Date of Award

Summer 2020

Document Type

Final DNP Paper

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

Faculty Chair

Dr. Laura Barrow

Abstract

Influenza (flu) is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by several influenza viruses (Centers for Disease Control, 2019). The CDC estimates that there have been approximately 42.9 million flu incidents, 20.1 million flu medical visits, 647,000 flu related hospitalizations and 61,200 deaths from October 1, 2018 through May 4, 2019. Individuals who contract this illness may have symptoms varying from mild to severe. This project focused on the elderly population because these individuals fall into the high-risk category. Individuals 65 and older are more likely to experience flu-related complications, which could ultimately lead to hospitalizations and in some cases, death. It is noted that between 70 and 90 percent of all seasonal flu-related deaths typically occur in individuals 65 years and older (CDC, 2019). These astounding facts led to the PICO question: In rural community living center healthcare workers, how does incorporating educational interventions using evidence-based information on the purpose, risks, efficacy, and side effects of the influenza vaccine, compared to no educational intervention, influence the rate of healthcare professionals opting to have the influenza vaccine for the 2019-2020 influenza season. For this project, this author evaluated the educational interventions and the corresponding outcomes to evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions with employees. This project focused on incorporating interventions with an overall goal to improve health outcomes for not only the employees but also the residents of the community living center. According to Terhaar and Sylvia (2014), “When the purpose of a data analysis is evaluation, the question (s) are expressed as aims and outcomes”. For this reason, the analysis question would be considered an evaluation (Terhaar & Sylvia, pg. 39. 2014).

This project consisted of a four-week influenza campaign with pre and post questionnaires utilized to gauge an employee’s influenza knowledge as well as their reported likelihood of receiving the vaccination. The mean score for the post quiz increased by 8 points when re-administered post-education. Documented employees receiving the vaccination for the 2019-2020 flu season more than doubled with an increase of 25 seen post-education interventions.

Included in

Nursing Commons

COinS
 
 

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