Degree Name
Nursing Practice, DNP
Publication Date
2-16-2026
First Advisor
Sandra King
Second Advisor
Paige Wimberley
Abstract
Effective communication is key to the nurse-to-patient relationship, patient outcomes, and patient satisfaction. The literature widely shows that barriers such as increased workplace violence and fear and biases within patient interactions hinder communication. This quality improvement project aimed to enhance nurse-to-patient communication, using an evidence-based tool, and leveraged Foli’s Theory of Nurses’ Psychological Trauma to explain and predict barriers. Success is measured by improvement of patient experience in the three nursing domains; courtesy and respect, listen to you, and explain in a way you understand. Lewin’s Change Theory and the plan, do, study, act (PDSA) framework was used to promote lasting change and guide cycles of improvement. A quasi-experimental pre- and post- quantitative design was used. Implementation on the TAGEET tool included the education of 15 nurses on a post-trauma surgical unit and outcomes were evaluated using the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey. Twelve two-proportion z tests showed that neither the between-group comparisons nor the within-group comparisons were statistically significant with a baseline p-=0.998. Courtesy and respect showed a median 4% improvement over the post intervention period, indicating clinically significant improvement. All control (other inpatient units), and other intervention domains decreased. The effect that the pandemic had on nursing and the presence of trauma changed how nurses interact and respond to their own emotions in patient interactions at the project site and within nursing. Organizations must include nurse focused initiatives and cultivate an organizational culture to drive quality improvement by improving nurse well-being.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Kemp, Rachel, "Quality Improvement Project: Enhancing Nurse Communication, Courtesy, and Respect at the Bedside" (2026). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 302.
https://arch.astate.edu/dnp-projects/302
