Implementing and Evaluating the Impact of a Nurse-Led Oral Care Initiative

Abstract

Background: 

Nursing interventions in oral hygiene have been shown to be important for health promotion and illness prevention. This medical center advanced a registered nurse (RN)-led oral health initiative to introduce and standardize oral care practices.

Problem: 

To examine the impact of the oral health initiative, we conducted an evaluation of documentation trends among RNs and the effect of the initiative on patients' oral health during hospitalization.

Approach: 

We used a single-group pretest-posttest design and drew a sample of all inpatients who were admitted to the medical center from October 1 through December 31, 2017.

Outcomes: 

Of the 13 303 patients admitted, the empirical evidence demonstrates 99.5% compliance in documentation at admission and discharge. Among 13 237 patients, there was improvement in patients' oral health during hospitalization (−0.03, P < .001), especially those initially assessed with moderate or severe dysfunction.

Conclusions: 

The oral health initiative standardized assessment and care practices that have improved outcomes in patients' oral hygiene.