Date of Conferral

2-4-2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Patricia Schweickert

Abstract

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was a staff education project that addressed a practice gap in a primary care setting related to limited nursing knowledge of evidence-based lifestyle interventions for hypertension management. Hypertension is a prevalent chronic condition and a major contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although clinical guidelines recommend lifestyle modification as first-line management, nurses may receive limited formal training in nonpharmacologic interventions. The practice-focused question was, in a primary care setting, does a nursing education program on evidence-based lifestyle interventions for hypertension improve nursing knowledge as measured pre- to post education? The purpose of the project was to improve nursing knowledge through staff education. Evidence was synthesized using the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice model. Ten articles met inclusion criteria, including Level I systematic reviews, Level II randomized controlled trials, and Level III quality improvement studies, supporting staff education as an effective strategy. A pretest–posttest design with descriptive analysis was used (see Appendix B). Ten nurses (N = 10) providing direct patient care participated. The intervention was delivered in person using an evidence-based presentation (see Appendix A). Knowledge was measured using a 10-item multiple choice assessment administered before and after the intervention. Results demonstrated improved nursing knowledge, with mean scores increasing from 75% to 96%, reflecting a 21 percentage point improvement in knowledge. Findings support staff education as a feasible approach to improving nursing competency, guideline adherence, and consistent evidence-based patient education, advancing equitable care for populations disproportionately affected by hypertension.

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