Date of Conferral
10-29-2024
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Mary Garner
Abstract
Native Americans are disproportionately affected by suicide, with mortality rates that are 2.5 higher than White and non-Hispanic Americans. Nursing staff in an Indian Health Service (IHS) outpatient and specialty care clinic inconsistently assess for suicide risk before outpatient and specialty clinic appointments due to sporadic use of screening tools and lack of confidence to ask patients suicide risk screening questions. The purpose of this staff education project was to determine if interactive education of outpatient nursing providers regarding universal screening for suicide risk using the Ask Suicide Screening Questions (ASQ) for patients who are 8 to 11. Patient Safety Screener (PSS-3) for patients who 12 older increases nursing providers’ knowledge and self-perceived confidence regarding suicide risk screening during triage are. The practice-focused question was: Does an educational intervention using the PSS-3 and ASQ increase knowledge and confidence among nursing providers working in an outpatient clinic? Pre- and post-knowledge testing was done to assess the significance of practice and screening techniques and nursing care providers’ confidence in using the ASQ and PSS-3. Among the nine participants, knowledge testing involving tool comprehension, rationale, and technique increased. This reflected increased confidence in using the ASQ and PSS-3, and additional education was needed among nursing care providers who desired additional training. Interactive training proved to increase nursing providers’ knowledge and confidence in terms of universal suicide screening. This contributes to social change, equity, and inclusion for those Native Americans whose risk for suicide is higher than any other cultural group in the United States.
Recommended Citation
Featherlin, Tamaria, "Universal Suicide Screening in Outpatient Primary Care and Specialty Care" (2024). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 16546.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/16546
