Post a brief explanation of three important components of the psychiatric interview and why you consider these elements important. Explain the psychometric properties of the rating scale you were assigned(NICH Vanderbilt Assessment Scale). Explain when it is appropriate to use this rating scale with clients during the psychiatric interview and how the scale is helpful to a nurse practitioner’s psychiatric assessment. Support your approach with evidence-based literature, and a minimum od three references.
Sample Solution
The psychiatric interview is an important part of a nurse practitioner’s assessment process, and there are three major components that must be considered: obtaining the patient’s history, assessing mental status, and conducting a risk/safety assessment. Obtaining the patient’s history includes gathering information about the presenting complaint as well as any pertinent past medical and psychiatric histories. This helps to establish a baseline for making comparisons or tracking progress over time (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Mental status assessment involves observing how the patient presents in terms of their physical appearance, behavior, cognitive functioning, affective state, insight/judgment and communication (APA, 2013). Finally, it is critical to assess for potential risks to self or others during the interview process; this includes asking questions related to suicide ideation or intent as well as violence towards others (APA, 2013).
Sample Solution
The psychiatric interview is an important part of a nurse practitioner’s assessment process, and there are three major components that must be considered: obtaining the patient’s history, assessing mental status, and conducting a risk/safety assessment. Obtaining the patient’s history includes gathering information about the presenting complaint as well as any pertinent past medical and psychiatric histories. This helps to establish a baseline for making comparisons or tracking progress over time (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Mental status assessment involves observing how the patient presents in terms of their physical appearance, behavior, cognitive functioning, affective state, insight/judgment and communication (APA, 2013). Finally, it is critical to assess for potential risks to self or others during the interview process; this includes asking questions related to suicide ideation or intent as well as violence towards others (APA, 2013).
