Assessment in Mental Health Nursing

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

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

This subject is designed to develop assessment skills for beginning specialist mental health nursing practice. Skills from Mental Health Nursing 1 will be incorporated with specialist communication skills. Consumer and family perspectives of needs, health and illness will be integrated in the processes of assessment and the investigation of models of care in multi-disciplinary settings. This specialist knowledge will be applied to nursing assessment and care planning, relevant to the range of high- and low-prevalence diagnostic groupings.

On successful completion of this subject students will demonstrate theoretical knowledge and practical skills in mental health nursing by:
1. integrating core principles covered in the subject, to develop foundational knowledge in the principles of mental health nursing assessment and planning;
2. applying knowledge and skills learnt in the subject to plan specialist mental health nursing care;
3. selecting and evaluating nursing interventions for patients with high and low prevalence conditions.

Podcasting and Discussion Board Activities (equivalent to 1000 words) Weeks 1- 8 of subject - 20%
Written assignment (2500 words) Week 9 of subject - 50%
Online quizzes x 3 (45 minutes- equivalent to 1500 words) Weeks 3, 7 and 11 of subject - 30%

Elder, R. and Evans, K. (2012) Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 3rd Edition. Elsevier.
Halpell, B., Cowin, L., Roper, C., Lakeman, R. and Cox, L. (2013). Introducing Mental Health Nursing: A service user-orientd approach, 2nd Edition. A&U.

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.