NURS 135 Mental Health Nursing

3 credits

This course introduces nursing concepts and care related to emotional, mental, and behavioral disturbances and disorders. It emphasizes basic concepts including mental status assessment and documentation, therapeutic communication, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment strategies, legal and ethical principles related to mental health and illness, and the role and responsibilities of the nurse in the mental health care setting.

Prerequisites: All NURS courses in previous quarter

Corequisites: All NURS courses within same quarter

Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Describe the role and responsibilities of the nurse in mental health care setting that promotes milieu safety, therapeutic communication, team collaboration, and patient-centered care
Recognize legal and ethical principles related to mental health care. Apply evidence-based nursing care strategies that protect the legal rights and dignity of this vulnerable population
Differentiate the etiology, psychopathology, typical signs and symptoms, common treatment and pharmacological strategies related to select mental health disorders including anxiety, mood, depression, psychosis, eating, substance use, personality, and cognitive disorders
Describe strategies that promote protective factors and decrease risk factors in the development and management of mental health disorders
Utilize mental status exam, individual disorder questionnaires, and therapeutic communication skills to inform the clinical decision making for patient centered care
Identify individualized teaching strategies to assist the client in acquiring essential knowledge necessary for mental health maintenance, promotion, and restoration
Evaluate appropriateness of referral resources that prioritize safety of patient and community
Examine instances of mental health stigma; formulate strategies to reduce its negative impact in practice or community

College-Wide Learning Outcomes
This course teaches to the college-wide learning outcome of Cultural Humility, the ability to practice lifelong learning and critical self-reflection in order to understand one’s own cultural identity and its impact on being open to and supporting the cultures of others.

Total Hours: 30 Theory (Lecture) Hours: 30