Date of Conferral
2-18-2026
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Dr Sue Bell
Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) require consistent monitoring of communication skills, behavior patterns, sensory responses, and adaptive functioning to support timely intervention and improved developmental outcomes. Although telehealth has expanded access to care, many nurses have not received structured training in conducting virtual assessments for children with ASD. Variability in telehealth competency can affect documentation quality, workflow consistency, and provider confidence. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to develop and evaluate a structured staff-education program designed to strengthen pediatric nurses’ competencies in telehealth monitoring of children with ASD. A quantitative pretest–posttest design was used to measure changes in knowledge, documentation adherence, workflow compliance, and self-reported confidence among 25 pediatric nurses over a 60-day period. The 2-week educational intervention included focused instruction on virtual behavioral observation, caregiver communication strategies, use of digital tracking tools, and standardized documentation practices. Following the intervention, participants demonstrated meaningful improvements in knowledge scores, documentation consistency, and confidence in conducting telehealth visits. These findings support the value of structured telehealth education in promoting more consistent and effective virtual care practices. By strengthening clinician preparedness, this project contributes to improved continuity of care, increased caregiver engagement, and reduced barriers to developmental services for children with ASD.
Recommended Citation
Makori, Dinnah, "Staff Education on Telehealth Monitoring of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 19187.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/19187
