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Unit of Study NURS2005 - Mental Health Nursing (2025)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Unit type

    UG Coursework Unit

  • Credit points

    12

  • Faculty/College

    Faculty of Health

  • Placement

    Yes

  • Enrolment information

    This unit contains Work Integrated Learning (WIL) that requires students to meet mandatory fit to practice obligations prior to attending. Failure to comply by the fit to practice deadline will result in the cancellation of your WIL and you will not be permitted to continue in this unit. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/health/work-integrated-learning.

Unit description

Develops foundational skills in the specialty of mental health nursing and therapeutic alliances with people experiencing manifestations of mental ill-health or distress in the context of mental health services. This unit will prepare students for a two-week (80hr) professional experience placement in mental health nursing and sets the foundation for a pathway to postgraduate practice in mental health nursing.

Unit content

  1. Introduction to mental health nursing / working with consumers, families and carers as a skilled helper
  2. Holistic assessment of mental state
  3. Major mental illness presentation and care considerations
  4. Evidence based responses
  5. Supporting people to maintain mental health and wellbeing
  6. Interpersonal skills workshop and preparing for WIL

 

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Dual Term1,4
Dual Term1,4
Gold Coast
Dual Term1,4
Dual Term1,4
Lismore
Dual Term1,4
Dual Term1,4

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

demonstrate engagement and empathetic communication with individuals and groups experiencing mental health related problems across the lifespan

provide clinically effective, recovery focused and trauma informed mental health nursing care

effectively undertake assessment, planning, interventions and evaluation of care with people who frequently access acute mental health services

demonstrate foundational skills in helping people who are experiencing emotional distress and/or behavioural disturbances

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • Foster, K., Marks, P., O’Brien, A. J., & Hurley, J. (eds), 2024, Mental health in nursing: Theory and practice for clinical settings, 6th edn, Elsevier Australia, Chatswood.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment
  • No prescribed resources/equipment.

Prescribed Texts
  • Prescribed text information is not currently available.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment
  • Prescribed resources/equipment information is not currently available.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.