The Effect of Heart Failure Education on Nursing Staffs Knowledge and Confidence in a Skilled Nursing Facility
Year: 2017
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: With the high prevalence of heart failure (HF) admissions to skilled nursing facilities (SNF), the need for competent nursing staff knowledgeable in HF education principles reflected in American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology Foundation guidelines is warranted.Limited knowledge of evidence-based guidelines and basic principles of HF management has the potential to delay early symptom recognition and reporting; putting patients at risk for exacerbation and hospitalization.A pre-test, post-test design was used to assess nursing staff's knowledge of HF education principles and confidence before and after an education intervention.Initially, one hundred and fifty-three registered nurse, licensed practical nurse and certified nursing assistant participants (RN, LPN, and CNA) completed pre-intervention surveys.Seventy participants completed the study protocol.Paired sample t-tests on two HF knowledge surveys showed statistically significant differences in RN mean test scores (p=0.002 and p=0.001) after completing the educational intervention.Statistically significant differences were also noted in CNA scores after completing the educational intervention (p=0.010 and p<0.0005).No statistically significant differences were noted in LPN mean test scores (p= 0.295 and p=0.0630) after completing the educational intervention.Paired-sample t-tests also evaluated the effect of education on RN, LPN and CNA confidence scores.Confidence to care for HF patients increased significantly for all nursing staff after the education (RN, p= 0.001; LPN and CNA, p< 0.0005).Findings of this scholarly project indicate an evidence-based education intervention can increase nursing staff's knowledge and confidence to monitor and manage HF patients in skilled nursing facilities.iv Keyword: "heart failure" in combination with the terms "nurse knowledge", "education", " evidence-based practice", "best practice guidelines", "skilled nursing facilities", "nursing homes" and "long-term care".v
Author: Maggio, Nancy J
Institution: Case Western Reserve University
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Case Western Reserve University
OpenAlex ID: W6990583961