Program Overview

Professional/Short Course Medication Management in Mental Health Practice

Course Overview

The Professional/Short course Medication Management in Mental Health Practice is a 20 credit level 6 module. This module will be taught using a mixture of approaches, including problem-centred learning, seminars, lectures, discussions, and case analysis, as well as self-directed learning and learning in practice.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students will achieve the following learning outcomes:

• Develop critical awareness of working with user and carer perspectives about the use of medication
• Demonstrate detailed knowledge of basic clinical psychopharmacology
• Evaluate critically legal and ethical issues that underpin the principles and practice of medication management
• Assess for complex symptomology and the inter-relationship of medication with users' lifestyles
• Critically analyse and implement evidence-based approaches to promoting concordance with medication in complex cases
• Critically appraise and apply risk management strategies to medication management, including the assessment and management of side effects
• Evaluate the practice of educational information to users and carers to ensure informed consent and safe practice
• Demonstrate enhanced awareness of the intentional use of the self in practice with users, carers, and other workers

Careers / Further Study

This module can contribute towards the PGCert Health and Social Care, MSc Clinical Practice, and the Professional Development Awards. It can also contribute towards:

• BSc(Hons) Specialist Practice (District Nursing)
• BSc(Hons) Health and Social Care
• MSc Specialist Practice (District Nursing)
• MSc Advanced Practice
• Professional Development Award

Structure

Content

The module syllabus typically includes:

• Psychopharmacology: Pharmacology including pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics; Anatomy and physiology as applied to prescribing practice; Basic principles of drugs to be prescribed absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion including adverse drug reactions (ADR), interactions, and reactions, including illicit medication.
• Legal and Ethical Issues: Mental Health Act (1983); Legal basis, liability, and indemnity; Legal implications of advice to self-medicate including the use of complementary therapy and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines; Safe keeping of prescription pads, action if lost, writing prescriptions, and record keeping.
• Users, Carers, Concordance, Education, and Information: Working with users and carers; attitudes towards medication; interaction with other treatments, e.g., psychotherapy educational approaches, media, and information; factors affecting concordance, including cognitive understanding, memory, attention, and motivation; access to support; involvement of and with carers.
• Assessment and Risk Management: Use of assessment scales in serious mental illness; symptomology; use of medication in crises; side effects; self-monitoring; use of side effects assessment scales; relapse prevention and management.
• Self-Awareness: The concept of the self: thoughts, feelings, and behaviour; the social self; use of supervision and reflection as a process of development of self-awareness.

Assessment

Assessment for this module comprises a 4,000-word critical incident analysis of a user's medication management.

Course Details

• Course Code: UZZS36203
• Application: University
• Level: Professional/Short Course
• School: School of Health and Social Wellbeing
• Campus: Glenside
• Duration: One semester
• Delivery: Face-to-face
• Course Director: Anthony Lacny

Study Facilities

The College of Health, Science, and Society has an excellent reputation for the quality of its teaching and the facilities it provides.