Date of Conferral

10-6-2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Patricia Schweickert

Abstract

This project was a staff education program conducted at a mental health and rehabilitation center in the United States. The program was designed to address a critical gap in practice of limited staff knowledge of using standardized stress assessment tools to assess patient stress, leading to poor patient outcomes. The practice-focused question was: Does staff education on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) improve staff knowledge as compared pre- to post-education? The purpose was to enhance staff knowledge on the application and interpretation of the PSS. The Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice (JHNEBP) model was used to organize and evaluate the evidence. A total of 20 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed and synthesized. The project utilized the analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate (ADDIE) model to develop and implement the education program. Data were collected through pretests and posttests among the 22 participants who completed both questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 29). Descriptive statistics were used to compare pretest and posttest scores. Key findings demonstrated a significant improvement in staff knowledge (mean test scores rose from 45.453% to 88.546% and paired t test, t(21) = 25.34, p <.001). The project demonstrated the importance of ongoing staff education on standardized mental health screening tools, which can lead to better patient outcomes. Major recommendations include ongoing staff education on standardized mental health screening tools and continued evaluation of patient health outcomes. The project has broader implications for nursing practice by highlighting the importance of continuous professional development in improving patient care, particularly in mental health settings.

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