NUR5215

Foundations of mental health nursing ( 12 points, SCA Band 0, 0.250 EFTSL)

Leader: Ms S Henderson

Offered:
Peninsula Full year 2005 (OCL)
Gippsland S2-S1 2005 (OCL)
Peninsula Second semester 2005 (OCL)

Synopsis: The nature of mental health and illness; the nursing process in psychiatric nursing; roles and functions of psychiatric/mental health nurses; context of care; psychiatric disorders; therapeutic interventions in psychiatric nursing; special populations; ethical and legal issues; transcultural psychiatry; specialisation in psychiatric/mental health nursing.

Objectives: On completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to: 1. Critically discuss personal and societal attitudes towards people with mental disorders; 2. Explain the nature of mental health and mental illness from a variety of theoretical perspectives; 3. Describe the commonly used diagnostic classification systems in psychiatry and mental health nursing; 4. Explain the needs of people with mental disorders and at risk groups; 5. Initiate and maintain therapeutic relationships with consumers and their families; 6. Plan, implement and evaluate nursing care for people with mental disorders; 7. Utilise a range of skills including observation, interviewing, listening, counselling, limit setting, reality orientation, teaching, problem-solving; 8. Understand the principles underlying commonly used therapeutic interventions for people with mental disorders; 9. Demonstrate working knowledge of current psychopharmacological preparations; 10. Administer and monitor the effects of prescribed medications; 11. Discuss the roles and functions of the mental health nurse in a range of health care contexts; and 12. Be familiar with relevant legislation impacting upon the professional practice of mental health nursing and sensitive to ethical issues encountered when nursing people with mental disorders.

Assessment: Written assignment (3000 words): 30% + Computer conference exercises: 40% Examination: 30%