Capella 4905 Assessment 1

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4065 Patient-Centered Care Coordination

Prof. Name

Date

BSN Practicum Conference Call Worksheet

A BSN practicum conference call worksheet documents the learner’s discussion with the preceptor, clinical priorities, practicum goals, action items, and expectations for patient care. In this practicum, the primary focus is geriatric mental health, particularly the early identification and management of depression and anxiety among older adults. The conference emphasizes routine screening, patient education, interdisciplinary collaboration, accurate documentation, and evidence-based interventions to support psychological well-being and quality of life.

BSN Practicum Conference Call Information

Learner Name:
Preceptor Name and Credentials:
Clinic: Longevity Center
Phone:
Email:
Practicum Location: Florida
Call Date: July 18, 2025
Attending Call:

Meeting Topic

The practicum conference call focused on the increasing importance of identifying and addressing mental health concerns among older adults receiving care at the Longevity Center in Florida. The learner and preceptor discussed how depression and anxiety may go unrecognized in aging patients, particularly when psychological symptoms overlap with chronic medical conditions or age-related changes.

Several factors can make mental health concerns difficult to recognize in older adults. These include chronic illness, functional limitations, bereavement, social isolation, cognitive changes, and stigma associated with seeking mental health services. Another concern is the limited use of structured behavioral health screening during routine primary care encounters.

The discussion emphasized a patient-centered, biopsychosocial approach that considers the interaction between physical health, psychological well-being, social circumstances, and daily functioning. Routine screening, individualized education, stress-management strategies, lifestyle counseling, behavioral activation, and appropriate referrals can help support comprehensive care.

What Mental Health Concerns Are Most Common Among Aging Patients?

Depressive and anxiety symptoms are important mental health concerns among older adults and can occur alongside chronic medical conditions and significant life changes. Bereavement, reduced mobility, social isolation, chronic pain, and functional limitations may contribute to psychological distress.

When mental health concerns are not identified and addressed, they may interfere with treatment adherence, self-care, social functioning, and management of chronic conditions. Early recognition through appropriate assessment and follow-up can help healthcare professionals identify patients who may need additional evaluation or treatment (American Psychiatric Association, 2022).

Practicum Goals

The practicum includes measurable objectives designed to strengthen the learner’s clinical competencies while supporting patient-centered behavioral health care. The goals incorporate assessment, education, intervention, and evaluation.

Goal	Description	Completion Date
Goal 1	Conduct systematic assessments and chart reviews to identify common mental health concerns among adult patients at the Longevity Center.	July 20, 2025
Goal 2	Develop and implement an evidence-informed educational intervention addressing stress reduction, anxiety management, and healthy lifestyle practices.	August 2, 2025
Goal 3	Evaluate intervention effectiveness using follow-up screening results, patient-reported outcomes, and appropriate clinical indicators.	August 10, 2025

What Insights Were Gained During the Conference Call With the Preceptor?

The conference reinforced the importance of proactive mental health screening in older adults. The preceptor explained that depressive and anxiety symptoms may remain unnoticed when screening is not incorporated into routine clinical workflows.

The discussion also addressed the use of standardized instruments, including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). These tools can help clinicians identify symptoms, assess severity, and monitor changes over time when used appropriately within clinical practice (Kroenke et al., 2001; Spitzer et al., 2006).

The preceptor also highlighted non-pharmacological approaches such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, behavioral activation, lifestyle modification, and psychoeducation. These interventions can encourage patient participation and strengthen self-management skills. The learner and clinical team planned to expand access to screening resources and educational materials while monitoring outcomes.

Practicum Schedule

The practicum schedule supports systematic assessment, interdisciplinary communication, patient education, and preventive mental health care. Standardized instruments such as the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 will be incorporated when clinically appropriate to support consistent assessment of depressive and anxiety symptoms.

The practicum also follows a holistic care model that recognizes the relationship between physical, emotional, cognitive, and social health. Collaboration with healthcare professionals will support appropriate screening, referrals, patient education, and continuity of care.

Action Item	Deadline
Review and analyze patient records to identify behavioral health trends.	July 24, 2025
Create patient education resources and submit them for preceptor evaluation.	August 5, 2025
Participate in midpoint performance evaluation.	August 7, 2025

Why Are Screening Tools Such as PHQ-9 and GAD-7 Important?

The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 provide structured approaches for assessing symptoms associated with depression and generalized anxiety. The PHQ-9 was developed as a brief measure of depressive symptom severity, while the GAD-7 provides a standardized method for assessing symptoms of generalized anxiety (Kroenke et al., 2001; Spitzer et al., 2006).

Using standardized instruments can make symptom assessment more consistent and provide useful information for clinical follow-up. Screening results should be interpreted alongside the patient’s history, clinical presentation, physical health, and other relevant assessments rather than being used as a standalone diagnosis.

Clinical Documentation

Accurate clinical documentation is an essential component of safe and accountable nursing practice. During the practicum, assessments, screening results, patient education, interventions, referrals, and follow-up plans should be documented in the electronic health record (EHR) according to organizational requirements.

Clear documentation supports continuity of care and allows members of the healthcare team to understand the patient’s assessment findings and care plan. It also provides a record for evaluating interventions and monitoring changes in patient outcomes.

Weekly documentation reviews with the preceptor can help the learner identify areas for improvement and maintain compliance with applicable organizational, ethical, and regulatory requirements. Reflective journaling can further support professional development by allowing the learner to examine clinical experiences, ethical considerations, communication, and developing competencies.

What Documentation Standards Must Be Followed?

Clinical documentation should protect patient privacy and comply with applicable laws, regulations, professional standards, and organizational policies. HIPAA requirements are particularly relevant when documenting and communicating protected health information.

Documentation should be:

Accurate and complete, reflecting relevant assessment findings and interventions.
Timely, with entries completed according to organizational requirements.
Objective, using professional clinical terminology rather than unsupported opinions.
Confidential, with protected health information handled according to applicable privacy requirements.
Consistent with the patient’s actual care, including screening results, education, referrals, and follow-up activities.

Action Item	Deadline
Complete EHR orientation and training.	June 24, 2025
Submit initial documentation log for review.	August 1, 2025
Maintain weekly documentation of screenings and interventions.	Ongoing

Practicum Expectations

The practicum requires the learner to demonstrate professional nursing standards, ethical conduct, accountability, and evidence-based clinical practice. The learner will participate in mental health screening, patient education, referral coordination, interdisciplinary communication, and evaluation of care outcomes.

Patient autonomy, confidentiality, informed consent, and respect for individual preferences should remain central to every patient interaction. The learner is also expected to communicate consistently with the preceptor, participate in case discussions, and use feedback to strengthen clinical performance.

What Professional Responsibilities Must Be Demonstrated During the Practicum?

Professional responsibilities include punctuality, preparation, accountability, effective communication, and adherence to clinical policies and procedures. The learner should approach each patient interaction with respect and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

Regular meetings with the preceptor and participation in progress evaluations provide opportunities to discuss clinical experiences and identify areas for continued development. Engagement in quality improvement activities can also help the learner connect evidence-based nursing concepts with real-world patient care.

BSN Practicum Conference Call Action Items

Action Item	Deadline/Requirement
Implement a shared tracking system for practicum goals and assignments.	Immediate
Attend bi-weekly meetings with the preceptor.	Ongoing
Review clinic policies and procedures before interacting with patients.	Before first patient contact

Summary

The BSN Practicum Conference Call Worksheet outlines a structured approach to developing nursing competencies in geriatric mental health care. The practicum at the Longevity Center focuses on identifying depression and anxiety symptoms, applying appropriate screening methods, providing patient education, coordinating referrals, and evaluating outcomes.

The experience also emphasizes ethical practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, patient-centered communication, and accurate clinical documentation. Through preceptor mentorship, systematic assessment, evidence-informed interventions, and reflective learning, the learner can strengthen clinical reasoning and develop skills needed to provide comprehensive care to older adults.

The practicum goals provide measurable benchmarks for assessing progress throughout the experience. By connecting behavioral health assessment with preventive care, education, and follow-up, the learner can contribute to a more integrated approach to supporting the health and quality of life of aging patients.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). American Psychiatric Association Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787

Care Resource. (2025). Behavioral health services. https://careresource.org/services/behavioral-health/

Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. W. (2001). The PHQ-9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16(9), 606–613. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x