Foundations of Psychiatric Advance Practice Nursing Across the Lifespan

This course is designed to explore foundational concepts of advanced practice psychiatric mental health nursing and to synthesize knowledge relevant to the care of individual clients and their families experiencing actual and potential psychiatric mental health problems. Theories and research findings pertinent to bio-psychosocial conceptualizations of mental health and mental illness are evaluated for use in practice. Models for prevention and treatment of psychiatric disorders are explored for their efficacy in different age groups paying specific attention to diversity in culture, lifestyle and values. The clinical component of the course focuses on performing psychiatric evaluations, conducting individual, group, couple, and family psychotherapy, and prescribing psychiatric medication as well as developing advanced nursing judgment, decision-making skills, and leadership essential to advanced practice psychiatric nursing. Students complete a practicumat a mental health setting and take part in a supervision group.