Foundational concepts in psychiatric care, therapeutic communication, and mental health assessment techniques.
About this course
NURS 1520 Mental Health Nursing I introduces the foundational concepts of psychiatric care and mental health assessment. You will explore therapeutic communication techniques and learn how to approach clients with empathy and cultural safety. The course covers the identification of common mental health disorders and their typical presentations, preparing you to recognize when specialized support is needed.
Through simulated scenarios and case studies, you will practice conducting basic mental health assessments and documenting your findings according to professional nursing standards. You will also learn to identify crisis situations and outline appropriate referral pathways to ensure client safety and continuity of care.
Who takes this course
Credits: 3 · Hours: 45
Prerequisites
None
Learning outcomes
- Apply therapeutic communication strategies in simulated mental health scenarios.
- Conduct a basic mental health assessment using standard screening tools.
- Identify common mental health disorders and their typical presentations.
- Demonstrate empathy and cultural safety when supporting clients with mental health needs.
- Recognize crisis situations and outline appropriate referral pathways.
- Document mental health assessments according to professional nursing standards.
Evaluation
| Component | Weight (%) |
| Participation and Communication Exercises | 20 |
| Mid-term Case Study Analysis | 30 |
| Mental Health Assessment Practical | 30 |
| Final Examination | 20 |