Date of Conferral

4-8-2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Dr. Cassandra Taylor

Abstract

Pressure injuries (PIs) are localized injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence, resulting from sustained pressure including pressure associated from shear. Surgical patients are estimated to represent 42% of hospital acquired PIs. PIs result in poor patient outcomes, increase length of stay, add billions to heath care costs are no longer reimbursed by Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services. Prevention of PI is different in the perioperative setting due to the complexities of surgery. This project focused on developing, delivering, and evaluating a robust education program for perioperative staff on PI prevention in the perioperative setting. The theory of planned behavior was used to guide the education program. The clinical question guiding this project was: Does staff education increase knowledge among perioperative nurses regarding evidence-based practices regarding PI prevention in perioperative patients? All perioperative staff present for the Thursday morning in-service time at the project site were included in the education program. A pretest of knowledge on prevention practices was administered to the 84 staff present. The education program was then provided. Immediately following the education program, a posttest consisting of the same questions as the pretest was provided. Twenty-two complete sets of data were then compared. The data showed an increase in the median overall score on posttest scores, demonstrating increased knowledge. Providing staff knowledge on PI prevention practices will be important to include during onboarding of staff. A revised education program will be offered to all new employees. Prevention PI in surgical patients promotes positive social change in the delivery of nursing care.

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