NURS 135 Mental Health Nursing

• Holistically care for self, patients, colleagues, and community within an ethical, legal, and diverse framework within the scope of practice of the RN
  • Recognize the components for an environment supporting a therapeutic and safe milieu for self, colleagues and the mental health consumer (QSEN: Patient Centered Care, Cafety)
  • Describe the historical, cultural, sociological, and political influences on contemporary mental health nursing
  • Describe the major psychological and nursing theoretical frameworks
  • Recognize key legal and ethical principles in caring for a consumer of mental health care
  • Recognize professional boundaries and risk factors for boundary crossing (QSEN: Patient Centered Pare, Safety)
  • Recognize beneficial self-care practices for maintenance of own emotional wellbeing
  • Identify the respective roles and responsibilities of the interdisciplinary team in the mental health setting (QSEN: Teamwork and Collaboration)
• Demonstrate competency in educating and communicating with patients, families, interdisciplinary teams, and systems with a focus on quality health care promotion and functional patient centered outcomes
  • Identify the components of a therapeutic psychosocial nurse-client relationship in a structured environment  (QSEN: communication)
  • Discuss strategies for safe management of crisis situations that occur in various treatment settings incorporating principles of therapeutic communication and patient psychopathology (QSEN: Safety)
  • Identify critical patient teaching needs associated with the use of commonly prescribed psychotropic medications (GO: Communication, Critical Thinking)
  • Identify the roles and responsibilities of the RN in contributing to primary prevention strategies   
• Implement the nursing care process to demonstrate safe, competent and evidence- based care within a variety of settings using appropriate tools and technologies
  • Recognize potential contributing factors in the development of mental health disorders
  • Identify standard assessment parameters and tools used in the diagnosis of acute and chronic psychiatric disturbances
  • Establish a care plan based on the priority needs of a mental health consumer
  • Describe therapeutic nursing interventions for working with individuals who are experiencing acute and chronic psychiatric disturbances
  • Recognize evidence based nursing care strategies that protect the rights and dignity of this vulnerable population (QSEN: Patient Centered Care) ( GO: Critical Thinking)
  • Discuss the issues and needs related to selected age-related populations, those with a dual diagnosis and those with special needs (QSEN: patient centered care) (GO: intercultural appreciation)
  • Recognize coping mechanisms both adaptive and maladaptive used by patients experiencing a severe and persistent psychiatric disorder
• Utilize clinical reasoning skills to synthesize patient assessment data, scientific knowledge, and pharmacology to safely manage a rapidly changing health care status
  • Identify typical signs and symptoms characteristic of the following mental health disorders (Anxiety, Mood, Psychosis, Eating, Substance abuse, Personality and Cognitive)
  • Recognize potential signs of an impending behavioral crisis (GO critical thinking. QSEN Safety)
  • Recognize the indications and potential side effects associated with commonly used psychotropic medications (QSEN: Safety)
  • Prioritize care strategies for patients experiencing co-morbid health states (GO: Critical Thinking)
  • Recognize patient potential for violence including suicide and homicide (QSEN: Safety)
  • Critically analyze research literature to benefit an evidence based practice nursing approach (QSEN: Informatics, Evidence-based Practice) (GO: Information Literacy)
• Provide leadership to effectively collaborate and delegate with patient, family, interdisciplinary, systems administration and the wider community
  • Demonstrate awareness of the available mental health community resources including but not limited to partial hospitalization programs, PACT program, rehabilitation settings, crisis clinic hotline and support groups (QSEN: Collaboration and Teamwork)
  • Describe levels of prevention under the public health model and the role of the RN at each level (QSEN: Patient Centered Care)
  • Recognize an evidence based practice care plan related to mental health promotion and illness prevention specific to the needs of diverse communities (QSEN: Evidence-Based Practice) (GO: Critical Thinking)
  • Describe the historical, cultural, sociological, and political influences on contemporary mental health nursing (including but not limited to societal stigma, and disparity of resources)
  • Describe the major psychological and nursing theoretical frameworks