smart

Desired Clinical Skills for Students to Achieve

Confident (Can complete independently)

Mostly confident (Can complete with supervision)

Beginning (Have performed with supervision or need supervision to feel confident)

New (Have never performed or does not apply)

Comprehensive psychiatric evaluation skills in: 

Recognizing clinical signs and symptoms of psychiatric illness across the lifespan

X

Differentiating between pathophysiological and psychopathological conditions 

X

Performing and interpreting a comprehensive and/or interval history and physical examination (including laboratory and diagnostic studies) 

X

Performing and interpreting a mental status examination 

X

Performing and interpreting a psychosocial assessment and family psychiatric history 

X

Performing and interpreting a functional assessment (activities of daily living, occupational, social, leisure, educational).

X

Diagnostic reasoning skill in:

Developing and prioritizing a differential diagnoses list

X

Formulating diagnoses according to DSM 5 based on assessment data 

X

Differentiating between normal/abnormal age-related physiological and psychological symptoms/changes

X

Pharmacotherapeutic skills in:

Selecting appropriate evidence based clinical practice guidelines for medication plan (e.g., risk/benefit, patient preference, developmental considerations, financial, the process of informed consent, symptom management) 

X

Evaluating patient response and modify plan as necessary 

X

Documenting (e.g., adverse reaction, the patient response, changes to the plan of care)

X

Psychotherapeutic Treatment Planning:

Recognizes concepts of therapeutic modalities across the lifespan

X

Selecting appropriate evidence based clinical practice guidelines for psychotherapeutic plan (e.g., risk/benefit, patient preference, developmental considerations, financial, the process of informed consent, symptom management, modality appropriate for situation) 

X

Applies age appropriate psychotherapeutic counseling techniques with individuals, families, and/or groups

X

Develop an age appropriate individualized plan of care

X

Provide psychoeducation to individuals, family, and/or groups

X

Promote health and disease prevention techniques

X

Self-Assessment skills:

Develop SMART goals for practicum experiences 

X

Evaluating outcomes of practicum goals and modify plan as necessary 

X

Documenting and reflecting on learning experiences

X

Professional skills:

Maintains professional boundaries and therapeutic relationship with clients and staff

X

Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to improve clinical practice in mental health settings 

X

Identifies ethical and legal dilemmas with possible resolutions

X

Demonstrates non-judgmental practice approach and empathy

X

Practices within scope of practice

X

Selecting and implementing appropriate screening instrument(s), interpreting results, and making recommendations and referrals:

Demonstrates selecting the correct screening instrument appropriate for the clinical situation 

X

Implements the screening instrument efficiently and effectively with the clients

X

Interprets results for screening instruments accurately

X

Develops an appropriate plan of care based upon screening instruments response

X

Identifies the need to refer to another specialty provider when applicable

X

Accurately documents recommendations for psychiatric consultations when applicable

X

Getting along with all types of professionals, patients, and their loved ones is one of my talents in healthcare. There are spoken, nonverbal, and textual kinds of communication. When I communicate with patients and their loved ones, I always try to do it with compassion. Patients benefit from increased security and well-being when information is shared between doctors and nurse practitioners (Durmaz et al., 2018). So that patients don't suffer needless harm, I, for one, try my best to provide precise details to nurse practitioners during handoffs. Word choice and empathy are particularly important when communicating with patients and their loved ones (Durmaz et al., 2018). If a nurse really wants to help a patient, it will show in how she treats them. Building trust between a nurse and patient requires two-way communication (Durmaz et al., 2018). In order to get positive results, it is crucial to communicate the treatment strategy and educate patients about their illness. The family of a patient needs accurate updates about their condition.

I am competent at identifying clinical indicators of mental disease. I have conducted evaluations on a wide range of people suffering from a wide range of mental disorders. During my clinical rotation, I have interacted with a wide variety of people experiencing various difficulties. I try to figure out whether a patient has a loss of interest in regular activities or a persistently down mood, for instance. An accurate diagnosis relies on a precise identification of symptoms (Percy & Richardson, 2018).

I am skilled at establishing and sustaining a trustworthy connection with my patients. Never do I want to have more than one relationship with a patient. I am aware of when to pass a patient on to the next available therapist if I believe that their emotional connection to me may negatively impact their treatment. The achievement of favorable health results and the cultivation of patient trust both depend on a healthcare system that adheres to ethical and legal standards (Percy & Richardson, 2018). Regardless of a patient's race, sexual orientation, gender, age, or health, I treat them with respect and compassion. No matter how different individuals may be, I think they should all have access to quality medical care. One of the most effective ways to increase patient trust and diversity is to maintain a nonjudgmental attitude in the healthcare setting (Bennett, 2017).

Improved nursing practices are essential for meeting the requirements of patients of all backgrounds. Building a connection with my mentor as a nurse is the first development opportunity I have. I need to make an effort to spend more time with my advisor in order to get clarification on the numerous points that need work. Improving the process of conducting and analyzing a psychosocial evaluation and family psychiatric background is one such topic. My expertise in doing psychological evaluations is lacking. Assessing a patient is crucial for making correct diagnosis (Pelin & Ayise, 2019). It would be helpful if I could combine this information with my family's psychological background as well. Thanks to the data, I'll be able to make more informed diagnoses of a wider variety of patients. The knowledge I get from my mentor in conducting and analyzing a psychosocial evaluation and family mental history will be invaluable. Second, virtual events like webinars and conferences provide a chance to expand your business. This site is essential for educating nurse practitioners (Pelin & Ayise, 2019). For instance, nursing organizations, prominent medical professionals, and hospitals will address new concerns during webinars and seminars. Webinars will focus on issues including prejudice and the creation of individualized treatment programs for patients.

The third way to develop is through participating in nursing groups. Both the ANA and the NLO are organizations that I would want to become a part of, and I hope to soon. A nurse's career can only advance with the help of organizations (Wills et al., 2020). Benefits of participation include chances to learn and grow as an individual, make new connections, get financial aid, and further one's education. As a nurse, for instance, I may expand my knowledge base and access additional professional tools by engaging in networking activities. The provision of mental healthcare to low-income families via volunteer work is the fourth development potential. Volunteering will provide me the chance to interact with a wide range of patients and get insight into the many facets of mental health treatment (Wills et al., 2020). It is my intention to devote some of my free time to volunteering on weekends and on certain weekdays. Examples include the widespread mental health issues, such as depression, among the state's varied Louisiana population as they prepare for the onslaught of Hurricane Ida. The Covid-19 epidemic has had a negative impact on the state's economy and the lives of many people. By gathering a group of students and bringing a preceptor to talk about using various screening instruments for mental health disorders, I may learn advanced technological skills. This group's frequent meetings will help me become more proficient in a wide range of areas (Pelin & Ayise, 2019). I want to improve my knowledge and abilities with the help of Walden Library. To find recent, correct, and evidence-based data, I plan to explore peer-reviewed publications. I'll be able to better recognize trends in mental healthcare thanks to the reliable data you've provided (Percy & Richardson, 2018).

1. Goal: Learn to effectively convey knowledge to patients, relatives, and interdisciplinary groups.

a. Objective: Please make use of a variety of ways to provide information to patients and their loved ones.

b. Objective: Establish open lines of communication to foster productive partnerships with interdisciplinary groups.

c. Objective: Show that you can connect with them via your words and build trusting relationships with them.

2. Goal: Learn how to correctly choose which mental diagnostic screening techniques will be most useful for a certain patient.

a. Objective: Make the using your understanding of nursing to locate and evaluate potential screening methods.

b. Objective: Apply your in-depth knowledge as a nurse to determine the specific signs that indicate a certain mental disorder.

c. Objective: Exhibit expert nursing judgment in selecting and using diagnostic equipment.

3. Goal: Create a proper analysis, differential, treatment, and monitoring strategy.

a. Objective: In order to arrive at a diagnosis, you should use a variety of methods.

b. Objective: Develop a possible diagnosis using your expert nursing judgment.

c. Objective: Make a therapy and monitoring strategy that will work.

4. Goal: Gain patients' confidence by always doing what's right in terms of the law and professional ethics.

a. Objective: Ensure constant, cordial contact with patients.

b. Objective: Respect the applicable law and ethical guidelines while providing care to patients of diverse backgrounds.

c. Objective: Improve your understanding of cultural differences and shifts by using your nursing expertise.