Dissertation
Improving the Discharge Process for Pediatric Cardiology Inpatients with Standardized Discharge Checklist and Parent Education Bundle
University of Iowa
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), University of Iowa
Summer 2026
Abstract
Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common type of birth defect, affecting approximately 1% of live births and accounts for 3.7% of hospitalizations for children ages 0-20. Safe, effective discharge planning for this complex patient population is vital, especially during times of transitions of care. Errors and omissions in the discharge planning process can result in longer hospitalizations, readmissions, adverse patient outcomes and experiences as well as increased healthcare system costs. Purpose: The purpose of this Doctor or Nursing (DNP) project was to implement a discharge checklist and parent education bundle that standardizes the discharge process for pediatric cardiology patients to improve patient outcomes and staff satisfaction and improve discharge efficiency. Methods: This quality improvement project was conducted at a Midwestern Children’s Teaching Hospital on an inpatient unit specializing in respiratory and cardiac diseases. A discharge checklist was developed and implemented to standardize the discharge process for pediatric cardiology patients on the unit requiring complex planning needs. Staff satisfaction was assessed pre- and post-implementation using Likert scale surveys and discharge efficiency was measured via time of discharge and delay in discharge (in minutes). The project was guided by the Iowa Model for Sustainability Framework. Findings: Results included a statistically significant improvement in nursing knowledge of tasks needing completed prior to discharge and indicated that staff found the checklist helpful. While the time of discharge goal was unmet, there was a significant reduction of delay of discharge in minutes. Discussion: This project reinforces the need for standardization of the discharge process for pediatric patients with complex discharge planning needs such as those in CHD. Further directions include continued use of the discharge checklist and parent education bundle as well as expansion to other complex pediatric conditions.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Improving the Discharge Process for Pediatric Cardiology Inpatients with Standardized Discharge Checklist and Parent Education Bundle
- Creators
- Samantha Anderson - University of Iowa
- Contributors
- Amalia Gedney-Lose (Chair) - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Project Type
- Poster
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Date degree season
- Summer 2026
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- 1 page
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2026 Samantha Anderson
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Nursing; Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
- Record Identifier
- 9985217065102771
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