Overview
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
Materials
Physical course materials
The following course materials are included in a course package that will be shipped to your home prior to your course’s start date:
American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition). Washington, DC: Author. (Recommended, but not supplied)
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.