NUR 716 : ADV PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT & DIAG

This course prepares Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) students to perform comprehensive, evidence-based psychiatric assessments across the lifespan. Emphasizing advanced diagnostic reasoning, students integrate psychopathology, neurobiological, psychological, developmental, and cultural data to identify, differentiate, and formulate diagnoses of mental health conditions. The course explores etiologic and pathophysiologic mechanisms of psychiatric disorders, the impact of trauma and social determinants of health, and the interrelationship between biological, psychological, and environmental systems. Learners apply DSM-5-TR diagnostic frameworks, trauma-informed care principles, and motivational interviewing to gather and interpret clinical information. Through the use of standardized rating scales, pharmacogenomic insights, and interprofessional collaboration, students develop accurate diagnostic formulations and document findings consistent with ethical, legal, and reimbursement standards.