Identify a clinical healthcare problem in mental health care. These problems can be either from your clinical site location, personal clinical experiences, or a review of the literature.
Critically examine the problem within the context of the most current evidence-based research. All references must be within the last 5 years and at least 5 references are required to support your findings. Your clinical practice paper should include the following headers:
1. Description of the Problem
2. Background Information
3. Significance to Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing
Write a scholarly paper in APA format (7th ed.) that is well organized, succinct, and proficient in grammar and composition. References must be within the last 5 years and at least 5 references are required to support your findings or arguments.
Background Information
The crisis of delayed access is multifactorial and has been significantly exacerbated since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (Source 3.1).
Workforce Shortage and Demand-Supply Mismatch
A primary driver is the severe shortage of qualified psychiatric professionals (Source 1.4, 2.1). Despite rising interest in the field, the supply of psychiatrists and PMHNPs remains inadequate to meet the surging demand for mental health services. Over 75% of US counties have a shortage of mental health workers, with this deficit being more acute for prescribers (Source 2.1). This shortage forces providers to operate with lengthy waitlists, turning away new patients, or restricting care to those with only private insurance (Source 2.3)
Sample Answer
Delayed Access to Psychiatric Care: A Crisis in Outpatient Services
1. Description of the Problem
The clinical healthcare problem is the pervasive and protracted delay in access to initial psychiatric evaluation and evidence-based treatment in outpatient mental healthcare settings, particularly for vulnerable populations and individuals experiencing new-onset or rapidly deteriorating symptoms. Across the United States, patients frequently face wait times ranging from several weeks to several months for an appointment with a psychiatric mental health prescriber (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner [PMHNP] or Psychiatrist) (Williams et al., 2017). This delay is most pronounced in rural areas, public health systems, and for clients reliant on Medicaid or public insurance (Source 1.4, 2.3). The problem is not merely an inconvenience; it represents a fundamental failure to provide timely, effective intervention that is crucial for preventing symptom progression and mitigating crisis.