Date of Conferral

11-14-2025

Date of Award

November 2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Laurie Wetsel

Abstract

For this Doctor of Nursing Practice project in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), the focus was on enhancing education for acute care nurses about the benefits of inpatient rehabilitation for appropriate patients. The practice problem was the underutilization of inpatient rehabilitation despite its proven benefits in improving patient outcomes and reducing readmissions. With this project, I aimed to educate nurses on identifying suitable candidates for inpatient rehabilitation, thereby improving patient care transitions and outcomes. The practice-focused question revolved around assessing the effectiveness of educational interventions in increasing nurse knowledge and referral rates to inpatient rehab. Analytical strategies included pre- and posttests to measure knowledge gain and consultation rates for rehabilitation services as well as qualitative feedback on participants’ perceived level of learning and impact on their daily practice. Findings indicate a significant improvement in nursing knowledge, highlighting the efficacy of targeted education. Major conclusions include the need for ongoing education and support to sustain practice changes. My recommendations are integrating rehabilitation consultation guidelines into nursing workflows and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Implications for nursing practice include improved patient outcomes through timely rehabilitation referrals, ensuring equitable access to rehabilitation services for all patients no matter their ethnicity, social status, economic status, insurance coverage, sexual orientation, or preexisting condition.

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