Before embarking on any professional or academic activity, it is important to understand the background, knowledge, and experience you bring to it. You might ask yourself, “What do I already know? What do I need to know? And what do I want to know?” This critical self-reflection is especially important for developing clinical skills such as those for advanced practice nursing.

The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Clinical Skills List and Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form provided in the Learning Resources can be used to celebrate your progress throughout your practicum and identify skills gaps. The list covers all necessary skills you should demonstrate during your practicum experiences.

Just as you did in PRAC 6635, for this Assignment, you assess where you are now in your clinical skill development and make plans for this practicum. Specifically, you will identify strengths and opportunities for improvement regarding the required practicum skills. In this practicum experience, when developing your goals and objectives, be sure to keep assessment and diagnostic reasoning in mind.

TO PREPARE

· 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.

· 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.

ASSIGNMENT

Use the PMHNP Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form to complete the following:

· Rate yourself according to your confidence level performing the procedures 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.

Required Resources for Assignment 2

· The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. (2017). Nurse practitioner core competencies. Download Nurse practitioner core competencies. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.nonpf.org/resource/resmgr/competencies/20170516_NPCoreCompsContentF.pdf

· Petiprin, A. (2016). Psychiatric and mental health nursing theories and models. Links to an external site. https://www.nursing-theory.org/theories-and-models/psychiatric-and-mental-health-nursing.php

· Walden University. (2017). Developing SMART goals. Download Developing SMART goals.

https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/ld.php?content_id=51901492

· Xtreme1. (2020, May 27). Using nursing theory to guide professional practice Claywell [Video]. Links to an external site. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y65hsuYzCIg

Guidelines for PMHNP Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Assignment

1. Review and Preparation

• Download and open the PMHNP Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form.

• Review the PMHNP Clinical Skills List and identify the procedures/skills you’ll be rating.

• Revisit the Developing SMART Goals resource for guidance on structuring measurable goals.

• Consider nursing theories (e.g., Peplau’s Interpersonal Theory, Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory) and core NP competencies (NONPF, 2017) when writing goals.

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2. Complete the Self-Assessment Form

• Rate yourself on each skill based on your confidence and ability (e.g., novice, competent, proficient).

• Use honest reflection: what do you already do well, and where do you still need structured growth?

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3. Summarize Strengths & Opportunities

• Write a short paragraph (1–2) highlighting your key strengths (e.g., patient engagement, therapeutic communication, basic diagnostic reasoning).

• Identify 3–4 areas for growth (e.g., advanced psychopharmacology, differential diagnosis, documentation, managing complex comorbidities).

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4. Develop SMART Goals & Objectives (3–4 total)

Each goal should be:

• Specific – clearly define what skill or knowledge you’ll improve.

• Measurable – include how progress will be tracked.

• Achievable – realistic for one practicum term.

• Relevant – connected to PMHNP role and competencies.

• Time-bound – include a deadline (end of practicum, midterm check, etc.).

Example Goals:

1. By the end of the practicum, accurately perform and document five comprehensive psychiatric evaluations under preceptor supervision to strengthen diagnostic reasoning skills.

2. Within 6 weeks, demonstrate competency in developing evidence-based treatment plans for at least 3 patients with mood disorders.

3. By midterm, increase confidence in prescribing psychopharmacological interventions by reviewing 2–3 cases weekly with preceptor feedback.

4. By the end of the practicum, apply Peplau’s Interpersonal Theory in at least 5 patient interactions, as documented in reflective journals.

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5. Resources to Support Growth

List what you’ll use, such as:

• DSM-5-TR for accurate diagnosis.

• Zakhari’s PMHNP Review Manual for structured prep.

• Preceptor feedback and clinical supervision for applied learning.

• Study groups or online case discussions (if available).

• APA practice guidelines and CMS reimbursement resources for real-world practice preparation.

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6. Final Submission

• Submit two documents:

  1. Your completed Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form (with ratings, strengths, opportunities, and SMART goals filled in).

  2. Any required reflection or summary document (if your course specifies a separate file).

• Follow APA 7th edition for any in-text citations (e.g., NONPF, 2017; Petiprin, 2016).

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