Program Overview

NUR213 - Nursing Speciality 1: Mental Health Nursing

Overview

To view overview information, select an offering from the drop-down menu.

Offerings

• MANDURAH-S1-FACE2FACE-2026-ONGOING

  Teaching period code: Semester 1-S1 Location: Mandurah Attendance mode: Face to Face Start year: 2026 End year: - Self enrol: Yes

• MANDURAH-S2-FACE2FACE-2027-ONGOING

  Teaching period code: Semester 2-S2 Location: Mandurah Attendance mode: Face to Face Start year: 2027 End year: - Self enrol: Yes

• MURDOCH-S1-FACE2FACE-2026-ONGOING

  Teaching period code: Semester 1-S1 Location: Murdoch Attendance mode: Face to Face Start year: 2026 End year: - Self enrol: Yes

• MURDOCH-S2-FACE2FACE-2027-ONGOING

  Teaching period code: Semester 2-S2 Location: Murdoch Attendance mode: Face to Face Start year: 2027 End year: - Self enrol: Yes

Requisites

Exclusion

• NUR236 - 3 cp - Mental Health Nursing
• NUR232 - 3 cp - Case Based Inquiry Acute Care Perspectives 1

Prerequisite

• NUR141 - 3 cp - Work Integrated Learning 1: Gerontological Healthcare
• NUR138 - 3 cp - Clinical Practice 1

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe common mental illnesses and evidence-based approaches to assessment and treatment, emphasising the importance of recognising and building upon the strengths and assets of individuals living with mental illness.
2. Demonstrate a sound understanding of the structure of mental health service delivery in Australia.
3. Identify the role of the nurse caring for the mental health needs of consumers across specialist and generalist healthcare settings, with a focus on promoting resilience, empowerment, and recovery through Strengths-Based approaches to care delivery.
4. Review current research and evidence-based practice and apply to the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of mental health nursing care, integrating Strengths-Based interventions and strategies identified in the literature to enhance patient outcomes and wellbeing.
5. Apply the clinical reasoning cycle in a mental health nursing context, emphasising Strengths-Based collaborative goal setting, and person-centred care planning to support individuals in achieving their recovery goals.

Unit Content

Section 1: Week 1-3 - Foundations of Mental Health Nursing

• Essential clinical skills: Nursing care plans, Risk assessment, MSE
• Topic 1: Introduction to Mental Health and Mental Illness
  • Historical perspectives
  • Service delivery, tiered care and systemic barriers to care
  • Contemporary, strengths-based mental health nursing
• Topic 3: Severe and Enduring Conditions
  • Psychosis and Schizophrenia
  • Bi-polar affective disorder
  • Early intervention in psychosis
  • Strengths-based nursing of people with severe and enduring mental health conditions
• Topic 3: Assessment of Mental Health and Mental Illness
  • Mental Health Assessment Process
  • Collaboration in Assessment
  • Introduction to Screening Tools

Section 2: Week 4-6 - Evidence-Based Care of Severe and Enduring Conditions

• Essential clinical skills: Mental Health Act Documentation, Z track injection technique, Therapeutic assessment
• Topic 4: Mental Health Legislation and Ethics
  • Involuntary Care
  • Ethics of Involuntary Care
  • Mental Health Act Documentation
  • De-escalation and the philosophy of non-restrictive practice
  • Critical Reflection: Restrictive practice and a strengths-based approach to involuntary care
• Topic 5: Pharmacology
  • Common medications prescribed for mental health
  • PRN and the nurse's role in the management of severe agitation
  • Deep intramuscular Z track injection
• Topic 6: Therapeutic, strengths-based nursing care in the context of acute mental healthcare
  • Person-Centred Care
  • Trauma-informed care
  • Communication and patient collaboration skills

Section 3: Week 7-9 - Other Mental Health Conditions, diverse population and the strengths-based approach in action

• Screening and Assessment, Withdrawal scales, therapeutic communication and self-care
• Topic 7: Mild and Moderate Conditions
  • Depression
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Eating Disorders
  • Substance Abuse and harm minimisation
  • Personality Disorders
• Topic 8: Special Populations and Advocacy
  • Mental Health of Aboriginal Australians
  • Diversity and strengths-based mental health nursing
  • Inequalities and systemic barriers to care
  • Perinatal Mental Health
• Topic 9:
  • Advocacy and Leadership
  • Recovery-oriented language in mental healthcare
  • Strengths-based mental health nursing in action: solution-focused, collaborative care
  • Self-care, protecting your boundaries and a platform for critical reflection

Unit Details

• Unit version: 02
• Version start date: 01/01/2026
• Owning college: College of Health and Education
• Owning school: Nursing
• Credit points: 3