Date of Conferral
9-23-2025
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Mattie Burton
Abstract
I designed this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project to develop an educational program that increases staff knowledge of hourly rounding using an evidence-based approach, specifically pain, position, potty, and possession (the 4Ps), to prevent falls among residents in a long-term care facility. According to facility leadership, the observed gap in practice was the nursing staff members’ lack of knowledge in performing hourly rounding. The facility’s fall records for the lockdown units indicated a surge in fall rate, with 32 falls among 62 residents per month, reflecting a need for action. The practice-focused question guiding the project was: For staff in a long-term care facility, will education on hourly rounding using the 4Ps increase knowledge toward the ultimate goal of reducing the fall rate? The purpose of the project was to enhance the nursing staff’s knowledge of utilizing the 4Ps in reducing their fall rates and ensuring the safety of residents. I conducted a comprehensive literature review, finding substantial evidence using the hierarchy levels of research evidence from Levels 1 to 3, all of which demonstrated that educational programs increase staff’s knowledge of hourly rounding using the 4Ps and that effective rounding could reduce the fall rate. In this educational intervention, I employed a 10-item multiple-choice pre- and post-test to evaluate participants’ knowledge gain, which was analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. The pre-test average was 55%, and the post-test average was 98%, indicating a 43% increase. The results indicated, therefore, that the educational program improved participant knowledge. Collaborating with the facility’s staff development nurse, I recommend including this educational program in their new hire orientation package, which would promote positive social change by strengthening competencies and promoting diversity and equity within their facility and organization.
Recommended Citation
Igboanugo, Chukwuemeka, "Improving Staff Knowledge on Hourly Rounding Using the 4Ps to Reduce the Fall Rate" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 18368.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/18368
