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Staff Education Program For Nurses Caring For Patients With Medical Decline On A Geriatric Psychiatric Unit, Portia Denise Risper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractElderly patients admitted to psychiatric units are a vulnerable population, some may have mental disorders, physical decline, cognitive challenges; along with other comorbidities in addition to their mental illness. However, their physical health needs may be overlooked due to the presenting behaviors mimicking mental health behaviors. The nurses working in the local hospital facility’s geri-psych unit failed to recognize signs and symptoms of physical decline in their severely mentally ill (SMI) patients. Not recognizing and reporting acute changes resulted in patients’ prolonged hospitalization, decreased quality of life, and increased cost to the facility. The purpose of this DNP project was …