Date of Conferral

12-1-2025

Date of Award

December 2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Mark Wells

Abstract

This project is an education-based initiative designed to address the persistent problem of psychotropic medication duplication in integrated care settings. Duplication occurs when patients receive multiple prescriptions of the same or similar psychotropic drugs. The practice gap exposes patients to adverse drug events, complications of polypharmacy, and reduced adherence, and subjects the providers to liability. The practice-focused question guiding this project is: For primary care and psychiatric providers, will an education program on structured communication and medication reconciliation, compared to current usual practices, increase provider confidence and awareness of the risks of duplication, communication strategies, and increased the use of reconciliation tools, including electronic health records (EHRs) and the Chesapeake Regional Information System for Our Patients (CRISP). The educational process was organized as a 60-minute face-to-face and virtual PowerPoint presentation comprising a structured method of communication (SBAR), EHR and CRISP function demonstrations. The pre- and post-intervention surveys are used as the main analytical approach of the project. Findings demonstrated improved provider knowledge and self-reported behaviors. Providers indicated increased confidence in duplication detection, use of EHRs and familiarity with CRISPs for medication review, and greater commitment to direct communication when a duplication was suspected. The project promoted an interdisciplinary culture of collaboration among nurses and advanced practice providers in spearheading safe prescribing and reconciliation efforts advancing the overall quality of integrated healthcare.

Download

Included in

Nursing Commons

Share

 
COinS