Candace Mike Doctoral Project Proposal Defense, Friday, October 10, 2025 @ 12:00 pm Central Time

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Chloe Gaines

TITLE: RECOVER WELL: REDUCING READMISSIONS THROUGH NURSE-LED FOLLOW-UP AFTER UROLOGIC SURGERY: A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

ABSTRACT: Hospital readmissions within 30 days following urologic surgeries remain a significant quality and safety concern. These readmissions are often associated with catheter complications, infections, poor pain management, and limited patient understanding of discharge instructions. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to evaluate whether implementing structured nurse-led telephone follow-up (TFU) in conjunction with standard discharge education reduces unplanned 30-day readmissions among adult patients undergoing urologic surgery. Guided by the Logic Model framework, this project uses a quasi-experimental, two-group pre- and post-intervention design to compare outcomes. The project takes place at a high-volume outpatient urology clinic in the Houston Medical Center. Adult patients aged 18 to 89 undergoing urologic surgeries in the operating room are included. The pre-intervention group receives standard discharge instructions alone, while the post-intervention group receives the same education plus a structured nurse telephone call within 48–72 hours of discharge. Data are collected via retrospective chart review and prospective nurse documentation, with readmission outcomes tracked through the electronic medical record and an encrypted Excel spreadsheet. The structured follow-up call uses a scripted assessment of pain, catheter status, infection symptoms, hydration, medication adherence, and follow-up care. Data analysis includes descriptive statistics to summarize demographic and clinical variables, chi-square testing to compare categorical outcomes (such as readmission rates), and logistic regression to control for potential co-founders. This initiative has the potential to inform best practices for post-discharge care, enhance patient safety, and reduce healthcare utilization by strengthening patient engagement and continuity of care during the critical recovery period. Findings may also support the broader role of nurses in transitional care and reinforce the value of nurse-led interventions in high-risk surgical populations.

Location Online:

Zoom Link:

https://pvpanther.zoom.us/j/99931735858?pwd=S1O6N4fkkg0p1BKubPyLA5IGaSgr7I.1

Meeting ID: 999 3173 5858

Passcode: 842389