Strategic Delegation in Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Implementation: Advancing Evidence-Based Practice Through...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Leadership
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Delegation is an underutilized leadership strategy in Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) education.
• DNP curricula often lack formal training in strategic delegation, hindering project sustainability.
• Nurse leaders need structured guidance for effective delegation to ensure project scalability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a structured delegation framework on implementing Morse Fall Scale (MFS) education.
• To assess the effectiveness of delegation in a quality improvement initiative within a trauma center.
• To determine if structured delegation enhances the implementation of clinical education.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement initiative utilized a five-step delegation framework (assessment, assignment, training, oversight, outcome).
• Nurse residents were trained and assigned roles in delivering MFS education, surveys, and coaching.
• The framework aligned responsibilities with team competencies in a Level 1 trauma center.

Main Results:

• Staff knowledge of the Morse Fall Scale (MFS) significantly improved post-intervention (p < .001).
• Delegation expanded the reach of educational initiatives and increased learner engagement.
• Nurse residents demonstrated enhanced leadership development through assigned roles.

Conclusions:

• Strategic delegation is crucial for strengthening DNP project implementation and ensuring sustainability.
• Integrating delegation into DNP leadership competencies and curricula is essential.
• This quality improvement initiative demonstrates the value of structured delegation for optimizing team contributions and improving clinical outcomes.