Closing the Gap: Nursing Knowledge, Confidence, & Clinical Integration of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The national launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline created new opportunities for timely behavioral health crisis support, yet many nurses have received little formal education on its clinical application. This continuing nursing education activity addresses that practice gap by providing practical guidance on the role of 988 within the nursing process.

Participants will learn how to explain 988 to patients and families, identify situations in which 988 may be appropriate, distinguish when 911 emergency response is required, and incorporate 988 into assessment, safety planning, discharge teaching, documentation, and follow-up care. The course also highlights therapeutic communication strategies that support patient disclosure and facilitate meaningful connections to crisis resources.

Designed for nurses in a variety of practice settings, this activity focuses on developing nursing competency, confidence, and clinical judgment to support patients experiencing behavioral health distress, emotional crisis, substance use concerns, or suicide-related risk.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this presentation, nurses should know the following about the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline:

• What it is & be able to explain it to a patient
• Recognize when utilizing this  suicide and crisis lifeline may be clinically appropriate
• Distinguish between when using  988  or the 911 immediate emergency response is needed
• Integrate 988 into routine nursing assessment, safety planning, discharge teaching  & documentation

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR

The instructor for this course is Sarah Allison-Kolb, APRN, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor, UT Austin School of Nursing.

Sarah Allison-Kolb, APRN, PhD, completed her PhD at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, in 2002. Her doctoral research and publications focused on eating disorders and obesity.

Dr. Allison-Kolb earned her Master of Science in Nursing and was a member of the first graduating Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) class at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Following completion of her MSN, she worked as a psychiatric liaison nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Woman’s University.

Dr. Allison-Kolb recently retired from Austin State Hospital, where she served on the medical staff of both an adult chronic schizophrenia unit and a forensic psychiatric unit. In that role, she provided psychiatric evaluation and medication management as part of a multidisciplinary team dedicated to helping forensic patients regain competency. Drawing upon her certification in cognitive therapy, she worked closely with patients to improve medication adherence, increase engagement in treatment, and support preparation for competency restoration evaluations.

Prior to her work at Austin State Hospital, Dr. Allison-Kolb practiced as a psychotherapist and psychiatric prescriber in a private practice setting, treating adolescents and adults with a wide range of mental health conditions and substance use disorders.

Her extensive clinical background spans inpatient psychiatry, forensic mental health, psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, competency restoration, and behavioral health education, providing a strong foundation for her work in psychiatric nursing and crisis response.

DISCLOSURE TO PARTICIPANTS

Expiration Statement: This activity expires August 1, 2029, and after that time, even if the course is still accessible, it cannot be used for nursing continuing education credits. UT Austin School of Nursing accredited provider unit is not responsible for any use of the program beyond its expiration date.

Accreditation Statement: University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Requirements for Successful Completion: To receive contact hours for this continuing education activity Register and/or sign in to the event website:

• Complete every module/watch every video/participate in every activity
• Take the post-test and pass with at least 80%
• Complete and submit the evaluation form

 Once successful completion has been verified, a Certificate of Successful Completion will be awarded for 1.0 contact hours.

Conflicts of Interest: All financial integrity information has been reviewed by the nurse planner and no conflicts of interest have been found.

Education Disclaimer: The author(s) of this continuing education activity have made reasonable efforts to ensure that all information contained herein is accurate in accordance with the latest available scientific evidence at the time of publication. However, because information regarding medications, treatment guidelines, and other healthcare information is subject to constant change, the participant is advised to always confirm practice resources before applying any learned information in practice. Activities produced by UT Austin School of Nursing are intended solely for purposes of supplementing health care professionals’ knowledge. The opinions expressed in this educational activity are those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views of The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing.

Refund Policy: We are unable to provide any refunds or provide a credit on file. If you are not able to take an online course, you may transfer your registration to another person within the first 24 hours of receiving course access information, provided you have not already access the online course materials. 

Contact us with any questions or if you need help enrolling at utson_cne@nursing.utexas.edu