NU344 Mental Health Nursing
This course examines the development and changing focus of mental health nursing throughout the lifespan. The course is focused on the concepts basic to providing mental health care and meeting the mental health needs of clients along the HEALTH continuum. NURSING theory, DSM-V multi-axial evaluation system, psychobiology, psychopharmacology, the causations of mental illness, and the HUMANITY of the mind/body/spirit connection will be emphasized. The impact of the ENVIRONMENT on the health and well-being of individuals with psychiatric disorders will be addressed through the nursing process. Students are challenged to examine their roles as baccalaureate level nurses in providing health care services to persons affected by mental illness. A variety of teaching strategies are used to synthesize the evidence-based practice to providing quality mental health care to diverse populations. Clinical experiences provide students to observe the nursing process applied in the acute (in-patient), rehabilitation, and community outpatient mental health settings. Classroom: 2.5 hours; Clinical: 68 hours/semester.