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P091
Increasing Comfortability with Suicidal Ideation through Education and Creation of a Safety Workflow for Clinical Staff in Ambulatory Care
Purpose: The purpose of this project was to improve staff comfortability in addressing patients with behavioral health challenges.
Description: Behavioral health crises occur in the outpatient setting, but staff do not experience the same support or processes as inpatient services. A generalized literature review revealed minimal results regarding staff education in behavioral health topics and safety workflow for patients with suicidal ideation (SI) within ambulatory care.
In December 2022, a survey assessing baseline comfort and evaluation of current behavioral health practices was distributed to staff at a primary and seniors care clinic. Results indicated education was needed related to patient suicidal ideation and the associated communication and management techniques. Stakeholders provided feedback during the creation of the background education, communication techniques (including a dot phrase for nursing), and safety workflow (delineates roles for each staff member) for patients with suicidal ideation. In April 2023, education was presented, and the initial survey was repeated to reassess comfortability with SI management. In June 2023, a mock behavioral health emergency was conducted, and staff completed the survey again to evaluate overall retention of education and comfortability levels.
Evaluation/outcome: After the education was completed, two post-surveys were completed to assess sustainability of the education and SI management process in April and June. Using a five-point Likert scale ranging from very uncomfortable to very comfortable, the results demonstrated a decrease in staff feeling uncomfortable or very uncomfortable while managing SI. Staff had an improvement in comfortability as shown by a decrease in the number of staff responding as “somewhat uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable.” In December, using a five-point Likert scale “How comfortable are you asking or talking to patients about mental health concerns?” survey revealed that 5 of 34 (5/34) respondents were either “somewhat uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable.” In April 2023, 1/29 indicated they were either “somewhat uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable.” In June 2023, 2/30 indicated they were either “somewhat uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable.” The “n” number varied due to availability of staff. Results indicated an increase in staff comfortability in addressing patients with behavioral health challenges. Education combined with creation of a dot phrase and safety workflow provides resources for staff to maintain comfortability and ensure patient safety. Next steps include sharing education and workflow with other ambulatory care clinics. Limitations included required continuity of survey.
Description: Behavioral health crises occur in the outpatient setting, but staff do not experience the same support or processes as inpatient services. A generalized literature review revealed minimal results regarding staff education in behavioral health topics and safety workflow for patients with suicidal ideation (SI) within ambulatory care.
In December 2022, a survey assessing baseline comfort and evaluation of current behavioral health practices was distributed to staff at a primary and seniors care clinic. Results indicated education was needed related to patient suicidal ideation and the associated communication and management techniques. Stakeholders provided feedback during the creation of the background education, communication techniques (including a dot phrase for nursing), and safety workflow (delineates roles for each staff member) for patients with suicidal ideation. In April 2023, education was presented, and the initial survey was repeated to reassess comfortability with SI management. In June 2023, a mock behavioral health emergency was conducted, and staff completed the survey again to evaluate overall retention of education and comfortability levels.
Evaluation/outcome: After the education was completed, two post-surveys were completed to assess sustainability of the education and SI management process in April and June. Using a five-point Likert scale ranging from very uncomfortable to very comfortable, the results demonstrated a decrease in staff feeling uncomfortable or very uncomfortable while managing SI. Staff had an improvement in comfortability as shown by a decrease in the number of staff responding as “somewhat uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable.” In December, using a five-point Likert scale “How comfortable are you asking or talking to patients about mental health concerns?” survey revealed that 5 of 34 (5/34) respondents were either “somewhat uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable.” In April 2023, 1/29 indicated they were either “somewhat uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable.” In June 2023, 2/30 indicated they were either “somewhat uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable.” The “n” number varied due to availability of staff. Results indicated an increase in staff comfortability in addressing patients with behavioral health challenges. Education combined with creation of a dot phrase and safety workflow provides resources for staff to maintain comfortability and ensure patient safety. Next steps include sharing education and workflow with other ambulatory care clinics. Limitations included required continuity of survey.
Learning Objective
- After completing this learning activity, the participant will be able to assess innovations being used by other professionals in the specialty and evaluate the potential of implementing the improvements into practice.
Speaker
Patricia Betrand, MS, RN
Specialties
General
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