Program Overview

NRSG263 - Principles of Nursing: Mental Health

Unit Rationale, Description, and Aim

The increasing prevalence of mental health issues in society necessitates that registered nurses recognize and respond to the needs of individuals experiencing mental health conditions. This unit provides opportunities for students to develop fundamental skills and knowledge to engage with individuals experiencing mental health conditions, using a range of therapeutic skills and nursing interventions.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the role of the nurse within the mental health multidisciplinary team.
• Apply therapeutic communication skills essential when interacting with individuals, their families, and carers.
• Apply knowledge of relevant mental health legislation and practice frameworks, including legal and ethical principles.
• Develop skills to conduct mental health assessments for individuals experiencing mental health conditions across the lifespan.
• Examine the factors impacting the mental health and well-being of individuals across the lifespan.
• Apply critical thinking, clinical reasoning, legal, ethical, and practice frameworks when planning contemporary therapeutic interventions.

Content

Topics include:

• Overview of health, mental health, and wellbeing concepts
• The concept of mental health recovery
• Interconnection between mental health and physical health
• Diagnostic overshadowing
• Metabolic syndrome
• Factors impacting mental health and wellbeing
• Stigma
• Cultural diversity and health beliefs
• Mental health priorities in the global and Australian contexts
• Introduction to mental health nursing
• Theoretical frameworks used in mental health nursing
• Role of a mental health nurse within the multidisciplinary team
• Therapeutic communication and engagement
• Mental health legislation and practice frameworks
• Understanding the lived experiences of individuals, families, and carers in relation to mental health
• Recovery-oriented practice and principles of care
• Supported decision-making
• Trauma-informed care
• Person-centered care
• Clinical reasoning cycle
• Vulnerable populations, including Indigenous populations and young people
• Classifications of mental health disorders
• Major mental health conditions
• Identification of early behaviors indicating mental health issues
• Common signs and symptoms
• Comorbidities
• Impact of alcohol and drug use
• Nursing assessment and management of major mental health conditions across the lifespan and within multiple service settings

Assessment Strategy and Rationale

A range of assessment items consistent with University assessment requirements and policy will be used to ensure students achieve the unit learning outcomes and attain the graduate capabilities. Assessments include:

• Therapeutic Communication and Reflection (20%)
• Case Study Presentation (40%)
• Written Exam (40%)

Learning and Teaching Strategy and Rationale

Learning and teaching methods include online activities, lectures, tutorials, simulation-based learning activities, and self-directed study. These methods provide students with foundational knowledge and skills relevant to professional nursing practice, reflecting respect for the individual as an independent learner.

Representative Texts and References

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Association Publishing.
• Foster, K., Marks, P., O'Brien, A., & Raeburn, T. (2020). Mental Health in Nursing: Theory and Practice for Clinical Settings. Elsevier Health Sciences.
• Hercelinskyj, G., & Alexander, L. (2020). Mental health nursing: Applying theory to practice. Cengage.
• Levett-Jones, T. (Ed.). (2022). Clinical Reasoning: Learning to think like a nurse (3rd ed.). Pearson.
• Mental Health Act for your state/territory.
• Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2023). Motivational interviewing. Helping people change (4th ed.). The Guildford Press.
• Moxham, L., Hazelton, M., Muir-Cochrane, E., Heffernan, T., Kneisl, C., & Trigoboff, E. (2018). Contemporary psychiatric-mental health nursing: Partnerships in care. Pearson Education Australia.
• Muir-Cochrane, E., Barkway, P., & Nizette, D. (2018). Pocketbook of Mental Health (3rd ed.). NSW: Elsevier.
• Nizette, D., McAllister, M., & Marks, P. (2021). Stories in mental health. Reflection inquiry action (2nd ed.). Elsevier Australia.
• Skinner, J. (2015). Nursing by the heart: Transformational self-care for nurses. John Hunt Publishing.
• Tiziani, A. P. (2021). Havard's nursing guide to drugs (11th ed). Elsevier.

Locations

• Ballarat
• Brisbane
• Blacktown
• Canberra
• Melbourne
• North Sydney

Credit Points

10

Year

2026