Mental Health Nursing 2

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 provide the theoretical and practical foundation for entry level therapeutic practice in specialist mental health nursing practice. Students will extend their understanding of the triggering and sustaining factors in psychological and social distress and crisis, associated with mental health and illness. Students will attain knowledge of evidencebased therapies and associated interpersonal nursing strategies and skills. The specialist knowledge will be applied to therapeutic nursing interventions, relevant to the range of high- and low-prevalence diagnostic groupings.

On successful completion of this subject students will demonstrate theoretical knowledge in mental health nursing by:

• integrating core principles covered in the subject, to develop foundational knowledge in the principles of therapeutic practice in mental health nursing;
• applying knowledge and skills learnt in the subject to plan specialist therapeutic mental health nursing interventions;
• selecting and evaluating nursing interventions for patients with high and low prevalence conditions.

Written assignment (1000 words) Week 5 - 20%
Written assignment (2000 words) Week 10 - 30%
4 x Closed book Tests (Weeks 4, 7, 9, 12) - 50%

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:

• A capacity to articulate their knowledge and understanding in oral and written modes of communication.
• A capacity to manage competing demands on time, including self-directed project work.
• Advanced competencies in areas of professional expertise and/or scholarship.
• Advanced skills and techniques applicable to the discipline.
• Well-developed problem-solving abilities in the discipline area, characterised by flexibility of approach.
• An ability to evaluate and synthesise the research and professional literature in the discipline.
• An appreciation of the ways in which advanced knowledge equips the student to offer leadership in the specialist area.