Graduation Semester and Year
Fall 2026
Document Type
DNP Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Dr. Deborah Behan
Abstract
Purpose: This project aimed to develop an evidence-based guideline to support early recognition of clinical deterioration and improve communication among SNF staff, with the goal of reducing avoidable rehospitalizations, and to evaluate stakeholder perceptions of the proposed recommendations. Methods: A literature review was completed to develop eight recommendations that were used to create a guideline and toolkit for the SNF setting. Six stakeholders evaluated the recommendations on a 4-point scale. Ratings were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Friedmans test. Results: Stakeholder ratings were favorable, with means ranging from 3.50 to 3.83. Recommendations 3 and 6 had the highest means (M = 3.83, SD = 0.408). No significant differences were found across the eight recommendations, χ²(7) = 4.282, p = .747. Conclusion: Stakeholder evaluations support future implementation of the guideline and toolkit in the SNFs. Future evaluation is needed to determine effects hospitalization and rehospitalization rates
Keywords
Skilled nursing facilities, Re-hospitalization, Clinical deterioration, Communication, Evidence based practice, Care transition
Disciplines
Geriatric Nursing
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Crooks, Nicole, "Reducing Re-hospitalizations Among Adult Residents in Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Guideline Project" (2026). Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects. 24.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/nursing_dnpprojects2/24