Mental Health Nursing Practice

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

170 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

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 programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

In this subject students will apply theoretical principles in Assessment in Mental Health Nursing to support comprehensive patient assessment, monitoring and care planning in specialty nursing practice. Students will apply current legal, ethical and policy frameworks to their practice. Students will learn to incorporate knowledge and evidence of bio-psycho-social factors influencing patient outcomes, to inform their clinical decision making in practice.

Students will engage in field practice and demonstrate competency in the specialty through the :
1. Integration of core principles covered in the subject and its pre-requisite, Assessment in Mental Health Nursing, to develop practice knowledge that supports comprehensive patient assessment and monitoring;
2. application of knowledge and skills to recognise, prioritise and respond to patients experiencing acute alterations to health status, integrating the perspectives of consumers, families and carers;
3. evaluation of the effect of nursing interventions in the delivery of safe competent nursing care;
4. application of skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, reflective practice and self-directed learning to the delivery of specialist nursing care.

Written Assignment (2500 Words patient assessment, problem identification and care plan) - 50%
Written Assignment (2500 words – reflective practice) - 50%
8 Clinical Skills Assessments - Hurdle

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of the subject students should have developed the following generic skills of the Melbourne graduate and postgraduate coursework student:
1. A capacity to articulate their knowledge and understanding in oral and written modes of communication.
2. A capacity to manage competing demands on time, including self-directed project work.
3. Advanced competencies in areas of professional expertise and/or scholarship.
4. Advanced skills and techniques applicable to the discipline.
5. Well-developed problem-solving abilities in the discipline area, characterised by flexibility of approach.
6. An ability to evaluate and synthesise the research and professional literature in the discipline.
7. An appreciation of the ways in which advanced knowledge equips the student to offer leadership in the specialist area.