Psychiatry is one of the most important and potentially most challenging areas of medicine. Students who are interested in expanding their knowledge and questioning their observations and knee-jerk reactions might find a career as a psychiatric nurse practitioner incredibly rewarding. Before they can start working in the field, however, students must complete a clinical rotation designed to teach them the critical skills and knowledge needed to provide patients with accurate and comprehensive care. This article will explore clinical rotations, where they take place, and what students can expect while completing them.
Preparing for clinical rotations
Before we dive into what psychiatric nurse practitioners do every day, let’s discuss preparing for clinical rotations. Regardless of your niche, there are a few things that are important to understand before you get started. First, prepare to settle in for some hard work. Bring snacks to keep you going on breaks, especially if there is no cafeteria or restaurant near your site. Make sure that you have coffee or water on hand as you move through the day, and don’t forget your clipboard. Above all, you should be attentive and prepared to ask questions when needed and jump into the clinical process when advised to do so.
Where psychiatric nurse practitioner students complete clinical rotations
With the more general tips out of the way, let’s dive more deeply into the student psychiatric nurse practitioner clinical placement experience. Depending on what options are available when the time to complete clinical rotations arrives, you might work in any of a number of different places. These include, but are not limited, to:
- Psychiatric hospitals
- Mental health centers
- Assisted living facilities
- Independent practices
Each of these locations is different from the other, though you will be expected to complete similar duties at each. Mental health facilities, for example, might expose students to a wider variety of mental health needs than they might experience at a hospital. Hospitals likely give students plenty of experience in emergency mental health situations, however, as a significant number of people wind up in the hospital due to a mental health crisis.
Assisted living facilities are ideal for students interested in geriatric psychiatry and the unique challenges it presents to daily mental health care. Students interested in specializing in dementia, for example, will likely find assisted living facilities an ideal clinical rotation location. Independent practices, on the other hand, are often designed to suit a very specific kind of disorder. Some practitioners specialize in bipolar disorder, for example, while others might focus on schizophrenia or some other kind of mental illness. Completing clinical rotations at an independent practice is one of the best ways to dig deep into your specialization of choice.
If you are not able to complete your clinical rotation at your facility of choice, don’t worry. There are plenty of chances to gain experience both while completing rotations and once you’ve completed them and are ready to move on to more independent study. Be honest with your advisor or clinical rotation liaison about your ultimate goal so that they have the chance to look over available positions and pick one that suits you.
Common elements for psychiatric nurse practitioner students in clinical rotations
While the specific situations that students find themselves in can vary from facility to facility, there are some elements and goals that are constant at all of them. By the time students complete their rotations and are ready to look for work in the industry, they should have mastered a few different skills. Here are some of the most common of them.
Collecting data and performing exams
The ability to record medical history from patients is a crucial one. Failing to prompt patients properly and collect all possible bits of information can lead to difficulties down the road. It is not enough to simply record information, however, as students must also be able to utilize that information while performing basic physical and mental health exams. Once they have completed the exam and have recorded the results, students must also be able to summarize them and apply them to case formulation.
Foundational treatment modalities
Another significant goal for students completing clinical rotations is understanding the foundational treatment modalities. These include, but are not limited to, rehabilitative, physical, behavioral, pharmacological and psychological. Students must also be able to take this knowledge and use it when formulating treatment plans tailored to a specific patient’s challenges and mental health goals.
Collaboration
Developing an understanding of collaboration and leadership is another important goal for psychiatric nurse practitioner students. No aspect of health exists in a vacuum. Mental health struggles can have a significant impact on physical health, for example, and the opposite is also true. Effective psychiatric nurse practitioners are able to work closely with other healthcare professionals on their patient’s treatment plans and assume a place of leadership if necessary.
All of the above are critical to accurate psychiatric care. Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs), in particular, must meet a high standard of care before they can enter the field. You may be wondering, what does a PMHNP do on a day-to-day basis? The answer to this question is, essentially, ‘everything’. From caring for patients directly to collaborating with other medical health professionals and everything in between, PMHNPs must be prepared to work hard during their clinical rotations before they can enter the workforce. Picking a respected Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP program from a reputable school such as Rockhurst is one of the best ways to prepare for this. This program ensures its students graduate with excellent knowledge of drug administration, quantitative and qualitative research methods, as well as great evidence-based practice in patient care.
Final thoughts
Remember that your classmates are priceless resources! If you know someone who has completed a clinical rotation, ask them for information. Consider writing down your questions and picking their brains as you go. What can they tell you about the environment or the people you might work with? Don’t forget about practical questions, such as where you should park and where you will meet your preceptor for the first time.
If you’re interested in becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner, keep the above in mind as you seek out the right school and clinical placement for your goals.
