College of Nursing and Health Sciences DNP Defense - Kimberly Lester
College of Nursing and Health Sciences DNP Defense - Kimberly Lester
Title: Enhancing Nursing Staff Knowledge Through Fall Prevention Education Focused on Patients with Dementia
Date: 4/21/2026
Time: 12:00PM
ZOOM: Please contact dhoffman@umassd.edu for link
Committee Members:
Project Faculty Mentor: Martha M. Whitfield, PhD
Second Reader: Kristin Magan, PhD
Site Mentor: Joanne Roque, BSN, MS
Abstract:
Dementia can increase the risks of falls leading to physical and psychological injuries. This quality improvement project was held at a long-term care facility in Southeastern Massachusetts with Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants. The goals of this project were to increase nursing staff knowledge around fall prevention focused on residents with dementia and reduce falls in this population. A fall prevention intervention focused on residents with dementia that included a slide presentation, fall hazard and dementia perspective exercises. The intervention was based on an AHRQ Improving Patient Safety in Long Term Care toolkit. Fall data was collected three months prior to the intervention in one-month intervals and one month after the intervention. While the sample size did not meet power and there was no demonstrated significance between pre- and post-fall knowledge scores (p=.449), the intervention was well received, with positive anecdotal reports from participating staff. Fall data collected one month post intervention showed a 14% improvement. However, results should be interpreted with caution given the relatively short timeframe.
ZOOM
Deanna Hoffman
dhoffman@umassd.edu