Abstract
Background: Current evidence demonstrates that stigma toward individuals living in poverty persists among undergraduate nursing students and negatively influences patient outcomes. Evidence-based educational strategies addressing social determinants of health have been shown to improve nursing students’ perceptions of vulnerable populations.
Purpose: This quality improvement project intended to evaluate the feasibility of integrating an interactive Community Action Poverty Simulation© (CAPS) activity into an undergraduate nursing (BSN) program at an academic health system university in East Texas.
Methods: Guided by the Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) quality improvement framework and The Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice (JHEBP) Model, Missouri's Community Action Poverty Simulation was implemented during second-semester BSN curriculum. 89 students participated in the simulation activity, with a pretest-posttest design, using the Attitudes Toward Poverty Short Form (ATP-SF) for data collection on stigma and recognition of social/structural responsibility for poverty. Paired t tests analysis was used to examine pre/post- activity scores.
Results: ATP-SF stigma subscale showed no significant change after the CAPS© (p = .786). Scores reflecting social/structural responsibility increased significantly, with posttest scores (M = −0.29, SD = 0.53) significantly higher than pretest scores (t(88) = −5.15, p < .001).
Date of publication
2026
Document Type
DNP Scholarly Project
Language
english
Persistent identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/10950/5090
Committee members
Dr. Deanna Adams
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Recommended Citation
Bowen, Jessica P., "DNP Final Report: Poverty Stigma: The Effects of a Poverty Simulation on Undergraduate Nursing Students and Their Attitudes Toward Caring for Impoverished Patients" (2026). DNP Final Reports. Paper 89.
http://hdl.handle.net/10950/5090