Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Commons^™

Bridging Ipv And Sud For Pregnant And Postpartum Women: A Case Report Of Interdisciplinary Programming In Mississippi, Catherine Poehling, Masoumeh Karimi, Chinedu Chukwu, Jerome R. Kolbo, Xiaoshan Gordy, Saijun Zhang, Matthew Morris, Andrew Voluse, Erin Dehon, Michelle Brassfield, Danielle Lahn, Lisa Slade, Deanna Howington, Kathleen Rhodes, Tearsanee Davis, Sonja Fuqua, Mary M. Wesley, Lei Zhang

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) adolescents in the U.S. South experience disproportionately high rates of bullying, discrimination, depression, and suicidality. Supportive and inclusive school climates are identified as key protective factors that can mitigate these risks and function as primary prevention against violence. This systematic narrative review synthesizes peer-reviewed research and high-quality survey reports published between 2015 and 2024 that assess school climate, mental health, and violence-related outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth with representation from Southern states, including Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, 1,167 records …

Marital Satisfaction And Social Media Use: A Comparative Study Based On Addiction Levels, Fatma Ayhan, Elif Arık, Merve Gülsüm Saçan, Zehra Sevim, Esme Arguç

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

In recent years, the widespread use of social media platforms has raised questions about their impact on marital relationships. This study examined the relationship between marital satisfaction, social media use, and certain sociodemographic characteristics. This descriptive and cross-sectional study comprised 461 individuals residing in Turkey who had been married for at least one year. Data were collected using the Bergen Social Media Addiction and Marital Satisfaction Scales. Statistical analyses included t-tests, analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression analysis. Social media addiction was high among 16.5% of the participants. Marital satisfaction was higher among males, those who married at age …

Effectiveness Of Dialectical-Behavioral Intervention On Emotional Regulation Difficulties, Distress Tolerance, And Social Functioning Among Patients With Bipolar Disorder: Randomized Controlled Trial, Nashwa Ibrahim

Nursing

Aim

To determine the effect of implementing dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills training groups on emotional regulation difficulties, distress tolerance, and social functioning among patients with bipolar disorder (BD).

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 120 patients diagnosed with BD who were attending follow-up at the outpatient clinic. Participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group, which received 16 group psychoeducation sessions held twice weekly, or the control group, which received standard outpatient care. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures was applied to compare normally distributed quantitative variables across more than two time points or stages, …

Mental Health First Aid Training In K-12 Schools, Jenna L. Workman, Brianna L. Schierberg, Grace H. Sullivan, Erin Robinson

Posters-at-the-Capitol

The increasing prevalence of mental health challenges among school-aged children has become a rising public health concern. Recent data indicates that nearly 70% of schools report heightened mental health problems among students, with anxiety and depression being most common (National Center for Education Statistics, 2024). The purpose of this capstone project is to raise awareness of mental health issues in K–12 public schools and to increase faculty and staff confidence in recognizing and assisting students experiencing mental health difficulties through nurse-led Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training. Using Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Theory as a guiding framework, this project emphasizes the …

Treatment For Women With Mental Health Disorders Associated With Reproductive Health: An Opportunity For Interprofessional Collaboration, Ellen Modlin Phd, Otr/L, Bcp, Caps, Deana Goldin Phd, Dnp, Arnp, Fnp-Bc, Pmhnp-Bc

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Abstract

Purpose: This article proposes an opportunity for interprofessional collaboration between mental health practitioners (MHPs) and occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) for the treatment of women experiencing mental health disorders (MHDs) associated with reproductive health (RH) changes throughout the lifespan. This collaborative approach have the potential to optimize women’s health care and mitigate the risk of fragmented care, as these conditions are highly complex.

Method: Peer- reviewed literature from mental health and occupational therapy (OT) research was reviewed and summarized. The search focused on the barriers and potential opportunities for collaboration between MHPs and OTPs in women affected with MHDs associated …

Atypical Antipsychotic-Induced Weight Gain Preventive Bundle: A Quality Improvement Project, Jocelyn Urbano

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Antipsychotic-induced weight gain (AIWG) is a common, clinically significant adverse effect associated with second-generation antipsychotic medications and contributes to increased cardiometabolic risk among individuals with serious mental illness (SMI; Carolan et al., 2025; Hegde et al., 2024). Individuals experiencing homelessness or social instability often encounter additional barriers to maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviors and consistent engagement in healthcare, further increasing metabolic risks and treatment issues (Hamel et al., 2024; Kelly et al., 2025). This preventive care bundle, designed to reduce the risk of AIWG, was implemented in an outpatient behavioral health clinic serving an underserved urban Texas population.

As metformin may …

Treatment Manual For Nonsequential Format Two Part Program For Symptom Self-Management (12 Session Course & Support Group For Booster Dose Of Course), Robin Kay Buccheri, Louise Nigh Trygstad, Martha D. Buffum

Nursing and Health Professions Faculty Research and Publications

This is the Treatment Manual and 5 Appendices for NonSequential Format.  Two-Part Program for Symptom Self-Management of Auditory Hallucinations: 12 Session Course & Support Group for Booster Dose of Course

Bias In Nursing Students: How Student Exposure Impacts Patient Interactions, Claire Roy

Honors Theses and Capstones

Bias is a pervasive issue in healthcare. It affects all aspects of the healthcare system and affects patients primarily through their interactions with healthcare providers. This study aimed to identify if exposure to various patient populations reduced bias among participants and increased their understanding of the way bias impacts patients. Two participants were recruited from a baccalaureate nursing program course titled “Living with Mental Illness” to participate in a series of two-semi structured interviews to identify bias, perceptions of community-based care, and the growth from the beginning to the end of their clinical experiences. Results showed skill development, increased understanding …

How Social Media And Cyberbullying Correlate To Eating Disorders In Adolescents, Nicoli A. Panelo

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Social media is very prevalent in today’s society, particularly in adolescents. This time period is crucial for this age group in terms of developing a sense of purpose and identity. Although social media may keep many of our children entertained, they also can create negative impacts on them and ultimately hinder their overall development both mentally and physically through negative body image and unrealistic self-expectations. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find the correlation between social media use and the rise of eating disorders in adolescents. Doing so would allow us to find ways to lower the …

Decreasing Work-Related Stress And Burnout In Advanced Practice Clinicians, Laura Vasquez

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Background

Advanced practice clinicians (APCs) face ongoing job-related stress and career burnout. Work-related stress and burnout affect healthcare quality, safety, and patient satisfaction, yet evidence specific to job-related stress and career burnout from outpatient medical facilities in the South Texas region remains limited.

Purpose

A quality improvement (QI) project was implemented to decrease work-related stress and burnout among APCs working in an outpatient medical facility in the South Texas region.

Methods

Project participants included family nurse practitioners (FNPs) (n=7) and physician assistants (PAs) (n=4). Data was collected between January 2026 and March 2026. An intervention was implemented which included engagement …

Implementing An Electronic Referral System In A Community Mental Health Clinic To Streamline Patient Care: An Evidence-Based Quality Improvement Project, Judith Ngante

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Inefficient referral processes in community mental health clinics contribute to delayed access to care, fragmented communication, and increased administrative burden. Traditional referral methods, including phone, fax, and paper-based systems, often result in prolonged wait times and documentation errors, negatively impacting patient outcomes. Evidence supports electronic referral (e-referral) systems as effective tools for improving care coordination, reducing delays, and enhancing provider satisfaction. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project aimed to implement an e-referral system in a community mental health clinic in metropolitan Texas to streamline patient care and reduce referral wait times by at least 30% over a …

Musical Measures: Nurse Education On Music-Based Interventions To Reduce Patient Restraints, Crystal D. Tucker

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The use of physical restraints in acute psychiatric settings poses significant risks to patient safety, including physical injury and psychological distress. Evidence supports the need for alternative, non-pharmacologic interventions to reduce reliance on restraints. This Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project aimed to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on nurses’ knowledge and confidence in implementing music-based interventions, specifically binaural beats, to manage patient anxiety and agitation.

The project was conducted on a medical observation and behavioral health holding unit and utilized a pre- and post-intervention design. Registered nurses participated in educational sessions on music-based interventions and were …

Integrating Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Into Telepsychiatry: A Professional Development Model For Pmhnps, Catherine A. Roberts

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: Mental illnesses remain among the most prevalent health conditions in the United States, affecting approximately 23% or nearly one in five adults in 2025 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2025); National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2024a). Despite this high prevalence, only 50.6% of adults living with mental health disorders receive treatment (NIMH, 2024a); although the expansion of telepsychiatry has improved access to mental healthcare, medication-management visits are frequently brief and primarily focused on pharmacotherapy thereby limiting opportunities for delivery of psychotherapeutic interventions. This limitation highlights the need for structured, evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches that can be …

Guideline For A Burnout Bundle For Nurses In Psychiatric Mental Health Units, Festus Irabor

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Abstract

Problem: Burnout among nurses, especially in psychiatric mental health units, significantly impacts both their well-being and the quality of patient care. Despite its severity, with approximately 30% of nurses worldwide affected and contributing to a 31.5% nurse turnover rate (Ge et al., 2023), there are limited formal guidelines specifically targeting nurse burnout prevention in the mental health setting. The issue is particularly acute in the United States, where 91.1% of psychiatric nurses report experiencing burnout, compared to 79.9% of other healthcare professionals (Anger et al., 2024). In the local unit 38.05% have experienced burnout.

Purpose: The PICOTS for this …

Promoting Safe And Effective Ciwa-Ar Protocol Adherence On An Inpatient Psychiatric Unit Through An Educational Reference Poster: A Quality Improvement Project, Kenan J. Gray

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Background: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) can progress to seizures, delirium tremens, and autonomic instability. The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol–Revised (CIWA-Ar) supports symptom-triggered AWS management, but safe use depends on timely nursing assessment, reassessment, and documentation.

Local Problem: On an adult inpatient psychiatric unit, chart audits identified CIWA-Ar protocol adherence gaps, including missed four-hour assessments and one-hour reassessments after lorazepam.

Methods: This quality improvement project used the Plan-Do-Study-Act model. Three educational reference posters were placed in high-visibility staff areas with QR-linked access to the facility’s AWS protocol and CIWA-Ar scoring guidelines. Outcomes were evaluated using pre- and post-intervention …

Introducing Education For Sensory Approaches In Mental Health-Related Emergency Department Visits: A Quality Improvement Project To Enhance Patient-Centered Care, Jesse O'Neill

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Barriers to specialty care access have resulted in emergency departments (ED) operating as temporary psychiatric hold facilities for their communities. Patients boarding in the ED are demonstrated to use a disproportionate percentage of facility resources with minimal benefit to the patient. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement identifies the impact of the healthcare environment on patient outcomes and suggests staff training to foster trauma-informed practice culture (Schall et al., 2020).

Local Problem: High-stress healthcare environments can escalate maladaptive patient behaviors and the use of restrictive interventions. Traditional use of restrictive interventions lacks supportive evidence and contradicts person-centered care goals (Molloy …

The Impact Of Night Shift On New Nurses: Effects On Mental Health And Work-Life Balance, Avery Windham, Abby Maruskin, Elizabeth Yoder

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This research examines the impact of night shift schedules on new nurses' mental health and work-life balance as they transition into professional practice. The transition from nursing school to the workforce presents challenges that are further compounded by shift work, which can disrupt circadian rhythms and contribute to stress, fatigue, and reduced job satisfaction. The purpose of this research is to evaluate how starting on night shift versus day shift influences nurses’ self-evaluation of work-life balance within their first year of practice. This systematic review synthesizes findings from peer-reviewed sources to assess the physical, emotional, and professional consequences of night …

Magnifying Mental Health In The Perinatal Population: A Systematic Review, Kasey E. Arnold, Alyssa M. Maki

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Pregnant individuals often experience significant anxiety, which can negatively affect both pregnancy and fetal outcomes. This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of pharmacologic versus non-pharmacologic anxiety-relieving interventions, primarily focusing on the labor period. The PICOT question is: In perinatal patients, do non-pharmacologic anxiety-relieving measures, compared to pharmacologic anxiety-relieving measures, have a greater impact on ease of delivery and overall mental health during pregnancy and the perinatal period? PRISMA (2020) guidelines were used with inclusion criteria of human subjects, English language, and published within the last six years. Databases included PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library. Twenty-three studies were analyzed to examine …

Looking Beyond Traditional Therapy: The Promising Alternative Of Ketamine-Assisted Treatments In Improving The Quality Of Life Of Veterans, Noa Gutmann

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in United States veterans has a long history of treatment with standard care interventions and therapies. Unfortunately, many modern-day veterans experience treatment resistance and comorbid depressive symptoms that have yet to be resolved. This results in suicidal ideation, hospital readmission, and high treatment dropout rates of care plans. Recent evidence has shown a positive impact of ketamine, and esketamine, therapy on PTSD and depressive symptoms severity. Although, the outcomes and generalizability of this emerging therapy, compared to standard care, are not fully elucidated on. The purpose of this literary review was to further examine the current …

A Guideline To Address Barriers To Mental Health Treatment Experienced By Law Enforcement Officers, Jacqueline Estrella

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Law enforcement officers are exposed to repeated trauma on the job that may negatively affect their mental health. Officers may avoid seeking mental health treatment due to police culture, stigma, and other barriers which may increase risks for suicide, absenteeism, and maladaptive coping.

Objectives: Develop an evidenced-based guideline to address barriers law enforcement officers face in seeking mental health treatment.

Methods: The National Quality Measures Clearinghouse (NQMC) Domain Framework was used to guide a literature review to identify best practices suitable for a guideline. Articles were graded for strength based on the John Hopkins Nursing Evidence Based Practice (JHNEBP) …