Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Major

Nursing

Date of Defense

7-8-2022

Graduate Advisor

Cathy Koetting

Co-Advisor

Anne Thatcher

Committee

Amanda Finley

Abstract

Chronic conditions are a leading cause of death and disability in the United States (U.S.). Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are risk factors for chronic conditions and death; however, screening and assessment of ACEs do not occur in primary care settings. A barrier to screening is a lack of knowledge and education during providers’ didactic courses. To address this barrier, a standardized education tool was implemented into a midwestern public graduate nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) curriculum. The design was a Quality Improvement (QI) project with a descriptive cohort design and purposive sample. The inclusion criteria were students in the Spring 2022 Intensive, January 18, 2022, through April 1, 2022. An online 17-item Likert Type Scale Qualtrics survey was administered pre-and post-survey to assess knowledge, comfortability of screening, and likelihood to screen for ACEs as a future Nurse Practitioner (n=38). Results suggest students had an improvement in knowledge and comfortability in ACEs and screening for ACEs; however, results suggest a minimal change in the likelihood to screen for ACEs as a future provider. Implementing a standardized training tool into the curriculum suggests future NP providers can become more knowledgeable and comfortable screening for ACEs.

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