Date Available
3-17-2014
Year of Publication
2010
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Advisor
Dr. Marcia Stanhope
Committee Member
Dr. Debra Hampton
Co-Director of Graduate Studies
Dr. Linda Quinn Everett
Abstract
Stroke patients initially experience dysphagia approximately 42 - 67% of the time with noted improvement reducing rates to approximately 43% at seven days post-acute event (Perry & Love, 2001). The dysphagia experienced by these patients makes them at high risk to develop aspiration pneumonia. Overall, the financial impact of reducing aspiration pneumonia reduces the national cost of morbidity, mortality, and disability burden in this population. There is no generally recognized swallow screen. Program evaluation objectives were to establish a valid, reliable, cost effective, and easy to administer evidence RN bedside swallow screen for dysphagia to keep acute stroke patients safe from aspiration pneumonia as well as to develop confidence in the RN staff for this new skill and protocol through appropriate education materials and methods. Overall project objectives were to change organizational practice throughout the hospital to provide the stroke/TIA patients with a valid, reliable swallow screen. The practice change positively impacted organizational adherence to evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. This program evaluation includes lessons learned related to the politics involved in forging organizational practice change.
Recommended Citation
Matesic, Edith, "Evaluation of Testing and Implementation of Evidence-based RN Bedside Swallow Screen for Dysphagia: A Clinical Practice Change" (2010). DNP Projects. 9.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/dnp_etds/9
