PRAC 6665/6675 Clinical Skills
Self-Assessment Form
| Desired Clinical Skills for Students to Achieve | Confident (Can complete independently) | Mostly confident (Can complete with supervision) | Beginning (Have performed with supervision or needs 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: PRAC 6665/6675 Clinical Skills |
✓ |
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| Differentiating between pathophysiological and psychopathological conditions |
|
✓ |
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| Performing and interpreting a comprehensive and/or interval history and physical examination (including laboratory and diagnostic studies) |
✓ |
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| Performing and interpreting a mental status examination |
✓ |
|||
| Performing and interpreting a psychosocial assessment and family psychiatric history |
✓ |
|||
| Performing and interpreting a functional assessment (activities of daily living, occupational, social, leisure, educational). |
✓ |
|||
| Diagnostic reasoning skill in: | ||||
| Developing and prioritizing a differential diagnoses list | ✓ | |||
| Formulating diagnoses according to DSM 5-TR based on assessment data |
✓ |
|||
| Differentiating between normal/abnormal age-related physiological and psychological symptoms/changes | ✓ | |||
| 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) |
✓ |
|||
| Evaluating patient response and modify plan as necessary |
✓ |
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| Documenting (e.g., adverse reaction, the patient response, changes to the plan of care) |
✓ |
|||
| Psychotherapeutic Treatment Planning: | ||||
| Recognizes concepts of therapeutic modalities across the lifespan |
✓ |
|||
| 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) |
✓ |
|||
| Applies age appropriate psychotherapeutic counseling techniques with individuals and/or any caregivers |
✓ |
|||
| Develop an age appropriate individualized plan of care |
✓ |
|||
| Provide psychoeducation to individuals and/or any caregivers |
✓ |
|||
| Promote health and disease prevention techniques | ||||
| Self-assessment skill: | ||||
| Develop SMART goals for practicum experiences | ✓ | |||
| Evaluating outcomes of practicum goals and modify plan as necessary |
✓ |
|||
| Documenting and reflecting on learning experiences |
✓ |
|||
| Professional skills: | ||||
| Maintains professional boundaries and therapeutic relationship with clients and staff |
✓ |
|||
| Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to improve clinical practice in mental health settings |
✓ |
|||
| Identifies ethical and legal dilemmas with possible resolutions |
✓ |
|||
| Demonstrates non-judgmental practice approach and empathy |
✓ |
|||
| Practices within scope of practice | ✓ | |||
| 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 |
✓ |
|||
| Implements the screening instrument efficiently and effectively with the clients |
✓ |
|||
| Interprets results for screening instruments accurately |
✓ |
|||
| Develops an appropriate plan of care based upon screening instruments response |
✓ |
|||
| Identifies the need to refer to another specialty provider when applicable |
✓ |
|||
| Accurately documents recommendations for psychiatric consultations when applicable |
✓ |
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Summary of strengths:
| Through my clinical preparation and experience in the PMHNP program, I have developed a strong foundation in essential psychiatric competencies. I am confident in conducting comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, including psychosocial assessments, functional evaluations, and accurate mental status examinations across the lifespan. I consistently demonstrate proficiency in formulating DSM-5-TR-aligned diagnoses, integrating clinical data, and applying diagnostic reasoning to distinguish complex psychiatric presentations.
Additionally, I possess advanced documentation skills, including recording adverse events, medication responses, and plan modifications with clarity and clinical rationale. I maintain therapeutic relationships by demonstrating empathy, cultural sensitivity, and non-judgmental communication. I also collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams to ensure coordinated, evidence-based care. My strengths include developing SMART goals for practicum planning, providing individualized psychoeducation, and promoting health and disease prevention techniques. These competencies support my readiness to deliver holistic and ethically sound psychiatric care in alignment with the scope of practice and national PMHNP standards.
|
Opportunities for growth:
|
While I have demonstrated confidence in key psychiatric-mental health competencies, I recognize several important areas for continued development. I seek to enhance my diagnostic reasoning, particularly in differentiating between pathophysiological and psychopathological conditions in complex cases. Although I can formulate diagnoses using DSM-5-TR, I aim to further strengthen my ability to prioritize differential diagnoses based on subtle clinical variations and comorbidities. Additionally, I need to build greater confidence in selecting and interpreting screening instruments for specific populations, such as children and older adults. I also plan to improve my ability to apply age-appropriate psychotherapeutic modalities, especially for clients requiring family or group interventions. Expanding my pharmacological knowledge—including medication mechanisms, side effect profiles, and considerations for polypharmacy—is another critical goal. These growth areas will be addressed through deliberate practice, supervision, and integration of evidence-based resources during my final practicum.
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Now, write three to four (3–4) possible goals and objectives for this practicum experience. Ensure that they follow the SMART Strategy, as described in the Learning Resources.
| 1. Goal: Strengthen DSM-5-TR diagnostic formulation skills.
a. Objective: Formulate accurate differential diagnoses for at least 5 patients weekly with preceptor validation. b. Objective: Review 1 DSM category weekly and discuss cases during supervision. c. Objective: Submit 100% of diagnosis documentation with a clear rationale based on patient presentations.
2. Goal: Improve the use and interpretation of psychiatric screening tools. a. Objective: Administer at least 4 validated tools independently by mid-practicum. b. Objective: Integrate results into treatment plans for all relevant patients. c. Objective: Evaluate tool effectiveness during weekly preceptor feedback sessions.
3. Goal: Improve the strategies used in psychotherapy for a variety of groups. a. Objective: Complete 3 therapy sessions using various proven therapy methods. b. Objective: Prepare plans for at least 6 clients using cultural and developmental factors as a basis. c. Objective: Review and change therapy strategies every two weeks based on what the patient says. 4. Goal: Increase the ability to choose and prescribe drugs correctly. a. Objective: Complete prescriptions for at least 8 patients after the preceptor’s approval near the end of your practicum. b. Objective: Record the reasons for giving each medicine and include its side effects and the patient’s preferences. c. Objective: Present 1 case study on medication selection during a clinical debrief.
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Question 
Clinical Skills Self-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.
PRAC 6665/6675 Clinical Skills
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.
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.
By Day 7 of Week 1
- Submit your completed PMHNP Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form.