PMHNP clinical courses
The Psychiatric–Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track includes three courses with clinical practica. Read each course's description, course competencies, and clinical competencies below.
This is a 4-credit clinical course where students complete 75 supervised clinical hours during the summer semester.
Description
This course builds on advance health assessment knowledge with emphasis on the advanced psychiatric assessment. Utilizes individual and family frameworks, theories, research findings, and cultural perspectives. Experienced psychiatric–mental health nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, and other related mental-health providers provide learning experiences in clinical practicum. Includes introductory professional role socialization.
Course competencies—Didactic objectives
At the successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Analyze and apply theoretical foundations of psychiatric assessment.
- Analyze and discuss role in reducing stigma.
- Analyze and discuss psychotherapies.
- Apply principles of family-centered care.
- Evaluate laboratory testing in practice.
- Explore introductory PMHNP roles.
Course competencies—Clinical objectives
At the successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Conduct thorough and appropriate psychiatric interviews demonstrating use of critical thinking in the use of therapeutic communication techniques.
- Demonstrate ability to obtain and document Comprehensive Mental Health Assessments (CMHA) across the lifespan.
- Assess and document patients’ social dimensions of health.
- Assess the impact of acute and chronic medical conditions on mental health.
- Design health information and education appropriate to the patients’ developmental level, learning needs, readiness to learn, cultural values, and beliefs.
- Complete 75 clock hours of supervised clinical experience.
- Earn 80% on mid-term and final clinical competency evaluations.
This is a 5-credit clinical course where students complete 225 supervised clinical hours during the fall semester.
Description
This course builds on PMHNP I and provides further theoretical foundations and clinical practicum for population-based mental health care. Emphasis on assessment, diagnoses, psychotherapeutic, and psychopharmacologic treatments for evidence-based outcomes. Integrates theoretical knowledge of health promotion and disease prevention to achieve optimal health outcomes. Includes intermediary professional role socialization.
Course competencies—Didactic objectives
At the successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Examine recovery oriented principles and trauma-focused care on patient outcomes.
- Synthesize assessment, diagnosis, and management of common mental health problems and psychiatric disorders.
- Analyze theoretical foundations of individual psychotherapy to facilitate cognitive and behavioral change.
- Apply Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS).
- Explore intermediary PMHNP roles.
Course competencies—Clinical objectives
At the successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Assess psychiatric–mental health status of individuals across the lifespan.
- Demonstrate use of clinical reasoning to evaluate complex information and develop the individuals’ DSM diagnoses.
- Evaluate and document patients’ social dimensions of health.
- Implement psychoeducation, health promotion, and disease prevention education.
- Complete 225 clock hours of supervised clinical experience.
- Earn 80% on mid-term and final clinical competency evaluations.
This is a 5-credit clinical course where students complete 225 supervised clinical hours during the spring semester.
Description
This course builds on PMHNP II and provides continuing theoretical foundations and clinical practicum for population-based mental health care. Emphasis expanded to include integrative health and mental health policy. Integrates theoretical knowledge of group dynamics and the development of evidence-based therapeutic strategies. Includes ethical and legal professional role socialization.
Course competencies–Didactic objectives
At the successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Analyze theoretical foundations of group approaches to care.
- Synthesize assessment, diagnosis, and management of common mental health problems and psychiatric disorders.
- Analyze population-focused programs that promote mental health and prevent or reduce mental health problems and psychiatric disorders.
- Explore how to address sexual/physical abuse, sexuality, and spiritual conflict with children and geriatrics.
- Analyze integrative health and mental health policy.
- Explore ethical and legal PMHNP roles.
Course competencies–Clinical objectives
At the successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Assess psychiatric–mental health status of individuals across the lifespan.
- Demonstrate use clinical reasoning to evaluate complex information and develop the individuals’ DSM diagnoses.
- Evaluate and document patients’ social dimensions of health.
- Implement psychoeducation, health promotion, and disease prevention education.
- Complete 225 clock hours of supervised clinical experience.
- Earn 80% on mid-term and final clinical competency evaluations.