Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Commons^™

Depression Screening Tool For Hysterectomy Patients, Dede C. Mihedji

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of hysterectomies in the United States ranges from

5.1 to 5.8 per 1000 women (Harnod et al., 2018). A standardized screening tool for assessing

depression preoperatively could mitigate the worsening of postoperative depressive symptoms in patients scheduled for a hysterectomy.

Local Problem: Currently, there is no standard of practice to routinely screen for depression in preoperative patients scheduled for hysterectomy surgeries. However, as with any surgical intervention, there are risks of long-term complications. Studies have identified that a hysterectomy may increase the risk of cardiovascular events, menopause, depression, and other outcomes (Madueke-Laveaux et al., 2022). …

Reducing Care Companion Utilization In Medical-Surgical And Telemetry Units, Mary Jane B. Sagabaen

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: The facility highly utilized sitters or care companions, negatively impacting the staffing plan, budget, and productivity. An average of 56 hours of care companions were used daily. This greatly exceeded the budget of 33 hours a day. Reassigning Patient Care Technicians (PCT) as care companions resulted in inadequate nurse support for patient care and increased cost for additional staffing needs. Despite this, the fall rate remained higher than the target.

Context: The patient population is mainly 65 years old and above, sometimes with confusion, dementia, delirium, and at high risk for falls and elopement. The culture included promptly …

How Nurses Perceive Their Task Load When Caring For Behavioral Mental Health Patients In The Pediatric Emergency Department, Emily Cameron, Robert Cornette

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Abstract

Introduction: Pediatric behavioral mental health patients are being seen more frequently in the emergency department setting. With this ever-growing number of cases comes the need for trained staff, including registered nurses, to care for these children during a mental health crisis. With this increase comes increased stress of nurses’ workload. The purpose of this project was to identify nurses’ perceptions of their workload when completing three identified tasks: communication, procedures, and initial intakes. Methods: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Task Load Index tool was used to measure nurses’ perceptions of how difficult each task was to complete. …

Effectiveness Of An Evidenced-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention For Adolescents In A School Setting, Sarah Ellen Gray, Kimberly Michaela Carter, Amanda Harper

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Abstract

The adolescent years are a formative time when rapid hormonal and physical changes stimulate the developing mind. Exposure to poverty, abuse, violence, and lack of peer and social support causes an increase in vulnerability to the development of mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic has also exacerbated symptoms of depression and anxiety. Regardless of the risk factors, anxiety and depression continue to be significant health problems, affecting thousands of adolescents yearly in the United States. The first-line treatment recommendation for managing anxiety and depression symptoms is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, access to a provider for CBT treatment is …

Implementation Of A Postpartum Depression Screening Protocol, Samantha Abercrombie

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major depressive disorder that can occur after having a baby and anytime during the first year postpartum (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2021). Symptoms of PPD may include anger, crying more than usual, withdrawing from family, inability to bond with the baby, feelings of anxiousness, or thoughts of the mother harming herself or the baby. PPD can yield many challenges and hinder daily living activities. Recent research by the CDC (2021) estimates that 1 in 8 women experience manifestations of PPD. Findings also suggest that 1 in 5 women were not …

Improving The Mental Health Nursing Competencies Of Nurses Caring For Patients With History Of Substance Use Disorder In Long-Term Care Settings, Nancyver Lafleur-Omeler

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

While nurses are often on the front lines of working with patients with a history of substance use disorders (SUD), most have limited training in this area. Nurses who work in Long Term Care (LTC) settings are often challenged to resolve the practical issue of needing more competency in caring for SUD patients. Horner et al. (2019) agreed that the deficiency of mental health knowledge and skills in healthcare workers is linked to decreased quality of care, which can diminish patient outcomes. This lack of competency must be addressed (Margoliese & Vandyck, 2019).

Purpose

The goal of this project …

The Effects Of Mental Health First Aid Preparation On Nursing Student Self-Efficacy In Their Response To Mental Health Issues, Kristen E. Mcgregor, Shannon E. M. Boyd, Emma C. M. L. Collins, Amy M. Mcdonald, Marlo P. A. Pereira-Edwards, Sarah J. Scott, Tamara D. Neufeld, Tom Harrigan, Breanna L. Sawatzky, Meagen A. Chorney, Kim M. Mitchell

Quality Advancement in Nursing Education - Avancées en formation infirmière

Background: Past studies show a high prevalence of nursing students experience depressive symptoms at varying levels of severity. Teaching nursing students early in their studies how to recognize these symptoms in themselves, their peers, or clients, and how to take appropriate action, may promote better outcomes. Studies in Australia and England have found that Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) increases nursing students’ self-confidence when supporting those experiencing mental health crises. Limited Canadian studies regarding MHFA training exist.

Purpose: To examine the effect of MHFA training on the self-efficacy of nursing students to deliver mental health first aid in a …

Social Identities And Campus Belonging As Predictors Of Flourishing Among College Students, Christine Gilchrist

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Annual data since 2012 shows college students’ flourishing (a measure of psychological well-being) in continuous decline, with 2022 showing the largest decrease. Since the knowledge base of the predictors of flourishing is limited, how college executives can best address this issue is unclear. Variations in flourishing have been observed in studies that examined the relationship between food insecurity (DeBate et al., 2021), race/ethnicity (Lipson et al., 2018, 2022; Nyunt et al., 2022; Parr, 2022), immigration status (Cadenas & Nienhusser, 2021), as well as gender identity and sexual orientation (Parr, 2022). The intersectional impact of demographic and social identities has not …

The Effects Of Music Therapy On Elderly Adults With Dementia, Jeante J. Jackson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

As people age, the brain is more susceptible to changes that diminish cognitive function. In recent years neuroscience has found convergent evidence between music therapy and brain architecture, as it has shown the generation of new connections in the brain or a reorganization and possible strengthening of existing connections already in the brain. However, the literature regarding music training’s effects on executive control, selective attention, and speech processing is lacking particularly when it comes to older populations.

This study investigated Verbal Working Memory, Visuospatial Attention and Task Initiation, and Auditory Selective Attention in a 91-year-old adult (B.P.) diagnosed with dementia. …

Implementation Of The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale At An Outpatient Mental Health Practice To Increase Provider Confidence In Identifying Suicide Risk, Lauren Reed

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Introduction: The purpose of this evidence-based Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to implement the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) as part of routine patient assessment at an outpatient mental health practice to increase the likelihood of identifying clients at risk for suicidal behavior and increase provider confidence in screening for suicidal behavior. The study site is a Southern California-based outpatient mental health practice that employs a variety of clinicians, including psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners, to provide mental health care to clients across the lifespan.

Background: Approximately 57% of individuals who die by suicide had at least one contact with …

Implementation Of The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-Item Screening Tool For Adult Patients In An Underserved Outpatient Cardiology Clinic, Leila Joint

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: 11.7% of adults aged 18 and over have regular feelings of worry, nervousness, or anxiety. Anxiety can often present with somatic symptoms. The rates of misdiagnoses are high with symptoms often attributed to physical etiologies. Early recognition and treatment of anxiety can improve quality of life, prevent complications and reduce health care costs.

Purpose of Project: Implementation of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item (GAD-2) screening tool in a fast-paced underserved outpatient cardiology clinic for adult patients presenting with chest pain and/or palpitations without documented history of anxiety. The purpose of this project is to improve the utilization …

Implementation Of Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment: Alcohol Revised (Ciwa-Ar) Education Program In A Crisis Stabilization Unit, Amanda Dehart

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: At this time the crisis stabilization Units do not currently utilize the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment: Alcohol Revised tool with patients who may experience Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. Patients with alcohol use disorders have a high comorbidity rate with psychiatric disorders (Butterfield, et al, 2020). The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment: Alcohol Revised or CIWA-Ar is currently the most widely used assessment tool in the psychiatric setting when assessing patients who may be experiencing Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (Pribék, et al, 2021) .

Purpose of Project: The purpose of this project is to measure pre and post -education knowledge of the registered …

Trauma-Informed Treatment For Alcohol Use Disorder: Improving Long-Term Recovery, Aline M. Bales

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: This DNP project aimed to assess the feasibility of implementing trauma-informed care to Ria Health's telehealth AUD MAT recovery treatment model for patients with co-occurring PTSD, targeting high relapse rates due to cravings. Trauma-informed care addresses traumatic histories that can potentiate emotional dysregulation leading to maladaptive coping responses manifesting as cravings with addiction memory.

Methods: An integrated review assessed the prevalence of co-occurrence of AUD and PTSD, assessed interest in Ria Health patients, patients recruited from Ria Health if they mentioned cravings, offered concurrent trauma-informed care with medicated assisted treatment for 16-20 sessions, trauma-informed care used Polyvagal Theory techniques …

Therapeutic Gardening For Addiction Recovery, Hugo A. Rivera Lopez

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: The use of evidence-based alternative forms of therapy like horticulture therapy and therapeutic gardening is underutilized in substance use recovery programs in the United States. As the country continues to struggle with addiction, it is important that recovery programs look to and incorporate these alternative therapies into official curricula. Currently, 46.3 million individuals living in the United States are living with a substance use disorder (U.S Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2022).

Context: The intervention was implemented at an all-male substance use treatment facility in San Jose, CA that houses up …

The Use Of Therapeutic Gardening In Addiction Recovery, Sophia Agne

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Numerous recent studies have emerged detailing the benefits of horticultural therapy on mental health and wellness. Despite this, substance use disorder treatment facilities rarely include an outdoor component in their programming. The project seeks to examine the advantages of incorporating therapeutic gardening as a complementary part of addiction treatment.

Context: The microsystem where the study was conducted was at a 32-bed residential substance abuse treatment facility for adult men who have previously been involved in the criminal justice system. The treatment approach employed at the facility aligns with the Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT) curriculum, which emphasizes mental health-informed …

Therapeutic Gardening For Mental Health In Substance Use Recovery, Stephanie E. Schafer

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

As the clinical nurse leader (CNL) in this project, I used the “[CNL]

Essential 1: Background for Practice from Sciences and Humanities” (Competencies and Curricular Expectations for Clinical Nurse Leader Education and Practice, 2013) and its competencies to focus on designing nursing care for a clinical or community-focused population based on biopsychosocial, public health, nursing, and organizational sciences and to synthesize evidence for practice to determine appropriate application of interventions across diverse populations. With the help of the CNL competencies and collaboration with the healthcare team, we created and implemented a therapeutic garden for residents in a substance use …

Therapeutic Gardening For Addiction Recovery, Hayley Milleson

Master's Projects and Capstones

The following study examines the potential benefits of implementing therapeutic gardening and outdoor activities as a supplemental resource for adult males with a history of substance abuse issues who have been affected by the criminal justice system and are seeking sobriety while in a residential treatment program. The goal is to investigate how therapeutic gardening can add to traditional addiction treatment methods. Through a review of current evidence-based practice, this study focuses on how alternative interventions such as therapeutic gardening and outdoor activity can improve overall mental health and well-being, promote a sense of community, improve social connections, alleviate stress …

Save The Children Community Health Worker Program – Adverse Childhood Events Prevention, Jieun Lee

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur between the ages of 0 to 17 in which are directly associated, in a dose–response manner, to many of the most common and serious health problems in the United States.

Local Problem: 62% of California residents have experienced at least one ACE, and 16% have experienced at least four ACEs. ACEs are linked to nine of the ten leading causes of death in the United States Adults with four or more ACEs are 37.5 times more likely to attempt suicide, 3.2 times more likely to have chronic lower respiratory …

Mental Health Services: Reaching The Homeless, Gurdeep Mann

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background: Serious mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorder (SUD) are two common findings among the majority of those experiencing homelessness in the Stanislaus County.

Local Problem: Emergency shelters typically do not provide mental health services on-site, however, a collaboration between First Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center (FBH) and We Care Program Turlock (WCPT) was established to provide mental health services on-site.

Method: The WCPT case manager as part of a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project implemented Assertive Outreach Model interventions to increase utilization of mental health services and established long-term relationships.

Interventions: Frequent contact with …

Implementing The Timed Up And Go Test To Prevent Falls, Shamika Allen

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Falls are the most reported injury within the geriatric population. Behavioral health patients have the most injurious falls, with falls impacting multiple things such as staffing, cost, injury, and quality of life for the patient (Ocker et al., 2020). Currently, the standardized fall assessment for new patients upon admission is the Morse Fall Scale (MFS). This fall assessment was intended to assess the level of fall risk for patients who are on an acute medical floor during their hospital stay. The Timed Up and Go test (TUG) is a fall assessment that has been used in geriatric patients to assess …