Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing (ND)

First Advisor

Dr. Laura Beth Turner

Abstract

The nation is currently facing substantial healthcare needs, and limited access to care remains a major contributor to health disparities. Projected outlooks are grim, predicting a national provider shortage by the year 2030; this issue is already present in Mississippi. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS] (2024), Mississippi ranks 49th in the nation for health outcomes, and the upcoming provider shortage will leave the state on this detrimental path. However, there is a select group of healthcare providers who are willing to face these disparities and increase the overall health of all Mississippians. According to Black and AANP (2023), there are more than 385,000 licensed nurse practitioners in the country who can address healthcare disparities, help prevent an upcoming provider shortage, and close healthcare gaps. However, the public’s lack of knowledge and understanding of the nurse practitioner role is a barrier that must be addressed. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was created to assess the public’s knowledge and perception of nurse practitioners and introduce standardized education. A formal educational tool and pre-/post-education surveys were created to meet the project’s objectives and identify gaps in understanding. A random convenience sample was collected, and the results were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. A total of 246 surveys, 156 pre-education and ninety post-education, were reviewed and analyzed, revealing a statistically significant increase in knowledge, including an increase in confidence in nurse practitioner care. Both surveys were identical except for the post education verbiage added to the post-education survey. Despite the project’s small sample size and time constraints, the findings indicate that a formal education tool is beneficial not only for expanding understanding of the role but also for increasing public confidence among nurse practitioners. This project emphasized the need for continued public education and awareness of nurse practitioners and the roles they play within Mississippi’s healthcare system to improve health outcomes, close healthcare disparities, and reduce the impact of future provider shortages.

Download

Share

COinS