Student Guide

Week 1 - History of psychiatric-mental health nursing & Review of nursing and

psychological theories
Students will be exposed to the history of psychiatric and mental health nursing.
Stress will be placed on development of todays psychiatric mental health nurse
and the importance the role serves the mental health patient population (further
learning on the role will be addressed later in the course). Through this students
will be introduced to nursing and psychological theories that supported and further
helped to develop the role and emphasize the need of the psychiatric-mental health
nurse.
Classroom
End-of-class outcomes or objectives The student will:
1. Recall the history of psychiatric-mental health nursing
2. Describe in short the past and current role of the psychiatric nurse
3. Summarize nursing and psychological theories that have impacted
psychiatric-mental health nursing
Pre-class preparation:
1. Read:
Videbeck Ch. 1 and Ch. 3
ANA Psy-MH Nursing Scope and Standards - Pg. 9-13
Stastny, P., & Penney, D. (2008). Lost Luggage, Recovered Lives. American
Journal of Public Health, 98(6), 986988. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2377310/
2. Watch: Video Mental Health Nursing Keep it in Mind
https://youtu.be/zIIEV2LHTHo
3. Web: http://www.suitcaseexhibit.org/index.php?
section=about&subsection=suitcases
In-class activities:
1. Powerpoint presentation of topics will be discussed with opportunity for
questions throughout.
2. Discussion of The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital
Attic
3. Watch pre-class video and discuss as a class
Post-class activity:
Complete one journal entry no less than 250 words, reflecting on week 1 classroom
learning.
Evaluation will be from class participation and journal entry.

Clinical
End-of clinical outcomes/objectives The student will:
1. Identify the role of the student nurse during the psychiatric-mental health
clinical experience.
2. Discuss safety of the student nurse and patient population during the
psychiatric-mental health clinical experience.
3. Recognize importance of milieu management and safety in the mental health
inpatient setting.
Pre-clinical preparation:
1. Read: ANA Psy-MH Nursing Scope and Standards - Pg. 61-62 (Milieu
Therapy)
Clinical Activity:
This weeks clinical will consist of meeting with all student clinical groups and
discussing safety for the student nurse and patients during this clinical rotation. A
special focus on milieu therapy and management will be held with all student
groups. There will be 30 minutes set aside at the end of class to meet with your
assigned clinical instructor and students groups.
Post-clinical activity:
Complete a journal entry discussing goals and potential barriers of these goals
during the psychiatric-mental health clinical experience.
Evaluation will be on the journal entry

Week 2

- Neauroanatomy and neurophysiology in relation to mental health

illness
The student will learn about the neurobiology behind psychiatric-mental health
diagnoses. This will include potential genetic and environmental effects on
neurobiology that could predispose one to a psychiatric illness.
Pre-class & clinical preparation:
1. Read: Videbeck Ch. 2
2. Watch: Video The biology behind schizophrenia
https://youtu.be/V1kSIfxBVfU
In-class activities:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Powerpoint presentations
Watch video with graphics to further understand topics
In-class discussion
Complete journal entry.

Clinical activities:

Tour assigned unit with instructor and student group. Read patient charts.
Observe interactions between nursing staff and patients. Complete journal entry.

Week 3

- Biopsychosocial influences on mental health, at risk populations, and

preventative care
The student will learn about the biopsychosocial influences on mental health. The
student will gain perspective of those who may be at risk and learn about
preventative care.
Pre-class & clinical preparation:
1. Read:
Videbeck Ch. 4, 11, & 12
ANA Psy-MH Nursing Scope and Standards Read topics pertaining to
prevention and education
In-class activities:
1. Powerpoint presentation
2. Separate into groups to discuss at-risk groups and ways that prevention can
be initiated
3. Complete journal entry.
Clinical activities:
Continue to observe nurse and patient interactions. Become more involved in the
milieu setting if safe. Start to read through medical records and ask instructor
questions about diagnoses and medications. Complete journal entry.

Week 4

Review of mental health illnesses and diseases

The student will begin to learn of specific and common diagnoses in the
psychiatric-mental health setting. Each diagnosis with have a focus on signs and
symptoms and brief focus on medication management and treatment options as
these will be discusses more in depth later in the course.
Pre-class & clinical preparation:
1. Read: Unit 4 (Ch.13-21). *Skim through each chapter and focus more on the
signs/symptoms*
In-class activities:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Powerpoint presentations
Watch videos of individuals with discussed diagnoses
In-class discussion
Complete journal entry

Clinical activities:
The student will have an assigned patient this week deemed appropriate by the
instructor and nursing staff. The student may read through the chart and ask
questions pertaining to the patient. The student will connect with the patients
assigned nurse and observe this specific interaction. If safe, the student may
spend time communicating therapeutically with this patient in an open area.
Continue to attend and observe therapeutic groups. Complete journal entry.

Week 5

- Treatments and therapies for psychiatric-mental health population &

Psychopharmacology
Special attention will be given this week to the above topics. The student will
learn of the various treatment options available and may be diagnosis specific.
Psychopharmacology will be discussed in the same manner with a focus of
potential and common side effects.
Pre-class & clinical preparation:
1. Read: Videbeck Ch.2 (pg. 24-37) , Ch. 3, and Ch. 4
In-class activities:
1. Powerpoint presentations
2. In-class discussion
3. Complete journal entry.
Clinical activities:
Continue to build therapeutic relationships with patient population. Participate in
medication administration. Complete a care plan for an assigned patient with
guidance from clinical instructor. Complete journal entry.

Week 6 - Therapeutic communication and its importance to psychiatric-mental

health nursing
Students will learn the importance of therapeutic communication to psychiatricmental health nursing and those they serve. Styles, techniques, and therapeutic
interventions will be highlighted.
Classroom
End-of-class outcomes or objectives The student will:
1. Summarize the importance of therapeutic communication between the nurse
and patient..
2. Identify different safe therapeutic approaches that can be used while a
patient is in crisis.

3. Apply knowledge of therapeutic communication during role-playing

activities.
Pre-class preparation:
1. Read:
Videbeck Ch. 5 and Ch. 6
ANA Psy-MH Nursing Scope and Standards - Pg. 76, skim other sections that
describe role of nurse
2. Web: http://www.mhpod.gov.au/node/95 *Click launch topic
In-class activities:
1. Powerpoint presentation of topics will be discussed with opportunity for
questions throughout.
2. In-class discussion
3. Participate in role-playing activity
4. Lab simulation (last day of class)
Post-class activity:
Complete one journal entry no less than 250 words, reflecting on week 1 classroom
learning.
Evaluation will be from class participation, ole playing activity, lab simulation, and
journal entry.
Clinical
End-of clinical outcomes/objectives The student will:
1. Demonstrate safe and affective therapeutic communication in the clinical
setting.
Pre-clinical preparation:
1. Read:
Videbeck Ch. 5 and Ch. 6
ANA Psy-MH Nursing Scope and Standards - Pg. 76, skim other sections that
describe role of nurse
Clinical Activity:
This weeks clinical will continue to be building upon skills that are being
developed during this course. Begin thinking about narrative therapy assignment
and report to clinical instructor with ideas for feedback.
Post-clinical activity:
Complete a journal entry.

Evaluation will be on the journal entry, clinical performance, and narrative

assignment brainstorming.

Week 7

Role of the psychiatric-mental health nurse in the inpatient,

outpatient, and community settings.
The student will further develop an understanding of todays psychiatric-mental
health nurse in a variety of settings. Emphasis will be placed on the need and
future needs within this speciality.
Pre-class & clinical preparation:
1. Read:
Videbeck Ch.8 and Ch. 9. *Optional* -Unit 4 (Ch.13-21). *look at the
community-based care sections
ANA Psy-MH Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
In-class activities:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Powerpoint presentations
Experiences PMH nurses to present
In-class discussion
Complete journal entry

Clinical activities:
Positively terminate any relationships built during the clinical experience.
Complete narrative assignment. Complete final journal entry.