Graduation Year

2024

Degree Type

Open Access Capstone

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing

First Advisor

Fontaine Sands

Department Affiliation

Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing

Second Advisor

Beth Killian

Department Affiliation

Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing

Abstract

Opioid overdoses are the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Veterans are a population that are at higher risk for opioid overdoses. Naloxone is a medication that can reverse the respiratory depression associated with an opioid overdose and prevent opioid related deaths. Increasing overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) is an essential component of harm reduction to reduce opioid overdose deaths. Following a review of the literature, evidence supports increasing naloxone education and suggests this increase in education has the potential to increase naloxone knowledge and naloxone prescription acceptance. This doctoral quality improvement project created patient directed naloxone education material and sent this material directly to a specific Veteran population receiving care a Veterans Administration (VA) Healthcare System. This project utilized a sample of Veterans from two high-risk groups (N=85). A naloxone educational brochure was mailed to these Veterans. Additionally, a post-intervention survey was sent with the brochure. In addition, naloxone education posters were posted in high traffic patient care areas. Naloxone prescription rates were tracked over an 8-week period yielding a significant increase in naloxone prescription rates for the targeted group. On analysis post-intervention survey, low participation levels limited the inferences that could be drawn about the naloxone education brochure.

IRB Approval Number (if applicable)

5815

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