In this unit students will integrate and extend their knowledge and skills in health settings where mental health knowledge is required. Students will develop their understanding of the facilitators and barriers to supported decision making, and consumer choice and dignity. Students will apply critical thinking and clinical reasoning to formulate nursing management of people with selected mental health conditions across the lifespan. Underpinned by lived experience knowledge, human rights and a biopsychosocial framework, students will further develop their knowledge and skills in mental health assessment, planning and evaluation of care to facilitate consumers and their families as active partners in decision-making and treatment planning. The complexity of co-morbidity and psychosocial disability across the lifespan will be explored, and students will develop the ability to critique issues of access and equity in mental health care. Students will explore pharmacotherapeutics and quality use of medicines in the administration of psychotropic medications. Using a lifespan approach, students will learn how concepts of population health, pathophysiology, neurobiology and digital health impact on the delivery of evidence based, person centred nursing care in mental health settings. Students will apply this knowledge and skills in selected treatment modalities, in nursing simulation and workshops.

Unit details

Location:
Study level:
Undergraduate
Credit points:
12
Unit code:
HNB2005

Prerequisites

HNB2001 - Contemporary Nursing A

HNB2002 - Contemporary Nursing and Mental Health A

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. Articulate legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks including code of conduct, and code of ethics and international classification systems for mental disorders to guide the safe delivery of evidence based person-centred mental health care;  
  2. Translate population health, psychological models of mental wellbeing and distress and related nursing theories to examine treatment approaches used in care of people with mental health problems;  
  3. Adapt clinical reasoning and self-reflection to assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation and documentation of nursing care in selected presentations across the lifespan, including eating disorders, complex trauma, substance use disorders, and comorbid developmental conditions;  
  4. Critique the current provision of mental health care for identified groups in Australian society, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, other cultures and people of diversity; and  
  5. Exhibit knowledge of the pharmacotherapeutics and quality use of psychotropic medicines, to demonstrate principles of safe medication administration.  

Assessment

The assessment tasks link the learning outcomes and graduate capabilities. In the first task students will undertake two online tests. The second assessment is portfolio with two parts, in part A, students will develop a medication diary related to pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and the quality use of psychotropic medicines. Portfolio Part B, applies a case-study with the formation of an evidenced based recovery care plan. The final summative assessment will be an Observed Structured Clinical Assessment (OSCA) of a mental health nursing intervention based on a case study.
Assessment type Description Grade
Test Online Tests (2) (15% each) 30%
Portfolio Part A: Quality use of Medicines Diary (750 words, 20%) Part B: Recovery care plan (750 words, 20%) 40%
Other OSCA: Using a case study apply a mental health nursing intervention 30%
To gain an overall pass in this unit, students must attend 85% of all practical laboratories and clinical simulations for essential skill development and submit all assessment items as per ANMAC expectations. Any absence and or non-submission of assessment items must be supported by relevant documentation and reported to the unit convenor for consideration.

Where to next?

As part of a course

This unit is studied as part of the following courses. Refer to the course page for information on how to apply for the course.

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