NURS 753 is the psychotherapy course in Liberty's PMHNP track of the DNP. Its written work is a mental health policy paper, an evidence-based article review, two WebEx presentations and three case analysis evaluations that apply cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing and other psychotherapies to assigned cases.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as NURS 753 Psychotherapeutic Theories, Frameworks, and Modalities, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as NURS753.
What NURS 753 covers
The catalog description: This course provides an overview of theories, frameworks, modalities and best practices related to psychotherapeutic treatments and management of mental health disorders across the lifespan. The integration of the application of evidence-based psychotherapies and psychotherapeutic case formulation, treatment for the management of disorders, symptoms and issues. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing will be integrated through a case-based learning experience.
The course surveys theories, frameworks, modalities and best practices for psychotherapeutic treatment and management of mental health disorders across the lifespan, including psychotherapeutic case formulation. Cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing are taught through case-based learning. The texts include the ANA and APNA Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, the DSM-5, Carlat's The Psychiatric Interview, Sadock et al.'s Synopsis of Psychiatry and Wheeler's psychotherapy text for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse.
A proctored midterm (100) and final (200) carry 300 points; the written work carries the other 700.
Textbook named in the published guide: American Nurse Association & American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Scope and Standards of Practice, Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (2014). American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) (2013). Carlat, The Psychiatric Interview (2017). Sadock et al., Kaplan and Sadock Synopsis of Psychiatry (2015). Wheeler, Psychotherapy for the Advance Practice Psychiatric Nurse (2014). Yearwood et al., Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health (2012). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
NURS 753 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 | Mental Health Policy Paper | 100 | 4 to 6 pages, excluding title and reference pages |
| 2 | Evidenced-Based Article Review | 100 | At least 2 to 3 pages of content, plus title and reference pages |
| 3 | WebEx Class Presentation 1 | 100 | Title slide, 6 to 10 content slides and a reference slide; 10 minutes to present plus 2 to 3 for questions |
| 4 | Case Analysis Evaluation 1 | 100 | Not set in the guide; graded with the Case Analysis Grading Rubric |
| 6 | Case Analysis Evaluation 2 | 100 | Not set in the guide; graded with the Case Analysis Grading Rubric |
| 7 | Case Analysis Evaluation 3 | 100 | Not set in the guide; graded with the Case Analysis Grading Rubric |
| 7 | WebEx Class Presentation 2 | 100 | Title slide, 6 to 10 content slides and a reference slide; 10 minutes plus 2 to 3 for questions |
Week 1: Mental Health Policy Paper
A 4 to 6-page paper on a mental health bill and its impact on the PMHNP role, with at least 3 peer-reviewed references beyond the textbooks and the Bible. How to write NURS 753 Week 1 Mental Health Policy Paper.
Week 2: Evidenced-Based Article Review
A review of one evidence-based article on the assigned module: at least 2 to 3 pages of content with title and reference pages. How to write NURS 753 Week 2 Evidenced-Based Article Review.
Week 3: WebEx Class Presentation 1
A PowerPoint with a title slide, 6 to 10 content slides and a reference slide to lead a 10-minute WebEx discussion on the assigned topic. How to write NURS 753 Week 3 WebEx Class Presentation 1.
Week 4: Case Analysis Evaluation 1
The first case analysis: assessment, diagnosis, psychotherapeutic intervention and treatment plan for a chronic mental health symptom, with at least 5 references. How to write NURS 753 Week 4 Case Analysis Evaluation 1.
Week 6: Case Analysis Evaluation 2
The second case analysis, applying evidence-based psychotherapy to an assigned case, with at least 5 references. How to write NURS 753 Week 6 Case Analysis Evaluation 2.
Week 7: Case Analysis Evaluation 3
The third case analysis: assessment, diagnosis, therapy and treatment plan, with at least 5 references. How to write NURS 753 Week 7 Case Analysis Evaluation 3.
Week 7: WebEx Class Presentation 2
The second WebEx presentation: title slide, 6 to 10 content slides and a reference slide, presented in 10 minutes. How to write NURS 753 Week 7 WebEx Class Presentation 2.
How NURS 753 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. The three case analysis evaluations are 100 each (300), the two WebEx presentations 100 each (200), and the policy paper and article review 100 each. Exams carry 300 (midterm 100, final 200), and the checklist 10.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Case Analysis Evaluations (3) | 300 |
| WebEx Class Presentations (2) | 200 |
| Mental Health Policy Paper | 100 |
| Evidenced-Based Article Review | 100 |
| Midterm Exam | 100 |
| Final Exam | 200 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 940 to 1000 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 753
The policy paper is due in Week 1. Identify a current mental health bill early (federal or your state's) from Congress.gov or your legislature's site, and confirm its status before you write.
Read Wheeler's chapters on CBT and motivational interviewing before Week 4, when the first case analysis evaluation is due.
Questions students ask
What is the NURS 753 mental health policy paper?
A 4 to 6-page paper (excluding title and reference pages) identifying a mental health bill and its impact on the PMHNP role, with at least 3 peer-reviewed references in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible.
How many slides are NURS 753 WebEx presentations?
A title slide, 6 to 10 content slides and a reference slide, submitted through SafeAssign before the WebEx class; each student has 10 minutes to present.
Working through NURS 753 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.