NURS 6630: Psychopharmacologic Approaches to Treatment of Psychopathology

Welcome to NURS 6630: Psychopharmacologic Approaches to Treatment of Psychopathology!

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, more than 43 million Americans experience a behavioral health condition (SAMHSA, n.d.). Psychiatric nurse practitioners (PNP) are uniquely positioned to help these individuals by providing evidence-based medication therapy. This course is designed to develop your understanding of psychopharmacotherapy and how it is applied to behavioral health disorders. 

In this course, you examine foundational neuroscience as it relates to caring for patients with behavioral health disorders across the life span. Through Discussions, Short Answer Assignments, Quizzes and Interactive Decision Tree Assignments, you will apply pathophysiology and health assessment concepts as you develop treatment plans for patients with behavioral health disorders. You also examine the efficacy of therapies and explore their ethical and legal implications. Finally, you consider how your role as a PNP might allow you to become a social change agent for individuals with behavioral health issues.

Course Description

At times, psychotherapy is not enough to alleviate the emotional difficulties that some patients face. To that end, psychopharmacologic approaches are needed. Psychiatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) must have a strong basis in psychopharmacology, extending from a prior education in pharmacology, to make appropriate medication choices for their patients. Learners in this course consider psychopharmacologic approaches to major behavioral health disorders including, but not limited to, major depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and psychotic disorders. Learners explore key considerations associated with medication selection, monitoring efficacy, and long-term management.

Course Prerequisites

• MSN core courses (NURS 6002/6003, 6050, 6051, 6052, 6053)
• NURS 6501: Advanced Pathophysiology
• NURS 6521: Advanced Pharmacology
• NURS 6512: Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning

Course Learning Outcomes

By the conclusion of this course, you should be able to:

• Evaluate foundational neuroscience as it relates to caring for patients with psychiatric disorders across the lifespan
• Analyze the impact of non-adherence on treatment success and strategies to mitigate risk factors with non-adherence
• Assess mechanisms of action of medications used to treat psychiatric conditions
• Apply patient-centric concepts and evidence-based medicine to select appropriate psychopharmacologic agents
• Synthesize pathophysiology and health assessment concepts in the psychopharmacologic treatment of behavioral health disorders
• Analyze ethical and legal implications of prescribing psychotropic medications across the lifespan
• Evaluate the efficacy and adverse reactions of psychotropic medications

Course Summary:

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