Module Code - Title:
NM4261
-
INTRODUCTION TO MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
To introduce the student to the philosophical and theoretical foundations underpinning mental health nursing practice that offer ways of understanding the nature of mental health and recovery.
Syllabus:
Introduction to the history, philosophy, theories and models underpinning mental health nursing; Conceptualisation of the role of the mental health nurse in a variety of health care settings; mental health service/ structure. Scope of nursing practice, legal, professional and ethical practice. Introduction to the role of the nurse in psychosocial and pharmacological interventions and evidence base approaches to care. Practising as part of the MDT collaborative engagement and partnership working in mental health care. Compassionate person centred nursing. Promoting recovery, enhancing resilience, cultivating hope and relationship building; values and principles underpinning recovery, strengths based approaches. Citizenship, personhood, social inclusion, addressing discrimination and stigma. Maintaining a safe environment and supporting services users to respond to health and safety situations in the home e.g. getting help, managing minor accidents e.g. burns. Global and technological healthcare contexts. The role of the service user movement, working with diverse cultures.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
Discuss the role of the mental health/psychiatric nurse within community and hospital settings.
Understand the philosophical and theoretical foundations underpinning mental health nursing practice.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
Demonstrate a commitment to the ethical and professional values underpinning the practice of Mental Health/Psychiatric nursing.
Appreciate the fundamental requirement of nursing practice to view and treat people with respect and dignity.
Value the principles and processes that support recovery.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
Experience:
This module will provide the student with opportunities to explore the profession of Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing. Each student will begin the process of knowledge attainment which will promote proactive professional nursing practice ensuring quality, compassionate, person-centred and safe care through engagement in the teaching and learning strategies of lectures, tutorials and group work.
Research:
The syllabus and assessment mechanisms will reflect the most relevant national and international health policy, strategies and evidence.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Halter, M. (2022)
Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: a clinical approach, 9th ed.
, Missouri: Elsevier.
Pilgrim, D. (2022)
Key Concepts in Mental Health, 6th ed.
, London: Sage.
Barker, P. (2017)
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing: the craft of caring, 2nd ed.
, London: Routledge.
Other Relevant Texts:
World Health Organisation (2011)
Patient safety curriculum guide: Multi-professional edition
, Geneva: World Health Organisation.
Higgins, A. and McDaid, S. (2014)
Mental Health in Ireland: policy, practice & law
, Dublin: Gill Macmillan
McKenna, H., Pajnikhar, M. and Murphy, F. (2014)
Fundamentals of Nursing Models, Theories and Practice, 2nd ed.
, London: Wiley Blackwell.
Peplau, H. (1991)
Interpersonal Relations in Nursing: a conceptual frame of reference for psychodynamic nursing.
, New York: Springer.
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
BSNUMHUFA - NURSING (MENTAL HEALTH)
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Autumn
Module Leader:
teresa.g.tuohy@ul.ie