Master Resource Outline

 

Course Title: Psychiatric Assessment, Diagnosis and Care Formulation

Credits: 6 (3 lecture; 3 clinical)

Semesters Offered: Spring

Prerequisites: NRSG 601, NRSG 602, NRSG 603, NRSG 604, NRSG 605, NRSG 607

Degree: DNP

DNP Essentials: I, III, IV, VI, VII, VIII

Graduate Program Objectives: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8

 

Course Description:

This graduate nursing course focuses on the role and scope of advanced psychiatric nursing practice. Conducting comprehensive and systematic psychiatric health assessments while building and maintaining a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship is emphasized. Focus is placed on developing and applying interview, assessment and differential diagnosis skills with focus on psychiatric illness while considering physiological, pathophysiological, psychological, biological, anatomical, developmental, sociocultural and spiritual health care needs of individuals and families across the lifespan. Mental health treatment needs are examined and integrated with consideration to the complex diagnostic process, trauma informed care and illness recovery.

 

Catalog Description:

This course focuses on the role and scope of advanced psychiatric nursing practice with attention placed on conducting assessments through interviewing and objective assessments in order to make diagnoses. Mental health treatment needs are explored in relation to diagnoses.

 

Course Objectives:

  1. Examine the role and scope of psychiatric advanced practice nursing to integrate an evolving understanding of nursing and healthcare into one’s nursing practice.
  2. Conduct and document comprehensive and systematic psychiatric assessments of health and illness parameters in complex situations, incorporating diverse and culturally sensitive approaches while identifying and maintaining boundaries to preserve the integrity of the therapeutic process.
  3. Interview individuals across the lifespan based off of the most current evidence-based standards of care and practice guidelines.
  4. Select and apply assessment strategies to interpret the mental health treatment needs of individuals and families across the lifespan based on an understanding of biological, psychosocial, and developmental theories.
  5. Compare, develop and begin to apply therapeutic advanced nursing strategies for the psychiatric treatment needs of individuals across the life span based on biopsychosocial theories, evidence-based standards of care, and practice guidelines.
  6. Demonstrate the effective use of therapeutic communication strategies and sustain therapeutic relationships and partnerships with patients and other professionals to facilitate optimal care and patient outcomes.
  7. Consider and begin to apply legal and ethical principles to the development, implementation, and evaluation of advanced nursing strategies.

 

Course Learning Outcomes: Upon completing this course the student will be able to:

  1. Integrate the role and scope of a psychiatric advanced practice nurse into developing a personal nursing practice (Obj. 1, 2, 7). Exemplar: NONPF self-assessment
  2. Conduct and document a psychiatric evaluation (Obj. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) Exemplar: Full psychiatric evaluation
  3. Engage with patients utilizing therapeutic communication strategies (Obj. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Exemplar: Advanced Integrated Professional Log (AIPL)
  4. Analyze the use of evidence when interviewing, evaluating and treating patients (Obj 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) Exemplar: Evidence based case presentation

 

Recommended Clinical Experiences:

Practice immersion experiences afford the opportunity to integrate and synthesize the essentials and specialty requirements necessary to demonstrate competency in an area of specialized nursing practice. 135 hours of APRN medication management.

 

Approved by GAAC: 3/8/21

Approved by Faculty: 4/12/2021