December 9, 2019
A $450,000 federal grant will enable advanced practice registered nurses who graduate from Ursuline College’s master’s and post-master’s programs to administer medication assisted treatment for patients with substance use disorder.
The award from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to Ursuline College’s Graduate Nursing Program and the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy funds a project titled: "Ursuline College Breen School of Nursing Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Training Integration Program."
With this three-year grant, Associate Professor Mary Beth Zeni, RN, ScD, principle investigator, and Associate Dean of Graduate Nursing Janet Baker, RN, DNP, program coordinator, will integrate medication assisted treatment into the graduate nursing curriculum so future advanced practice registered nurses will be prepared to prescribe medication assisted treatment in response to the current opioid epidemic.
The project will include implementing and evaluating an evidence-based curriculum developed by the Program Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Ursuline’s advanced practice nursing students will put that curriculum into practice, integrating medication assisted treatment observations into their clinical experiences at Cleveland’s Saint Vincent Charity Medical Center.
“The total award reinforces the importance of interprofessional education and collaboration,” said Dr. Zeni. “PERU has a proven track record with the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based interventions to address substance use disorders. Their medication assisted treatment curriculum is one example of their work.”
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation and to improve the lives of individuals living with mental and substance use disorders, and their families.
