Clinical Highlights; Insights Gained

1. This course prepares students to assess, diagnose, and manage mental health care needs across the lifespan. Emphasis will be placed on underlying acute and chronic psychiatric/mental health diagnoses. Clinical opportunities will be utilized for all PMHNP to apply concepts in primary and acute care settings with adults and families
   1. Clinical Highlights
      1. What insights did you gain during your experience this week that will prove most helpful for future encounters?
      2. Discuss an example of how you were able to independently contribute to this week’s encounters?

   Looking Ahead

   1. What clinical goal would you like to tackle next week?

Course Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

1. Apply knowledge, with mentor guidance and supervision, of chronic and acute psychiatric mental health disorders using the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders diagnostic criteria to assess, diagnose and manage the patient populations across the lifespan including a focus on vulnerable populations at risk for mental health disorders.
2. Integrate, with mentor guidance and supervision, complete mental health assessment, interview, history, and physical exam data collection with the knowledge of pathophysiology and psychopathology of psychiatric mental health disorders across the lifespan to form differential diagnoses and implement therapeutic, patient-centered treatment plans and interventions for patient populations across the lifespan.
3. Merge, with mentor guidance and supervision, traditional and complementary pharmacological/non-pharmaceutical interventions into the treatment and management of psychiatric mental health disorders for patient populations across the lifespan.
4. Examine, evaluate, and demonstrate, with mentor guidance and supervision, professional development in the role of the nurse practitioner in the diagnosis and management of health and wellness as well as acute and chronic psychiatric mental health disorders illnesses for patient populations across the lifespan as a member of an interprofessional team.
5. Integrate, with mentor guidance and supervision, cultural, spiritual, and social competencies into therapeutic patient-centered treatment plans in connection with evidence-based findings to the diagnosis and management of individuals, groups, and families across the lifespan with acute, complex, and chronic psychiatric mental health disorders.
6. Analyze, with mentor guidance and supervision, professional values and core ethical/legal standards into the practice of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner role with relation to patient/staff safety, quality indicators, and health outcome improvement in the delivery of quality psychiatric mental health care to patients.
7. Identifies, with mentor guidance and supervision, the highest level of professionalism and accountability for the PMHNP role for transition into clinical practice.

Resources

Carlat, D. J. (2023). The psychiatric interview (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer. ISBN: 9781975212971

American Nurses Association & American Psychiatric Nurse Association. (2015). Psychiatric–mental health nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.). Silver Spring, MD: American Nurses Credentialing. ISBN-13: 978-1558105553 ISBN-10: 1558105557

American Psychiatric Association. (2022).  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Text Revision Dsm-5-tr (5th ed.) (DSM-5). Washington DC: APA Press. ISBN: 978-0890425763

Johnson, K., & Vanderhoef, D. (2016). Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner review manual (4th ed.). Silver Spring, MD: American Nurses Association. ISBN: 978-1-935213-79-6

Robert Joseph Boland, Verduin, M. L., Ruiz, P., Arya Shah, & Sadock, B. J. (2021). Kaplan and Sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry: Behavioral sciences/clinical psychiatry (12th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams, and Wilkins. 9781975145569

Recommended

Bickley, L. (2016). Bates’ Guide to Physical Examination and History-Taking [VitalSouce bookshelf version]. https://batesvisualguide.com/. Eleventh, North American Edition; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: ISBN 1609137620

Corey, G. (2016). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (10th ed.). Boston, MA:Cengage. ISBN: 9781305263727

Heldt, J. P., MD. (2017). Memorable psychopharmacology. Create Space Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN-13: 978-1-535-28034-1

Shea, S. C. (2017). Psychiatric interviewing: The art of understanding (3rd ed.) Elsevier.

Stahl, S. M. (2013). Stahl’s essential psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific basis and practical applications (4th ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-68646-5

Stahl, S. M. (2020). Prescriber’s guide: Stahl’s essential psychopharmacology (7th ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1108926010

• Learner ResourcesDownload Learner Resources[PDF]
• Printable Full SyllabusDownload Printable Full Syllabus[PDF]

Weekly Clinical Reflection

1. Clinical Highlights

a. Insights Gained: During this week’s clinical experience, I gained valuable insights into the nuances of differentiating between various psychiatric disorders. Understanding the subtle differences in symptom presentation, especially in complex cases involving comorbid conditions, will be incredibly helpful for future encounters. Additionally, I learned the importance of building rapport with patients, which facilitates more accurate and comprehensive assessments.

b. Independent Contribution: This week, I independently conducted a comprehensive mental health assessment for a new patient presenting with symptoms of depression and anxiety. By applying the DSM-5 criteria, I was able to formulate a preliminary diagnosis and suggest an initial treatment plan. My mentor reviewed and validated my findings, which boosted my confidence in my diagnostic abilities.

2. Looking Ahead

a. Clinical Goal for Next Week: Next week, I aim to enhance my skills in developing and implementing patient-centered treatment plans. Specifically, I want to focus on integrating pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions tailored to individual patient needs, considering their cultural, spiritual, and social backgrounds.

Course Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, I aim to:

1. Assess and Diagnose:
   • Apply DSM-5 criteria to diagnose psychiatric disorders across the lifespan.
   • Focus on identifying and addressing mental health needs in vulnerable populations.
2. Comprehensive Assessment:
   • Integrate mental health assessments with knowledge of pathophysiology and psychopathology.
   • Formulate differential diagnoses and implement therapeutic interventions.
3. Treatment Integration:
   • Combine traditional and complementary interventions in treatment plans.
   • Manage psychiatric disorders with both pharmacological and non-pharmaceutical approaches.
4. Professional Development:
   • Develop my role as a PMHNP in diagnosing and managing psychiatric disorders.
   • Work effectively as a member of an interprofessional team.
5. Cultural Competence:
   • Incorporate cultural, spiritual, and social competencies into treatment plans.
   • Use evidence-based findings to manage complex psychiatric disorders.
6. Ethical and Professional Standards:
   • Adhere to professional values and ethical standards in practice.
   • Ensure patient safety, quality care, and improved health outcomes.
7. Professionalism and Accountability:
   • Demonstrate the highest level of professionalism and accountability.
   • Prepare for the transition into clinical practice.

Resources

• Core Textbooks:
  • Carlat, D. J. (2023). The Psychiatric Interview (4th ed.).
  • American Nurses Association & American Psychiatric Nurse Association. (2015). Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice (2nd ed.).
  • American Psychiatric Association. (2022). DSM-5-TR.
  • Johnson, K., & Vanderhoef, D. (2016). Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Review Manual (4th ed.).
  • Boland, R. J., Verduin, M. L., Ruiz, P., Shah, A., & Sadock, B. J. (2021). Kaplan and Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry (12th ed.).
• Recommended Readings:
  • Bickley, L. (2016). Bates’ Guide to Physical Examination and History-Taking.
  • Corey, G. (2016). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy (10th ed.).
  • Heldt, J. P. (2017). Memorable Psychopharmacology.
  • Shea, S. C. (2017). Psychiatric Interviewing: The Art of Understanding (3rd ed.).
  • Stahl, S. M. (2013). Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology (4th ed.).
  • Stahl, S. M. (2020). Prescriber’s Guide (7th ed.).