NS5313:03
Ethical, Legal and Health Policy in Mental Health Nursing
Townsville
30 contact hours. Block mode. Second semester.
Available to students who have registration as a nurse; preferably with Bachelor’s preparation in nursing or a related discipline, and who have undertaken, or co-enrolled, in NS5310.
Staff: Mr J Morrissey.
This subject examines three major aspects relating to services for the mentally ill: legal issues, ethical issues and health policy. The emphasis will be on drawing together appropriate material from these issues and using them to describe how psychiatric nurses ought to behave, individually and collectively, in relation to the mentally ill. The focus will be on balancing the rights and responsibilities of the mentally ill with the rights and responsibilities of society towards the mentally ill. Content will cover legislation such as Mental Health Act, Queensland Mental Health Act, Nurses Act Regulations, consumer-oriented issues surrounding delivery and acceptance of health care, ethical theories, current health policies such as National Mental Health Plan, WHO, Queensland Mental Health Plan and the effects of the Burdekin report and the Carter inquiry.
Learning Objectives:
- demonstrate knowledge of governmental issues affecting availability of mental health services and of the relevant legislation to provision of health care, particularly Queensland Mental Health Act and Nurses Act Regulations;
- recognise when policies and practices impinge on rights of individuals and groups;
- identify ethical issues and apply ethical theories to these issues as a framework for mental health practice;
- understand the meaning and application of the principles of informed consent in relation to treatment and research participation.
Assessment by student presentation (40%); written assignment (60%).
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