Date of Conferral

2-17-2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Corrine Romano

Abstract

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project is a practice-focused executive leadership proposal addressing inconsistent discharge planning for unhoused surgical patients in an acute care hospital. Unhoused patients experience disproportionately poor outcomes, including prolonged length of stay, elevated 30-day readmission rates, and fragmented transitions of care. The practice-focused question guiding this project asks whether development of a standardized, housing-informed discharge planning program could improve transitions of care and reduce length of stay and readmissions when compared with current nonstandardized practices. Analytical strategies included synthesis of peer-reviewed literature, review of internal quality and utilization data, assessment of community-level housing instability trends, and application of implementation science frameworks to evaluate feasibility, fit, and acceptability. A comprehensive literature search yielded 10 relevant studies: three Level II, four Level III, and three Level V evidence sources. Evidence consistently identifies homelessness as an independent predictor of increased utilization and costs. Major products of this project include an executive-ready proposal consisting of a standardized clinical practice guideline, logic model, implementation plan, budget with return-on-investment analysis, and evaluation framework. Findings suggest the proposed program represents a feasible opportunity to improve care coordination and operational efficiency. The project advances positive social change by addressing housing instability as a structural determinant of health. By embedding more informed discharge planning into surgical workflows, the organization can provide more compassionate care and reduce disparities among unhoused patients.

Download

Included in

Nursing Commons

Share

 
COinS