Graduation Semester and Year
Spring 2026
Language
English
Document Type
DNP Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Dianne Ross, PhD
Abstract
Abstract
Globally, heart failure affects approximately 54 million individuals and has reached pandemic levels, contributing to elevated 30-day readmission rates (Sa et al., 2024). Background: In the United States, 30-day readmission rates range from 18% to 20%, with similar rates across all states. The current rate was documented as 29% at the study setting hospital. Objective: Implement a Quality Improvement project based on education, evidence-based order sets, and referral to palliative care to reduce 30-day readmission rates among adults with heart failure. Methods: Nursing staff completed education specific to heart failure, and patients received the American Heart Association Self-Check assessment. Evidence-based order sets were placed in the electronic health record, and collaborative conversations with physicians established consideration for palliative care. After eight weeks, readmission rates were compared with those from the same eight-week period in the previous year. Results: Readmission rates decreased near 20%, from 29.3% to 23.8%. Heart failure education was completed by 80.56% of nursing staff, and 65.03% of patients received evidence-based discharge instructions; 8.39% of patients received a referral to outpatient palliative care. A chi-square test of independence was conducted to examine the association between pre- and post-measures of readmissions. Analysis of the data indicated no statistically significant association, χ2(1, N = 407) = 0.86, p = .36. Conclusions: Although the reduction was not statistically significant, the observed decrease represents clinically meaningful improvement in patient outcomes and hospital capacity. Complex factors related to readmissions require time, infrastructure changes, and collaborative conversations to improve the quality of care.
Keywords: Heart failure, readmissions, nursing education, evidence-based order sets, palliative care
Keywords
Heart failure, Readmissions, Nursing education, Evidence-based order sets, Palliative care, Readmission, Patient education
Disciplines
Geriatric Nursing | Nursing | Palliative Nursing
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
McCoy, Charles, "Reducing 30-Day Readmission Rates in Patients with Heart Failure" (2026). Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects-Archive. 120.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/nursing_dnpprojects/120