Date
7-22-2025
Department
School of Nursing
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Chair
Folashade Odedina
Keywords
Evidence-based practice (EBP), education interventions, mental health care, long-term facilities
Disciplines
Nursing | Psychiatry and Psychology
Recommended Citation
Crabtree, Chelisa Ann, "Providing Evidenced Based Practice Interventions to Direct Care Providers in Long-Term Facilities to Increase Knowledge of Mental Health Care in Older Adults: An Educational Toolkit" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7246.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7246
Abstract
The purpose of this scholarly project is to increase the knowledge of mental health (MH) care among direct care providers in long-term facilities by developing an educational toolkit focused on evidence-based education and training, with the goal of enhancing staff competencies in MH care, improving the management of residents’ MH needs, and ultimately optimizing care and quality of life. With the increasing number of younger and sicker individuals, particularly those with MH issues, residing in long-term facilities and lack of specialized training for direct care providers which leads to inadequate/complicated care and poor patient outcomes, there is a pressing need for specialized training and necessitating EBP that’s essential for optimal outcomes. The project’s educational interventions can be integrated into annual staff training sessions to bridge the gaps in knowledge and improve clinical practices. Initial findings indicate limited staff knowledge regarding MH care, with post-intervention data indicating significant improvements. The educational toolkit will serve as a valuable resource for ongoing training, education, and reference for staff, while promoting the sustainability of improved practices in long-term care settings. This project represents a critical step towards enhancing the quality of MH care in long-term facilities, with equipping staff with the necessary knowledge and skills, leading to improved outcomes for older adults with MH conditions, fulfilling the overarching goal of providing EBP holistic, person-centered care. The findings of this project will contribute to the ongoing discourse on the necessity of specialized training in MH care within nursing homes and may serve as a model for similar initiatives in other healthcare settings.
