Overview

Through a strengths-based solution focused framework students will be introduced to providing care for consumers of mental health services and their families. This unit will assist students to understand the complex causation of mental illness. Students will study mental health diagnosis, the most effective interventions and treatment options for the mentally ill. Students will explore a recovery-oriented, empathic and holistic approach to psychiatric and mental health nursing practice. Preventative mental health strategies, and current and emerging interventions will assist students to develop the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to interact effectively with individuals and their families.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Analyse the care received by people requiring mental health intervention; and appraise the theories and concepts of mental illness
  • Explore the implications of the Victorian Mental Health Act (2014) on the care of people receiving mental health care within the framework of recovery oriented nursing practice
  • Undertake a comprehensive mental health assessment including mental state examination, substance use, trauma and discussion of other risk assessment/diagnostic tools
  • Utilise therapeutic communication skills to form a relationship with people requiring care from a mental health professional
  • Critically analyse therapeutic interventions used in the care of people who are receiving care in a mental health environment
  • Utilise contemporary research and recovery model to inform the care of a person with a mental health illness

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Online
Lecture
2.00 8 weeks 16
On-campus
Class
2.00 8 weeks 16
On-campus
Practical
2.00 8 weeks 16
Placement
Placement
40.00 4 weeks 160
Specified Activities
Various
2.00 8 weeks 16
Unspecified Activities
Various
9.50 8 weeks 76
TOTAL300

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment Individual  Pass/Fail 4,5,6 
Online Quiz Individual  Pass/Fail 1,2,3,4,5 
Professional experience placement 3 Competency Assessments Individual  Pass/Fail 1,2,3,4,5,6 
Professional experience placement, Australian Nursing Standards Assessment Tool (ANSAT) Individual  Pass/Fail 1,2,3,4,5,6 

Content

  • Roles, functions and responsibilities of nurses engaging in a therapeutic interaction with a person with a mental health condition 
  • Person-centred mental health assessment and risk assessment
  • Ethical and legal implications arising from mental illness and mental health nursing 
  • Evidence-based practice and the role of research in mental health care 
  • The impact of comorbidity and implications for nursing
  • Planning care for a person requiring mental health intervention 
  • The interdisciplinary team, working in partnership with the consumer 
  • Recognizing and responding to Mental Health conditions across the lifespan 
  • Treatment modalities utilized in contemporary mental health 
  • The cultural context of mental health in Australia 
  • The role of the nurse in the Forensic Mental Health context

Graduate Attributes:

  • Communication 1 - Verbal Communication (GA1)
  • Communication 2 - Communicating using different media (GA2)
  • Teamwork 1 - Collaboration and negotiation (GA3)
  • Teamwork 2 - Teamwork roles and processes (GA4)
  • Digital Literacies 1 - Information literacy (GA5)
  • Digital Literacies 2 - Technical literacy (GA6)

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.