Overview

Course Number:

NR 320

Course Title:

Mental Health Nursing

Credit Hours:

5 credits

Theory Hours:

 3

Laboratory Hours:

 0

Clinical Hours:

 2

Place in Curriculum

Year 3, Semester I

Prerequisite:

NR292, NR325, PSYC290

Corequisite:

None

Course Description

Emphasis is on the dynamics of an individual’s ability to function in society. The course focuses on content relative to anxiety, self-concept, thought disorders, mood alterations, addictive behaviors, organic brain dysfunction, abuse, and violence issues. It also incorporates health promotion and wellness issues such as stress management and personal growth. Therapeutic communication techniques, individual and group therapy practices, and community mental-health resources are also incorporated. A variety of populations and settings are used in the experiential learning component of this course.

Textbooks and Resources

Required Textbooks

The following books are required for this course:

Access E-Book

Townsend, M. C. (2015). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice. (8th ed.). Philadelphia , PA: F. A. Davis Company.


Access E-Book

Vallerand, A. H. & Sanoski, C. A. (with Deglin, J. H.). (2014). Davis's drug guide for nurses. (14th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.

 

American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Optional Textbooks

The following books are required for this course:

Physical Books and Supplies

To obtain all your books and supplies, visit the online Chamberlain bookstore at https://bookstore.chamberlain.edu/.

eBook Details

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Program Outcomes

The outcomes for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program are as follows:

1

Provides individualized comprehensive care based on theories and principles of nursing and related disciplines to individuals, families, aggregates and communities, from entry to the healthcare system through long-term planning.

2

Demonstrates leadership and collaboration with consumers and other healthcare providers in providing care and/or delegating responsibilities for health promotion, illness prevention, health restoration, health maintenance and rehabilitative activities.

3

Communicates effectively with patient populations and other healthcare providers in managing the healthcare of individuals, families, aggregates and communities.

4

Integrates clinical judgment in professional decision making and implementation of the nursing process.

5

Demonstrates responsibility for continued personal and professional development through enrollment in graduate education, continuing education degree programs, professional reading and participation in professional organizations and community service.

6

Implements professional nursing standards by practicing within the legal definitions of nursing practice and acts in accordance with the nursing code of ethics and American Nurses Association (ANA) standards of practice.

7

Practices in established professional roles consistent with entry-level BSN graduates to provide cost-effective, quality healthcare to consumers in structured and unstructured settings.

8

Incorporates evidence-based practice in the provision of professional nursing care to individuals, families, aggregates and communities.

Course Outcomes

Chamberlain College of Nursing courses are built to align course content with specific Course Outcomes (COs). The COs define the learning objectives that the student will be required to comprehend and demonstrate by course completion. Unit outcomes provide further detail to support learner achievement of specific COs and are listed within each unit under the introduction. Whenever possible, a reference will be made from a particular assignment or discussion back to the CO that it emphasizes.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to do the following.

1

Demonstrate knowledge of psychopathology and mental health principles when caring for individuals, families, and groups in acute care and community mental health settings. (PO #1)

2

Collaborate with consumers and other mental health team members in health promotion, illness prevention, health restoration and maintenance, and rehabilitative activities for psychiatric/mental health clients. (PO #2)

3

Utilize communication skills and the four phases of the therapeutic relationship in providing care to psychiatric/mental health clients. (PO #3)

4

Utilize critical thinking skills in clinical decision-making and implementation of the nursing process for psychiatric/mental health clients. (PO #4)

5

Utilize available resources to meet self-identified goals for personal, professional, and educational development appropriate to the mental health setting. (PO #5)

6

Utilize principles of stress/crisis management for self and others while in the mental health setting. (PO #5)

7

Examine moral, ethical, legal, and professional standards and principles as a basis for clinical decision making. (PO #6)

8

Demonstrate accountability and responsibility for own actions while functioning as a member of the interdisciplinary mental health team. (PO #7)

9

Utilize research findings as a basis for the development of a group leadership experience. (PO #8)

Key Concepts

1

Personality Development and Conceptual Models

2

Mental Health and Life Span Continuum

3

DSM5

4

Therapeutic Communication

  1. Therapy Modalities
  2. Relationship Building

5

Anxiety Disorders

6

Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders

7

Dissociative and Personality Disorders

8

Mood and Thought Disorders

9

Eating Disorders

10

Substance Abuse

11

Domestic Violence

Learning Plan

Download and review the NR320 Mental Health Nursing Learning Plan. This learning plan provides a list of unit outcomes and detailed key topics covered in the course.

Required Uniform Assignments (RUAs)

Required Uniform Assignments (RUAs) are essential elements of assessment that are consistent across the curriculum at Chamberlain College of Nursing. These assessments help measure and track students' progress in meeting the BSN Program Outcomes. Each RUA is course-specific and required in both online and campus courses. Download the Scholarly Article Review guidelines and grading rubric to begin planning for the successful completion of this assignment.

If you have any questions about the assignment please speak to your instructor.

Course Schedule

Unit, COs, and TopicsReadingsAssignments

Unit 1

COs 1, 3, 7, and 8

Building Blocks of Mental Health

Townsend, M. C. (2015). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice. (8th ed.). Philadelphia , PA: F. A. Davis Company.

  • Chapter 2: Mental Health/Mental Illness, Historical and Theoretical Concepts, pp. 12–16
  • Chapter 5: Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, pp. 78–94
  • Chapter 7: Relationship Development, pp. 122–134
  • Chapter 8: Therapeutic Communication, pp. 135–149

Chapters and Information to Review

  • Chapter 3: Theoretical Models of Personality Development, review pp. 28–46
  • Appendix D: DSM-5 Classification, pp. 875–890

Medication Calculation Exam

Chapter review questions

Unit 2

COs 1, 4, and 6

Nursing Care of Persons With Mental Illness

Townsend, M. C. (2015). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice. (8th ed.). Philadelphia , PA: F. A. Davis Company.

  • Chapter 4: Concepts of Psychobiology, pp. 56–58, 66–67, and 69–76 and Table 4-4, Biological Implications of Psychiatric Disorders
  • Chapter 13: Crisis Intervention, pp. 217–234
  • Chapter 14: Assertiveness Training, pp. 235–246
  • Chapter 16: Anger/Aggression Management, pp. 264–271

Chapters and Information to Review

  • Chapter 9: The Nursing Process in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, pp. 150–172

Chapter review questions

Exam #1 (Units 1 & 2)

Unit 3

COs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8

Mental Health Therapies and Nursing Care of the Person With Loss, Somatoform, or Dissociative Disorders

Townsend, M. C. (2015). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice. (8th ed.). Philadelphia , PA: F. A. Davis Company.

  • Chapter 10: Therapeutic Groups, pp. 180–183
  • Chapter 12: Milieu Therapy—The Therapeutic Community, pp. 208–216
  • Chapter 18: Behavior Therapy, pp. 289–297
  • Chapter 19: Cognitive Therapy, pp. 298–301
  • Chapter 20: Electroconvulsive Therapy, pp. 310–317
  • Chapter 29: Somatic Symptom and Dissociative Disorders, pp. 581–607
  • Chapter 37: The Bereaved Individual, pp. 830–849

Chapter review questions

Standardized Clinical Experience (SCE)

Unit 4

COs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8

Nursing Care of the Persons With Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidal Ideations

Townsend, M. C. (2015). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice. (8th ed.). Philadelphia , PA: F. A. Davis Company.

  • Chapter 17: The Suicidal Client, pp. 274–287
  • Chapter 25: Depressive Disorders, pp. 458–495
  • Chapter 26: Bipolar and Related Disorders, pp. 498–526
  • Chapter 27: Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, and Related Disorders, pp. 528–557
  • Chapter 28: Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders, pp. 560-566 (PTSD)

Chapter review questions

Standardized Clinical Experience (SCE)

HESI RN case studies

  • Depression
  • Major Depressive Disorder
Exam #2 (Units 3 & 4)

Unit 5

COs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8

Nursing Care of Persons With Alterations in Psychosocial Adaptation

Townsend, M. C. (2015). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice. (8th ed.). Philadelphia , PA: F. A. Davis Company.

  • Chapter 24: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders, pp. 419–456
  • Chapter 31: Eating Disorders, pp. 646–667

Chapter 32: Personality Disorders, pp. 669–700

Chapter review questions

Standardized Clinical Experience (SCE)

HESI RN case studies

  • Psychosis
  • Schizophrenia

Unit 6

COs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9

Nursing Care of Persons With Neurocognitive Disorders and Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders

Townsend, M. C. (2015). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice. (8th ed.). Philadelphia , PA: F. A. Davis Company.

  • Chapter 22: Neurocognitive Disorders, pp. 332–362
  • Chapter 23: Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders, pp. 365–416

Scholarly Article Review (RUA)

Chapter review questions

Standardized Clinical Experience (SCE)

HESI RN case studies

  • Alcoholism
  • Alzheimer’s disease
Exam #3 (Units 5 & 6)

Unit 7

COs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8

Mental Health and Wellness Across the Life Span

Townsend, M. C. (2015). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice. (8th ed.). Philadelphia , PA: F. A. Davis Company.

  • Chapter 33: Children and Adolescents, pp. 704–745
  • Chapter 34: The Aging Individual, pp. 747–775
  • Chapter 35: Survivors of Abuse or Neglect, pp. 777–796

Chapter 36: Community Mental Health Nursing, pp. 798–828

Chapter review questions

Standardized Clinical Experience (SCE)

HESI RN case study

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Unit 8

All COs

Comprehensive Review

 

Standardized Final Exam

Standardized Clinical Experience (SCE)

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and consistent participation within the classroom, lab, and clinical experiences facilitate the achievement of course outcomes set forth in the course syllabi. Students must arrive on time and stay for the duration of the class meeting, lab, and/or clinical experience. Late arrival may result in denied access to the class.  Absences and/or tardiness from lecture, pre-clinical, clinical (including pre- and post-conferences), and/or lab experiences (including pre- and debriefing) may prohibit students from completing all components of the nursing course, resulting in course failure.

Attendance is tracked for all eight weeks of the session on a course-by-course basis and is recorded daily based on academic events. An academic event for onsite courses is defined by attending scheduled class meetings. An academic event for online courses is defined by submitting a class assignment, participating in threaded discussions, or completing quizzes and exams. An academic event for blended courses is defined by attendance in the onsite component or by submitting a class assignment, participating in threaded discussions or completing quizzes and exams in the online component.

Laboratory Class and Clinical Experiences

Lab time is utilized to practice and master skills to meet criteria that demonstrate completion of course outcomes. Students must complete all required lab, clinical and pre-clinical experiences in order to satisfy the clinical hours for each course. Demonstration of nursing skills and/or required competencies must be performed satisfactorily to pass the lab component of the course (see Skills Checklist for criteria).

In cases of emergency or severe illness, equivalent learning opportunities for absences may be offered, at the discretion of the faculty member and contingent upon availability of resources. Make- up experiences are not guaranteed and supporting documentation may be required. Students must notify the instructor and clinical agency in a manner specified by the instructor within the requested time frame. Students who are not in the appropriate attire and/or are not prepared for clinical practice may be dismissed from the clinical setting.

Due Dates for Assignments and Exams

Unless otherwise specified, the following applies.

  • Access to the course begins on Sunday at 12:01 a.m. (MT) during preview week.
  • All completed assignments are to be submitted to the Dropbox on or before Friday by 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time (MT) or as specified by your faculty.
  • All quizzes and exams, if applicable in your course, are offered at specific times.
    • Campus Courses: Campus faculty will share the date, time, and location with students at the beginning of each session.
    • Online Courses: Online faculty will share online exam schedule with students during preview week in a course announcement. Students should refer to the posted announcement for the specific dates and times for their exam schedule.

Note: In Unit 8 the assignments will be due by Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. MT.

If you are taking this course on campus, a course calendar includes detailed information related to activities and due dates may be available for downloading from Doc Sharing. Please check with your instructor for more information.

If you are taking this course online, Please be advised that you may be required to take your tests on the campus in a proctored environment. Your campus will post the date, time and location of exams. If testing will take place online, the online faculty will share the exam schedule with students during preview week in a course announcement. Students should refer to the posted announcement for the specific dates and times for their exam schedule.

Assignment Values and Letter Grades

All course assignments and examinations must be completed in order to pass the course.

The maximum score in this class is 1,000 points. The categories, which contribute to your final grade, are weighted as follows.

AssignmentPointsWeighting
Examinations*
Exam 120020%
Exam 224024%
Exam 324024%
Final Exam10010%
Medication Administration Exam (First attempt)**202%
*Must achieve an average of 76% to pass the course
Graded Activities
Scholarly Article Review - RUA Unit 610010%
Faculty Selected Assignments10010%
Total Points1,000100%
Letter GradePointsPercentage
A  940–1,00094% to 100%
A- 920–93992% to 93%
B+890–91989% to 91%
B  860–88986% to 88%
B- 840–85984% to 85%
C+810–83981% to 83%
C  760–80976% to 80%
F  759 and below75% and below

Teaching/Learning Methods

Examples include, but are not limited to

  • assignments;
  • case studies;
  • discussion;
  • experiential learning
  • group assignments;
  • lectures; and
  • multimedia presentations.