Mental Health Nursing

Subject 514-766 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 6.25
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

On campus
For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 18 lectures/tutorials/seminars, 6 clinical laboratory sessions, 80 clinical practicum, TOTAL: 104 hours
Total Time Commitment:

Approximately 140 hours

Students are expected to devote approximately 5-6 hours a week to this subject and 40 hours per week for two weeks during clinical practicum.
Prerequisites: Specific readings and web-based resources selected by the subject coordinator will be made available to students through the Leaning Management System (LMS).
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements: It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the University’s courses. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Course Coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

Contact

School of Nursing and Social Work
The University of Melbourne
Level 5, 234 Queensberry St
Carlton Victoria 3053 AUSTRALIA
T: +61 3 8344 9400
F: +61 3 9347 4375
W: www.nursing.unimelb.edu.au
W: www.socialwork.unimelb.edu.au
Subject Overview: This subject provides the opportunity for students to enhance their knowledge in the specialty practice area of mental health nursing. The subject will expand on the theoretical principles underpinning the practice of mental health nursing including: completing a psychiatric admission assessment; conducting a mental status examination; understanding the classification and diagnosis of the major mental disorders across the lifespan; conducting a psychiatric risk assessment. Students will become familiar with immediate interventions required to establish patient safety and a therapeutic environment; ongoing monitoring requirements; the underpinning biological basis of mental health and illness; and principles behind treatment, symptom management, and recovery from mental illness. Interventions initiated by nurses at a beginning level of specialty practice will be described in terms of the research evidence underpinning practice.
Objectives:

Students will be expected to be able to demonstrate their beginning specialty nursing practice through:

  • the ability to understand, apply and evaluate assessment data to recognise and plan a response to patients experiencing alterations to mental health and wellness;
  • the ability to understand and evaluate specialised interventions as described in the subject content to provide a foundation for understanding the delivery of care at the beginning level of specialty practice for mental health consumers;
  • an understanding of the changing knowledge base in the specialist area;
  • the ability to apply scientific knowledge to understand skills and techniques applicable to the specialist area.
Assessment:
  1. 500 word plan for case study (20%) - Due week 4
  2. 2,000-word written case study (80%) - Due week 12
Prescribed Texts: Specific readings and web-based resources selected by the subject coordinator will be made available to students through the Leaning Management System (LMS).
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

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

  • the capacity for information seeking, retrieval and evaluation;
  • critical thinking and analytical skills;
  • an openness to new ideas;
  • cultural sensitivity;
  • planning and time management skills;
  • the ability to work effectively in a team;
  • the ability to communication knowledge though classroom and web-based discussions and written material.
Related Course(s): Master of Nursing Science

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