Date of Award
Spring 5-16-2020
Document Type
Scholarly Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Barbara McClaskey
Second Advisor
Janis Schiefelbein
Third Advisor
Jamie Wood
Fourth Advisor
Ryan Speelman
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a group of disorders that affects approximately 1 in 59 children (Autism Spectrum Disorder, 2019). This group of disorders can cause deficits in communication, social relationships, and those with the diagnosis may exhibit undesirable behaviors as well as restrictive and repetitive behaviors (RRBs). There is limited education given to healthcare providers on this group of disorders, making it difficult to care for these patients. This study was conducted to determine if the stress level of staff that directly care for patients with ASD, at a pediatric behavioral health hospital, decreased following an educational presentation over ASD. This study also researched if knowledge levels increased after the implementation of an educational presentation over ASD, and if the interventions suggested in the presentation were utilized following the presentation. The results were consistent with what was believed to occur which was that the stress levels of the staff did decrease following the educational presentation, the knowledge level increased between the pre-educational survey and the post-educational survey, and the interventions were utilized multiple times during the month in which the study took place. It is believed that the increase in knowledge over ASD, resulted in a decrease of stress in the staff, when caring for patients with ASD.
Recommended Citation
Triplett, Katelyn E., "Increased Knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorders Reduces Stress Levels in Staff Caring Directly for Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder." (2020). Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project. 62.
https://digitalcommons.pittstate.edu/dnp/62