Abstract
Inpatient falls pose persistent safety and financial challenges in acute care settings. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to improve the accuracy of Morse Fall Scale (MFS) documentation through a targeted nursing education intervention. The PICOT question examined whether focused education on MFS documentation, compared with no education, affects inpatient fall risk assessment competency and documentation accuracy among medical-surgical nurses. A literature review supported the use of structured educational strategies to improve fall prevention practices. Internal audits revealed inaccuracies in MFS documentation, especially in gait and ambulatory aid assessments, which contributed to misclassified fall risk. Twenty nurses participated in a three-phase knowledge assessment: pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 30-day follow-up assessments. A repeated-measures ANOVA demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in MFS knowledge (p < .001), with scores increasing from a mean of 5.60 at baseline to 7.50 post-intervention and 7.55 at 30 days, indicating strong knowledge retention. Nurse residents were strategically delegated implementation tasks to enhance engagement and sustainability. The intervention was well-received and integrated into unit-level quality improvement initiatives. Sustainability efforts include embedding MFS education into annual competencies and onboarding processes. The findings suggest that targeted education, coupled with strategic delegation, can enhance nursing documentation practices and support long-term improvements in patient safety.
Date of publication
2026
Document Type
DNP Scholarly Project
Language
english
Persistent identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/10950/5031
Committee members
Gina Nickels-Nelson, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Committee Chair
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Recommended Citation
Bradford, Kirk W., "DNP Final Report: Charting A Course To Safer Care: A Nurse Education & Fall Prevention Strategy" (2026). DNP Final Reports. Paper 75.
http://hdl.handle.net/10950/5031