Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Specialty
The aim of this curriculum is to prepare psychiatric nurse practitioners to provide a wide range of services to adults and their families. It includes the study and application of theories of practice. Students are taught to examine and formulate behavior using a model of multiple explanations: cultural/ethnic, intrapsychic, developmental, neurobiologic, familial, and social. Extensive supervised clinical study focuses on various types of assessment and psychotherapeutic interventions. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of the changing health care environment. It focuses on developing skills that allow for flexibility in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of populations defined as high-risk consumers of psychiatric care. Students may specialize in one of three concentrations: Adult, Child/Adolescent, Primary Care. On completion of the required course work students are eligible for certification as clinical nurse specialists or nurse practitioners in psychiatric-mental health nursing through the American Nurses' Credentialing Center.
In the first year of study, all students take course work and have clinical practica in human development and psychiatric phenomena in settings designed to treat multiple mental health problems. In the second year of study, students select a setting where advanced practice interventions can be utilized within the concentration of study. The settings include children and families; the medically ill client; adults with psychiatric disabilities; the gerontological client; and clients with substance abuse disorders. Course work and clinical practice focus on the development of advanced practice nursing skills with these special populations.
Year One
Required Clinical Courses
554a or 630a, 656a/b.
Required Seminars
637a, 657a, 659a, 659b, 661b, 855b, 871b.
Required Research Courses
525a/b, 529a.
Year Two
Required Clinical Course
850a/b.
Required Seminars
717/b, 851a, 853b, 865a, 859a/b, 895a.
Required Research Course
721a/b.
Electives.
Scholarly Inquiry Praxis.
Primary Care Concentration
Students who specialize in the care of adults with psychiatric disabilities may choose the Primary Care concentration that prepares them to provide comprehensive management to psychiatric clients, including physical and psychiatric care. In addition, students in this concentration are prepared to provide consultation to primary care providers. Upon completion of the concentration, students are eligible for certification in advanced psychiatric-mental health nursing (psychiatric nurse practitioner and/or clinical nurse specialist) through the American Nurses' Credentialing Center and are also eligible for adult nurse practitioner certification.
The plan of study includes
Year One
Required Clinical Courses
554a, 658b/c.
Required Seminars
557a/b, 657a, 659a, 659b, 855b, 859b, 869c, 871b.
Required Research Courses
525a/b, 529a.
Year Two
Required Clinical Course
852a/b.
Required Seminars
717/b, 757a/b, 851a, 865a, 895a.
Required Research Course
721a/b.
Scholarly Inquiry Praxis.
The course plans for scheduled part-time study can be obtained from the Student Affairs Office. A Post Master's Psychiatric-Mental Health Certificate option is also available and is described below.
|
Clinical Specialties
Faculty Spotlight
Pamela Minarik
In addition to holding the title of psychiatric clinical nurse specialist at Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH), Pamela Minarik also holds titles of professor, facilitator, educator, and cancer survivor and world traveler. It's easy to see why she describes her life as "never boring."
Since 1995, in her role as psychiatric liaison nurse at YNHH, Minarik has been helping patients and families cope with the stresses caused by illness and hospitalization. "Attending to the emotional needs of patients is a critical part of nursing care," Minarik maintains.
"Teaching patients self care strategies like relaxation and guided imagery techniques not only helps to reduce anxiety brought on by illness but also helps patients heal better."
Minarik also educates hospital staff on the mental health aspects of patient care and facilitates workshops on communication and teamwork.
As a young adult growing up in San Francisco, Minarik was exposed to a strong Asian influence. In 1991, her interest in Japan took on a new focus when her Japanese nursing student recommended her to speak at a medical conference in Tokyo on the role of the psychiatric liaison nurse coping with technological and human stresses. "I'd always been interested in the cultures of the east and even contemplated Buddhist ideas when I was very young," said Minarik. Little did she know that her visit in 1991 would be the first of many that would eventually include an appointment as professor at Aomori University of Health and Welfare in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
While living in Japan, Minarik taught at Tokyo Women's Medical University. She also consulted and supervised psychiatric nurse specialists through the auspices of the Japanese Nursing Association.
Two years ago, when Minarik was diagnosed with breast cancer; she called on her deep connection with eastern healing culture, particularly Reiki therapy, to help her during the anguished period. Reiki, the hands-on healing technique, helped reduce Pamela's anxieties while she overcame a disease that claims nearly 40,000 women's lives a year.
Minarik is a professor in the Master's program at YSN and directs the YSN Office of International Affairs. She has lectured and consulted nationally and internationally on a wide range of nursing issues in Japan, China, Spain and Thailand.
Professor Minarik is a registered nurse and is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a specialist in adult psychiatric mental health nursing. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1970 and a Master of Science in psychiatric mental health nursing from University of California, San Francisco in 1981. She is an elected Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.
"Assuming many roles is what makes me thrive," Minarik explains. "Each one of my jobs is meaningful to me in different ways. Some people might have trouble shifting their focus every 3-4 hours. It's precisely that shifting that keeps me alert and happy. Still, on those rare quiet weekends, I do enjoy the simplicity of gardening, biking, or hiking."
Minarik and her husband, Lonnie Patterson, reside in North Haven.
|
|
|
|
