Date of Conferral

7-11-2024

Date of Award

July 2024

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Robert Anders

Abstract

Depression is a global healthcare crisis impacting millions worldwide. In the United States, over 8% of adults experience depression, leading to significant disability and increased healthcare costs. Many individuals with depression seek initial treatment in emergency departments (EDs). This project aims to reduce the burden of depression by training ED nurses to identify at-risk patients early and provide timely interventions and referrals. Benefits include improved patient outcomes, decreased healthcare costs, and social change to address the mental health crisis. Utilizing Malcolm Knowles’ adult learning theory, the project emphasizes collaborative learning relevant to the clinical setting. The partner site is a Level I trauma center in South Carolina. This project highlights the need for improved screening due to the absence of standardized depression assessments. Three experts evaluated the program, including learning content and pre-and post-tests, using the Lynn model to ensure validation. Pretest results revealed a mean between 1.6 and 3.3 with a mode of 1, indicating a lack of staff knowledge regarding Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) administration. Posttest data showed improvement, with a mean score of 3.5, indicating increased staff knowledge. Training led to higher identification rates of patients with depression, more timely referrals, better patient outcomes, and reduced recurrent ED visits for depressive symptoms. The project’s significance lies in enhancing patient outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and addressing the mental health crisis. By ensuring equitable access to mental health screening and treatment, this project promotes social justice by providing all patients with the care they need to manage their depression effectively.

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