Date of Conferral
11-7-2025
Date of Award
November 2025
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Maria Revell
Abstract
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was a staff education intervention to increase nursing staff knowledge. Congestive heart failure (CHF) remains one of the leading causes of hospitalizations and has the highest readmission rates within 30 days of a previous admission. Consistent evidence reveals improving nursing knowledge reduces complications, improves self-management support, lowers readmission rates in this particular patient population. The DNP project was developed as a staff education intervention and focused on 30 nurses working on a telemetry unit in an acute care hospital. The project question was whether an educational intervention would increase general nursing knowledge caring for patients with CHF by a minimum of 20%. This project included evidence-based content on CHF pathophysiology, medication management, lifestyle modifications, symptom monitoring, patient education and red flags to notify their cardiologist. A pretest and posttest design was used and normalized gain calculated. The overall knowledge gain of 49% exceeded the 20% knowledge objective. Individually, all but three participants achieved this objective. This project can help promote consistency in patient care, improving nurse knowledge, and improving patient outcomes. Continued integration of standardized CHF education within nursing orientation and annual competencies could sustain knowledge gains, improve patient outcomes and serve as a model for advancing nursing excellence and health equity across care settings.
Recommended Citation
Smith, jessica, "Development of an Evidence-Based Educational Intervention to Advance Nurse Knowledge in Comprehensive Care of Patients With Congestive Heart Failure" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 18664.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/18664
