Developing Family Nurse Practitioner Student Competencies: A Two-Part Mental Health-Focused Telehealth Education...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Telehealth Technology
• Mental Health Care

Background:

• Telehealth is crucial for expanding healthcare access, particularly for rural and underserved populations.
• Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) are frontline providers for these demographics, often managing mental health conditions like depression.
• There is a need to equip FNP students with telehealth competencies for effective remote patient assessment.

Approach:

• A two-part simulated telehealth education initiative was developed for FNP students.
• Part 1 involved didactic modules on telehealth concepts and principles.
• Part 2 included a simulated telehealth encounter with a standardized patient experiencing depression, followed by feedback and debriefing.

Key Points:

• The educational initiative focused on building FNP student competencies in using telehealth technology for psychiatric assessments.
• Students received training on depression care and telehealth etiquette prior to the simulated encounter.
• Post-encounter activities included standardized patient feedback, faculty debriefing, and documentation practice.

Conclusions:

• FNP students reported overwhelmingly positive feedback on the educational activity's relevance to their graduate preparation and future practice.
• The initiative's integration into the curriculum and use of existing resources enhanced its feasibility and sustainability.
• Students provided valuable suggestions for refining the telehealth education program for future iterations.