Date of Conferral
8-4-2026
Date of Award
August 2026
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Melissa Rouse
Abstract
Inconsistent use of standardized whiteboards in patient rooms may contribute to ineffective nurse communication and lower patient experience scores. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project evaluated whether an evidence-based staff education program improved nursing knowledge, intent to use standardized whiteboards, and whiteboard utilization on a medical-surgical unit. Guided by the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADDIE) instructional design model, the intervention included a standardized educational presentation, pre- and post-education knowledge assessments, a workflow integration guide, competency validation, and weekly compliance audits. Thirty-five staff members, including registered nurses and patient care technicians, participated in the project. Following the educational intervention, mean knowledge scores improved from 66.7% to 100%, and 100% of participants reported a strong intent to consistently use the standardized patient room whiteboard. Weekly compliance audits conducted over six weeks demonstrated improvement from a baseline of 76.3% to 94.37%, exceeding the project's goal of 90% compliance. Organizational Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) nurse communication scores also improved from 71.97% in May 2026 to 94.34% in June 2026. The findings support staff education as an effective strategy for improving standardized communication practices, enhancing patient-centered care, and strengthening patient experience outcomes. Continued leadership engagement, ongoing competency validation, and routine compliance monitoring are recommended to sustain long-term practice change.
Recommended Citation
Bethea, Charline J., "Staff Education to Improve Whiteboard Utilization to Focus on Nurse Communication and Patient Experience on a Medical-Surgical Unit" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 20535.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/20535
