NURS 765

NURS 765: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum I, II, & III: Across the Lifespan

Credit hours: (1-12) Variable Credits
Prerequisites: Graduate Standing in Nursing or Permission of Faculty & NURS 760, NURS 761, NURS 762.

This course provides supervised clinical training in the role of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner working with populations across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, adults and older adults in a variety of settings. Experiences emphasize clinical decision-making and evidence-based treatment modalities in an interprofessional environment with focus on competencies in the ethical, collaborative, and evidence-based treatment for children, adolescents, adults and geriatric populations with acute and chronic mental health disorders. Focus of this clinical course is on psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, and a variety of evidence-based therapeutic treatment modalities relevant to individuals, groups, and families; emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention strategies for children, adolescents, adults and geriatric populations. Practicum hours are defined as: 1) Direct contact with patients/family in the delivery of advanced practice care, which may include synchronous supervised direct patient care in accordance with the Radford University Preceptor and Clinical Site Affiliation Agreement. 2) Completing patient care activities (e.g. clinical documentation, preceptor consultation, interprofessional collaboration) in support of direct care. 3). Completion of a minimum of 150 hours in each population category, e.g., child and adolescent, adult and geriatric. Total clinical hours required across the life span are 540 hours with 40 hours available for approved educational activities.

 

Detailed Description of Course

Supervised clinical training in the role of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) working with children, adolescents, and families in a variety of settings. Clinical training requires supervision of by a PMHNP and/or Psychiatrists, specializing in the treatment of psychiatric illnesses across the lifespan with additional clinical supervision by an MSW, LPC, or Psychologist.

 

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

This course provides supervised clinical training in the role of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner working with populations across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, adults and older adults in a variety of settings. Experiences emphasize clinical decision-making and evidence-based treatment modalities in an interprofessional environment with focus on competencies in the ethical, collaborative, and evidence-based treatment for children, adolescents, adults and geriatric populations with acute and chronic mental health disorders.

Focus of this clinical course is on psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, and a variety of evidence-based therapeutic treatment modalities relevant to individuals, groups, and families; emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention strategies for children, adolescents, adults and geriatric populations.

Topical Outline

• Project Concert assignments to document clinical hours for credentialing.
• Practicum Schedule
• Practicum Hour Scheduling
• Time Logs
• Case Logs
• Clinical Soap Notes
• Preceptor and Student Evaluation
• Clinical Supervision with Faculty
• Oral Case Presentations

 

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Synthesize and apply theories and evidenced-based models for psychotherapeutic modalities to children, adolescents, adults and geriatric populations with psychiatric disorders.
2. Apply principles of best practices for using psychopharmacology to treat psychiatric disorders in children, adolescents, adults and geriatric populations.
3. Describe risks, benefits and outcomes from psychotropic drugs related to children, adolescents, adults and geriatric populations
4. Apply principles of best practice for using psychotherapeutic treatment modalities for children, adolescents, adults and geriatric populations.
5. Perform a comprehensive psychiatric and mental health assessment and diagnostic evaluation children, adolescents, adults and geriatric populations and their families.
6. Demonstrate documentation of assessment, diagnosis, planning, and intervention to assist in obtaining expected outcomes.
7. Engage with and explain to the patient and family the expected outcomes of treatment using clinical guidelines linked to positive outcomes.
8. Demonstrates competence in using prescriptive authority, procedures, referrals, treatment, and therapies in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations
9. Educate about health promotion and disease prevention in all aspects of care for children, adolescents, adults and geriatric populations.
10. Seeks consultation appropriately and communicates effectively to supervising preceptors
11. Discuss ethical issues related to treatment of psychiatric disorders using Code of Ethics for Nurses to guide practice.

 

Assessment Measures

Includes but is not limited to preceptor and faculty evaluation of clinical performance, completion of clinical logs, case studies; exams, and student presentations, and other strategies including using available technology for direct observation of clinical practice.

 

Other Course Information

N/A.

 

Other Course Information

July 2025

February 26, 2026