Enhancing Person-Centered Care: An Eden Alternative Educational Workshop for Dietary Staff at Denali Center

Caleb Szklarz, MSN, RN

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Introduction

Driving Forces:

The project was driven by Denali Center's commitment to the Eden Alternative philosophy and an identified knowledge gap where dietary staff lacked formal training in these person-centered principles.

Significance to Nursing:

This issue is significant because properly trained dietary staff are crucial partners in care. Improving their understanding of person-centered care directly impacts resident quality of life by actively combating the "three plagues" of loneliness, helplessness, and boredom.

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Project Goals

Process Goal:

To finalize a structured, evidence-based Eden Alternative workshop curriculum by the end of NU590 Week 9.

Performance Goal:

To deliver the workshop to at least 90% of the targeted dietary staff between Weeks 1-3 of NU603.

Outcome Goal:

To achieve at least a 20% increase in post-training knowledge survey scores compared to baseline scores.

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Project Description

Overview:

A targeted educational workshop was designed and implemented for the dietary staff at Denali Center, a 90-bed long-term care facility.

Interprofessional Team:

The project required collaboration between the Project Lead (MSN Student/RN), Dietary Supervisor, Dietary Staff, and Denali Center Administration.

Timeframe:

The project was planned and executed over the course of the NU590 and NU603 terms.

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Evaluation Strategy

Outcome Measures:

A quantitative pre- and post-workshop knowledge survey was the primary method used to evaluate the EBP project's effectiveness.

Method:

Success was measured by comparing the mean scores of the pre- and post-surveys to calculate the percentage of knowledge gain, which was then compared against the stated 20% outcome goal.

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Findings

Quantitative Results:

The primary outcome goal was exceeded. Post-workshop surveys demonstrated an average knowledge increase of 27%.

Knowledge Survey Results

Pre-Workshop Average Score:

58%

Post-Workshop Average Score:

85%

Qualitative Results:

Post-workshop discussions and feedback indicated a significant increase in staff confidence and a desire to apply person-centered principles in their daily work.

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Conclusions & Implications

Key Message:

Targeted, evidence-based education is a highly effective method for integrating an organization's guiding philosophy into the daily practice of ancillary staff.

Organizational Impact:

This project provides a sustainable and replicable training model that can be used for all new dietary hires. This ensures the Eden Alternative philosophy is consistently applied, enriching the daily lives and dining experiences of Denali Center residents.

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Reference Literature

Kusmaul, N., & Tucker, G. G. (2020). Person-Centered Care in Nursing Homes: Many Stakeholders, Many Perspectives. Journal of gerontological nursing, 46(5), 9–13. https://doi.org/10.3928/00989134-20200327-01

Morgan, J. C., Ahmad, W., Chen, Y. Z., & Burgess, E. O. (2023). The Impact of COVID-19 on the Person-Centered Care Practices in Nursing Homes. Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society, 42(7), 1582–1587. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648231154544

Pakkonen, M., Stolt, M., Charalambous, A., & Suhonen, R. (2021). Continuing education interventions about person-centered care targeted for nurses in older people long-term care: a systematic review. BMC nursing, 20(1), 67. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00585-4

Thomas, W. H. (1996). Life worth living: How Someone You Love Can Still Enjoy Life in a Nursing Home : the Eden Alternative in Action. VanderWyk & Burnham.

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Acknowledgements

I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who made this project possible: the leadership at Denali Center, my incredible preceptor, my Purdue Global instructor, and the dietary staff whose enthusiasm and participation were key to its success.

I would also like to thank my family, who were paramount in enabling me to have the time and supporting me throughout my life growing up and in my nursing education.

Most importantly, I would like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has given me a mind that is capable of learning all that is needed and has maintained the flame within me, a heart of compassion for the precious residents here at the Denali Center.

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Contact Information

Caleb Szklarz, MSN, RN

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital

[email protected]