Screening and Referral in Those With Severe Mental Illness; The Role of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Abstract

Persons suffering from severe mental illness (SMI) have a life expectancy that is 28 years less than the general population (Suetani, Whiteford, & McGrath, 2015). The high mortality rates seen in those with SMI are caused by preventable diseases. Cardiovascular disease (CVD), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), and cancers are the three most prevalent causes of death in this vulnerable population (Suetani et al., 2015). The purpose of this quality improvement project was to develop an evidence based clinical tool that would provide Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP) with a somatic screening tool that could be used in behavioral health. The most recent guidelines established by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (2014), provided the foundation for the somatic screening tool. The tool addressed cardiovascular disease, COPD, diabetes, and oral hygiene. The somatic screening tool was distributed to 51 PMHNPs’ practicing in the state of Alaska. Survey Monkey was used to deliver a post-implementation survey that evaluated the usefulness of the screening tool. Fifteen PMHNPs’ responded and evaluated the tool. Of the respondents, 86% (13 of 15) indicated that the screening tool would be useful in their practice when assessing the physical health of those with SMI; particularly when screening for CVD, COPD, and diabetes.