Assignment 1: Prescribing for Children and Adolescents AND Assignment 2: Study Plan

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Assignment 2 Study Plan

Name

Institution

Course

Professor

Date

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Assignment 2 Study Plan

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the study plan I created in NRNP 6665, evaluate

my performance according to the SMART goals I set, review my current strengths and

opportunities for improvement, develop new SMART goals, and outline tasks and resources I

will use to achieve them.

Introduction

Self-reflective practice is an essential instrument of a professional nurse’s toolbox. A

practicing nurse needs to constantly set goals within a specified timeframe and review her

performance after the time elapses to continually improve her professional practice and deliver

the best quality care using the most effective tools available. The Psychiatric and Mental Health

Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) licensing board exam presents an important juncture in a

professional nurse’s career as it determines other people’s perceptions of one’s competencies.

Therefore, passing its tests is mandatory and requires thorough preparation. Integrating a

timetable and a progress track for the SMART goals corresponds with the thorough preparation

necessary for gaining confidence on the day of the exam. Consequently, the present paper seeks

to review the previously set SMART goals and outline a timetable for achieving the new set

goals.

Strengths and Opportunities for Improvement

The study plan I created in NRNP 6665 highlighted that I had strengths in diagnosis and

pharmacology. I was proficient in accurately assessing, interviewing, obtaining a health history,

and determining a patient’s health status. Based on the diagnostic competencies, I also gained

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proficiency in choosing the right pharmacological treatment plans. However, I also identified I

had several areas to improve, including psychotherapy and using psychometrically validated

tools, such as DSM-5 and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). As a result, I developed

SMART goals that would enable me to improve on the mentioned areas. They included watching

videos on using psychometric tools, practicing psychotherapy skills with volunteers, and reading

scientific journals about pharmaceutical interventions.

The SMART goals have increased my confidence in applying professional skills,

selecting the right screening tools, interpreting the results, and consulting with my colleagues

when faced with challenges. The experience has enabled me to comfortably use assessment tools

that offer valuable insight into a client’s health outcomes and offer the initial touchpoint for

diagnosis and treatment. I have further strengthened my positive conduct necessary for the

optimal therapeutic relationship, ensuring a conducive environment for the client to offer the

necessary historical information concerning the condition. Working towards the SMART goals

increased my knowledge in psychiatric evaluation skills and enhanced my ability to recognize

clinical signs and symptoms of psychiatric illness across the lifespan. I believe the tasks I

outlined for each goal were critical in building such skills, enhancing my ability to offer

reasonable care through accurate diagnosing and treatment plans that are responsive to clients’

conditions and prevent their complications. Thus, presently I can comfortably use my knowledge

to offer patients clinical advice, enhancing their self-care abilities.

Despite significant improvement in utilizing psychometrically validated assessment tools

and competencies for conducting psychotherapy sessions, I still struggle with differentiating

pathophysiological from psychopathological conditions. However, with partnerships and

collaboration with peers, I can progressively learn and improve my competencies in the area.

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Such an approach would also enhance my ability to perform and interpret a mental status

examination while at the same time developing and prioritizing a differential diagnoses list

(Hilty et al., 2018). I believe improvements in such elements will positively impact patient health

outcomes because they influence the accuracy of the diagnosis.

SMART Goals

1. Goal 1: To attain high proficiency in articulating diagnoses according to the Diagnostic

and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and assessment data, I will enroll in

a certificate program that enhances assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills within six

months.

o Task 1: To enroll in a certificate program that enhances assessment and diagnostic

reasoning skills within six months.

o Task 2: To learn how to integrate Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

Disorders (DSM-5) guidelines and assessment data during diagnosis.

2. Goal 2: To improve my ability to perform and interpret a mental status examination, I

will enroll in a certificate course to learn the examination using a useful tool that assists

GPs in distinguishing between various systemic conditions and neurologic and

psychiatric disorders within three months.

o Task 1: To enroll in a certificate course to learn the examination

o Task 2: To learn the examination using a useful tool that assist physicians in

differentiating between a variety of systemic conditions, as well as neurologic and

psychiatric disorders

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3. Goal 3: To learn how differentiate pathophysiological and psychopathological

conditions, I will collaborate and partner with colleagues on a weekly basis so I can

consult and learn from them how to develop and prioritize a differential diagnoses list.

o Task 1: To collaborate and consult with colleagues and learn skills for developing

and prioritizing a differential diagnoses list

o Task 2: Employ consultations and discussion to learn and improve my deficient

skill areas

Resources and Study Plan

Timeline and Progress Track for SMART Goals

To successfully complete the certificate programs, I will constantly engage with journal

articles that expound on DSM-5 guidelines and mental status examinations. The research articles

will complement the knowledge and skills I gain from the certificate programs concerning

•Enroll in courses for diagnostic reasoning skills and mental status examinations

•Get acquianted with colleagues and introduce my need for learning a differential diagnosis list

Month1

•Complete course and earn certificate for mental status examinations

•Continue course for diagnostic reasoning skills and discussions with peers about differential diagnosis list

Month 3

•Complete course and earn certificate for diagnostic reasoning skills

•Review with colleagues my competencie s for prioritizing a differential diagnosis list

Month 6

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assessment and diagnostic reasoning, and performing and interpreting a mental status

examination. I will also form a small group with my colleagues who will become my mentors

and continually guide me on developing and prioritizing a differential diagnosis list. We will

form an online channel using Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft teams where we will meet

weekly to discuss on new knowledge in relevant areas.

Conclusion

After reviewing my study plan for NRNP 6665, I identified I had accomplished most of

the SMART goals I set. I gained competencies in using psychometrically validated assessment

tools and conducting psychotherapy sessions. Therefore, I reanalyzed my strengths and

opportunities for improvement and found out I needed to work more on enhancing my

assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills, performing and interpreting a mental status

examination, and developing and prioritizing a differential diagnosis list. Therefore, I set new

SMART goals and a study plan that will help me achieve them.

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References

Hilty, D. M., Rabinowitz, T., McCarron, R. M., Katzelnick, D. J., Chang, T., Bauer, A. M., &

Fortney, J. (2018). An update on telepsychiatry and how it can leverage collaborative,

stepped, and integrated services to primary care. Psychosomatics, 59(3), 227-250.

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