Other Titles
Enhancing PMHNP Training for Early Recognition of Suicidality and Crises Through Simulation-Based Training [Poster Title]
Abstract
There are current gaps in traditional Doctor of Nursing (DNP) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) curricula regarding the early recognition and management of suicidality and psychiatric crises. By examining limitations in existing educational frameworks and assessing targeted interventions like simulation-based education training, this research aims to propose evidence-based recommendations for enhancing PMHNP competency in recognizing early signs of suicide risk, managing psychiatric crises collaboratively, and enhancing practice readiness.
Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States and early recognition of suicidality and psychiatric crises is critical. Traditional DNP PMHNP programs fail to equip students with skills to identify and manage crises effectively. This educational gap results in severe consequences including inadequate patient care and adverse mental health outcomes. There is a need to redesign graduate nursing curricula to include focused training on suicidality and to integrate interprofessional collaboration. This effort should involve updating the required competencies to ensure that nursing professionals are well-prepared to address these critical aspects of mental health care.
Authors conducted a cursory review of literature using databases including Google Scholar, EBSCOhost, PubMed, CINAHL, PsychINFO, and Embase, focusing on studies published from 2014 to 2024.
The literature review highlights that while there is some focus on suicidal risk identification through assessment tools, traditional DNP PMHNP curricula lack comprehensive training for managing at-risk patients. Significant deficiencies were found in core competencies related to suicidality risk assessment and interprofessional care co-management as well as limited long-term effectiveness data for training interventions and their impact on patient outcomes. Current programs provide limited training on advanced risk assessment techniques and collaborative strategies for severe psychiatric crises, which affects both didactic and experiential learning components. Literature suggests simulated based-education training for suicidal psychiatric crises as a potential intervention to improve provider preparedness and overall mental health outcomes. Nursing interventions include didactic, simulation, clinical rotations focused on crisis intervention, and interdisciplinary communication training.
Notes
References:
Hutson, E., & Zeno, R. (2021). Clinical Competence for Youth Suicide: Use of Simulation in Pediatric and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs. Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services, 59(8), 7–13. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20210617-01
Lerchenfeldt, S., Kamel-ElSayed, S., Patino, G., Thomas, D. M., & Wagner, J. (2020). Suicide Assessment and Management Team-Based Learning Module. MedEdPORTAL : the journal of teaching and learning resources, 16, 10952. https://doi.org/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10952
Piot, M. A., Dechartres, A., Attoe, C., Romeo, M., Jollant, F., Billon, G., Cross, S., Lemogne, C., Layat Burn, C., Michelet, D., Guerrier, G., Tesniere, A., Rethans, J. J., & Falissard, B. (2022). Effectiveness of simulation in psychiatry for nursing students, nurses and nurse practitioners: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of advanced nursing, 78(2), 332–347. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14986
Richard, O., Jollant, F., Billon, G., Attoe, C., Vodovar, D., & Piot, M. A. (2023). Simulation training in suicide risk assessment and intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Medical education online, 28(1), 2199469. https://doi.org/10.1080/10872981.2023.2199469
Sigma Membership
Alpha Zeta
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Literature Review
Research Approach
Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice
Keywords:
Competence, Curriculum Development, Simulation, Graduate Nursing, DNP, Mental Health Care
Recommended Citation
Nava, McKenzie; Josiah, Nia Adimu-Ceja; and Rodney, Tamar, "Enhancing DNP PMHNP Training for Early Recognition of Suicidality and Psychiatric Crises" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 94.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/posters_2025/94
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Enhancing DNP PMHNP Training for Early Recognition of Suicidality and Psychiatric Crises
Seattle, Washington, USA
There are current gaps in traditional Doctor of Nursing (DNP) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) curricula regarding the early recognition and management of suicidality and psychiatric crises. By examining limitations in existing educational frameworks and assessing targeted interventions like simulation-based education training, this research aims to propose evidence-based recommendations for enhancing PMHNP competency in recognizing early signs of suicide risk, managing psychiatric crises collaboratively, and enhancing practice readiness.
Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States and early recognition of suicidality and psychiatric crises is critical. Traditional DNP PMHNP programs fail to equip students with skills to identify and manage crises effectively. This educational gap results in severe consequences including inadequate patient care and adverse mental health outcomes. There is a need to redesign graduate nursing curricula to include focused training on suicidality and to integrate interprofessional collaboration. This effort should involve updating the required competencies to ensure that nursing professionals are well-prepared to address these critical aspects of mental health care.
Authors conducted a cursory review of literature using databases including Google Scholar, EBSCOhost, PubMed, CINAHL, PsychINFO, and Embase, focusing on studies published from 2014 to 2024.
The literature review highlights that while there is some focus on suicidal risk identification through assessment tools, traditional DNP PMHNP curricula lack comprehensive training for managing at-risk patients. Significant deficiencies were found in core competencies related to suicidality risk assessment and interprofessional care co-management as well as limited long-term effectiveness data for training interventions and their impact on patient outcomes. Current programs provide limited training on advanced risk assessment techniques and collaborative strategies for severe psychiatric crises, which affects both didactic and experiential learning components. Literature suggests simulated based-education training for suicidal psychiatric crises as a potential intervention to improve provider preparedness and overall mental health outcomes. Nursing interventions include didactic, simulation, clinical rotations focused on crisis intervention, and interdisciplinary communication training.
Description
This discursive research identifying gaps in current DNP PMHNP curricular in training on suicide risk assessments, feelings of preparedness by students, and interprofessional collaboration surrounding suicidal individuals. Using available evidence on simulation-based education and interprofessional training recommendations are proposed to enhance curricula, improve competency in managing suicide risk, improve preparedness and patient outcomes, and collaborate effectively in psychiatric crises.