Course Overview
Clinical Practicum III provides inpatient psychiatric nursing experience in acute care settings. Students care for patients with acute mental health crises, serious mental illness, and substance use disorders. The practicum emphasizes therapeutic relationships, safety and risk assessment, medication management, group therapy facilitation, and crisis intervention. Students develop skills in managing behavioral emergencies, using restraint and seclusion appropriately, and implementing recovery-oriented care. Clinical experiences include inpatient psychiatric units, dual diagnosis programs, and community mental health settings. The focus is on developing confidence and competence in psychiatric nursing practice.
Learning Objectives
- Establish and maintain therapeutic nurse-patient relationships in psychiatric settings
- Conduct thorough mental health and safety assessments including suicide/homicide risk
- Manage acute psychiatric symptoms and behavioral crises effectively
- Facilitate therapeutic groups and activities on psychiatric units
- Implement pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions
- Apply principles of recovery and restore hope in severely ill patients
Lecture Topics
- Week 1: Inpatient Psychiatric Unit Orientation and Culture
- Week 1: Comprehensive Mental Health Assessment on Admission
- Week 2: Managing Acute Agitation and Behavioral Crises
- Week 2: De-escalation and Crisis Intervention in Practice
- Week 3: Suicide Assessment, Precautions, and Safety Planning
- Week 3: Psychopharmacology in Psychiatric Settings - Monitoring and Teaching
- Week 4: Facilitating Therapeutic Groups and Activities
- Week 5: Dual Diagnosis Nursing - Mental Health and Substance Use
- Week 5: Restraint and Seclusion - Protocols and Ethical Considerations
- Week 6: Family Involvement and Discharge Planning
- Week 7: Community Mental Health Integration and Referrals
- Week 8: Personal Growth and Reflection on Psychiatric Nursing Practice
Course Quiz
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Flashcards
Resources
Inpatient Psychiatric Unit Policies and Procedures
Unit-specific safety protocols, admission procedures, discharge planning, and therapeutic programs.
RequiredMental Health Assessment Tools - ASAM Criteria
Standardized assessment instruments for substance use disorders and psychiatric conditions.
RequiredCrisis de-escalation Video Demonstrations
Real-world examples of therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques in psychiatric emergencies.
FreeNAMI Family-to-Family Education Program
Resources for involving families in recovery and teaching mental health literacy to support networks.
Free