Date of Conferral

8-17-2026

Date of Award

August 2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Donna Bailey

Abstract

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project centered on the implementation of an organizational change initiative to improve hypertension control among adults aged 18 years and older in a rural primary care setting, where barriers to healthcare contribute to poorer outcomes. The practice-focused question asked whether more frequent follow-up visits improve hypertension control rates in rural adults. Interventions included increased follow-up visits for uncontrolled hypertension, patient education, home blood pressure monitoring, and staff education on accurate blood pressure measurement techniques. The project involved a pre-/post- evaluation design and analysis of deidentified organizational quality data. Findings show that the baseline hypertension control rate of 57.5% increased to 63.6% within 1 month of implementation (May 26, 2026), representing a 6.1 percentage-point improvement. The project goal was to achieve a hypertension control rate of at least 70%. Findings suggest that structured follow-up and education improve hypertension outcomes in rural primary care. Sustaining the intervention, validating staff competencies, and expanding the initiative to additional clinics may further strengthen chronic disease management, improve patient outcomes, and promote health equity in underserved populations.

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