Skills assessment

Before embarking on any professional or academic activity, it is important to understand the background, knowledge, and experience you bring to it. You might ask yourself, “What do I already know? What do I need to know? And what do I want to know?” This critical self-reflection is especially important for developing clinical skills such as those for advanced practice nursing.  

The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Clinical Skills List and Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form provided in the Learning Resources can be used to celebrate your progress throughout your practicum and identify skills gaps. The list covers all necessary skills you should demonstrate during your practicum experiences.  

Just as you have in previous practicum courses, for this Assignment, you assess where you are now in your clinical skill development and make plans for this practicum. Specifically, you will identify strengths and opportunities for improvement regarding the required practicum skills. In this practicum experience, when developing your goals and objectives, be sure to keep assessment and diagnostic reasoning in mind. 

RESOURCES

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources. 

WEEKLY RESOURCES

Required Resource for Assignment 1

· Document:  Practicum Site Information Form (Word document) Download Practicum Site Information Form (Word document)

Required Resource for Assignment 2

· The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (2018).  CPT code training module Links to an external site. . https://www.aacap.org/App_Themes/AACAP/docs/clinical_practice_center/business_of_practice/cpt/2018_CPT_module_revised_March_2018.pdf Links to an external site.

· American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2019).  Discussion paper: Standards of practice for nurse practitionersLinks to an external site. . https://storage.aanp.org/www/documents/advocacy/position-papers/StandardsOfPractice.pdf Links to an external site.

· American Psychiatric Association. (2020).  Coding and reimbursementLinks to an external site. . https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/practice-management/coding-reimbursement-medicare-and-medicaid/coding-and-reimbursement Links to an external site.

· American Psychiatric Nurses Association. (2013).  Population-focused nurse practitioner competencies. https://www.apna.org/files/Councils/Population-Focused-NP-Competencies-2013.pdf Note: Review the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Competencies. Links to an external site.

· International Council of Nurses. (2020).  Guidelines on advanced practice nursingLinks to an external site. . https://www.icn.ch/system/files/documents/2020-04/ICN_APN%20Report_EN_WEB.pdf Links to an external site.

· National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. (2017).  Nurse practitioner core competenciesLinks to an external site. . https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.nonpf.org/resource/resmgr/competencies/20170516_NPCoreCompsContentF.pdf Links to an external site.

· National Organization of Nurse Practitioner FacultiesLinks to an external site. . (n.d.). https://www.nonpf.org/  Links to an external site.

· Walden University Academic Skills Center. (2017).  Developing SMART goals Links to an external site. . https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/ld.php?content_id=51901492 Links to an external site.

· Document:  PMHNP Clinical Skills List (Word document) Download PMHNP Clinical Skills List (Word document)

· Document:  PMHNP Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form (Word document) Download PMHNP Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form (Word document)

Required Resource for Assignment 3

· MeditrekLinks to an external site.

· MeditrekLinks to an external site.

· https://edu.meditrek.com/Default.html Note: Use this website to log into Meditrek to report your clinical hours and patient encounters. Links to an external site.

Walden Practicum Guides

Keep the following practicum resources on-hand for review as needed throughout the quarter:

· Walden University Field Experience. (n.d.).  Field experience: College of Nursing Links to an external site. . https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/fieldexperience/son/home Links to an external site.

· Walden University. (2020).  MSN nurse practitioner practicum manual Links to an external site. . https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/fieldexperience/son/formsanddocuments Links to an external site.

· Walden University Field Experience. (n.d.).  Student practicum resources: NP student orientationLinks to an external site. .  https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/StudentPracticum/NP_StudentOrientation

TO PREPARE

· Review the resources and clinical skills in the PMHNP Clinical Skills List document. It is recommended that you print out this document to serve as a guide throughout your practicum. 

· Review the “Developing SMART Goals” resource on how to develop goals and objectives that follow the SMART framework.

· Review the resources on nursing competencies and nursing theory, and consider how these inform your practice.

· Download the Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form to complete this Assignment.  

THE ASSIGNMENT

Use the PMHNP Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form to complete the following:   

· Rate yourself according to your confidence level performing the skills identified on the Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form.  

· Based on your ratings, summarize your strengths and opportunities for improvement.   

· Based on your self-assessment and theory of nursing practice, develop 3–4 measurable goals and objectives for this practicum experience. Include them on the designated area of the form.