Degree Name
Nursing Practice, DNP
Publication Date
12-2-2025
First Advisor
Sandy King
Second Advisor
Veronica Arrendondo
Abstract
Professional nursing certification is an important criterion of Magnet designation, and increased certification rates have been associated with positive patient outcomes. The literature supports peer support and group study as beneficial strategies to assist nurses in preparing for certification exams. A quality improvement project among medical-surgical (med-surg) nurses at a community hospital pursuing Magnet redesignation addressed the lack of formal processes and nursing perceived barriers to certification that may contribute to low certification rates. The purpose of this project was to develop and implement a structured medical-surgical certification support program following the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle utilizing evidence-based strategies, including a study group with review of practice questions, content review and peer support. The aim of the project was to enhance nurses’ confidence with guiding principles from Banduras social cognitive theory and Lewins change theory. The Confidence (C-scale) theory was utilized to assess confidence pre and post implementation of the program. The question guiding the project assessed how the implementation of a structured support program had an effect on nurses’ confidence, completion of the program, and certification rates. Despite only half of participants completing the program and statistical results being insignificant, a positive change in individual confidence scores was found. The results of this project indicate the positive impact a supportive learning environment has on nurses’ confidence related to the med-surg certification exam. Improvement and sustainment of the program align with the organizations goal of professional development in pursuit of nursing excellence and Magnet redesignation.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Tran, Mary, "Quality Improvement Project: Development and Implementation of a Structured Certification Support Program and the Impact on Nurses’ Confidence and Medical Surgical Certification Rates" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 259.
https://arch.astate.edu/dnp-projects/259
