Offered

Gippsland First semester 2008 (Off-campus)
Mildura First semester 2008 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

This unit aims to provide students with introductory counselling skills to assist both themselves and rural clients, families and communities when the need arises for a nurse counselling practitioner. Students will be equipped to respond effectively, while learning professional self care to sustain themselves in their rural context. The unit also incorporates the legal and ethical implications of providing counselling support in a diverse range of small communities where discretional judgement, sensitivity and possible referral may be required.

Objectives

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

1. construct a learning portfolio which demonstrates integration of rural counselling theory, practice and reflection;
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. distinguish formal and informal referral services/networks and access;
6. assess the legal and ethical implications of providing counselling support in small communities and
7. explore the diversity of issues that may need to be considered when counselling people in rural and remote communities.

Assessment

Assignment: 30%
Oral assignment: 20%
Learning portfolio: 50%

Contact hours

Ms Annette Woodhouse

Prerequisites

NUR1401, NUR2104, NUR3104

Co-requisites

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