Caring for the Mentally Ill Outside of the Psychiatric Setting

Caring for the Mentally Ill Outside of the Psychiatric Setting

If you are a member of SC AHEC this course is free with an enrollment key which you may obtain from the AHEC contact person within your organization.

If you are purchasing this course the cost is $40 payable through PayPal when you enroll.

Course Description: This course is designed to assist healthcare professionals become more confident caring for patients with psychiatric illnesses outside the psychiatric setting.

Instructor: Kathleen Fitzsimmons RN, MEd, PhD

Target Audience: RN's, Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists, Medical Assistants, and any other interested Healthcare Professional

Learning Outcomes: After completing this activity, the participant will be able to:

  • identify behaviors, psychiatric symptoms, and other challenges presented by medical-surgical patients.
  • identify physical illnesses associated with psychological, emotional, and behavioral symptoms in patients.
  • identify the 4 primary nurse competencies needed to effectively care for patients having a mental  health crisis.
  • create a basic tool box of evidenced-based strategies that nurses can use to identify and manage patients with behavioral health problems.

Length of Course: 90 minutes

Credit Statements:

Licensed Nurses:  Upstate AHEC is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Upon successful completion of this program, participants will receive 1.5 nursing continuing professional development hour.

Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists: This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education by SC AHEC under its accreditation by the SC Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists and Psycho-Educational Specialists.

AHEC Credit: This educational offering provides 0.15 CEUs ( 1.5 clock hours) by Upstate AHEC and meets SC AHEC Best Practice Standards.

Disclosure Statement: Upstate AHEC’s conflict of interest policy requires speaker(s), the planning committee members, and all others in a position to control this activity of this program to disclose any real or apparent commercial financial affiliations related to the content of this presentation or materials.

The speaker(s), the planning committee members, and all others in a position to control this activity have signed a vested interest form declaring no conflict of interest in this activity.

Provision of this education activity by Upstate AHEC does not imply endorsement by Upstate AHEC or ANCC of any commercial products displayed in conjunction with this activity.  

Credit Requirements: To receive CE credit for completing this online course you must complete 100% of the material, receive at least 80% passing grade on post-test and complete the evaluation.

Once you pass the post-test and complete the evaluation you will be able to print a certificate for verification of credit.


The process for enrolling in AHECU courses has changed. Please go to www.upstateahec.org and click the blue AHECU/Distance Education block to register for online courses.  There is a tutorial on the web site if you need assistance with the registration process.