Evidence-Based Practice

DNP Project Summary

The title for the planned DNP project is ‘Tangible Virtual Treatment’ and the setting will be at the private practice Virtual Consult MD in Norcross, Georgia, USA. The private practice offers telepsychiatry to individuals across the lifespan. Physical monitoring before recommending and prescribing medication for various mental health conditions is not required. This quality improvement practice gap is an issue in my organization. For instance, research indicates that less than 50% of patients on prescription drugs in mental care settings undergo critical monitoring when they seek care in England (Ayre, Lewis, and Keers, 2023). Physical monitoring of vital signs and other areas such as weight and blood level for illicit drugs is critical for mental health patients. Furthermore, it guides the characteristics of the health condition and the patient’s body's ability to acclimate to the resulting stress on the well-being of their various physiological components (Sapra, Malik, and Bhandari, 2020).

The proposed type of project is a quality improvement initiative. This initiative is in line with the practice gap in my healthcare organization. A quality improvement initiative seeks to improve the identified practice gaps in an organization by implementing the related interventions. For instance, a quality improvement initiative for medication administration without consideration for patient monitoring will also educate staff within the organizational setting. Therefore, reiterating the basics tenants of patient care promotes -evidence-based practice in healthcare organizations while closing practice gaps.

References

Ayre, M. J., Lewis, P. J., & Keers, R. N. (2023). Understanding the medication safety challenges for patients with mental illness in primary care: a scoping review. BMC Psychiatry, 23(1), 1-17. clinical services (No. WHO/CDS/HIV/19.17). World Health Organization.

Sapra, A., Malik, A., & Bhandari, P. (2020). Vital sign assessment.

Gap Analysis

Current State

Inconsistent Physical Monitoring: Physical assessments before medication administration for mental health conditions are inconsistently conducted.

Inadequate Documentation: Documentation of pre-medication physical assessments may be incomplete or inaccurate, hindering effective communication and continuity of care.

Desired State

Consistent Physical Monitoring: Implement a standardized protocol to ensure consistent and thorough physical assessments before medication administration.

Gap Analysis

Inconsistent Practices: Discrepancies exist in the frequency and depth of physical monitoring practices, leading to variability in patient care.

Lack of Standardization: There is no standardized protocol for pre-medication physical monitoring, leading to variations in practice.

Minimal Interdisciplinary Collaboration: There may be limited communication and collaboration between nursing staff, physicians, and other healthcare professionals regarding patient physical status before medication administration.

Protocol Standardization: Develop clear and comprehensive protocols for pre-medication physical monitoring, procedural steps and documentation requirements.

Staff Training Enhancement: Provide robust training programs to educate nursing staff on the importance of physical monitoring, common side effects, and adverse reactions in mental health medication administration.

Improved Documentation Practices: Enhance documentation standards to ensure thorough recording of vital signs, physical symptoms, and relevant patient information.

Lack of Standardization: The absence of standardized protocols results in ambiguity and inconsistency in pre-medication physical monitoring practices.

Knowledge Gaps: Nursing staff may lack adequate training and knowledge regarding the importance of physical monitoring and its impact on patient safety.

Documentation Deficiencies: Incomplete or inaccurate documentation hampers the effectiveness of pre-medication physical assessments and compromises patient safety.

Establish clear protocols for pre-medication physical monitoring, outlining specific procedures and documentation requirements.

Conduct training sessions to educate nursing staff on the importance of physical monitoring, common side effects, and adverse reactions associated with mental health medications.

Implement standardized documentation templates and provide training on proper documentation techniques to ensure completeness and accuracy.

Regularly assess adherence to protocols, documentation practices, and interdisciplinary collaboration, and make adjustments as necessary to bridge the identified gaps and optimize patient care.

Action Plqn