TY - JOUR
AU - M. R. Emerson
AU - M. Langenberg
AU - T. S. Szymanski
AU - W. Schardt
AU - A. Lano
AU - K. Hof
A1 - 
AB - BACKGROUND: Mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depression, disproportionately affect young adults, creating significant barriers to academic success. Access to mental health care remains a critical challenge in rural university settings. Nurse practitioner (NP)-led integrated care programs (ICPs) offer a potential solution by integrating behavioral health into primary care to provide timely, accessible, and holistic care. PURPOSE: This study examines the implementation and outcomes of a NP-led ICP aimed at addressing mental health challenges among college students in a rural university setting. METHODOLOGY: Over a 9-month period, 61 students participated in the ICP. The program used validated screening tools, including the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), to assess and monitor depression and anxiety severity. Data on program outcomes were collected through these assessments, provider collaboration reviews, and satisfaction surveys. RESULTS: Participants demonstrated significant reductions in depression and anxiety severity, as measured by PHQ-9 and GAD-7 tools. Key findings included improved access to care, enhanced collaboration among providers, and high satisfaction rates among students and staff. However, challenges related to role clarity and the fit of behavioral health providers highlighted the need for targeted training and supervision. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates that integrated care models can be successfully adapted to rural university environments, leading to improved mental health outcomes for college students. IMPLICATIONS: The findings support the broader application of ICPs in similar settings. Future work will focus on extending the program into surrounding communities to sustain and expand its impact.
AD - University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.; University of Nebraska-Kearney, Kearney, Nebraska.
AN - 40673826
BT - J Am Assoc Nurse Pract
C5 - Education & Workforce
CP - 8
DA - Aug 1
DO - 10.1097/jxx.0000000000001154
DP - NLM
ET - 20250717
IS - 8
JF - J Am Assoc Nurse Pract
LA - eng
N2 - BACKGROUND: Mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depression, disproportionately affect young adults, creating significant barriers to academic success. Access to mental health care remains a critical challenge in rural university settings. Nurse practitioner (NP)-led integrated care programs (ICPs) offer a potential solution by integrating behavioral health into primary care to provide timely, accessible, and holistic care. PURPOSE: This study examines the implementation and outcomes of a NP-led ICP aimed at addressing mental health challenges among college students in a rural university setting. METHODOLOGY: Over a 9-month period, 61 students participated in the ICP. The program used validated screening tools, including the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), to assess and monitor depression and anxiety severity. Data on program outcomes were collected through these assessments, provider collaboration reviews, and satisfaction surveys. RESULTS: Participants demonstrated significant reductions in depression and anxiety severity, as measured by PHQ-9 and GAD-7 tools. Key findings included improved access to care, enhanced collaboration among providers, and high satisfaction rates among students and staff. However, challenges related to role clarity and the fit of behavioral health providers highlighted the need for targeted training and supervision. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates that integrated care models can be successfully adapted to rural university environments, leading to improved mental health outcomes for college students. IMPLICATIONS: The findings support the broader application of ICPs in similar settings. Future work will focus on extending the program into surrounding communities to sustain and expand its impact.
PY - 2025
SN - 2327-6886
SP - 446
EP - 455+
ST - Meeting the needs of rural populations through a nurse practitioner-led integrated care program for student health
T1 - Meeting the needs of rural populations through a nurse practitioner-led integrated care program for student health
T2 - J Am Assoc Nurse Pract
TI - Meeting the needs of rural populations through a nurse practitioner-led integrated care program for student health
U1 - Education & Workforce
U3 - 10.1097/jxx.0000000000001154
VL - 37
VO - 2327-6886
Y1 - 2025
ER -