the organization’s policy on a Likert scale between 1 (No awareness) and 7 (Full awareness). The mean pretest scores for knowledge and self-awareness were 3.90 (SD = 1.58) and 4.90 (SD = 1.21), respectively. Following the intervention, the mean posttest scores for knowledge and self-awareness were 5.80 (SD = 0.80) and 6.55 (SD = 0.68), respectively. A Wilcoxon Signed Rank test showed a statistically significant difference in pretest and posttest scores (z = -3.572, p < 0.01) and in pretest and posttest awareness scores (z = -3.684, p < 0.001). This DNP project has implications for meaningful contribution to social change by educating nurses on the relationship between staffing and patient outcomes and the weekend staffing policy of the organization. It is hoped that the newly acquired knowledge will translate into practice and reduce the number of callouts on the weekends.

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