Date of Conferral

8-20-2026

Date of Award

August 2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Corinne Wheeler

Abstract

Many nurses receive little formal instruction about trauma-informed principles and their practical application in behavioral health settings. To address this practice gap, the project implemented a staff education program for staff at an intensive outpatient program (IOP) and a partial hospitalization program (PHP) located in a northeastern state. The aim was to increase staff knowledge and confidence in trauma-informed principles within clinical practice. The education program emphasized the relevance of trauma-informed care (TIC) in outpatient behavioral health settings, its principles, and its application in nursing assessments, therapeutic communication, and patient interactions. A pretest and posttest questionnaire consisted of 12 multiple-choice knowledge questions and six 5-point Likert-scale questions related to confidence level. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Among the 10 participants who completed pre- and posttest assessments, the mean score increased from 11.5 to 12. The findings demonstrated limited knowledge gains in nurses' understanding of the fundamentals of TIC, but their confidence improved in their ability to identify trauma reactions, apply trauma-informed communication techniques, and integrate trauma-informed practices into patient care. This project has important implications for nursing practice by strengthening nurses' ability to provide safe, compassionate, and patient-centered care to individuals affected by trauma, thus fostering positive social change and culturally sensitive and customized care that acknowledges the distinct experiences and needs of various patient populations. Recommendations for the organization include incorporating TIC education into new employee orientation, annual competency training, and continuing professional development programs.

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