Can you imagine an athlete deciding to run a marathon without training for the event? Most ambitious people who have set this goal will follow a specific training plan
First Goal
The first goal is to gain experience on how to make and maintain therapeutic relationships and professional boundaries with clients and my fellow workmates by the end of the practicum. PMHPs are required to show high professional image and ensure that they are in a healthy therapeutic relationship with their clients for them to be objective in their practice.
Professional boundaries and therapeutic relationships are vital because they improve patients’ trust in nurses and make PMHPs conduct their roles in an objective manner. Currently, I have a weakness of maintaining my emotions when communicating with clients, and this can jeopardize patients’ trust in my skills to handle their problems.
Tasks to achieve the goal. I will complete this goal by practicing techniques that can be used to improve healthy therapeutic relationships, such as never judging the client, managing own emotions, and communicating effectively with clients during therapy. Working alongside my supervisor while assessing and treating patients.
Measuring of the goal. The objective will be assessed by evaluating documentations recorded in the Meditrek Patient logs
Second Goal
The second goal is to develop experience to help me collaborate other healthcare professionals including doctors, social workers, and other specialists to improve clinical practice in psychiatric health settings. Interporfessional collaboration is vital to provision of quality and safe care to patients. I need to learn techniques that can help me improve my relationship with other healthcare professionals when treating my patients.
According to Reeves et al. (2017), interprofessional collaboration can reduce medical errors because it strengthens communication between nurses and other professionals. Interprofessional collaboration can also improve patient satisfaction because promote safe and quality care. I need to improve my knowledge in this skills during my time in the practicum.
Tasks to achieve the goal. I will complete this goal by working with other healthcare professionals, such as doctors, social workers, and counselors when treating patients, I am provided during the practicum.
Measuring of the goal. The objective will be assessed by evaluating documentations recorded in the Meditrek Patient logs.
Third Goal
The third objective is to document recommendations for mental health problems during patient consultations when applicable. Documenting patient data accurately is vital because it can help improve communication between nurses and other healthcare professionals involved. For instance, counselors can clearly understand the health of patient refereed to them only when patient data has been well documented.
Tasks to achieve the goal. I will complete this goal by using electronic health records to gather, analysis, and store patient data for future use. Documenting patient information in soap note formats.
Measuring of goal. The objective will be assessed by evaluating the information documented in the Meditrek patient logs to determine whether they need professional needs.
Resources
I will need a lot of resources to achieve the three goals I have highlighted above. One of the resources I will need is course material. The material will help me gain theoretical knowledge about mental health. I will also need online reading materials for further reading. I will also need field practicum experience to achieve my goals. I will need to meet more than 50 patients during the practicum. Another vital resource is course professor and preceptor. They will help me develop many skills.