Date of Award
Summer 2025
Project Type
Thesis
College or School
CHHS
Department
Nursing
Departments (Collect)
Nursing
Program or Major
Direct Entry Masters in Nursing
Degree Name
Master of Science
First Advisor
Pamela Kallmerten
Second Advisor
Jordan Lavallee
Abstract
Background: For critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), accurate daily weight measurements are crucial for monitoring fluid status and ensuring correct medication dosages. However, variations in measurement techniques, accuracy, and documentation can render this data unreliable. This often leads to a reliance on less accurate measures, which may contribute to longer treatment courses and suboptimal patient outcomes.
Local Problem: At a 3-bed ICU in a critical access hospital, staff interviews revealed inconsistencies among nurses in the daily measurement of patient weights. The lack of a standardized protocol created barriers to the usefulness of serial daily weight data.
Methods: The project leader developed a brief, narrated slide presentation to highlight the importance of daily weight measurement, its impact on patient care, and strategies for improving adherence. This presentation was distributed to ICU nurses via email, who were asked to watch it and self-attest to completion over a one-week period.
Results: A post-intervention chart review, conducted over a two-week period, found that the percentage of patients with a documented daily weight increased. Additionally, the practice of documenting weight without a source was eliminated in the post-intervention group. However, a repeat of staff interviews showed minimal changes in beliefs regarding daily weight measurements.
Conclusions: A tailored educational intervention addressing the needs of the microsystem can be an effective strategy for enhancing adherence to obtaining and accurately documenting daily weights for ICU patients. These improvements can support better clinical treatment decisions and safer medication dosing.
Recommended Citation
Prior, Liz, "Enhancing Patient Safety by Increasing Daily Weight Measurement for Intensive Care Through Nursing Education: A Quality Improvement Project" (2025). Master's Theses and Capstones. 1937.
https://scholars.unh.edu/thesis/1937