Date of Conferral

8-7-2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Jill Walsh

Abstract

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project aimed to address inconsistent and ineffective handoff communication among healthcare staff in a 44-bed observation unit. ​ The project focused on implementing an education program centered on the SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation) communication technique to improve staff knowledge and communication practices. ​ Using a pretest/posttest design, the program demonstrated significant knowledge gains among participants, with a cohort-normalized gain of 0.85 and statistically significant improvements in test scores (p < .05). The intervention highlighted the importance of structured communication in enhancing patient safety, reducing errors, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. ​ Despite limitations such as a small sample size and time constraints, the project highlighted the value of SBAR as a reliable tool for enhancing communication and improving patient outcomes. ​ Recommendations include ongoing SBAR training, integration into onboarding programs, and expansion to other departments to sustain long-term improvements in communication and care quality. ​

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