Caring for the Kidney
Purpose
just wanted to note here that my project is awaiting IRB approval. Thank you!
Nature and scope of the project
This DNP project is an Evidence-based Practice Initiative that aims to add a supplemental online educational portal for patients and their caregivers to review before standard post-transplant multidisciplinary discharge education to improve comfort and self-efficacy at discharge following renal transplant. The project will also include transplant-specific education for the bedside nurses.
Synthesis and analysis of supporting literature
Chronic kidney disease prevalence is increasing at astounding rates with lasting effects on patients and also causing significant financial and economic burdens. Once progressed to end-stage renal disease, or before progression to end-stage renal disease, the irreversible damage can be augmented with either dialysis or kidney transplant. Evidence suggests that kidney transplants are most successful before the initiation of dialysis or within the first year of dialysis. Additionally, avoiding or reducing the time on dialysis reduces the health risks associated with CKD. Once transplanted, the allograft requires strict patient adherence to protect the health or function of the allograft. Research suggests that tailored education helps improve adherence to protect the allograft.
Project implementation
The project will occur at Loyola Medical Center with post-kidney transplant patients. For the first four weeks, bedside nurses will receive transplant-specific education and control data will be collected. Following, a six-week period will introduce online education and monitor patient and caregivers' comfort and self-efficacy at discharge.
Evaluation criteria
The evaluation objective is “comfort and self-efficacy regarding self-care post-hospital discharge following renal transplant at LUMC”. This will be evaluated with Likert scales that the nurses, patients, and post-transplant coordinators will complete. Additionally, objectively, will measure the number of calls post-hospital discharge and then the time it takes to educate the patient in person prior to hospital discharge. Transplant-specific education will also be provided for the bedside nurses so their comfort in providing patient education will also be measured with a Likert scale.
Outcomes
The goal is positive outcomes to eventually integrate online education into our current practice for hospital discharge.
Recommendations
Will be based on the findings of the project, but ideally to incorporate online education into hospital discharge education for post-kidney transplant patients at Loyola Medical Center.
Caring for the Kidney