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Postgraduate |
(MED)
|
Leader: Ms S Henderson
Offered:
Not offered in 2006.
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%