Postgraduate - UnitNUR5215 - Mental health nursing concepts and practice

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Synopsis

The nature of mental health and illness; the nursing process in psychiatric nursing; roles and functions of mental health nurses; contexts of care; mental health problems and disorders; therapeutic interventions in mental health care; ethical and legal issues; specialisation in psychiatric/mental health nursing.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Conduct comprehensive mental health nursing assessment including risk assessment;

2. Describe the commonly used diagnostic classification systems in psychiatry and mental health nursing;

3. Promote consumer participation in all aspects of mental health care;

4. Demonstrate advanced mental health nursing skills in planning, implementing and evaluating mental health nursing care for people with mental disorders;

5. Describe the principles underlying contemporary therapeutic interventions for people with mental health disorders;

6. Demonstrate skills and knowledge in the use of a range of contemporary physical therapies including psychopharmalogical preparations, electroconvulsive therapy, and milieu therapies (e.g. high dependency, seclusion, Snoezelen, etc.);

7. Describe relevant legislation and policy impacting upon the professional practice of mental health nursing;

8. Critically analyse ethical issues in nursing people with mental health disorders;

9. Critically appraise research evidence applicable to mental health nursing practice;

10. Ensure that mental health nursing practice is culturally appropriate.

Assessment

Written assignment (3000 words): 30%
Online exercises: 30%
Examination: 40%
Clinical skills assessment (hurdle requirement)

Chief examiner(s)

Ms Annette Woodhouse