Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Essay: Course Objectives & Professional Application

An individual’s overall health depends on their mental well-being, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) are crucial to patient care and mental health management. Moreover, assessing, identifying, and attending to a client’s mental health needs are among the responsibilities of a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (Faubion, 2022). The role being advanced and demanding needs proper academic qualifications. In this case, the learning objectives for the course have been effective since they are focused on the learner, results-based, quantifiable, concise, relevant, and attainable. Furthermore, the course supported each objective and enabled learner independence with mentor supervision.

First, the course supported the first objective by facilitating the independent application of knowledge of chronic and acute psychiatric mental health disorders using the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM 5) for Mental Disorders diagnostic criteria for assessing, diagnosing, and managing mental health patients, with an emphasis on vulnerable groups at risk of developing mental health disorders. Subsequently, the course incorporated comprehensive mental health assessment, interview, history, and physical examination information gathering with an understanding of pathophysiology and psychopathology of psychiatric mental health disorders across the life span to establish differential diagnoses and devise therapeutic, patient-centered treatment plans and intervention strategies for patients across the lifespan.

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Additionally, the course integrated traditional and complementary pharmacological and non-pharmacological techniques into managing and treating psychiatric mental health disorders. In addition, the course facilitated the examination, evaluation, and demonstration of professional growth as a nurse practitioner and member of an interprofessional team. The course also promoted the evaluation and management of health and wellness, including acute and chronic psychiatric mental health disorders. Moreover, it is essential to consider their cultural, spiritual, and social backgrounds when diagnosing and treating people of all ages with acute, complex, and long-term psychiatric mental health disorders. Thus, the course integrated such skills into a therapeutic, patient-centered treatment plan.

The course has also been significant in promoting the analysis of professionalism and fundamental moral and ethical principles in the practice of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner role concerning patient and staff safety, quality indicators, and health outcome optimization in the provision of high-quality psychiatric mental health care to patients. The course also fosters professionalism and accountability for the PMHNP role in preparation for the transition into clinical practice with proper mentor supervision.

Professional Application

Based on the course objectives, the information learned in this course will be applicable in a professional application. First, information from the DSM can apply to professional applications as it incorporates symptoms, descriptions, and other diagnostic criteria for mental conditions. According to American Psychiatric Association (n.d), DSM creates consistent and valid treatments that can be utilized in studies of mental illnesses and offers a standard vocabulary for physicians to converse about their patients. Additionally, information on the role of the nurse practitioner in diagnosing and managing health and wellness is essential in a professional set-up, as nurses will be aware of their roles and how to conduct them. Healthcare ethics are crucial in a professional application because workers must identify healthcare dilemmas and make better decisions and judgments depending on their values while adhering to the laws that govern them.

Subsequently, the knowledge of pathophysiology and psychopathology of psychiatric mental health disorders learned in this course will apply to the professional application. According to Sanati (2020), psychopathology knowledge will enable clinicians to comprehend what it is like to suffer from a mental disorder. It will also allow them to understand the patient’s overall experience. Additionally, the information from non-pharmacological interventions will be applied professionally as it helps decrease stress, promote positive mood changes, alleviate anxiety, and raise self and environmental awareness. On the other hand, the scientific knowledge gained from pharmacologic research forms the basis for various medical treatments.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (n.d). Frequently asked questions. American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm/frequently-asked-questions

Faubion, D. (2022). What is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. nursingprocess.org. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://www.nursingprocess.org/what-is-a-psychiatric-mental-health-nurse-practitioner.html

Sanati, A. (2020). An exploration of psychopathology for clinical practice. Cambridge Core. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-advances/article/an-exploration-of-psychopathology-for-clinical-practice/3CC5F0684BD8E58939DC23D10A077312