James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

NS5350:03

Mental Health Nursing Practice A

External HECS Band 1

100 hours clinical (preceptored). Semester 1.

Available to registered nurses who have completed a yearrsquo;s practice and who are enrolled in a Postgraduate Certificate in Mental Health either at this University or at University of Queensland. Registered nurses who have not yet completed a yearrsquo;s practice will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All must be currently employed in a mental health setting.

Topics include partnerships and standards in care; caring for people with mental illness; families and care and mental illness; ethics in mental health; mental health legislation and nursing responsibilities; nursing roles in different settings; interacting with individuals – counselling; interventions with groups.

Learning Objectives:

  1. identify the role of mental health nurses within mental health care;
  2. identify and accept a variety of attitudes and perspectives to mental illness, its conceptualisation, assessment, diagnosis, treatment and impact;
  3. develop group skills to use with consumers, their families and carers.

Assessment by assignments, clinical evaluation and tutorial participation.