6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult
6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult
Week 1: Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult
Many assessment principles are the same for children and adults; however, with adults/older adults, consent for participation in the assessment comes from the actual client and not parents or guardians. The exception to this is adults/older adults who have been determined incapacitated by a court of competent jurisdiction. Some adults may be easier to assess than children/adolescents as they are more psychologically minded. That is, they have better insights into themselves and their motivations than children/adolescents (although this is not universally true).
Older adults present some of their own unique assessment challenges in that they may have higher levels of stigma associated with seeking psychiatric care. Additionally, there are higher rates of neurocognitive disorders superimposed on other clinical conditions such as depression or anxiety, which creates additional diagnostic challenges. 6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult.
This week, you will develop your own personal format for initial interviews of mental health clients. You also will explore the restrictions and limitations for practice as a PMHNP in your home state and create a plan for passing the national certification exam.
Photo Credit: KatarzynaBialasiewicz / iStock / Getty Images Plus
6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult Learning Resources
Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.
Required Readings
Sadock, B. J., Sadock, V. A., & Ruiz, P. (2014). Kaplan & Sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry: Behavioral sciences/clinical psychiatry (11th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.
- Section 5.1, “Psychiatric Interview, Mental Status Examination” (pp. 192–211)
- Section 5.2, “The Psychiatric Report and Medical Record” (pp. 211–217)
- Section 5.3, “Psychiatric Rating Scales” (pp. 217–236)
- Section 5.5, “Personality Assessment: Adults and Children” (pp. 246–257)
- Section 5.7, “Medical Assessment and Laboratory Testing in Psychiatry” (pp. 266–275)
- Chapter 6, “Classification in Psychiatry” (pp. 290–308)
- 6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
- “Cautionary Statement for Forensic Use of DSM-5”
- “Assessment Measures”
- “Cultural Formulation”
- “Glossary of Technical Terms”
- “Glossary of Cultural Concepts of Distress”
Note: You will access this book from the Walden Library databases.
Barton Associates. (2017). Nurse practitioner scope of practice laws. Retrieved from https://www.bartonassociates.com/locum-tenens-resources/nurse-practitioner-scope-of-practice-laws/
American Psychiatric Association. (2016). Practice guidelines for the psychiatric evaluation of adults. Retrieved from http://psychiatryonline.org/doi/pdf/10.1176/appi.books.9780890426760
Document: Practicum Journal Template (Word document). 6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult.
Required Media
Laureate Education (Producer). (2017b). Working with Adults and Older Adults” [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece 3 minutes.
Hagen, B. (Producer). (n.d.-a). Conducting a mental status exam [Video file]. Mill Valley, CA: Psychotherapy.net. 6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 25 minutes. You will access this video through the Walden Library databases.
Optional Resources
American Psychological Association. (2008). Assessment of older adults with diminished capacity. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/pi/aging/programs/assessment/capacity-psychologist-handbook.pdf. 6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult.
Rosen, S. L., & Reuben, D. B. (2011). Geriatric assessment tools. Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine, 78(4), 489–497. doi:10.1002/msj.20277
Note: You will access this article through the Walden Library databases.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2015). TIP 59: Improving cultural competence. Retrieved from http://store.samhsa.gov/product/TIP-59-Improving-Cultural-Competence/SMA15-4849
Note: This document is available as a free download.
6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult Discussion: Interview Format
Despite what you may believe (or may have been told), there is no such thing as one “right” way to do an interview. In fact, there are numerous books written about the various ways of conducting the clinical interview. In actual clinical practice, you will find the format that “works” best for you and addresses your unique strengths and the needs of the client. 6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult.
In this Discussion, you will practice finding the interview format that works for you and share those ideas with your colleagues for feedback.
6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Develop formats for initial interviews of mental health clients
Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts and cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking Submit! 6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult.
To prepare for this Discussion:
- Review the Learning Resources.
- Develop an interview format you would use for an initial interview of a client.
By Day 3
Post:
- Attach the interview format document you would use for an initial interview of a client.
- Describe what interview format your preceptor uses for the initial interview of a client.
- Describe which element of your interview format is most helpful in your practice. 6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult.
By Day 6
Respond to at least two of your colleagues by constructively critiquing their interview format and providing feedback.
Submission and Grading Information
Grading Criteria
To access your rubric:
Week 1 Discussion Rubric
Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 6
To participate in this Discussion:
Week 1 Discussion
6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult Assignment 1: Week 1 Practicum Journal Entry: Certification Plan
Psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioners currently have only one choice for certification, which is through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The ANCC offers the “psychiatric/mental-health nurse practitioner (across the lifespan)” board certification (PMHNP-BC). In many states, board certification is needed as a prerequisite to being granted an NP license. Even if board certification is not a requirement for state licensure, it may be a requirement to receive privileges in various hospitals and other health care facilities. It may also be required by malpractice insurance providers prior to issuing coverage to NPs.
In this Practicum Journal Assignment, you will develop a plan, which will serve as the road map for you to follow to attain your certification.
6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Analyze state restrictions or limitations for practice
- Compare PMHNP practice environments in various states
- Analyze clinical practice issues
- Create plans for passing national certification exams
**Assigned in Week 1 but submitted in Week 4
To prepare for this Practicum Journal:
- Review the interactive nurse practitioner (NP) scope of practice law guide in your Learning Resources.
- Review your state regulations and a neighboring state or state in which you would like to practice.
- Reflect on how to approach relocating licensure from one state to another.
- Review certification exam requirements for PMHNPs. 6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult.
Write a 2- to 3-page paper in which you do the following:
- Describe the PMHNP practice environment for your home state, highlighting restrictions or limitations for practice.
- Compare the PMHNP practice environment in your home state with a neighboring state or a state in which you would like to practice.
- Describe a professional and/or clinical practice issue a new PMHNP will need to consider and address with the certification, licensure, credentialing, or relocation process.
- Develop a checklist for passing the national certification exam, including a detailed timeline that includes academic preparation (study plan), registration, financial preparation, etc. 6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult.
By Day 7
Submit by Day 7 of Week 4.
Making Connections
This week, you developed your own personal format for initial interviews of mental health clients. You also explored the restrictions and limitations for practice as a PMHNP in your home state and created a plan for passing the national certification exam. 6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult.
Next week, you will become “captain of the ship” as you take full responsibility for a client with a depressive disorder by recommending psychopharmacologic treatment and psychotherapy, identifying medical management needs and community support, and recommending follow-up plans. You will also explore how to obtain a DEA license and the responsibilities for safe prescribing and prescription monitoring.
Fitzgerald Health Education Associates (FHEA) PMHNP 150 University Exit Comprehensive Exam
Walden has selected the Fitzgerald Health Education Associates (FHEA) PMHNP 150 University Exit Comprehensive Exam to provide you with an opportunity to take practice exams and complete sample test questions. While passing your certification exam is not guaranteed, FHEA suggests that a score of 85% or higher is predictive of success on your NP board examination. The FHEA PMHNP 150 University Exit Comprehensive Exam is used in this course as an assessment in Week 3. Each exam is worth 100 points and 10% of your grade. 6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult.
Note: Your instructor receives the results and will inform you when the results are available. Do not e-mail the Fitzgerald site. 6670 – Psychiatric Assessment of the Adult and Older Adult.
