Master Resource Outline

Leadership and Management of Complex Mental Health Conditions

Credits: 8 (2 lecture, 6 clinical)

Semester Offered: Spring

Prerequisites: NRSG 633

Degree: DNP

DNP Essentials: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII

Graduate Program Objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Course Description

This final clinical course will further refine the student’s role as advanced practice registered nurse demonstrating leadership, specialized knowledge, and expanded responsibility and accountability in the advanced psychiatric care and management of individuals and families (or across the lifespan). Designing and implementing processes to evaluate outcomes of practice, practice patterns, and systems of health care within a practice setting is stressed. Methods of consultation, collaboration and the dynamics of complex relationships with other health care professionals is explored. The development of consultative and leaderships skills to facilitate change in psychiatric healthcare and healthcare delivery systems is emphasized. The application of relevant evidence-based findings to develop practice guidelines and improve practice and the practice environment is stressed. Additional focus placed on the management of vulnerable populations including individuals across the lifespan with developmental and intellectual disabilities, severe mental illness and chronic medical conditions in complex health and situational transitions.

Catalog Description

This final practicum course focuses on the complex and leadership role of the advanced practice psychiatric nurse. Systems thinking, consultation, collaboration and evaluation are stressed. Focus placed on the management of vulnerable populations.

Course Objectives

  1. Conduct and document comprehensive and systematic assessments of health and illness to determine the mental health treatment needs of individuals and families by integrating nursing science with knowledge from ethics, the biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, and organizational sciences as the basis for the highest level of nursing practice.
  2. Engage in seeking and providing inter and intra professional consultation and leadership to create change in healthcare settings, enhance one’s own practice and enhance quality and cost-effective services within complex practice and organizational systems.
  3. Maintains a therapeutic relationship over time with individuals, groups, and families and concludes nurse-patient relationship transitions across levels of care when appropriate in order to promote positive clinical outcomes.
  4. Manages psychiatric crisis and emergencies while demonstrating legal and ethical knowledge of the appropriate use and documentation of seclusion and restraints.
  5. Reflect and analyze the APRN role transition integrating legal, financial, regulatory and professional standards and competencies in a variety of health care environments.
  6. Apply legal and ethical principles to the development, implementation, (patient teaching) and evaluation of nursing strategies to evaluate outcomes of psychiatric practice within a practice setting through designing and implementing processes to evaluate outcomes of practice, practice patterns, and systems of health care.
  7. Advocates for the nursing profession within the policy and healthcare communities while advocating for the complex patient with consideration to social justice, equity and ethical policies.
  8. Demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability in designing, delivering, and evaluating evidence-based care including the use of psychotherapeutic modalities, psychopharmacologic interventions, interprofessional collaboration and referrals to improve patient outcomes.

Course Learning Outcomes

  1. The student will conduct comprehensive and systematic assessments (Obj. 1, 2, 4, 6, 8). Exemplar: Clinical preceptor evaluation 
  2. Maintains therapeutic interactions with various health care professionals such as during the referral or collaboration process (Obj. 2, 3, 7). Exemplar: Advanced Integrated Professional Log (AIPL)
  3. Integrate ethics, practice standards, regularity standards, evidence-based practice, systems thinking and clinical judgement into one’s APRN practice (Obj. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). Exemplar: Personal Model of Practice
  4. Identify legal and ethical considerations when working with mental health patients during emergencies (Obj.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8) Exemplar: Discussion board

Practice immersion experiences afford the opportunity to integrate and synthesize the essentials and specialty requirements necessary to demonstrate competency in an area of specialized nursing practice. 270 clinical hours primarily in APRN medication management. May have up to 45 hours of psychotherapy.

 

Approved by GAAC: 3/8/21

Approved by Faculty: 4/12/2021