PRAC 6635: Psychopathology and Diagnostic Reasoning Practicum

Week 1: Competencies of Advanced Nursing Practice

What do I have to do?	When do I have to do it?
Review your Learning Resources.	Days 1–7
Assignment 1: Practicum Site Information	Submit Assignment 1 by Day 7.
Assignment 2: Clinical Skills and Procedures Self-Assessment	Submit Assignment 2 by Day 7.
Assignment 3: Clinical Hour and Patient Logs	Track your clinical hours and patient encounters in Meditrek throughout this Practicum course.

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
—Xun Kuang, Chinese Confucian philosopher

Welcome to your Psychopathology and Diagnostic Reasoning Practicum! The practicum experience represents a hands-on learning opportunity that enables you to acquire and refine your clinical nursing skills under the guidance of a Preceptor. As you actively engage with patients in the practicum setting, your participation will extend your comprehension of various psychiatric and mental healthcare requirements across the entire lifespan.

Over the next 11 weeks, you will evaluate your progress in skill development, reflect on your interactions with patients, and establish objectives related to your growth as an advanced practice nurse. In this initial week, you will commence by assessing your strengths and areas for improvement concerning your Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) clinical competencies.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this week, you should be able to:
– Complete the Practicum site form.
– Evaluate clinical skills and procedures relevant to advanced nursing practice.
– Formulate measurable goals and objectives for your practicum experience.
– Describe the clinical hours and patient encounters you will undertake.

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Assignment:

Practicum Manual Acknowledgment

The Practicum Manual outlines the structure and timing of classroom-based and practicum experiences, along with the policies that students must adhere to in order to successfully complete the nurse practitioner (NP) program.

– Access the Field Experience: MSN Nurse Practitioner Practicum Manual and confirm that you have downloaded and read the entire manual. Ensure that you agree to comply with the specified requirements.

Optional Discussion Forum: PMHNP Study Support Lounge

The PMHNP Study Support Lounge serves as an ongoing forum throughout the course, providing a space for academic discussion, questions, insights, and interaction with peers. Your Instructor may also contribute by offering feedback based on common trends, challenges, and strengths observed in student posts.

As a peer, you are encouraged to provide constructive feedback and engage in collaborative learning. Participation in such activities is associated with increased academic success.

– To participate in this optional discussion, visit the PMHNP Study Support Lounge.

Assignment 1: Practicum Site Information

Before commencing your course, you should have applied for a practicum site in accordance with the guidelines for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) practice. Now, it’s time to formalize your arrangements by providing your Clinical Faculty with details about your practicum site, Preceptor, and clinical schedule.

To prepare:

– Verify that your practicum application has received approval by logging in to Meditrek.
– Access the Practicum Site Information Form available in the Learning Resources.

Assignment:

Complete the designated sections of the Practicum Site Information Form. Include information about your practicum site and contact details, your Preceptor and their contact information, and a comprehensive schedule outlining your on-site practicum activities.

You must present your schedule in the form of a monthly calendar, specifying the exact times on the appropriate dates. Ensure that you provide the complete quarterly calendar to demonstrate the total hours you will complete during this period.

Please note that it is your responsibility to inform faculty of any schedule changes throughout the quarter.

By Day 7

Submit your completed Practicum Site Information Form.

Assignment 2: Clinical Skills Self-Assessment

Prior to embarking on any professional or academic endeavor, it is essential to assess your background, knowledge, and experience. This self-reflection is particularly significant when developing clinical skills, such as those required in advanced practice nursing.

The PRAC 6635 Clinical Skills List and PRAC 6635 Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form, accessible in the Learning Resources, can guide you in evaluating your clinical skill development and identifying areas for improvement. This self-assessment will help you recognize your strengths and opportunities for growth, aligning them with the required practicum skills. During this practicum experience, it is crucial to consider assessment and diagnostic reasoning when setting your goals and objectives.

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To prepare:

– Review the clinical skills listed in the PRAC 6635 Clinical Skills List document. It is advisable to print this document for reference during your practicum.
– Familiarize yourself with the “Developing SMART Goals” resource, which provides guidance on creating goals and objectives following the SMART framework.
– Download the PRAC 6635 Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form for completion.

Assignment:

Utilize the PRAC 6635 Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form to accomplish the following:

– Assess your confidence level in performing the procedures specified in the Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form.
– Based on your self-assessment ratings, summarize your strengths and areas for improvement.
– Develop three to four measurable goals and objectives for this practicum experience. Include them in the designated section of the form.

By Day 7

Submit your completed Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form for evaluation.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your Assignments for review and grading:

1. Save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK1Assgn2+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the file name.
2. Review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment by clicking on the Week 1 Assignment 2 Rubric.
3. Click on the Week 1 Assignment 2 link to access the submission area.
4. Browse your computer to find the document you saved with the file name “WK1Assgn2+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
5. If applicable, complete the Plagiarism Tools section.
6. Click the Submit button to submit your Assignment for review and grading.