Impact of an Educational Program for Advanced Practice Nurses on Knowledge of Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative Guidelines

• Published in: Nephrology nursing journal : journal of the American Nephrology Nurses' Association Vol. 42; no. 5; p. 455
• Main Authors: Thompson-Martin, Yolanda, McCullough, Peter A, Agrawal, Varun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-09-2015
• Subjects: Advanced Practice Nursing - education; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic - nursing; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Quality of Health Care
• ISSN: 1526-744X

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are often referred to a nephrologist late. Contributing factors include primary care providers' lack of awareness of practice guidelines for treating kidney disease and their uncertainty of timing for referral to a nephrologist. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine if advanced practice nurses working in primary care are knowledgeable about the National Kidney Foundations Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative Guidelines, if a CKD education program increases knowledge, and if knowledge is retained. Fourteen advanced practice nurses participated in the study. The knowledge outcome was measured using a CKD knowledge-based survey. The results showed a significant increase in knowledge post-intervention; moreover, knowledge gained was retained at the one-month follow-up intervaL This evidence-based practice project was developed to promote timely referral to a nephrologist, which may then slow the progression of kidney disease, decrease morbidity and mortality, and reduce healthcare cost.