• BACKGROUND
    • Transitioning patients from the hospital to home after a total hip or knee arthroplasty is challenging. Severe pain, comorbidities and complex medication regimes have the potential to delay readiness for discharge, increase length of stay (LOS), and cause readmissions.
  • OBJECTIVE
    • The goal of this practice improvement project was to improve patient readiness for discharge after total joint arthroplasty to reduce LOS, prevent emergency department (ED) visits, and prevent hospital readmissions.
  • METHODS
    • This quality improvement project was guided by the Iowa Model and implemented a prepost program implementation evaluation design. Nurses incorporated the Registered Nurse Assessment of Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RN-RHDS) to guide and evaluate discharge education efforts.
  • RESULTS
    • The focused education cohort demonstrated significantly decreased LOS and decreased readmissions compared to the cohort receiving standard education efforts. ED visits were not significantly different amongst cohorts.
  • CONCLUSION
    • This practice improvement project demonstrates successful translation of research into practice.
  • IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING
    • The use of focused education and the RN-RHDS tool is recommended for nursing to improve patient readiness for discharge and patient outcomes.