Date of Conferral
7-13-2026
Date of Award
July 2026
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Betsey Rodgers
Abstract
In outpatient psychiatric settings, inconsistent recordkeeping and a lack of systematic monitoring continue despite the availability of established tools like Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS). The goal of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to enhance the documentation and quality improvement through staff education and monitoring of AIMS in adult mental patients receiving antipsychotic medications. Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is still a serious, frequently misdiagnosed side effect of long-term antipsychotic therapy that significantly affects functional outcomes and patient quality of life. This project was guided by the following practice-focused question: How does implementing standardized AIMS documentation and electronic health record (EHR) reminder system, compared with current inconsistent practices, improve compliance with TD screening and early detection within 6 months? Through the establishment of a structured workflow backed by staff education and EHR reminders, the aim is to improve AIMS screening compliance, standardize documentation practices, and boost early diagnosis of TD. Following the implementation of consistent workflow and EHR prompts, pre and post chart audits showed a notable improvement in AIMS screening performance. Thirty percent of eligible patients had recorded AIMS evaluations at baseline. Completion rose to 85% after the intervention, indicating better documentation accuracy, monitoring consistency, and the ability to detect TD earlier in regular psychiatric drug treatment.
Recommended Citation
ASEKUN, SIMISOLA M., "Staff Education on Improving Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) Documentation and Monitoring for Adult Psychiatric Patients Prescribed Antipsychotic Medications in an Outpatient Clinic" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 20341.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/20341
