Professionalism in pre-licensure nursing education: Core values, didactic coursework and clinical training.

Aim: To discuss professionalism for pre-licensure nursing students and identify recommendations for inclusion in core values, didactic coursework and clinical training.

Background: Professionalism is part of the nursing identity that encompasses integrity and honesty. This concept has been difficult to translate into formal education in nursing programs and clinical practice.

Treatment-Resistant Depression: Approaches to Treatment.

Approximately 30% of people treated for a major depressive episode will not achieve remission after two or more treatment trials of first-line antidepressants and are considered to have treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Because the odds of remission decrease with every subsequent medication trial, it is important for clinicians to understand the characteristics and risk factors for TRD, subtypes of major depressive disorder that are more likely to be less responsive to first-line anti-depressants, and the available treatment options. In the current article, we review the approved treatments for TRD, including esketamine, and the evidence for psilocybin and pramipexole.

Psychiatric Emergencies and the Potential Role of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners.

Emergency departments (EDs) are experiencing a worsening crisis of overcrowding, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. Persons experiencing psychiatric emergencies must be evaluated medically and screened for risks of harm to self or others before they can be cleared for transfer to inpatient units or discharged. Severe shortages of inpatient psychiatric beds can lead to hours or even days of costly boarding in the ED.

Challenges Faced by New Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Prescribers.

One of the main challenges that psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMNHP) students experience is preparing to prescribe medications by demonstrating psychopharmacological competency. To examine the challenges as they relate to this issue, self-reflective journaling narratives were evaluated from two cohorts of Post-Master's PMHNP program graduates, across each of two semesters of pediatric and adult clinical experience. The most prominent challenges reported by students were in regard to medication treatment adherence, decision making, and monitoring symptom-related outcomes.