Educating registered nurses on the early signs and symptoms of dementia in older adults living in long term care can improve specialized care and patient health outcomes. objectives: • To identify the educational support and tools available to registered nurses caring for patients with dementia and barriers to effective implementations of such tools in patient care. • To identify how caring for patients with dementia affects registered nurses in relation to staff nurse burnout. • Upon completing the DNP project, registered nurses in long-term facilities will be better educated and equipped with skills needed for patient assessment using appropriate tools for early identification of dementia. • Upon completion of the DNP project, to disseminate results to the staff at ProMedica Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation and present findings to nursing leadership at one of the Hospice and Palliative Nurse Association Conferences. Theoritical framework: “Nursing Role Effectiveness Model (NREM) evidence based model: The IOWA model includes 1. identify the problem 2. form a team 3. critique the relevant research 4. implementing practice change 5. disseminate the result
