Degree Name
Nursing Practice, DNP
Publication Date
8-3-2026
First Advisor
Lisa Drake
Second Advisor
Beatrice Bailey
Abstract
Trauma-induced hypothermia is a significant, preventable condition that contributes to increased mortality. Evidence suggests that inconsistent recognition and management of hypothermia persist in the emergency department (ED), highlighting the need to strengthen ED nurses’ knowledge and self-efficacy in evidence-based warming strategies. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on ED nurses’ knowledge and self-efficacy in managing trauma-induced hypothermia. Guided by the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice, the ADKAR Change Model, and the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework, this quantitative, quasi-experimental, pretest–posttest project evaluated the effect of an instructor-led educational intervention in ED nurses at a Level I trauma center. Outcomes were measured using an investigator-developed knowledge assessment and the Imperial College London Educational Self-Efficacy Scale adapted for trauma-induced hypothermia. The final sample was N= 24. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the paired-samples t test were used for analysis after assessing normality. The educational intervention significantly improved nurses' self-efficacy for hypothermia management (V = 0.00, p < .001, r = .74). Knowledge scores increased following intervention but did not reach statistical significance (t(23) = -1.07, p = .295, d = 0.22). Limitations included a small, single-site, convenience sample. Although self-efficacy improved significantly, additional educational strategies may be needed to produce meaningful changes in knowledge. These findings support integrating standardized hypothermia education into trauma training at the project site and contribute to nursing practice by supporting educational strategies that enhance nurses' self-efficacy in evidence-based trauma care.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Rapert, Shannon M., "Hypothermia Management in Adult Trauma Patients: Enhancing Nursing Knowledge and Self-Efficacy in the Emergency Department" (2026). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 374.
https://arch.astate.edu/dnp-projects/374
