Date of Conferral

3-13-2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Julibeth Lauren

Abstract

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project addressed a lack of confidence and training for nursing staff who care for patients with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. The practice problem identified at the local project site was the inconsistent care of this patient population. Addressing this gap was essential because inadequate training can reduce care quality among patients with co-occurring conditions. The practice-focused question for this project was: In nursing staff caring for patients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, how does an evidence-based staff education program on integrated treatment approaches compare to standard or no training in improving nurse confidence? The purpose of this project was to improve nurse confidence through structured education. Internal project site data confirmed that nursing staff reported low confidence in managing these patients. Evidence from peer-reviewed studies indicated structured education improves nurse confidence and care consistency. Pre -and posttraining confidence self-assessments were administered to participants and later evaluated through descriptive analysis. The results of this project were measurable gains in nurse confidence from 16.7% to 50%. The implications to the project site organization included a more confident staff and standardized patient care delivery. The findings indicated that the staff education effectively increased participants’ confidence levels. My recommendations are to embed this training into orientation and continuing education. The potential implications for nursing practice include a more competent workforce, and the findings may also promote social change by advancing equity and improving outcomes for vulnerable populations.

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