Advanced knowledge of mental health and the treatment of mental disorders is germane to the provision of high-quality Nurse Practitioner practice in the community setting. This course is designed to develop a solid understanding of the approach to the promotion of mental health and the prevention of mental illness, as well as, how to screen for, diagnose and treat mental disorders commonly seen in the primary care setting.
NURS 527 is a required course within the program of study leading to the Post Master's Diploma: Nurse Practitioner or the Master of Nursing: Nurse Practitioner degree.
Outline
NURS 527 is comprised of 6 modules:
Module 1: Concepts in Mental Health
Module 2: The Approach to the Diagnosis of Mental Disorders
Module 3: Pharmacological Treatment of Mental Disorders
Module 4: Psychotherapies for Mental Disorders
Module 5: Special Issues in Mental Health
Module 6: Mental Health Issues in Pediatrics
Objectives
Building on knowledge of neurodevelopment, physiology, pharmacology, and the Nurse Practitioner approach to care, NURS 527 is designed to help students achieve the following:
Identify evidence-based strategies that promote mental health and help prevent mental illness
Utilize diagnostic and screening tools to assess for and evaluate mental health/illness
Assess individual risk for mental illness
Make a mental health diagnosis based on the DSM-5 criteria
Identify mental health emergencies and respond appropriately
Articulate an approach to prescribing for mental disorders
Safely manage and monitor clients receiving selected classes of psychotherapeutic agents
Discuss special topics like pediatric and pregnancy-related mental disorders, as well as mental health issues in certain settings like prisons or the military
Describe evidence-based psychotherapies commonly used in community settings
Discuss strategies to establish therapeutic relationships with clients seeking primary care
Determine how and when to collaborate with other mental health professionals to optimize care
Identify ethical and legal issues related to mental health care in NP practice
Evaluation
Self-assessment - Quizzes
Students are required to complete several short multiple-choice-type quizzes within each module. Each quiz is designed to provide feedback until the correct answer is selected. In this way, the assessment processes become a secondary learning tool.
Course assessment - Exams
There are three exams placed at intervals throughout the course. An average mark of 70% is required to successfully pass the course.
Activity
Weight
Quizzes
0%
Exam 1
30%
Exam 2
30%
Exam 3
40%
Total
100%
Materials
American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition). Washington, DC: Author. (Recommended, but not supplied) (Print)
There are no textbooks for this course.
Other Materials
Study Guide
On-line articles, references and websites
Technical Requirements
Computer System
In order to successfully complete this course, you must own or have ready access to certain computer hardware and software programs. For complete and up-to-date information on the minimum computer requirements required to complete the graduate nursing courses, visit the Centre for Nursing and Health Studies technical site.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.