Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Project

College/School

College of Nursing

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Project Mentor

Diane Fuller Switzer

Readers

Natali Lagasse

Abstract

Aim(s): To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention for acute care registered nurses and certified nursing assistants on rapid responses and the Modified Early Warning Score.

Design: This study used a mixed method of quantitative and qualitative design, incorporating participant surveys and chart review analysis.

Keywords: rapid response teams, rapid response systems, Modified Early Warning Score, MEWS, quality improvement, interdisciplinary collaboration, patient safety, patient monitoring, educational intervention, registered nurses, certified nursing assistants, early warning scores.

Methods: A sample of registered nurses and certified nursing assistants in two medical-telemetry units in a 500-bed regional hospital in the Pacific Northwest.

Results: Following the education intervention, the majority of registered nurses and certified nursing assistants reported they have a clear understanding of when to call a rapid response, expected timeframes to notify the provider of a high Modified Early Warning Score, and repeat vital signs. Patient chart review revealed increased provider notification and follow up vital signs after the education intervention.

Conclusion: Findings indicated increased knowledge, confidence levels, and usefulness of the education among both registered nurses and certified nursing assistants following the education intervention. The education intervention suggested a positive correlation with increasing provider notifications and repeat vital signs for a Modified Early Warning Score of five or greater. These findings have implications for improving patient safety and clinical outcomes in acute care settings.

Implications for the profession and/or patient care: Discrepancies and inaccuracies in the institution’s algorithm for collecting patient data warrants a re-evaluation of the automated parameters. Expansion to hospital-wide education for registered nurses and certified nursing assistants to ensure consistency in practice and standardization of protocols. Continued monitoring data for a longer period of time to identify trends and areas for further improvement.

Impact: The study addressed the gaps in knowledge in registered nurses, who reported they were not receiving adequate education on rapid responses in a prior Doctor of Nursing Practice Project and the need for improved patient monitoring practices. The educational intervention led to statistically significant improvements in provider notifications and repeat vital signs.

Reporting Method We followed the Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence in Education: SQUIRE-EDU guidelines.

No patient or public contribution.

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