Scientific Foundation
A. Knowledge
1. Advanced pathophysiology
2. Advanced pharmacology (e.g., contraindications, interactions, adverse
effects)
3. Advanced psychopharmacology (e.g., pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics,
EPS, NMS)
4. Neurodevelopment
5. Neuroanatomy
6. Neurophysiology
7. Psychogenomics (e.g., gene-drug interactions, heritability)II Advanced Practice Skills
A. Skill
1. Clinical interviewing (e.g., open-ended questions, nonverbal communication)
2. Health promotion and disease prevention (e.g., models, strategies)
3. Mental health screening tool selection and interpretation (e.g., PHQ-9, GAD7, Vanderbilt ADHD)
4. Mental status exam
5. Psychiatric emergency management (e.g., suicidal ideation, homicidal
ideation)
6. Psychoeducation (e.g., presentation method, topic selection)
7. Recovery and resilience promotion
8. Risk assessment
9. Substance use screening tool selection and interpretation (e.g., COWS,
CIWAS)III Diagnosis and Treatment
A. Knowledge
1. DSM-5 diagnostic criteria
2. Complementary and alternative treatments
B. Skill
1. Diagnostic and laboratory tests selection and interpretation
2. Diagnostic impression
3. Differential diagnosis
4. Evidence-based practice (e.g., medication dosing, off-label use,
psychotherapy selection)
5. Psychopharmacotherapeutic management (e.g., selection, monitoring)
6. Pharmacotherapeutic management (e.g., selection, monitoring)IV Psychotherapy and Related Theories
A. Knowledge
1. Psychotherapy principles (e.g., cognitive, grief and loss)
2. Change theories (e.g., Transtheoretical Model, motivational interviewing)
3. Developmental theories
4. Family theories (e.g., structural, narrative)Ethical and Legal Principles
A. Knowledge
1. Patient's Bill of Rights (e.g., informed consent, treatment options)
2. Scope of confidentiality (e.g., release of information, duty to warn)
3. ANA Scope and Standards of Practice: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (e.g.,
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing role, collaboration, leadership)
4. Cultural and spiritual competence (e.g., special populations, risk factors,
barriers)
B. Skill
1. Ethics in clinical decision making (e.g., involuntary treatment, least restrictive
care)
2. Patient advocacy (e.g., educational accommodations, disabilities
accommodations, FMLA)