DNP Scholarly Projects
Abstract
Background: Suicide is a leading cause of death among college age students, prompting the need for evidence-based screening tools like the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) to enable early detection and timely intervention. Inconsistencies in suicide screening may pose a risk of missed intervention opportunities. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project specifically aimed to improve the quality and consistency of suicide screening in a university student health clinic by implementing the C-SSRS tool into the clinic workflow during mental health appointments. Methods: Employing a quality improvement framework, this scholarly project followed the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Model for Improvement and the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle. The C-SSRS was chosen as the evidence-based screening tool following a literature review and stakeholder meetings. Interventions: The project implemented a standardized suicide screening process using the C-SSRS during mental health appointments. Interventions included staff education, electronic health record template development, and clinic rounding for staff support. Staff attitudes were surveyed at the end of implementation. Results: Monthly mental health appointments increased during implementation. The C-SSRS was used in 98.06% of appointments. The tool assisted clinicians in the identification of 220 low-risk, 27 moderate-risk, and 6 high-risk patients. Some discrepancies between patients’ C-SSRS risk levels and documented care plans using the clinic’s suicide risk decision tool were found. Conclusion: The project successfully integrated the C-SSRS into the clinic workflow, enhancing standardization and identification of at-risk patients. Continued improvement efforts are recommended for improved documentation efficiency and data collection methods.
Date
Spring 4-14-2024
First Advisor
Kathryn Dambrino DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Scholarly Project Team Member
R. David Phillippi, PhD, MS
Scholarly Project Team Member
Linda Wofford, RN, CPNP, DNP
Scholarly Project Team Member
Krystal Huesmann, BSN, RN
Scholarly Project Team Member
Amy Lewis, MSN, FNP-BC
Department
Nursing, School of
College
Health Sciences & Nursing, Gordon E. Inman College of
Document Type
Scholarly Project
Degree
Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Degree Level
Doctoral
Degree Grantor
Belmont University
Keywords
College health; Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS); mental health; quality improvement; suicide; suicide screening
Recommended Citation
Strong, Addie Grace; Dambrino, Kathryn; Phillippi, R. David; and Wofford, Linda, "Implementation of a Standardized Suicide Screening Process in a University Student Health Clinic: A Quality Improvement Project" (2024). DNP Scholarly Projects. 89.
https://repository.belmont.edu/dnpscholarlyprojects/89
Included in
Health and Physical Education Commons, Mental Disorders Commons, Other Mental and Social Health Commons, Patient Safety Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Commons, Psychiatry Commons, Quality Improvement Commons
