Date of Conferral
11-7-2025
Date of Award
November 2025
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Julibeth Lauren
Abstract
This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project was a quality improvement initiative focused on enhancing nurse practitioners’ (NPs’) competency in the identification and management of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The practice problem identified at the local project site through organizational feedback and observation was the inconsistent use of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) screening tool across NP encounters. The practice-focused question for this project was: In NPs in an outpatient clinic setting, how does staff education on GAD-7 and clinical guidelines influence their knowledge, confidence, and consistent use of anxiety screening practices? The purpose of this doctoral project was to improve NP knowledge, confidence, and adherence to guideline-based GAD screening. Review of the data confirmed that screening was performed in less than half of the eligible visits, revealing a critical practice gap. Supporting evidence from the literature confirmed the validity of the GAD-7 tool. The results of this project demonstrated measurable improvement in NP performance. The implications for the staff and organization included enhanced clinical consistency and improved patient follow-up. Based on the results of this project, I concluded that structured, evidence-based education can effectively improve NP competency and promote sustainability. My recommendations for future practice include extending the education to additional staff and evaluating long-term outcomes. The potential implications of this project on nursing practice are substantial, including increased clinical competency. This project also has the potential to positively impact social change by advancing equitable, accessible mental health screening for all patients and reducing disparities in anxiety detection and treatment.
Recommended Citation
Okeke, Obioma Linda, "Staff Education to Enhance Nurse Practitioner Competency in the Identification and Management of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in an Outpatient Clinic" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 18679.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/18679
