Date of Conferral

8-11-2026

Date of Award

August 2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Tracy Andrews

Abstract

Hypertension is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke, kidney disease, and premature mortality. African American women experience a disproportionate burden of hypertension and hypertension-related complications, making timely follow-up and treatment intensification essential quality and equity priorities. This evidence-based practice project implemented a standardized hypertension follow-up protocol in a primary care setting to improve blood pressure (BP) control and follow-up reliability among African American females ages 18 to 65 with a hypertension diagnosis. The project population included 67 patients, numbered 1 to 67. Baseline BP report data showed that 47 patients had BP less than 140/90 mm Hg, and 20 patients had uncontrolled BP. The intervention included scheduling 2- to 4-week follow-up for uncontrolled BP, repeat BP measurement, patient education, EHR task/reminder use, outreach documentation, staff protocol checklist adherence, and medication review for persistent elevation. All 20 patients with uncontrolled BP were scheduled for follow-up; 16 attended, 3 were no-call/no-show, and 1 canceled. Among the 16 patients who attended, 10 had normalized repeat BP readings, and 6 had elevated readings. Medication reviews were completed for all 6 patients with persistent elevations, and education was provided to all 16 follow-up attendees. The project increased the known BP control rate from 70.1% to 85.1% when patients whose BP normalized at follow-up were added to the baseline-controlled group. Findings support the feasibility of a standardized, team-based, EHR-supported hypertension follow-up workflow to improve chronic disease outcomes and promote equitable care.

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