PRAC 6665: Across Lifespan I Clinical Skills Self-Assessment
The ability to self-assess is essential in any profession, especially in healthcare. Self-assessment allows one to identify areas of strength, weakness, and opportunities for growth. In this essay, I will be analyzing my clinical skills self-assessment in the context of the PRAC 6665/6675 Clinical Skills course.
Summary of Strengths
My self-assessment indicates that I am confident in several areas of clinical practice. In the professional skills section, I scored confident in maintaining professional boundaries and therapeutic relationships with clients and staff, collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams, identifying ethical and legal dilemmas, demonstrating non-judgmental practice approach and empathy, and practicing within the scope of practice. These are critical skills for any healthcare provider, and I am pleased with my confidence level in these areas.
I am also confident in the area of selecting and implementing appropriate screening instruments, interpreting results, and making recommendations and referrals. This involves selecting the correct screening instrument, implementing it efficiently and effectively with clients, interpreting the results accurately, and developing an appropriate plan of care based on the screening instrument response. I am also confident in identifying the need to refer to another specialty provider when applicable and accurately documenting recommendations for psychiatric consultations when applicable.
Regarding comprehensive psychiatric Assessment skills, I am confident in recognizing clinical signs and symptoms of psychiatric illness across the lifespan, performing and interpreting a mental status examination, and performing and interpreting a psychosocial assessment and family psychiatric history.
My overall diagnostic reasoning skills are also strong. I am confident in developing and prioritizing a differential diagnoses list, formulating diagnoses according to DSM 5-TR based on assessment data, and differentiating between normal/abnormal age-related physiological and psychological symptoms/changes.
In the area of pharmacotherapeutic skills, I am confident in evaluating patient response and modifying the plan as necessary and documenting adverse reactions, patient responses, and changes to the plan of care.
Lastly, in the self-assessment skills, I am confident in evaluating the outcomes of practicum goals and modifying the plan as necessary. In psychotherapeutic treatment planning, I am confident in providing psychoeducation to individuals and/or any caregivers and promoting health and disease prevention techniques.
Opportunities for Growth
While there are areas where I am confident, there are also areas that require supervision. These areas provide opportunities for growth and development of my clinical skills.
Under comprehensive psychiatric Assessment skills, I am mostly confident in differentiating between pathophysiological and psychopathological conditions. This involves distinguishing between conditions with physical symptoms and those with psychological symptoms. This skill is vital in making accurate diagnoses and developing appropriate treatment plans.
In performing and interpreting a comprehensive and/or interval history and physical examination, I am beginning to feel confident. This involves obtaining a patient’s medical history, performing a physical examination, and interpreting laboratory and diagnostic studies. It is a crucial step in making an accurate diagnosis and developing an appropriate treatment plan.
In performing and interpreting a functional assessment, I am mostly confident. This involves assessing a patient’s ability to perform activities of daily living, occupational, social, leisure, and educational activities. It is essential to determine the level of functioning and the impact of any illnesses or conditions on a patient’s life.
In psychotherapeutic treatment planning, I am mostly confident in applying age-appropriate psychotherapeutic counseling techniques with individuals and/or caregivers. I also have room for growth in developing an age-appropriate individualized plan of care.
In selecting appropriate evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for medication plans, I am mostly confident. However, I need to develop more confidence in considering patient preferences, developmental considerations, financial considerations, and the process of informed consent when selecting a medication plan.
Lastly, I need to improve my skill in developing SMART goals for practicum experiences. This involves setting Specific, Measurable,
