The effects of a diabetes education program on hemoglobin A1C levels. For this project, the student developed and implemented an educational program for diabetic patients focusing on diet, medication management, glucose monitoring, foot/skin care, and importance of follow-up appointments. They provided the education to a sample of 20 patients over 4 weekly sessions. Hemoglobin A1C levels were measured before and 3 months after the program to see if the educational intervention led to improved glucose control/lower A1C levels. Statistical analysis was used to determine if the changes in A1C levels were significant. This project focuses on how diabetes education can improve an important patient outcome measure.

Reducing hospital readmissions among heart failure patients through a telephone follow-up program. For patients with heart failure, hospital readmissions are both costly and can affect patients’ quality of life. For this project, the student implemented a telephone follow-up program for heart failure patients within 1 week of hospital discharge to address any questions/concerns and review symptoms, medications, diet and weight monitoring. They followed a sample of 25 patients for 3 months after discharge to track readmission rates compared to historical hospital data from patients who did not receive the follow-up calls. Statistical analysis was used to determine if the follow-up intervention significantly reduced 30-day and 90-day hospital readmission rates, improving an important patient outcome.

Implementation of a fall prevention program for elderly patients in a skilled nursing facility. Falls are a serious issue among elderly patients that can cause injuries, loss of mobility/independence, and increased healthcare costs. For this project, the student coordinated a multifaceted fall prevention program in a skilled nursing facility involving risk assessments, exercise/balance classes, room safety evaluations, low beds, non-slip footwear, and education. They tracked fall incidents over 6 months pre- and post-intervention among 100 patients to see if the program led to a statistically significant reduction in falls. Decreased falls would indicate an improved patient safety and functional outcomes.

The effects of opioid/pain management education on patient satisfaction scores. Ineffective pain control as well as patient concerns about opioid use and addiction are ongoing issues. For this project, the student developed an educational program for postoperative patients about pain scales, non-opioid options, safe storage/disposal and other topics. Using a sample of 50 patients, they administered a patient satisfaction survey regarding pain management pre- and post- education to see if knowledge improved pain control and satisfaction. Statistical analysis determined if satisfaction scores significantly increased after the intervention, indicating enhanced patient outcomes.

Implementation of bedside shift report to improve nurse/patient communication. Poor communication during shift changes has been tied to medical errors, patient falls, and satisfaction issues. For this project, the student trained nurses on a unit to adopt bedside shift reports versus phone/computer handoffs. They surveyed 50 patients pre- and post-intervention about their understanding of plan of care, comfort with asking questions, and overall perception of nurse communication. Patients were also asked about any safety concerns they had during the shifts. Statistical analysis determined if patient-reported outcomes regarding communication and safety significantly improved with the practice change intervention.

These are some examples of BSN capstone project ideas that utilize quality improvement or evidence-based practice frameworks to implement an intervention and quantitatively measure its impact on important patient outcomes. All incorporate planning, implementation, data collection and statistical analysis components required of a culminating project. By focusing on outcomes like disease control measures, safety incidents, readmission rates or satisfaction scores, they directly address nurses’ ability to affect patients. With IRB approval and adequate sample sizes, these types of projects can generate meaningful evidence and improve clinical quality or processes in a specific healthcare setting.