Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects
Access Control
Open Access
Embargo Period
5-14-2014
Degree Program
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Degree Track
Family Nurse Practioner
Year Degree Awarded
2014
Month Degree Awarded
May
Keywords
Non-Pharmacological, Pharmacological, Dementia, Nursing homes, Elderly, Nursing staff
Advisor
Cynthia Jacelon
DNP Project Chair
Cynthia Jacelon
DNP Project Member Name
Regina Kowal
DNP Project Outside Member Name
Jeanne McCluskey
Abstract
The focus of this change in practice implementation project is to emphasize and encourage the use of non-pharmacological interventions as the first line intervention in managing the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) among nursing home residents. A sample of nurses (N = 14) and nursing assistants (N = 11) working in two local nursing homes participated in an educational intervention about dementia care. Two hundred and one charts were reviewed of the residents of both homes for antipsychotic use. Regardless that one home seems very organized, is using less antipsychotic than the other home compared to their bigger capacity as well as fully engaging the residents in regularly scheduled daily activities, no significant difference was found in terms of attitudes and knowledge of the staff towards non-pharmacological management of the BPSD. Results were computed using SPSS Anova and T-test.
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