Working in their Scope of Practice

Please read the case study and then answer the questions. Use required readings as references in APA format. Be sure to include citations and to answer the questions by including the stem of the question in the answers.

This is a case study about Karen Harris, a newly graduated PMHNP. She worked as a psychiatric nurse for 5 years before

going to graduate school. She is considering a job at the local community mental health center.

The director of the center has told her that her role would consist of seeing mainly adult clients

with serious, chronic, and persistent mental illness.

On occasions when the psychiatrist is “busy,” Ms. Harris is told she may be expected to see a

few children in addition to adults. The director expects Ms. Harris to provide medication management

to well-known clients and occasionally to assist in diagnostic evaluations of new clients or

clients in crisis. He also expects that she will “from time to time” meet the emergent medical

needs of clients who have limited access to primary care providers, including the routine, ongoing

care of nonpsychiatric disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, and chronic pain. Ms. Harris

has many issues to consider before deciding to take or not take the position.

1. Would Ms. Harris be legally authorized to treat both children and adults?

2. What regulation, rule, or standard should Ms. Harris consult to determine if she is

legally allowed to treat both children and adults?

3. What regulation, rule, or standard should Ms. Harris consult to determine if she is

legally allowed to treat both physical and psychiatric disorders?

4. What is the role of professional psychiatric nursing organizations in assisting Ms.

Harris to determine the scope of practice that is appropriate for her as a new

graduate?