Discussion: Comprehensive Integrated Psychiatric Assessment What did the practitioner do well?

Discussion: Comprehensive Integrated Psychiatric Assessment What did the practitioner do well?

The practitioner is interviewing the client in a private area in the hospital that assures

confidentiality and privacy of the interview. Confidentiality assures the client that the

information he shares with the practitioner is only shared for treatment purposes and cannot be

shared with a third party without the client’s express permission. Moreover, conducting the

interview in a private area makes the patient feel comfortable sharing information with the

practitioner. When the client enters the room, the practitioner stops everything else and gives the

client all the attention he might need. The patient should feel valued to enable them to have a

strong therapeutic alliance.

The practitioner also begins the interview by confirming if the patient is alert and oriented. She

asks him if he knows why he is in her office. The patient had been referred by his PCP, who was

concerned about his symptoms of depression and anxiety reported in the patient’s physical exam.

The assessment begins with asking the client questions about the signs and symptoms that the

PCP pointed to. She seeks to establish if the client has noticed having signs and symptoms of

depression and anxiety. Throughout the interview, she keeps the client engaged using different

nursing therapeutic communication techniques, including open-ended questions, reflection, and

restating (Costello, 2016). For instance, after answering her questions, the practitioner restates

that the client plays basketball but sometimes has trouble waking up in the morning, has lost

interest in school, and sometimes gets angry. She uses this technique to express what she

believes the client feels underneath his words.

In what areas can the practitioner improve?

The practitioner did not introduce herself to the client and did not give the patient the chance to

introduce himself. Since this was the first session, it would be appropriate to begin the interview

with introductions and create a strong therapeutic alliance. Having a good first impression

between the provider and her patient helps prolong the sessions and avoids ending them

prematurely. Secondly, the practitioner could have used other techniques such as active listening,

giving recognition, and acceptance. When the patient speaks about her symptoms, the

practitioner should acknowledge without giving over compliments or being judgmental. For

instance, during the interview, when the client was talking about basketball and school, the

practitioner insisted on asking the next question without acknowledging the client’s concerns.

Acknowledging the client shows empathy and strengthens the bond between the patient and his

practitioner