NRNP, DRNP, PRAC, PRCM 6635: Psychopathology and Diagnostic Reasoning

NRNP, DRNP, PRAC, PRCM 6635: Psychopathology and Diagnostic Reasoning

Introduction

This overview provides a summary of the requirements for the practicum course.  Students and preceptors should review the Practicum Manual to review all policies and

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) prepares students to focus their practice on the identified health needs of society, become leaders in their field through scholarship, influence the quality of patient care, manage technology and information, gain autonomy in their careers, and develop a lifelong commitment to learning. The MSN program offers a range of specializations in the most critical areas of nursing today.

Program Learning Outcomes

At the end of the program, students will be able to:

1. Synthesize organizational/systems leadership for cost-effective specialist nursing practice that contributes to high-quality healthcare delivery, advancement of the nursing profession, and social change.
2. Critique evidence-based literature drawing from diverse theoretical perspectives and pertinent research to guide decision making that demonstrates best practices for specialist nursing practice in a global society.
3. Integratively assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate cost-effective healthcare strategies that reduce health disparities by patient/population advocacy for access to specialist nursing care.
4. Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate using audience-specific oral, written, and information technology for professional delivery of specialist nursing care.
5. Evaluate health needs of diverse populations for necessary teaching/coaching functions based on specialist nursing knowledge to restore/promote health and prevent illness/injury.
6. Exhibit ongoing commitment to professional development and value of nursing theories/ethical principles (altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, social justice) in accordance with ethically responsible, legally accountable, specialist nursing practice.
7. Implement specialist nursing roles to promote quality improvement of patient-centered care in accordance with professional practice standards that transform health outcomes for diverse populations.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Specialization

Program Overview

This specialization is offered in the DNP, MSN, and PMC programs. The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse trained to provide a wide range of mental health services to patients and families in a variety of settings. PMHNPs diagnose, conduct therapy, and prescribe medications for patients who have psychiatric disorders, medical organic brain disorders, or substance abuse problems. They are licensed to provide emergency psychiatric services, conduct psychosocial and physical assessment of their patients, develop and manage treatment plans, and provide ongoing manage patient care. They may also serve as consultants or as educators for families and staff. The PMHNP has a focus on making a psychiatric diagnosis, differentiates between medical disorders with psychiatric symptoms, and orders appropriate medications to treat various psychiatric disorders. A PMHNP can often practice autonomously, depending on state licensure laws.  Graduates of Walden’s program will be eligible to take the national certifying examination, PMHNP—Across the Lifespan, through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Practicum Overview

Students in the PMHNP specialization engage in practicum experiences focused on a wide range of mental health services including psychopharmacology and psychotherapy across the lifespan provided to patients, families, and groups in a variety of settings. The PMHNP content focuses on assessing; diagnosing; and treating psychological and substance use disorders; and PMHNP role development. This program educates students to work in an inpatient or outpatient psychiatric mental health setting.

Review the Clinical Skills Checklist for practicum for the PMHNP specialization.  

Practicum Course Requirements

NRNP/DRNP & PRAC/PRCM 6635:  Psychopathology and Diagnostic Reasoning

• Didactic Credits for NRNP/DRNP: 3 credits 
• Practicum Credits for PRAC/PRCM: 2 credits
• Required Practicum Hours for PRAC/PRCM: 160 Hours *
• Review Course Description and Prerequisites

Practicum Site Requirements

To finalize their education, students must have an opportunity to apply their acquired knowledge, concepts, and skills during required practicum experiences. To do this, students may need to travel to a setting for their practicum experience. Students should consider their career goals after graduation when they are choosing a practicum site. They must match their practicum setting that they nominate with their goals and within the specific requirements of the course. Practicum sites must offer an experience that meets the requirements of the specialization and the practicum course. The general requirements for all practicum courses for practicum sites are as follows:   

• The practicum site must either have a valid affiliation agreement with Walden University that specifically covers your program or be willing to finalize an affiliation agreement with Walden University. The Office of Field Experience will contact a nominated practicum site to establish an agreement after a practicum application is submitted in Meditrek if Walden does not currently have an affiliation agreement with the practicum site. 
• The practicum site must abide by the terms and conditions outlined in the affiliation agreement. 
• The practicum site must employ the preceptor or be owned by the preceptor. 
• The practicum site must be located in a state or country where Walden University is authorized to enroll students and approve practicum for the student’s program. Students should review the list of states and countries that are restricted for enrollment and practicum on the List of Restricted States for practicum. 
• The practicum site must not be a private residential home setting because students are not permitted to go to private residential home settings of patients or preceptors for practicum experiences. 
• The practicum site must not be an agency that conducts home visits because students are not permitted to go to private homes for home visits. 
• The practicum site must operate at a physical location that is owned or leased by the site with a physical address that belongs to the site.  Addresses for a post office box, virtual office, co-working facility, or rental mailboxes are not acceptable. 
• The practicum site cannot be owned or operated by the student.  
• The practicum site must be willing to support you with opportunities to complete required practicum activities for the practicum course.
• The practicum site must meet the specific requirements for the practicum course. See the “Practicum Course Requirements for Practicum Sites & Preceptors” section for requirements.

Preceptor Requirements

Preceptors must be academically and experientially qualified to serve as a preceptor. Preceptors must meet the preceptor requirements to be eligible to be approved as a preceptor. Once a preceptor is identified, students must communicate with their potential preceptor and determine if the individual meets the requirements for their practicum course. Students should only nominate preceptors who meet the preceptor requirements for practicum. 

Preceptor Requirements – General Requirements

• The preceptor must hold the required academic degree that meets the requirements of the course; profession; licensure; certification; and is in a field related to the role and focus of the practicum experience.
  • Undergraduate level courses: The preceptor must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or higher.
  • Master’s level courses: The preceptor must hold a master’s or doctoral degree. 
  • Doctoral level courses: The preceptor must hold a master’s or doctoral degree, but a doctoral degree is preferred.    
• The preceptor must hold an active and unencumbered license to practice in the specialization in the state or country where the practicum experience will occur for licensed preceptors.    
• The preceptor must meet the specific licensure, certification, and/or board-certification requirements for the specialization and practicum course. See the “Practicum Course Requirements for Practicum Sites & Preceptors” section for requirements.
• The preceptor must have a minimum of 1 year of postgraduate unsupervised experience in the area of specialization for the practicum course. For licensed practitioners, the 1 year of experience is based upon the original date of licensure for the specialization. 
• The preceptor holds a current position and role that is relevant to the specialization, relevant to the focus of the practicum experience, and meets the requirements of the course.  
• The preceptor is a current employee of the practicum site at the practicum site location.
• The preceptor nominee is not the student’s relative, family member, fiancé, roommate, significant other, personal friend, primary care provider, and does not have any other relationship that would create an actual or perceived conflict of interest.
• The preceptor is not the student’s supervisor/manager, employee, or direct report.   
• The preceptor is not a current Walden University nursing student. 
• The preceptor is not precepting other students during the same time they plan to precept you during your practicum experience because preceptors must only precept one student for direct supervision at any given time.   
• The preceptor is able and willing to commit to the preceptor role for the duration of the practicum experience.
• The preceptor must meet the specific requirements for the program, specialization, and practicum course. See the “Practicum Course Requirements for Practicum Sites & Preceptors” section for requirements. 

Preceptorship Requirements – Program Requirements

• Students are required to precept with at least one Nurse Practitioner during their four practicum courses. However, it is strongly recommended for students to precept with at least two Nurse Practitioners in two different NP practicum courses. This policy is important for students to learn the role of a nurse practitioner in the area of specialization. Preceptors that are MDs, DOs, CNSs, or PAs do not count towards meeting the policy of having one NP as a preceptor.  
• Students can only use the same preceptor twice for two of their four practicum courses. Students cannot use the same preceptor for more than two practicum courses.
• Students may complete practicum at the same practicum site for all four practicum courses when completing one practicum course a term only if the practicum site meets the practicum requirements for the practicum course and is an acceptable site option for the practicum course.  
• Students must have different preceptors and practicum sites when taking two practicum courses during the same term because students cannot use the same preceptor and/or the same practicum site when taking two practicum courses during the same term. Students must complete practicum hours for each practicum course on different days when taking two practicum courses in the same term.  
• Students must confirm with their preceptor that they will not be precepting other students during the same time they plan to precept them during their practicum experience. Preceptors and students must ensure a 1:1 preceptor to student ratio for on-site direct supervision during the practicum experience. See the Preceptor Ratio Policy.
• Students considering utilizing a preceptor who is not an APRN or a MD/DO must review regulations of their state board of nursing to determine if the preceptor will be acceptable to ensure they will meet the requirements of the state board of nursing for preceptorship hours for APRN licensure and certification. Here are some examples of states that have specific requirements for preceptorships as determined by the board of nursing:
  • Some state boards of nursing only permit preceptors to be an APRN or MD such as, but not limited to, Alaska, Arizona, Kansas, Pennsylvania, etc. 
  • Some state boards of nursing do not permit the use of Physician Assistants to serve as preceptors, such as, but not limited to, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Kansas, and Pennsylvania.    

Course Requirements for Practicum Sites and Preceptors

PRAC/PRCM 6635:  Psychopathology and Diagnostic Reasoning

• Types of Patients: Patients receiving care for psychiatric and substance-use disorders across the lifespan. Students can see patients in any age category across the lifespan.   
• Types of Services: Assessment and diagnosis of patients with acute and chronic psychiatric and substance use disorders
• Acceptable Preceptor Options: Board-Certified PMHNP or Board-Certified Psychiatrist. NOTE: The practitioner must officially be board-certified. 
• Nonacceptable Preceptor Options: FNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP, PMHCNS, Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist, or any other NP other than a Board-Certified PMHNP; PA; Psychotherapist, Psychologist, Social Worker
• Acceptable Site Options: Psychiatric private practice; community psychiatric center; counseling center; crisis center; drug and alcohol rehabilitation center; college counseling center; behavioral health employee assistance program (EAP) facility; assisted living facility; Alzheimer’s facility; psychiatric inpatient hospital; specialty psychiatric facility; substance use care facility; jail or prison
• Possible Site Options: Other facilities may be considered on a case-by-case basis if the facility does psychiatric assessment and diagnosing.
• Nonacceptable Site Options: Students are not permitted to complete practicum in any private home or residential setting including patient homes, preceptor’s residential setting, or any other facility that is in a private residential setting.   
• Required Practicum Hours: 160 Hours *    
• Required Patient Encounters: 80 Patients

(see “Types of Patients” for patient requirements)

• Review Course Description & Prerequisites 
• Preceptorship Prescreen Checklist
• Clinical Skills Checklist for PMHNP