Correlation of Increased Stress with Depression and Suicidal Thoughts Experienced by Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNAs)

This DNP project’s significance is to help SRNAs self-recognize psychological and physical manifestations of negative stress, manifested as anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts during anesthesia training. The objective is to supply education to promote mental health awareness and resilience, overcome mental health stigma, screen SRNAs for early signs of depression and anxiety, and identify students at risk. SRNAs have displayed an increased risk for depression and suicidal thoughts due to additional stressors stemming from the program, including a lack of a paycheck. Other factors exacerbating the issue are exhaustion, despair, and substance abuse which can steer students to a mental health crisis. The population selected includes all SRNAs currently enrolled in the program (n=88). Educational information to promote wellness and tools for students to reach out for help if necessary was provided via Canvas. Qualtrics software was used to disseminate and collect data. The data consisted of 3 anonymous surveys that included the GAD-7, PHQ-9, and an additional survey of general questions based on the student’s perceptions of their mental health status. Students’ participation was voluntary and anonymous. Students received instructions on interpreting their survey results and information to follow up with counseling if needed. Utilizing qualitative statistical analysis, the GAD-7 showed 23.3% of students with severe anxiety. The PHQ-9 identified 14% with severe depression; 11% stated having thoughts of quitting, and 11.6% reported having suicidal thoughts during the anesthesia program. The parameters estimated on the regression model test confirmed that when depression, anxiety, and high levels of stress were combined significantly contributed to the outcome variable of suicidality. There is an increased need to incorporate a systematic protocol to screen students for early signs of depression, anxiety, and burnout. Nurse anesthesia programs must find ways to accelerate interventional efforts to help decrease and manage distress among students and build an atmosphere that restores resilience and well-being to the students.

Creator

• Urbaez, Hiranya

Language

• English

Palabra Clave

• suicide prevention
• nurse anesthesia students
• depression
• suicide and nurses
• suicide ideation and graduate students
• suicide ideation
• suicide prevention program for nurses
• suicide awareness

Date created

• 2023

Resource type

• Research Paper

Rights statement

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/