Psychiatric Nursing Staff Promoting the Use of Long-Acting Injectables Antipsychotics

This project is a staff education aimed at improving psychiatric staff knowledge regarding the use of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics among patients with schizophrenia. The practice problem addressed was the limited use of LAIs among psychiatric nurses when treating schizophrenia patients, which contributes to medication non-adherence and subsequent relapse, hospitalization, increased healthcare costs, and diminished quality of life. In nursing practice, this problem is important because nurses are frontline practitioners who administer medications, provide education, and monitor patient adherence. The problem-focused question developed was “Among psychiatric nurses, does staff education on the use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics compared to oral antipsychotics improve nurse knowledge and willingness to promote their use?” The project’s goal was to improve the knowledge and willingness of psychiatric nurses on the use of LAI antipsychotics. The average scores on the pre-survey and post-survey were 5.64 out of 10 (56.4%) and 9.73 out of 10 (97.3%), respectively. This was an average increase of 3.91, or 40.9%, in knowledge and willingness, translating into improved medication adherence or compliance rates. The key deliverables included a guided educational program, practice directions, and assessment instruments (pre- and post-test survey questions). The project’s implications include advanced evidence-based nursing practice, reduced disparities in treatment and outcomes, and fostered recovery. The project enhances positive social change beyond the local site since it can lead to equity in mental health care, and other diverse populations can gain access to interventions that help in enhancing adherence and long-term stability.