Document Type
Final Project
Graduation Date
Spring 5-10-2025
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
First Advisor
Nick Guenzel PhD, RN, APRN-NP
Abstract
Behavioral and mental health issues among adolescents in rural areas often go unrecognized due to limited access to screening and intervention. This study evaluated the efficacy of the BIMAS- 2 tool in identifying at-risk high school students in a rural Nebraska high school. Methods: A retrospective cohort program evaluation was conducted over two years with 263 students in grades 9-12. The BIMAS-2 assessment was administered electronically each semester, followed by in-person mental health interviews. Descriptive statistics and Pearson chi-square tests assessed the tool’s sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value. Results: The BIMAS-2 demonstrated high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (96.15%), with a positive predictive value of 42.22% and a negative predictive value of 100%. Few students had repeated positive screenings, reinforcing the tool’s reliability. Findings support BIMAS-2 as a sustainable model for early mental health identification in rural schools. Continued funding and stigma reduction initiatives are crucial to ensuring equitable access to mental health resources. Conclusions: The BIMAS-2 effectively identifies at-risk students, offering an effective approach to addressing adolescent mental health needs in rural communities. This study sets a foundation for improving mental health care screening, offering a model that can be implemented in other rural school districts to better address the mental health challenges faced by adolescents.
Keywords: Mental Health, BIMAS-2, Rural, Adolescents, School screening
Recommended Citation
Burnett, Laura and Braman, Lakin, "Program Evaluation of the Behavioral Interventions Monitoring Assessment System-2 for High School Students in Rural Nebraska" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing. 42.
https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/con_dnp/42
Included in
Child Psychology Commons, Community Health Commons, Nursing Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Rural Sociology Commons, School Psychology Commons
