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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 the 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.

Paper For Above instruction

The process of self-assessment and goal setting is fundamental to advancing clinical competence, particularly in specialized fields such as psychiatric-mental health nursing. This reflection enables practitioners to recognize their current skill level, identify areas needing improvement, and establish clear, achievable objectives that align with professional standards and personal growth. Utilizing tools such as the PMHNP Clinical Skills List and Self-Assessment Form, practitioners can systematically evaluate their proficiency and plan targeted interventions to enhance their clinical capabilities.

Initiating the self-assessment begins with a candid evaluation of one's confidence in executing essential procedures outlined in the clinical skills list. For example, a nurse practitioner might rate their ability to conduct psychiatric assessments, develop treatment plans, and implement evidence-based interventions. This ranking not only illuminates individual strengths—such as proficiency in patient interviewing or medication management—but also highlights opportunities for growth, perhaps in areas like crisis intervention or advanced diagnostic reasoning.

Following this self-evaluation, it is critical to synthesize the findings into a comprehensive summary that delineates key strengths and deficiencies. For instance, a practitioner may find particular confidence in psychoeducation but identify the need to improve skills in risk assessment. These insights form the foundation for the development of targeted goals.

The next step involves establishing SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals that directly address the identified gaps. For example, a goal may be: “Enhance diagnostic reasoning skills by completing two case-based simulations within the next three months.” Such objectives provide clear direction and facilitate progress tracking. It is also crucial to ensure that these goals align with theoretical frameworks and competency standards, integrating nursing theory to foster a holistic approach to clinical development.

In formulating these objectives, reflection on nursing competencies, such as critical thinking, communication, and clinical judgment, offers valuable guidance. Applying nursing theories, like Orem’s self-care deficit theory or Peplau’s interpersonal relations theory, can deepen understanding of patient interactions and care strategies. These frameworks serve as a foundation for creating well-rounded, evidence-based goals that enhance clinical judgment and therapeutic skills.

Finally, practicing continuous self-assessment and goal refinement ensures ongoing professional development. Using standardized tools consistently allows practitioners to monitor their growth, adapt strategies, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. In this way, self-awareness becomes an integral component of expert clinical practice, fostering lifelong learning and exemplary patient care.

References

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
• Benner, P. (1984). From novice to expert: Excellence and power in clinical nursing practice. Prentice-Hall.
• Cherry, B., & Jacob, S. R. (2016). Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends, & management. Elsevier Health Sciences.
• Grossman, S., & Valiga, T. M. (2016). The new leadership challenge in nursing: Developing the skills you need to succeed. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
• Peplau, H. E. (1997). Interpersonal relations in nursing: A conceptual framework. Springer Publishing Company.
• Royal College of Nursing. (2016). Competencies for advanced nursing practice. RCN Publishing.
• Setianingsih, W., & Nugraha, S. (2020). The importance of self-assessment and goal setting for nurses’ professional development. Journal of Nursing Practice and Education, 4(2), 89-98.
• Souba, W. W. (2011). Clinical reasoning: The art and science of health care practice. Journal of Surgical Education, 68(4), 230-238.
• World Health Organization. (2018). Mental health atlas 2017. WHO.
• Yonge, O., & Myrick, F. (2019). Developing clinical judgment skills in nursing students: A systematic review. Nurse Education Today, 74, 103-109.