Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Project

College/School

College of Nursing

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Project Mentor

Patrick J.M. Murphy

Readers

Malia Alexander

Abstract

Background: Over 100,000 people died from opioid-related overdoses in the United States in 2023. People experiencing homelessness (PEH) are at especially high risk of co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder, and face added barriers to accessing medical and psychiatric care. Buprenorphine is a life-saving medication used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD).

Objective: This project assessed the feasibility of altering prescribing practices at a community mental health clinic in King County, Washington to incorporate medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) into standard clinic procedures.

Methods: This project was a mixed-methods, formative evaluation that assessed the need for and barriers to implementing MOUD at the community mental health clinic.

Results: Between 13-22% of patients at the clinic are diagnosed with OUD. The main barriers to implementation included staffing and reimbursement. Administrative and clinical staff recognize the need for and support implementation of MOUD.

Conclusions: It is possible to overcome administrative barriers to support psychiatric NPs who are willing and able to prescribe MOUD.

Implications for Nursing: Organization change is a complex and collaborative process. Nurse practitioners are well-suited to advocate for and spearhead change within their practice sites to increase patients’ access to medical care.

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