Mental Health and Illness

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

On campus

Students are expected to devote approximately 36 hours a week (for 3 weeks) to this subject and 40 hours per week for four weeks during clinical practicum.

n/a

This subject introduces students to an understanding of the dimensions of the nursing role in mental health and illness of individuals across the life-span. Students will examine the principles and practices of psychiatric, mental health nursing for patients experiencing an acute or chronic mental illness. This subject will explore and discuss: National Mental Health Plan, major psychiatric disorders, mental health law, psychiatric nursing assessment, advocacy, consumer involvement, collaborative care models, and treatment services. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of psychotropic medication and issues related to medication management for people experiencing mental illness will be discussed.

In the clinical practicum under the guidance of clinical educators/ preceptors, students will gain experience in acute, sub acute or community psychiatric services that enable them to meet the learning objectives of this subject .

The major focus for the clinical practicum component of this subject is the integration of the principles of psychiatric mental health nursing and clinical decision making. On completion of the subject it is expected that students, while providing therapeutic interventions are able to incorporate the further collection of health assessment data and adjust care accordingly for 1-2 patients.

At the completion of this subject students should be able to:

• Identify and be cognisant of the National Mental Health Plan and integrate DHS clinical practices guidelines where relevant;
• describe the aetiology, presentation and management of the major psychiatric disorders;
• express positive attitudes to the care of people experiencing mental health problems;
• utilise strategies that facilitate therapeutic client relationships and actively involve clients in their treatment & care;
• demonstrate the ability to collect assessment data using a comprehensive nursing framework which includes mental status examination and risk assessment;
• utilise data collected to develop a nursing care plan for patients experiencing acute or chronic mental illness;
• demonstrate analytical skills by incorporating the theoretical principles of clinical decision making into their patient care plans;
• discuss and demonstrate in practice the legal and ethical principles related to medication administration, involuntary treatment & detention and the documentation of nursing care;
• implement nursing care for clients under the supervision of a clinical educator or preceptor.

Theoretical component - 60%

1. 2,000-word case study (week 7) - 25%
2. Three-hour written examination (exam week) - 35%

Clinical component (week 13) - 40%

3. Clinical Practicum equivalent to 3,000 words inclusive of: performance appraisal assessment; 4 x 250-word clinical event analyses 4 x 250-word medication logs

Hurdle Requirement

4. 15-minute drug calculation test Students must pass the theoretical, clinical and hurdle components to achieve a pass in the subject

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• the capacity for information seeking, retrieval and evaluation;
• critical thinking and analytical skills;
• an openness to new ideas;
• cultural safety;
• planning and time management skills;
• the ability to work effectively in a team;
• the ability to communicate knowledge through classroom and web-based discussions and written material.