Recommended Study Sequence

This unit is designed to develop students’ knowledge of the principles and processes necessary for evidence-based clinical practice. General concepts associated with evidence-based nursing are explored. In addition students are assisted to formulate focussed clinical questions and conduct a comprehensive literature search for research evidence that may assist in answering such questions. Issues and techniques involved in the rigorous appraisal of research reports are addressed. The importance of clinical significance and individual patient preferences when making clinical judgments about the implementation of research findings are also explored.

Assessment is an essential component of the nurse/client interaction in mental health/psychiatric nursing. Effective nursing depends on comprehensive, accurate, systematic and continuous data collection. This assists the nurse and client to accurately identify and document critical client issues and formulate management strategies. This unit prepares the student in the area of mental health assessment, in identifying the factors that affect individual/family mental health and applying this knowledge to decisions about appropriate interventions.

This unit will assist the student to develop a comprehensive understanding of the nurse-client relationship in mental health nursing, presenting this relationship in its multiple contexts, (e.g., the interpersonal, cultural and socio-political), in order to appreciate factors influencing this relationship and the way it might be ‘lived out’ in practice. The unit assists students to understand: (1) the nurse-client relationship and its development; (2) the nature of the relationship between the client and nurse; (3) how skilled nurses use this relationship to assist their clients; and (4) how the type of relationship the nurse develops with the client frequently determines the quality of work they do together.

Professional practice in mental health nursing is constantly evolving to meet the changing social, political and legal requirements of new perspectives on mental health. These changing requirements include changes to social and political understandings of mental illness and people with mental illness. There has been a changing emphasis in relation to health promotion and education; relationships between consumer/client and health service provider, and between government and non-government agencies. Mental health nurses thus face challenges to develop practice that is congruent with the context of these changing requirements.

This unit is designed in to challenge the student to consider evidence-based practice in mental health nursing. Nurses are required to be accountable for their clinical practice and to be able to argue the evidence for specific nursing interventions. Students undertake critical analysis of evidence-based practice in mental health nursing as a concept, a means of accountability, as a means of defining nursing knowledge. Students will apply evidence-based practice concepts to specific psychiatric disorders and problems.

Research is a necessary undertaking toward the continued development of nursing knowledge as well as personal professional development. The aim of this unit is to both broaden and deepen students’ understanding of research methods and to extend their ability to discuss, appraise the work of others and participate in their own research.

This unit is designed to extend students' knowledge of nursing theory as it applies to mental health nursing. The unit focuses on the application of theoretical and conceptual frameworks to mental health nursing practice. Students will examine the influence of other disciplines on nursing theory, current trends in mental health nursing theory, and societal influences on nursing theory development. Students will develop skills in identifying the concepts and theories that inform specific nursing interventions and in critically analysing current nursing theories and concepts from a mental health perspective.

Assessment is an essential component of the nurse/client interaction in mental health/psychiatric nursing. Effective nursing depends on comprehensive, accurate, systematic and continuous data collection. This assists the nurse and client to accurately identify and document critical client issues and formulate management strategies. This unit prepares the student in the area of mental health assessment, in identifying the factors that affect individual/family mental health and applying this knowledge to decisions about appropriate interventions.

This unit will assist the student to develop a comprehensive understanding of the nurse-client relationship in mental health nursing, presenting this relationship in its multiple contexts, (e.g., the interpersonal, cultural and socio-political), in order to appreciate factors influencing this relationship and the way it might be ‘lived out’ in practice. The unit assists students to understand: (1) the nurse-client relationship and its development; (2) the nature of the relationship between the client and nurse; (3) how skilled nurses use this relationship to assist their clients; and (4) how the type of relationship the nurse develops with the client frequently determines the quality of work they do together.

This unit is designed to develop students’ knowledge of the principles and processes necessary for evidence-based clinical practice. General concepts associated with evidence-based nursing are explored. In addition students are assisted to formulate focussed clinical questions and conduct a comprehensive literature search for research evidence that may assist in answering such questions. Issues and techniques involved in the rigorous appraisal of research reports are addressed. The importance of clinical significance and individual patient preferences when making clinical judgments about the implementation of research findings are also explored.

This unit is designed in to challenge the student to consider evidence-based practice in mental health nursing. Nurses are required to be accountable for their clinical practice and to be able to argue the evidence for specific nursing interventions. Students undertake critical analysis of evidence-based practice in mental health nursing as a concept, a means of accountability, as a means of defining nursing knowledge. Students will apply evidence-based practice concepts to specific psychiatric disorders and problems.

Research is a necessary undertaking toward the continued development of nursing knowledge as well as personal professional development. The aim of this unit is to both broaden and deepen students’ understanding of research methods and to extend their ability to discuss, appraise the work of others and participate in their own research.

Professional practice in mental health nursing is constantly evolving to meet the changing social, political and legal requirements of new perspectives on mental health. These changing requirements include changes to social and political understandings of mental illness and people with mental illness. There has been a changing emphasis in relation to health promotion and education; relationships between consumer/client and health service provider, and between government and non-government agencies. Mental health nurses thus face challenges to develop practice that is congruent with the context of these changing requirements.

This unit is designed to extend students' knowledge of nursing theory as it applies to mental health nursing. The unit focuses on the application of theoretical and conceptual frameworks to mental health nursing practice. Students will examine the influence of other disciplines on nursing theory, current trends in mental health nursing theory, and societal influences on nursing theory development. Students will develop skills in identifying the concepts and theories that inform specific nursing interventions and in critically analysing current nursing theories and concepts from a mental health perspective.

This unit is designed to develop students’ knowledge of the principles and processes necessary for evidence-based clinical practice. General concepts associated with evidence-based nursing are explored. In addition students are assisted to formulate focussed clinical questions and conduct a comprehensive literature search for research evidence that may assist in answering such questions. Issues and techniques involved in the rigorous appraisal of research reports are addressed. The importance of clinical significance and individual patient preferences when making clinical judgments about the implementation of research findings are also explored.

Assessment is an essential component of the nurse/client interaction in mental health/psychiatric nursing. Effective nursing depends on comprehensive, accurate, systematic and continuous data collection. This assists the nurse and client to accurately identify and document critical client issues and formulate management strategies. This unit prepares the student in the area of mental health assessment, in identifying the factors that affect individual/family mental health and applying this knowledge to decisions about appropriate interventions.

This unit will assist the student to develop a comprehensive understanding of the nurse-client relationship in mental health nursing, presenting this relationship in its multiple contexts, (e.g., the interpersonal, cultural and socio-political), in order to appreciate factors influencing this relationship and the way it might be ‘lived out’ in practice. The unit assists students to understand: (1) the nurse-client relationship and its development; (2) the nature of the relationship between the client and nurse; (3) how skilled nurses use this relationship to assist their clients; and (4) how the type of relationship the nurse develops with the client frequently determines the quality of work they do together.

This unit is designed in to challenge the student to consider evidence-based practice in mental health nursing. Nurses are required to be accountable for their clinical practice and to be able to argue the evidence for specific nursing interventions. Students undertake critical analysis of evidence-based practice in mental health nursing as a concept, a means of accountability, as a means of defining nursing knowledge. Students will apply evidence-based practice concepts to specific psychiatric disorders and problems.

In this unit students undertake supervised advanced practice clinical experience in a mental health setting. A university approved clinical supervision contract is negotiated within the student's workplace. Students undertake supervised advanced practice assessment, treatment planning and provision of care for clients. This unit focuses on assessment and clinical decision-making.

This unit examines assessment and treatment planning practices for advanced practice nurses. Components of the unit include advanced assessment skills, diagnostic decision-making, judicious ordering, reading and interpretation of pathology and radiology tests, triaging and prioritisation, pharmacology, intervention and referral skills.

In this unit students undertake supervised advanced practice clinical experience in a mental health setting. A university approved clinical supervision contract is negotiated within the student's workplace. Students undertake supervised assessment, treatment planning and provision of care for clients. This unit focuses on ongoing treatment of clients.

This unit examines the pathophysiological processes associated with mental ill health and illness including sensorineural, endocrine and immune systems, genetics, homeostasis, nutrition, stress and the aging process. It is designed to enhance knowledge, interpretive and research skills required by mental health nurse practitioners when assessing and managing clients who have mental health problems in various health care settings.