Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Psychiatric Nursing
Course Overview
Psychedelic therapies are moving from headlines to care pathways. Ketamine and esketamine already have defined clinical footprints, and psilocybin is advancing in late-phase trials. This episode equips nurses with a pragmatic playbook: how to screen, prep, administer, and monitor patients safely; what to watch for physiologically and psychologically; and where regulations and ethics shape day-to-day practice.
Listen, Learn, and Earn CE Hours with this podcast course. Available on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast apps.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:
- Describe where esketamine, ketamine, and psilocybin currently sit in the U.S. regulatory landscape (FDA approval vs investigational) and why REMS exists for esketamine.
- Recognize common adverse events (dissociation, hypertension, nausea/vomiting, anxiety reactions) with clear escalation pathways.
- Identify core screening and exclusion flags (e.g., psychosis history, uncontrolled hypertension, pregnancy considerations, recent MAOI use; clinic policies may vary)
About the Author/Presenter
Dr. Candace Pierce, DNP, RN, CNE, COI
Dr. Candace Pierce is a nurse leader committed to ensuring nurses are well prepared and offered abundant opportunities and resources to enhance their skills acquisition and confidence at the bedside. With 15 years in nursing, she has worked at the bedside, in management, and in nursing education. She has demonstrated expertise and scholarship in innovation and design thinking in healthcare and education, and collaborative efforts within and outside of healthcare. Scholarship endeavors include funded grants, publications, and presentations. As a leader, Dr. PIERCE: strives to empower others to create and deploy ideas and embrace their professional roles as leaders, change agents, and problem solvers. In her position as the Sr. Course Development Manager for Elite, she works as a project engineer with subject matter experts to develop evidence-based best practices in continuing education for nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Nicholas Goodwin, DNP, ARNP, PMHNP-BC
Nicholas Goodwin, DNP is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and founder of Goodwin Health Café, a private practice he has led since 2018. With a clinical focus on treatment-resistant depression, Dr. Goodwin offers advanced therapies including Spravato (esketamine), and Transcranial magnetic stimulation. He has received specialized training in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. He is a recognized educator and speaker, having developed continuing education courses for The Elite Nurse Practitioner and presented at their national conferences. His talks span integrative topics such as functional medicine, hormone optimization, and the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. Dr. Goodwin is committed to expanding mental health care through evidence-based innovation and practitioner empowerment.
Audience/Accreditations and Approvals
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details):
Nursing
If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us
