Abstract
Background: Studies show that lack of proper identification and support of acute psychological distress in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients contribute to risk for a psychological morbidity (Wade et al., 2012). Current literature is lacking in the rural setting.|Purpose: Aim 1 seeks to identify the risk present for acute psychological morbidity of ICU patients in a rural hospital setting. Aim 2 will define the level of confidence among ICU nurses in assessing these patients.|Methods: This study was set in a rural Nebraska 16-bed ICU, completed in two phases. Phase one screened patients using the Intensive Care Psychological Assessment Tool (IPAT) in a convenience sample. In phase two, ICU nurses were given a pre-post survey with an educational intervention.|Results: Of 102 ICU patients, 15 patients qualified for IPAT screening. Three patients tested positive, and no provider referral was made. Of the ICU nursing staff who completed both the pre and post questionnaire (n=4), participants posted a statistically significant higher confidence at post than at pre. Participants who only completed the pre-survey without receiving the intervention had a statistically significant lower average confidence than those surveyed at post who received the intervention.|Conclusion: As many as 20 percent of patients in this rural ICU setting are at risk for a psychological morbidity. In addition, registered nurses within rural settings may benefit from education on the psychological morbidities present within the patients for whom they care. Additional research must be completed to identify strategies for assessment of these patients.