NURS 751 is the neurobiology and differential diagnosis course in Liberty's psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) track of the DNP. Its written work is a neuro workshop paper, two symptom analysis evaluations on assigned cases, three short WebEx group presentations, and an evidence-based article review.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as NURS 751 Neurobiology and Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as NURS751.
What NURS 751 covers
The catalog description: This foundational course focuses on mental disorders across the lifespan. Based on anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, this course examines underlying causality including injury, trauma, developmental, genetic, infection and disease including degeneration. The relationship to support homeostasis between the body and brain, and within the brain will be explored. This course also integrates the use of case-based learning to approach differential psychiatric diagnoses. Students will gain skills in interviewing, observation, and the use of and interpretation of screening, tools, behavioral assessments and diagnostic tests. Case studies will be based on the most current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM 5) and other appropriate diagnostic tools and methods.
The course covers mental disorders across the lifespan from anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology, examining causes such as injury, trauma, development, genetics, infection and degenerative disease, and the homeostasis between body and brain. Case-based learning builds skill in differential psychiatric diagnosis: interviewing, observation and the use and interpretation of screening tools, behavioral assessments and diagnostic tests, based on the DSM-5.
The texts are the DSM-5; Carlat, The Psychiatric Interview; Kilgus et al., Essential Psychopathology and Its Treatment; Sadock et al., Kaplan and Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry; and Yearwood et al. on child and adolescent behavioral health. A proctored midterm (100) and final (200) carry 300 points.
Textbook named in the published guide: American Psychiatric Association (APA), Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (2013). Carlat, The psychiatric interview (2017). Kilgus et al., Essential psychopathology & its treatment (2016). Sadock et al., Kaplan and Sadock synopsis of psychiatry (2015). Yearwood et al., Child and adolescent behavioral health (2012). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
NURS 751 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neuro Workshop Paper | 100 | 6 to 8 content pages, plus title and reference pages |
| 2 | Symptom Analysis Evaluation 1 | 100 | Not set in the guide; graded with the Symptom Analysis Grading Rubric |
| 3 | WebEx Class Presentation 1 | 100 | Five slides; 10 minutes to present plus 2 to 3 minutes of questions |
| 4 | Symptom Analysis Evaluation 2 | 100 | Not set in the guide; graded with the Symptom Analysis Grading Rubric |
| 4 | WebEx Class Presentation 2 | 100 | Five slides; 10 minutes plus 2 to 3 minutes of questions |
| 6 | Evidence Based Article Review | 100 | At least 2 to 3 pages of content, plus title and reference pages |
| 7 | WebEx Class Presentation 3 | 100 | Five slides; 10 minutes plus 2 to 3 minutes of questions |
Week 1: Neuro Workshop Paper
A 6 to 8-page paper on the neurobiology of a neurological disorder chosen from the provided list, with 4 to 5 scientific peer-reviewed sources from the past five years. How to write NURS 751 Week 1 Neuro Workshop Paper.
Week 2: Symptom Analysis Evaluation 1
An analysis of an assigned case focused on assessment, diagnosis and treatment plan for a chronic mental health symptom, with at least 5 references. How to write NURS 751 Week 2 Symptom Analysis Evaluation 1.
Week 3: WebEx Class Presentation 1
A five-slide PowerPoint to lead a short WebEx discussion on neurocognitive and developmental disorders, with at least 2 peer-reviewed or evidence-based references. How to write NURS 751 Week 3 WebEx Class Presentation 1.
Week 4: Symptom Analysis Evaluation 2
The second symptom analysis evaluation on an assigned case: assessment, diagnosis and treatment plan, with at least 5 references. How to write NURS 751 Week 4 Symptom Analysis Evaluation 2.
Week 4: WebEx Class Presentation 2
A five-slide group presentation on substance use, trauma and dissociative disorders, led in the WebEx session. How to write NURS 751 Week 4 WebEx Class Presentation 2.
Week 6: Evidence Based Article Review
A review of one evidence-based article on the assigned module topic: 2 to 3 pages of content plus title and reference pages. How to write NURS 751 Week 6 Evidence Based Article Review.
Week 7: WebEx Class Presentation 3
The last five-slide group presentation, on externalizing disorders of childhood and youth. How to write NURS 751 Week 7 WebEx Class Presentation 3.
How NURS 751 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. The three WebEx presentations are 100 each (300), the two symptom analysis evaluations 100 each (200), and the neuro workshop paper and the article review 100 each. Exams carry 300 (midterm 100, final 200), and the checklist 10.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| WebEx Class Presentations (3) | 300 |
| Symptom Analysis Evaluations (2) | 200 |
| Neuro Workshop Paper | 100 |
| Evidence Based Article Review | 100 |
| Mid-term Examination | 100 |
| Final Examination | 200 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 940 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Each course module/week begins on Monday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
How to approach NURS 751
The neuro workshop paper is due in Week 1, so choose your neurological disorder from the provided list on the first day and pull four or five peer-reviewed sources from the last five years.
The WebEx presentations are short (five slides, ten minutes) but scheduled to topics: neurocognitive and developmental disorders in Week 3, substance use, trauma and dissociative disorders in Week 4, and externalizing disorders of childhood and youth in Week 7.
Questions students ask
How long is the NURS 751 neuro workshop paper?
6 to 8 content pages plus title and reference pages, in current APA, with 4 to 5 scientific peer-reviewed resources (including the text) from the past five years.
How many slides are NURS 751 WebEx presentations?
Five slides for a short group-led WebEx discussion: 10 minutes to present, 2 to 3 minutes for questions, with at least 2 peer-reviewed or evidence-based references.
Working through NURS 751 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.