Strand leader: Mr S Elsom
Course description
This course has been designed to respond to the needs of registered psychiatric nurses for further formal education in their chosen field of specialisation. In this time of change in the provision of mental health services there is an acute need for educational programs which will equip professional psychiatric nurses with the specialist skills required by mental health care agencies at local, national and international levels. It is expected that graduates of this course will be able to consolidate and advance their existing career pathways and be better prepared for future role change.
Aims
The overall aim of the course is to provide registered nurses with skills and knowledge necessary to provide optimal levels of care for people with mental disorders.
Objectives
On completion of the course students are expected to be able to:
* demonstrate an awareness of the mental health needs of a community and the role of a specialist mental health service in addressing these needs;
* understand that the majority of people with major mental illness can be effectively and efficiently cared for in the community sing a combination of state of the art biological and psychosocial treatment methods;
* utilise a range of skills and effective therapeutic strategies in meeting the needs of people with mental illness, their families and the community;
* critically analyse contemporary issues impacting upon the practice of professional psychiatric nursing.
Entrance requirements
To gain admission to the course an applicant would normally:
* be a registered psychiatric nurse holding a current practising certificate;
* have completed a minimum of three years post-registration work experience in psychiatric nursing;
* have satisfactorily completed a course leading to the award of a degree or diploma.
The school recognises that many professional nurses have not had the opportunity to gain formal qualifications at degree or diploma level. For this reason special entry to the course may be available for registered nurses who do not hold degrees or diplomas.
Course structure
To be advised.