Advanced Mental Health Assessment

Dr Colman Noctor

D Psych, MSc, Grad Dip.

Dr Noctor is a registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner and his experience of over 20 years has allowed him to develop an astute lens when it comes to mental health assessment

Programme summary

This short programme will provide registered psychiatric nurses with evidenced based knowledge to critically develop nurses' theoretical and practical understanding of the core pillars of comprehensive mental health assessment. The candidate will be introduced to the concept of the futility of mental health assessment and how the onus of data interpretation involves advanced skills of self-awareness and contemplation. The impact of mental health assessment on treatment modalities will be discussed, in particular the interpersonal and intrapersonal psychodynamic that can occur and impact on the outcome of the assessment. Given the fast-changing pace of mental health presentation, the candidate will be introduced to the contemporary presentations of transgender assessment and internet/ gaming/ pornography addiction.

Programme duration

6 hours

Entry requirements

Registered psychiatric nurses and nurses working in the mental health arena

Accreditation

Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) Continuing Education Units: 6

Assessment

No

Fee

PNA Member: €70.00

Programme aims

1. To provide registered psychiatric nurses with up-to-date, evidenced based knowledge to critically develop nurses' theoretical and practical understanding of Mental Health Assessment.
2. To support registered psychiatric nurses in enhancing their confidence, skills and competences, with regard to completing comprehensive assessments and having a better understanding of interpreting the interpersonal dynamics at play during the assessment process.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this CPD programme, participants will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the psychodynamics of mental health assessment and an ability to interpret the narratives of complex presentations
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the awareness of the potential ‘blind spots' that can exist when interpreting observational data due to limitations or narrowness of our existing clinical experience
3. Critically analyse one's lens with which one approaches mental health assessment and be open to alternative explanations of behaviour
4. Critically discuss advanced components of communication skills which enable or form barriers to personal self-disclosure
5. Critically discuss the contemporary influences on mental health and wellbeing such as technology and more recent assessment requirements such as transgender assessments and gaming addiction