Date of Conferral

1-5-2026

Date of Award

January 2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Cheryl Holly

Abstract

This staff education initiative was designed for nursing personnel at an adult mental health clinic, aiming to address inconsistencies and inadequacies in suicide risk screening practices among health care providers. Despite regular patient interactions, staff frequently lack the necessary knowledge, confidence, and standardized tools to identify individuals at risk for suicide, leading to missed opportunities for early intervention. The existing gap in practice jeopardized patient safety, led to preventable harm, and highlighted the need for evidence-based screening protocols, such as the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) tool, to facilitate timely, equitable, and effective suicide prevention in nursing practice. The project focused on suicide risk screening by enhancing staff proficiency and standardizing the use of the ASQ tool across the clinical team. Fifteen clinical staff members participated in a 45-minute educational program designed to enhance their knowledge and skills in implementing the ASQ tool. A pretest/post-test design was used to determine any increase in knowledge and improvements in confidence across all measured areas. Results indicated an 89% increase in knowledge (pretest = 53%, posttest = 100%). Confidence in using and interpreting the ASQ tool increased from 47% on the pretest to 100% on the posttest. The project resulted in the development of training materials, reference guides, and standardized screening protocols, accompanied by recommendations for ongoing education, workflow integration, and broader initiatives aimed at promoting equity, safety, and early intervention in suicide prevention.

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