Date of Conferral

2-4-2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Patricia Schweickert

Abstract

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project was a multimodal educational intervention to improve outpatient psychiatric nurse practitioner (PNP) knowledge of metabolic monitoring guidelines for patients prescribed second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs). The project addressed low adherence to national monitoring standards that contribute to increased cardiometabolic risks associated with SGAs. The project question was: Does staff education regarding metabolic monitoring guidelines improve nursing knowledge as compared pre- to posteducation? The purpose was to enhance PNP knowledge of metabolic monitoring guidelines. Guided by the Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice (JHEBP) model, I conducted a focused literature search and identified 28 peer-reviewed articles to inform evidence collection and analysis, of which 14 high-quality sources informed project development. A single-group, pre- /posttest design was used to evaluate the short-term knowledge change of five licensed PNPs. Descriptive analysis showed improvement from a mean pretest score of 66% to a mean posttest score of 96%, reflecting a 30% point knowledge gain. Major products included the educational program and pre-/posteducation knowledge assessments. Limitations included a small sample size, single-site implementation, and a short evaluation period. Recommendations included ongoing education to support evidence-based practice, early detection of metabolic risk, and equity in preventive psychiatric care. The project’s implications for nursing practice are strengthening evidence-based metabolic monitoring and improving early risk detection. The project also supports positive social change by addressing disparities in preventive monitoring for individuals with serious mental illness.

Download

Included in

Nursing Commons

Share

 
COinS