Degree Name
Nursing Practice, DNP
Publication Date
12-2-2025
First Advisor
Sandy King
Abstract
Incomplete or inaccurate radiographic imaging requests remain a persistent barrier to diagnostic accuracy and patient safety in urgent care settings. The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) initiative was to enhance nursing documentation of patients’ chief complaints and anatomical site markings through an evidence-based educational intervention targeting nurse-trained X-ray technicians. Guided by Benner’s Novice-to-Expert framework and principles of evidence-based practice, this project employed a pre- and post-intervention design over a two-week implementation period. Data was collected using structured knowledge and competency assessments. Post-intervention findings demonstrated substantial improvements in documentation accuracy, with mean knowledge scores increasing by approximately 30% and self-reported competency by 25%. Participants also reported heightened confidence and perceived clinical accountability in imaging documentation. These findings underscore the significance of targeted education and standardized documentation processes in improving communication between nursing and radiology departments. Sustained integration of such evidence-based strategies may reduce repeat imaging, enhance workflow efficiency, and strengthen overall patient safety outcomes within urgent care systems. This project contributes to nursing scholarships by providing a replicable model for advancing documentation quality and interprofessional collaboration in diagnostic care.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Odili, Clara, "Quality Improvement Project: Enhancing Nursing Documentation of Patients’ Chief Complaints and Anatomical Site Markings in Radiographic Imaging Requests" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 265.
https://arch.astate.edu/dnp-projects/265
