Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

BARBARA BARRETT

Abstract

During the last several decades, venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been identified as a preventable health condition. The gaps in clinical practice have led to an increased incidence of VTE. The lack of using existing evidence-based VTE prevention guidelines in practice has limited the implementation of VTE risk assessment stratifications and affected the appropriateness and timeliness of addressing pharmacologic and mechanical prophylaxis. The purpose of the scholarly project was to educate practitioners on existing VTE prevention practice guidelines. The practice-focused question explored whether an educational learning activity on evidence-based VTE prevention guidelines improved the awareness, knowledge, and compliance with existing evidence-based VTE guidelines of practitioners that assess and treat patients at risk for VTE. The theoretical framework for the project was Lewin's change process theory. A total of 38 participants comprised registered nurses (82%), physicians (5%), nurse practitioners (2%), and nonclinical personnel (11%). A program evaluation was provided to determine the effectiveness of the project. The findings showed that practitioners participated in the learning activity to improve knowledge (48%), increase VTE awareness (43%), and would change the management and treatment of patients at risk for VTE (39%). Hospitalized patients at risk for VTE can benefit from the results of this project through a change in clinical practice that might decrease the incidence of VTE and potentially bring about social change by reducing the number of preventable deaths.

Included in

Nursing Commons

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