SPECIALITY CORE COURSES

Acute Mental Health Care I
Teaching period: Semester 1 or Semester 2
This course explores the theory and practice of the nurse-client relationship as the foundation of mental health nursing. It will also examine fundamental models, theories and nursing strategies which form the basis of those areas of the physical, psychological and social sciences which inform contemporary acute inpatient mental health nursing practice. Students will complete 300 hours related clinical practice.

Acute Mental Health Care II
Teaching period: Semester 1 or Semester 2
This course will build on the student’s previous learning in Acute Mental Health Care I in that it links theory with practice. The focus will be on the acquisition of clinical skills through field based training in the acute inpatient practice setting. Students will complete 300 hours related clinical practice.

Primary Mental Health Care
Teaching period: Semester 1 or Semester 2
This course will focus on the implications of the National Mental Health Reforms in the context of both inpatient and community settings. It will examine the epidemiology of mental illness as well as early intervention techniques and mental health promotion and prevention. Various therapeutic approaches will be identified, emphasising the principles of rehabilitation and recovery, community development and case management.

SPECIALTY ELECTIVE COURSES

Therapeutic Advances in Acute Mental Health
Teaching period: Semester 1 or Semester 2
This course will enable strong links to be made with theory and practice, utilising field based experiential learning within the area of advanced practice as the primary mode. The nurse will focus on the beginning development of their own therapeutic system drawing on models and theories from the humanistic cognitive and behavioural therapies.

Community Mental Health Nursing
Teaching period: Semester 1 or Semester 2
This course will focus on the process and principles of community mental health nursing. It will consist of field based learning supported by flexible learning options. Topics covered will include caseload surveillance, case management, multidisciplinary team work, community development, psychosocial rehabilitation, risk assessment and consumer self empowerment strategies, such as relapse prevention and crisis management.


CORE COURSES

Developing Advanced Practice in Health Systems I
Teaching period: Semester 1 or Semester 2
This course examines contemporary issues related to advanced nursing practice and considers the supports and constraints within which nurses practice. Topics include ethics of care, leadership, advocacy, evidence based practice, health service management, professional standards, health informatics and multicultural health care.

Developing Advanced Practice in Health Systems II
Teaching period: Semester 1 or Semester 2
This course examines the evaluation of clinical practice through clinical audit. Students progress through a series of readings and activities that introduce clinical audit and then progressively work through the processes involved in the development, conduct and reporting of an audit of clinical practice.

Focused Reading in Clinical Nursing (for students granted advanced standing)
Teaching period: Semester 1 or Semester 2
This course examines contemporary clinical nursing practice through a critical review of the literature with a focus on acute care nursing practice. Students are required to follow a protocol to ensure scientific rigour and minimise potential bias.