SRH4101 - Counselling for rural practice

Offered

Gippsland First semester 2007 (Off-campus)
Mildura First semester 2007 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

This unit aims to provide the student with an insight into how psychological problems are compounded by the isolation, loneliness and marginalisation associated with rural living. Clients can present with a diverse range of challenging issues necessitating discretional judgement, sensitivity and possible referral via formal or informal networks. The unit equips students to respond effectively without themselves becoming emotionally distressed. The unit incorporates the impact of self on the counselling role and the legal and ethical implications of providing counselling support in small communities.

Objectives

Having completed this unit it is expected that the student will be able to:

1. evaluate the context of counselling as it related to rural and remote nursing practice;
2. differentiate the skills associated with counselling practice;
3. evaluate the impact of self on the counselling role;
4. competently apply basic counselling skills to appropriate situations;
5. identify formal and informal referral services and networks that may constitute a rural helping system for both clients and themselves;
6. explain the legal and ethical implications of providing counselling support in small communities; and
7. outline the diversity of issues that may need to be considered when couselling people in rural and remote communities.

Assessment

Assignment: 30%
Oral assignment: 20%
Examination: 50%

Contact hours

Ms Michelle Richardson

Prerequisites

NUR1401, NUR2104, NUR3104

Co-requisites

Must be enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing and Rural Health Practice.