Date of Conferral
2020
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Carolyn S. Sipes
Abstract
Dysphagia is a common, life-threatening complication potentially experienced by patients with acute stroke. Complications related to dysphagia can lead to aspiration pneumonia, morbidity, and mortality. Thus, early identification of dysphagia is necessary for improving patient outcomes and avoiding adverse health consequences. Nurses have the unique opportunity to impact patient care by increasing knowledge of evidenced-based treatment of dysphagia in acute ischemic stroke patients. Therefore, the project question asked whether Registered Nurse (RN) dysphagia education could improve nursing knowledge of dysphagia screening. The purpose of this project was to increase RN knowledge regarding dysphagia screening using the Yale Swallow Protocol (YSP). The Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice model and adult learning theory were used as the theoretical frameworks to inform this doctoral project. Evidence from the literature and the YSP also supported this project. Data to answer the project question was obtained from the 57 RN participants through an anonymous pre-test to measure staff knowledge of dysphagia screening prior to the educational module. Post-test data was then obtained to measure knowledge acquisition. Results were analyzed via paired t test and were found to show a statistically significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores (t = 6.254, df = 56, p = .000), suggesting that the educational activity had a positive impact on learner knowledge. This educational module promotes positive social change by increasing RNs’ knowledge, confidence, and competence when caring for stroke patients, thus increasing quality of care.
Recommended Citation
Brumm, Jeanette Doreen, "Impact of Nursing Education on Dysphagia Screening Knowledge" (2020). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 8682.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/8682
