Date of Conferral
8-5-2025
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Loreen Rigby-King
Abstract
In nursing practice, falls among adults aged 65 and above are a critical concern due to their potential to cause serious injuries and complications. As a result, fall prevention has become a top priority for healthcare providers striving to ensure patient safety and quality. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was designed to address the issue of falls in long-term care facilities by implementing a staff education program focused on patient fall risk assessment, identifying intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing falls, and implementing evidence-based interventions. The DNP project practice-focused question was Does an education program on fall prevention strategies provided to nursing staff improve staff knowledge to assess patients for fall risk and implement appropriate interventions to reduce falls in long-term care facilities? A comprehensive review of current peer-reviewed articles primarily guided the project. Thirty-two participants attended the staff education program, and pretest and posttest data were used to answer the practice-focused question. The learners’ results show a pretest average score of 63.54% and a posttest average score of 90.89%, with an average learning gain of ~79.96% after the staff fall education program. The learners’ gain score shows the effectiveness of educational intervention in equipping staff with fall prevention strategies. Recommendations include continued annual evidence-based staff education on fall prevention strategies for existing staff and onboarding for new hires. Project outcomes support work relationships that create a pathway for positive social change, inclusion, equity, and diversity by inspiring staff to embrace a shared mission of protecting patients from harm, cultivating empathy, and cultural humility. These key values underpin a more inclusive and equitable healthcare environment.
Recommended Citation
Achonye, Chioma C., "Staff Education Program to Improve Nursing Knowledge on Fall Prevention Strategies" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 18178.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/18178
