Date of Award

Spring 4-28-2025

Embargo Period

4-30-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Health Administration

Department

Health Administration

College

College of Health Professions

First Advisor

Elinor Borgert

Second Advisor

Daniel Brinton

Third Advisor

Kit Simpson

Fourth Advisor

Cheryl Jones

Abstract

Background: This study examines how the experience level of Registered Nurses (RNs) has declined while the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) has increased from 2018 to 2022. Purpose: To evaluate the association between nurses’ experience level and patient outcomes, specifically HAPIs, on a state-by-state basis. Methods: Retrospective, observational study of Medicare patients hospitalized in 41 states using the Medicare 5% Limited Dataset. Nurse experience was measured by the date of first licensure using the Nursing Sample Survey of Registered Nurses (NSSRN). Outcomes include a comparison of the percent increase in HAPIs and change in RN experience level by state. Discussion: The Spearman correlation coefficient indicated a weak but positive relationship between RN experience loss and percent HAPI increase (r = .172).

Rights

Copyright is held by the author. All rights reserved.

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