Date of Conferral

8-17-2026

Date of Award

August 2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Jill Sanko

Abstract

This project was a staff education initiative designed to enhance fall-prevention knowledge among nurses and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in a nursing home setting. The practice problem addressed was the high incidence of patient falls among older adults, which is a persistent safety concern in caregiving facilities since it leads to injury, decreased quality of life, and heightened healthcare costs. The project aimed to determine whether implementing a fall-prevention educational initiative would enhance staff knowledge and confidence levels on fall prevention. Analytical strategies used in this project included quantitative pre- and posttests and descriptive statistics to measure changes in participants’ knowledge and confidence after the intervention. The findings revealed an 82.6% increase in fall-prevention knowledge and a shift in confidence levels, with 85% of participants reporting being very confident. This was indicative of the program’s effectiveness in promoting awareness and prompting preventive behaviors. The key outcomes included improved staff knowledge and reinforced confidence levels that aligned with regulatory standards, both of which promoted the quality of patient care. Recommendations include incorporating ongoing fall prevention education initiatives into regular staff development and expanding the program to other departments and care units. The project’s implications for nursing practice underscore the need to embrace evidence-based educational initiatives to enhance patient safety outcomes. At the same time, its broader social significance lies in promoting equity, inclusion, and positive change by implementing safer, high-quality, and more compassionate caregiving for vulnerable older adults.

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