Course Description: This course continues to examine mental health across the lifespan from a holistic caring framework. Content builds on concepts introduced in Adult Health I by focusing on the client’s responses to mental health issues. Emphasis is placed on the knowledge and science of nursing which includes the theories of etiology of psychopathology and the role of the nurse in the relation to psychiatric diagnostic categories, treatment, and evaluation. Simulated experiences afford guided practice in integrating knowledge, skills, and attitudes inherent in therapeutic communication in caring for the patient with mental health concerns. Clinical experiences serve to augment communication skills and therapeutic use of self.

Learning Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Apply the knowledge and science of nursing with the natural/behavioral sciences, the humanities and inter-professional education to provide psychiatric/mental health nursing care.

2. Demonstrate capacity to practice psychiatric/mental health nursing using an evidenced- based and theoretically guided framework.

3. Model professional values as a nurse, which reflect the integration of ethical, legal, and moral principles, in delivering quality psychiatric nursing care.

4. Demonstrate use of data from a variety of resources to promote safety and optimal outcomes for patients in a mental health setting.

5. Employ therapeutic communication and professional collaboration when providing psychiatric/mental health care.

6. Model principles of self-care while supporting the mental health and well-being of individuals and communities.

7. Demonstrate basic knowledge of the issues concerning mental health care delivery to diverse individuals, families, groups, communities, or populations.

Reflection #1: Write a one paragraph reflection on how your understanding of mental health problems informs or modifies your understanding of fundamental nursing concepts such as compassion, caring, accountability, advocacy, self-care, resilience, wellness, self-efficacy, etc.

My understanding of mental health problems informs or modifies my understanding of fundamental nursing concepts such as compassion and caring because of how patients sometimes can’t express what they are actually feeling or don’t get the attention they need. For all patients, it should be a basic form of care to give them compassion and care for their well-being. Whether this is relieving their pain, giving them medication, turning them to prevent ulcers, or just sitting and talking to them for a little bit. However, in the busy day of a nurse, some people can forget that all some patients want is the little bit of human contact through something as small as a conversation, especially in the current pandemic, to show them that someone is there and that they care. Sometimes these small things get overlooked and I think understanding mental health problems helps me to focus more on the little things. It helps me realize that some people just want to talk, know that someone is listening, that someone isn’t judging them, and that overall, someone cares about what they have to say and their well-being.