Date of Conferral

10-3-2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Diane Whitehead

Abstract

This quality improvement initiative was a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) capstone project conducted at a clinic in the southeast United States. The project focused on evaluating the effectiveness of GLP-1 receptor agonist (RA) therapy in adults aged 30–50 years old with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), assessing the clinical effectiveness of existing GLP-1 prescribing practices in reducing hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and weight over 6 months. The practice problem involved a lack of evidence-based monitoring and outcome tracking for patients on GLP-1 RAs despite the known efficacy of these medications in glycemic control. The project question was: Will HbA1c levels decrease by 0.1% to 0.5% within 6 months in patients aged 30–50 years with elevated HbA1c levels who receive GLP-1 medications as part of their diabetes management plan? Evaluation of the clinical outcome data and was reported to the project site organization. The analytical strategy involved retrospective chart review and descriptive statistical analysis for 55 participants. De-identified data were collected pre- and post-initiation of GLP-1 therapy. Results showed a mean HbA1c reduction of 0.82% at 3 months and 1.03% at 6 months, with an average weight loss of 23.6 pounds. Over 70% of patients achieved clinically meaningful improvement. Implications include better alignment with national treatment guidelines and enhanced use of nurse-led tracking protocols. This project highlights the importance of data-driven practice evaluation in supporting high-quality, equitable care. Positive social change is promoted through improved chronic disease outcomes.

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