Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Practicum

Catalog description

This is an intensive clinical internship that prepares students to practice in the role of a family psychiatric nurse practitioner. It will broaden the depth of content and practice that students have already assimilated in the areas of child and adolescent psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. Building on biopsychosocial theories, the student will deliver holistic primary mental health care to clients. Students will conduct comprehensive assessments, including diagnosis of and referral for physical health problems. Clinical experiences will be on therapeutic treatment modalities and interventions with children and adolescents, including therapy and psychopharmacology. Therapy content will cover a range of therapeutic interventions from analytical to behavioral, family, individual and group and long term to brief therapy. Psychopharmacological content will include ordering and interpreting laboratory and diagnostic studies, in-depth knowledge of psychotropic medications, acceptable prescribing practices, monitoring for side effects and efficacy, risk verses benefit and an understanding of normal growth and development and what constitutes psychopathology. Students will present case studies with decision-making trees during seminars to explore relevant clinical and nonclinical issues.