NURS 6312 Assignments: Advanced Mental Health Concepts

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course develops the theoretical basis for advanced practice nursing in mental health. Students use a holistic perspective to examine the etiology, meaning and consequences of human behavior. Biological, cultural, psychological and social aspects of mental health and mental health care are considered.

CREDIT AND TIME ALLOCATION

Credit Hour Allocations: 3 semester credit hours
Clock Hour Allocations: 45 hours class

PREREQUISITES

Graduate standing

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the Master of Science in Nursing Program (MSN) students will:

Integrate scientific findings from nursing and related sciences, including genetics and genomics, into the delivery of advanced nursing care to populations in diverse settings.
Demonstrate organizational and systems leadership to assure ethical and critical decision-making at all systems’ levels for quality and patient safety.
Incorporate performance improvement strategies for quality, safety, and patient-centered care delivery.
Use improvement science to achieve optimal patient care and care environment outcomes.
Integrate meaningful and usable information systems and healthcare technologies to support safe, quality patient care and healthcare systems effectiveness.
Advocate for policy changes that influence healthcare at appropriate levels.
Lead interprofessional teams using collaborative strategies to effect quality patient care and population health outcomes.
Analyze and incorporate broad ecological and social health determinants to design and deliver evidence-based clinical prevention and population healthcare and services to individuals, families, and aggregates/identified populations.
Integrate the advanced competencies expected of a master’s prepared nurse to design, deliver, and evaluate outcomes of systems of care for individuals, families, and diverse populations.

COURSE OUTCOMES

Discuss therapeutic use of self in management of clients with actual and potential mental health problems.
Apply knowledge about the structure and function of the brain to patients with mental health problems.
Describe the process of a comprehensive mental health assessment which includes but is not limited to mental status examination, laboratory testing, neuropsychological testing and imaging techniques.
Generate appropriate diagnoses for persons with mental disorders using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Discuss the application of crisis intervention to patients experiencing psychiatric emergencies as well as those experiencing maturation and situational crises.
Plan appropriate pharmacologic management to people with mental disorders across the lifespan.
Evaluate the evidence base for use of complementary and alternative therapies for persons with mental disorders.
Analyze the use and efficacy of various somatic therapies with persons with mental disorders.
Apply teaching and learning strategies to the overall management of persons with mental disorders.
Apply research findings to the overall management of persons with mental disorders.
Relate ethical standards and decision making to the care of patients with mental health problems.
Appraise clinical and preventive mental health services in light of evidence.
Describe cultural proficiency in the clinical management of patients with mental health problems.
Critique how mental health care services and funding effect impact care of persons with mental disorders.

GRADING SCALE FOR GRADUATE COURSES

A = 4 points (90-100)
B = 3 points (80-89)
C = 2 points (75-79)
D = 1 point (66-74)
F = 0 points (65 or below)

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION / GRADES

Grade Percentages:
20%     Written Mental Health Assessment (Group Assignment)
20% Written Midterm Case Studies (Group Assignment)
20% Written Patient Management Paper (Group Assignment)
20%     2 Reflective Journals (10% each)
10%     Class Participation
10 %    Group Participation (Written Self Evaluation/Group Evaluation)
100% – Total

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

If written assignments are made in a course they are required.
Students are expected to submit written work on the scheduled date and time.
The student must notify the course coordinator prior to the scheduled due date and time if they are unable to submit the written work as scheduled. Failure to make this notification in advance will result in a “zero” for that written work.
If the excuse is accepted as reasonable and necessary, arrangements will be made for an alternative due date and time.
Each student is responsible for making sure that he or she has completed the written work prior to submission.
Late work will be accepted with consequences as outlined per course syllabi.

APA GUIDELINES

The APA Publication Manual 6th edition is required for use in all nursing school programs.

REQUIRED TEXT / REFERENCE

American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretative statements. Washington, DC: Author
ISBN#9781558105997

American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. 6th Ed. Washington, DC: Author
ISBN#9781433805615

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5 5th Ed. Washington, DC: Author
ISBN #97808904256

Sadock, B.J. & Sadock, V.A. (2015). Kaplan & Sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry: Behavioral sciences/Clinical psychiatry. 11th Ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
ISBN#9780890425558

Townsend, M. C. (2018). Psychiatric nursing: Assessment, care plans and medications. 10th Ed. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Publishers
ISBN# 09780803660557

KINDLY ORDER NOW FOR A CUSTOM-WRITTEN AND PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER

CONTENT OUTLINE

1. Therapeutic use of self
2. Review of brain anatomy and physiology and behavioral models in

a. Mental processes and symptoms

b. Models of human behavior

3. Assessment of mental health in various age groups

a. Assessment tools

b. Mental Health History

c. Mental Status Examination

d. Laboratory Tests for mental health: Basic screening tests, Neuroendocrine Tests, Blood levels of psychoactive agents, Urine screens for substance abuse

e. Neuropsychological testing

f. Imaging techniques: MRI, PET, SPECT

g. Other

4. Classification systems for mental health

a. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

5. Crisis Intervention

a. Psychiatric emergencies

b. Transitional (maturational and situational) Crises across the life span

c. Techniques of crisis intervention

d. Evaluation of outcomes

6. Psychopharmacology & Disease Processes

a. Assessing the need for medication

b. Referral of appropriate clients for medication evaluation

c. Medication teaching and monitoring specific to people with mental disorders

d. Across the lifespan

7. Other biological therapies

a. Light as therapy

8. Other therapies

a. Social support manipulation

b. Curanderism

c. Stress management techniques

d. Affirmations and visualization

9. Teaching/learning strategies
10. Scholarship in mental health

a. Issues and methodologies

b. Research findings

11. Ethical/Legal Issues: Mental Health Code, Human/Patient Bill of Rights specific to protected populations
12. Delivery of evidence-based clinical and preventive mental health services.
13. Cultural components of care
14. Mental health care services and funding