Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects
Date of this Version
12-23-2019
Embargo Date
12-23-2019
Document Type
Project
Department
Nursing
Track
Post-BSN for Nurse Anesthetists (DNP-NA)
Keywords
electronic alert, educational video, postoperative delirium, Beers Criteria
Abstract
Older adults frequently experience delirium after surgery, contributing to a decline in quality of life, increasing morbidity and mortality rates, and adding significant costs to the healthcare system. The Beers Criteria was developed by the American Geriatrics Society and lists medications correlated with a decline in cognition among older adults. These medications are commonly administered in the perioperative period by anesthesia practitioners. At a large university hospital, an educational video was distributed, followed by the launch of an electronic health record alert advising over 300 anesthesia practitioners to reduce dosing or omit Beers Criteria medications in patients aged 70 or older. The total administration and total mean dosage of Beers Criteria medications administered were measured across four study periods: pre-educational video/pre-alert, post-education/pre-alert, and at two post-education/post-alert time points in select surgeries. This quality improvement project demonstrated significant reduction in Beers Criteria medications administered to patients 70 years or older to reduce rates of cognitive decline.
Included in
Chemicals and Drugs Commons, Geriatric Nursing Commons, Health Information Technology Commons, Perioperative, Operating Room and Surgical Nursing Commons
Date Posted: 25 February 2022