Utilizing the PMHNP Clinical Skills List- A Comprehensive Review and Resource Guide
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 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 | Confident | |||||
| Differentiating between pathophysiological and psychopathological conditions | Confident | |||||
| Performing and interpreting a comprehensive and/or interval history and physical examination (including laboratory and diagnostic studies) | Confident | |||||
| Performing and interpreting a mental status examination | Confident | |||||
| Performing and interpreting a psychosocial assessment and family psychiatric history | Confident | |||||
| Performing and interpreting a functional assessment (activities of daily living, occupational, social, leisure, educational). | Confident | |||||
| Diagnostic reasoning skill in: | ||||||
| Developing and prioritizing a differential diagnoses list | Confident | |||||
| Formulating diagnoses according to DSM 5 based on assessment data | Confident | |||||
| Differentiating between normal/abnormal age-related physiological and psychological symptoms/changes | Confident | |||||
| Pharmacotherapeutic skills in: | ||||||
| Selecting appropriate evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for medication plan (e.g., risk/benefit, patient preference, developmental considerations, finances, the process of informed consent, symptom management) | Confident | |||||
| Evaluating patient response and modifying plan as necessary | Confident | |||||
| Documenting (e.g., adverse reaction, the patient response, changes to the plan of care) | Confident | |||||
| Psychotherapeutic Treatment Planning: | ||||||
| Recognizes concepts of therapeutic modalities across the lifespan | Confident | |||||
| Selecting appropriate evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the psychotherapeutic plan (e.g., risk/benefit, patient preference, developmental considerations, financial, the process of informed consent, symptom management, modality appropriate for the situation) | Confident | |||||
| Applies age-appropriate psychotherapeutic counseling techniques with individuals, families, and/or groups | Confident | |||||
| Develop an age-appropriate individualized plan of care | Confident | |||||
| Provide psychoeducation to individuals, families, and/or groups | Confident | |||||
| Promote health and disease prevention techniques. | Confident | |||||
| Self-Assessment skills: | ||||||
| Develop SMART goals for practicum experiences | ||||||
| Evaluating outcomes of practicum goals and modifying plan as necessary | ||||||
| Documenting and reflecting on learning experiences | ||||||
| Professional skills: | ||||||
| Maintains professional boundaries and therapeutic relationships with clients and staff | Confident | |||||
| Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to improve clinical practice in mental health settings. | Confident | |||||
| Identifies ethical and legal dilemmas with possible resolutions | Confident | |||||
| Demonstrates non-judgmental practice approach and empathy | Confident | |||||
| Practices within the scope of practice | Confident | |||||
| 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 | Confident | |||||
| Implements the screening instrument efficiently and effectively with the clients | Confident | |||||
| Interprets results for screening instruments accurately | Confident | |||||
| Develops an appropriate plan of care based on screening instruments’ response | Confident | |||||
| Identifies the need to refer to another specialty provider when applicable | Confident | |||||
| Accurately documents recommendations for psychiatric consultations when applicable. | Confident | |||||
Summary of strengths:
| The coursework has imparted to me specific skills and knowledge in psychiatric nursing that will be valuable during my actual nursing practice. Reflection on the key areas in the course revealed that I am especially confident in performing comprehensive assessments of clients with mental health illnesses. My knowledge of identifying various mental health illnesses, differentiating pathophysiological and psychopathological conditions, and interpreting mental health examinations is expansive, allowing me to detail these aspects at length. I am also confident in selecting appropriate screening tools for various mental health illnesses as well as interpreting results from these tools. By being able to name and interpret most of the commonly available screening tools, I am better placed to not only educate other nurses on these tools but also utilize them as aids to monitor the severity of various mental health disorders and for diagnosing these illnesses. I am also well knowledgeable in psychotherapeutic treatment planning. My professional and self-assessment skills are also excellent, further contributing to my ability to handle clients with mental health illnesses. |
Opportunities for growth:
| While I maintain confidence in most course areas, I still feel the need to tighten my grip on some learned concepts. Psychotherapeutic planning in psychiatric nursing care is a dynamic area. With innovative approaches being introduced into psychiatric care, there is a need to continue bolstering knowledge on the same. This will help me integrate these novel approaches into my operationalization framework and, consequently, contribute towards quality optimization in mental healthcare. Another area that may present an opportunity for growth is the enhancement of professional skills for psychiatric nurses. In as much as my professional nursing skills are excellent, I am aware that the healthcare landscape is continuing to evolve. With diversification being apparent, cross-cultural communication may be a challenge to many caregivers. By furthering my professional and personal skills, as well as my diagnostic reasoning skills, I will be better placed to handle such challenges. Additionally, by maintaining grip, even in areas I feel confident in, I believe that I will not only be excellent in my caring roles but also maintain accountability in my professional nursing journey and play a bigger role in promoting the welfare of diverse clients. |
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.
a. Objective: To understand the role of psychiatric nurses within the multidisciplinary framework for managing mental health illnesses. b. Objective: To demonstrate the interpersonal and collaborative skills necessary for the multidisciplinary management of mental health illnesses. c. Objective: To acknowledge the roles of other caregivers involved in the multidisciplinary care for clients with mental health illnesses.
a. Objective: To verbalize that diverse screening equipment is valuable in diagnosing and screening for various mental health illnesses. b. Objective: To be able to interpret the results of common screening equipment. c. Objective: To be able to develop an appropriate care plan based on the findings from various screening tools.
a. Objective: To verbalize the clinical manifestations of common mental health illnesses without aid. b. Objective: To be able to perform a mental status examination without supervision. c. Objective: To be able to develop a comprehensive list of differentials based on the client’s symptoms and the subjective and objective findings. |
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Question 
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.
Utilizing the PMHNP Clinical Skills List- A Comprehensive Review and Resource Guide
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 in 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.