Date of Conferral
8-13-2026
Date of Award
August 2026
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Melanie Braswell
Abstract
Patient safety risks associated with falls are a major issue in adult inpatient medical-surgical environments because nursing inconsistencies with regard to fall risk assessments, individualized fall prevention interventions, and documentation could impede adherence to best practices. To overcome this knowledge gap among RNs in the selected environment, a DNP education project aimed at standardized fall-prevention staff education was initiated. The question for the practice was whether standardized staff education would increase knowledge among nurses regarding fall-risk assessments, preventive measures, and documentation requirements, based on pretest and posttest results. In the course of a one-hour educational session conducted face-to-face, twenty RNs were exposed to a PowerPoint presentation, case learning, visual aids, instructions in a poster form, and the Fall Prevention Visual Toolkit. The data were recorded in the Microsoft Excel software and then analyzed using descriptive statistics and a paired samples t-test. There was a rise in mean knowledge scores in the project from 62% on pretest to 90% on posttest, meaning that there was a 28 percentage point increase. This result was statistically significant, t(19) = 8.74, p < .001. The project showed a large effect size (Cohen's d = 1.95). Positive results were achieved in such areas as fall-risk assessment, individualized interventions, purposeful rounding, documentation, medication-related risks, environmental safety, and post-fall management. In this way, the project helped to improve nurses' knowledge and facilitated their adherence to evidence-based practices of fall prevention. Nonetheless, the project was limited by the small sample size taken from one medical-surgical unit and the emphasis on the nurses' knowledge improvement instead of their practice and patients' outcomes. It is recommended to integrate education about fall prevention into orientation programs, competency assessments, and continuous professional development programs. In terms of nursing practice, the project will help to establish standard and equitable safety practices and promote positive social change by providing consistent evidence-based care for adult hospitalized patients.
Recommended Citation
NJOFANG, NGINJOH PRESILIA, "Staff Education to Improve Staff Knowledge on Fall Prevention" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 20698.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/20698
