Date of Conferral

11-5-2025

Date of Award

November 2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Maria Revell

Abstract

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education initiative addressed the problem of polypharmacy, a common issue in home health care that increases the risk of drug interactions, side effects, and hospitalizations. Nurses and aides often provide daily care but may not recognize high-risk medications or warning symptoms. Addressing this gap was vital to nursing practice because staff are on the front line of patient monitoring and safety. The practice-focused question asked whether structured education for home health staff would improve knowledge of polypharmacy risks by 20%, increase recognition of high-risk medications by 75%, and result in at least 75% of participants reporting confidence in home health agency practices. A 15-item pretest and posttest were used to cover polypharmacy, high-risk medications, and reporting behaviors. Normalized gains measured learning improvement. An evaluation survey collected staff feedback and confidence ratings. Findings showed strong improvement across objectives. Normalized gains were 77% for overall knowledge and 93% for recognizing high-risk medications. Participants reported being confident (n = 3) and very confident (n = 1), which exceeded the 75% confidence objective. The main product was an educational session supported by slides, a flyer, and quizzes. Recommendations include expanding training for all staff, adding refresher sessions, and providing quick-reference job aids. Broader implications include enhancing medication safety for older adults, advancing nursing practice through ongoing education, and prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusive care for vulnerable patient populations.

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