Date of Award
Summer 2023
Abstract
Background: It is well documented that there is a high prevalence of Veteran tobacco use in the United States. Additionally, providing smoking cessation counseling in an emergency setting is beneficial. The broader Veteran Affairs (VA) macrosystem has a plethora of smoking cessation resources available for Veterans. Within a VA Urgent Care Center (UCC) a quality improvement initiative was conducted that focused on increasing registered nurses (RNs) self-efficacy in providing smoking cessation counseling. Prior to this quality improvement (QI) project, smoking cessation did not occur in this UCC. If RNs have higher self-efficacy more smoking cessation counseling will occur.
Methods: A pre-assessment was administered to RNs in the UCC (n=8) to assess their self- efficacy in providing smoking cessation counseling. Following the pre-assessment an educational PowerPoint was delivered to staff via their institutional email, that covered best practice and a review of the VAs resources. Following the educational PowerPoint, participants completed a post-assessment. Educational materials were made easily accessible for RN distribution following the intervention.
Results: There was a 20% increase in RNs self-reported efficacy in providing smoking cessation following the intervention. RNs reported via free-text answers that they believed the educational handouts were beneficial and that smoking cessation is important. Conclusion: This QI project increased RNs self-efficacy in providing smoking cessation and increased the availability of smoking cessation resources for Veterans. Future, Plan-Do-Study- Act (PDSA) cycles are necessary to further understand the benefit of providing smoking cessation for this population in this type of unit.
Conclusion: This QI project increased RNs self-efficacy in providing smoking cessation and increased the availability of smoking cessation resources for Veterans. Future, Plan-Do-Study- Act (PDSA) cycles are necessary to further understand the benefit of providing smoking cessation for this population in this type of unit.
First Advisor
Kaitlynn Liset
Second Advisor
Pamela Kallmerten
College or School
CHHS
Department or Program
Direct-Entry Masters of Nursing
Degree Name
Master of Science
Recommended Citation
Waller, Adam N. II, "Enhancing Nurses' Self-Efficacy in Smoking Cessation Counseling to Improve Patient- Centered Care at a Federally Funded Urgent Care Center: A Quality Improvement Initiative" (2023). Master's Theses and Capstones. 1668.
https://scholars.unh.edu/thesis/1668