Degree Name
Nursing Practice, DNP
Publication Date
11-3-2025
First Advisor
Sandy King
Second Advisor
Beverly Clark
Abstract
Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a chronic, often irreversible movement disorder associated with prolonged antipsychotic use. In post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) settings, inconsistent Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) screening practices and limited clinician education contribute to under recognition and delayed treatment. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement (QI) project evaluated whether an educational intervention impacted clinicians’ knowledge, confidence, and perceived importance of AIMS screening among licensed and unlicensed PALTC staff. Guided by Donabedian’s Model of Quality and Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model, the project used a pre-test/post-test design to measure outcomes before and after completion of the Drug-Induced Movement Disorder (DIMD) course. Data was collected anonymously through SurveyMonkey using a self-generated code and the Screening for TD in Long-Term Care: Educational Impact Questionnaire (V1.0). Paired-sample t-tests (α = .05) demonstrated statistically significant impacts across all domains (n = 13): knowledge (p < .001), confidence (p < .001), perceived clinical importance (p < .01), and self-assessment (p < .05). Limitations included a small convenience sample, single implementation cycle, and self-report bias. Findings indicate that structured, evidence-based education strengthens clinician competency, reinforces regulatory screening standards, and supports early TD detection in PALTC. The project advances nursing practice by embedding sustainable, education-driven quality improvement across interdisciplinary care systems.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Whitt, Tana, "Quality Improvement Project: Impact of Educational Intervention on post-acute and long-term care Staff's Confidence and Accuracy in AIMS Screening for Tardive Dyskinesia" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 257.
https://arch.astate.edu/dnp-projects/257
