Date of Conferral
2-10-2026
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Patricia Schweickert
Abstract
This Doctor of Nursing Practice project was a staff education initiative aimed at addressing gaps in the implementation of evidence-based fall prevention practices among nursing staff in an acute care hospital setting. Despite the availability of established fall prevention guidelines, inconsistent staff adherence to protocols continues to place patients at risk. This project was guided by the practice-focused question: Does nursing staff education on fall prevention guidelines improve nursing knowledge as compared to pre- to post-education? The purpose of the project was to develop a comprehensive resource to enhance nursing staff's knowledge of fall prevention guidelines. The Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice model was used to organize and appraise the evidence. A comprehensive literature search yielded multiple peer-reviewed articles, from which 11 high- and moderate-quality sources were selected. The Fall Risk Assessment Tool and the Fall TIPS (Tailoring Interventions for Patient Safety) Toolkit were integrated into the educational content. A pre- and post-education knowledge assessment was administered to 35 nursing staff participants. Descriptive analysis was used to compare pretest and posttest scores. Pretest results demonstrated high baseline knowledge: 97.1% of participants scored 9 out of 10, and 2.9% scored 10 out of 10. Following the educational intervention, all participants achieved a posttest score of 100%, representing a 2.99% increase in knowledge. The major project deliverables included a fall prevention education PowerPoint presentation, a case-based pre- and post-knowledge assessment, and supporting educational materials. This project supports improved patient safety and has implications for nursing practice, organizational safety culture, and positive social change through enhanced quality of care and reduced preventable patient harm.
Recommended Citation
ADEBAYO, OPEYEMI, "Improving Staff Knowledge Regarding Fall Prevention Guidelines in an Acute Care Setting" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 19130.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/19130
