Date of Conferral

8-25-2026

Date of Award

August 2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Patricia Schweickert

Abstract

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project was a staff education project regarding Candida auris, a multidrug-resistant fungus recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an urgent global health threat due to its high mortality, environmental persistence, and resistance to common disinfectants. Staff play a crucial role in infection prevention; however, limited awareness and inconsistent knowledge of Candida auris contribute to potential transmission in skilled nursing home settings. The project question was as follows: Among staff members in a skilled nursing facility, does an evidence-based educational intervention improve knowledge of Candida auris infection prevention as compared pre- to post-education? The purpose of this DNP project was to implement and evaluate evidence-based educational intervention designed to improve staff knowledge related to identification, transmission, and infection-control practice for Candida auris. The Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice model was used to assimilate evidence. A literature search yielded 38 articles, of which 18 met inclusion criteria and were synthesized. The overall level of evidence ranged from Level I to Level II, demonstrating strong support for staff education as an infection-prevention strategy. A pre-test and post-test design guided the project. Twenty-six staff members from a skilled nursing facility participated in the educational session. Knowledge scores increased modestly following the intervention; however, the paired-samples t test did not show statistical significance (t (25) = 1.52, p = .14). Findings suggest that a single educational session may be insufficient to produce consistent knowledge gains. Implications for nursing practice include the need for ongoing competency-based education to promote patient safety, workforce equity, and positive social change.

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