title: Bridging gaps between mind, body, & spirit. Healing the whole person.
abstract: Fifty percent of visits of primary care providers are for psychiatric problems making it desirable to screen for mental, addictive, or behavioral disorders at the level of primary care. Psychiatric/mental health nurses prepared at the master's level to practice in the blended clinical specialist/nurse practitioner role are well placed to treat or collaborate in the treatment of people who present with symptoms of physical or psychological problems. The role of the clinical specialist/nurse practitioner is evolving in response to changes in health demographics, epidemiology, scientific and technological advances, and changes in managed care. Advanced practice nursing education must continue to anticipate and meet on-going changes and challenges.
authors.affiliation: College of Health Professions, Department of Nursing, University of Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Edmands
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Hoff
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaylor
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mower
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sorrell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000628:therapy; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D018939:Holistic Nursing / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000266:history / Q000451:nursing* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000639:trends; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical / Q000502:physiology; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D011603:Psychophysiology; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy; D000078329:Workforce