Date of Conferral

2-17-2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Patricia Schweickert

Abstract

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was developed as a staff education, evidence-based quality improvement project to enhance psychiatric nursing staff’s knowledge of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics. The project addressed variability in medication adherence among individuals with schizophrenia, despite evidence that use of LAIs reduces relapses and hospitalization. Nurses play a critical role in medication administration, patient education, and adherence monitoring, underscoring the importance of addressing knowledge gaps. The project question was: Does staff education on LAIs for outpatient psychiatric nursing staff improve nursing knowledge compared to pre- to post-education? The purpose of the project was to assess the effectiveness of a structured educational program in enhancing psychiatric staff’s knowledge of LAI, promoting medication management, and improving patient care. The Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice model was used to collect, assess, and synthesize evidence. Twelve articles (evidence Level I-V) were selected to support this project. An in-person educational intervention was implemented in a psychiatric outpatient clinic. Pre- and post-educational evaluations were conducted with seven participants and analyzed using paired t tests to assess the enhancement in staff knowledge. Results showed an increase of 17.6 points, t(6) = 12.5, p < .001. The intervention enhanced LAI management, training, assessment, nursing effectiveness, and outcomes. Recommendations include broadening training for more staff, providing refresher courses, and fostering collaboration among professional teams. This project promotes educating staff, which can decrease stigma, improve teamwork, and minimize disparities in recovery-focused treatment for schizophrenia.

Download

Included in

Nursing Commons

Share

 
COinS