Staff Education on Effective Communication Techniques

The doctor of nursing (DNP) staff education project took place in a group home with staff who care for six individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. A gap in practice related to ineffective communication between staff and individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities was identified. The practice focused question attempted to answer whether educating staff on effective communication would increase staff knowledge. The purpose of this project was to educate staff on the ability to communicate effectively with individuals. The literature supported the need for the project. Nine nurses voluntarily participated in the project. After receiving the ethics approval from Walden, the DNP student developed a training module with input from experts. Before the intervention, a pretest made up of 10 multiple choice questions was administered. Pre-test, five participants scored 90%, three scored 80%, and one scored 70%. After the education session, the posttest consisting of the same 10 question multiple choice questions was administered to see if there was an increase in knowledge. Post test, eight participants scored 100% and one person scored 90%, demonstrating an increase in knowledge. The project has the potential to advance nursing practice, as people with intellectual and physical disabilities may face challenges expressing their needs, which can lead to misunderstandings or unmet needs. It is the responsibility of the staff, people providing the care, to acknowledge the individuals’ feelings and address them by putting everything in place to learn the skills necessary to provide the care. This project addresses diversity and inclusion as language or cultural differences between staff and residents can be addressed through effective communication techniques.