Date of Award

Spring 2018

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Committee Chair

Dr. Melanie Gilmore

Committee Chair Department

Nursing

Committee Member 2

Dr. Marcus M. Gaut

Committee Member 2 Department

Nursing

Committee Member 3

Dr. Sat Ananda Hayden

Committee Member 3 Department

Nursing

Abstract

Continuous quality improvement projects and appropriate documentation are an essential component to continue to receive Ryan White grant funding. Compliance with mandated aspects of quality improvement is an extremely important concept-specifically for a clinic setting that cares for the largest HIV positive population in the state of Mississippi. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provides directives mandating that quality improvement projects should be applicable to areas of need and provide for outcomes that ensure quality care for HIV positive individuals (2016).

Initially, this clinic’s rate of compliance with the HRSA Cervical Cancer Screening Performance Measure was subpar to the last reported national average. Due to the increased incidence of cervical dysplasia within the HIV positive female population, cervical cancer screening was chosen for improvement focus. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to increase the number of HIV positive women referred for cervical cancer screening within the clinic setting. The overall aim of the project was to increase cervical cancer screening within this vulnerable population.

Literature has indicated that provider-initiated referrals provide for increased adherence. A visible, provider-initiated algorithm was introduced for a period of three months. At the end of the project period, pre-and post-intervention referral rates were compared to determine project success and significance. Comparison of collected data confirmed a significant difference between pre- and post-intervention referrals.

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