Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE NUR2314

 
TITLE Physical Care in Mental Health Nursing

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Mental Health

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit seeks to provide students with the knowledge and skills that are required to address general medical conditions/disorders within psychiatric settings. This is an opportunity for students to gain awareness about these conditions and the basic care principles associated with them particularly by engaging in relevant clinical scenarios that allow for discussion and practice.

By using a combination of theory, demonstration and practice, different areas pertaining to nursing care in a psychiatric setting shall be explored. Topics included are:

- Overview of medical disorders commonly found in a psychiatric setting;
- Common medication used in medical disorders;
- Basic principles of First Aid;
- Routine tests and guidelines;
- Depot Administration;
- Care of patient undergoing Electroconvulsive Therapy.

Study-unit Aims:

The aim of the study-unit is to:

- Provide an overview of the common medical disorders/ conditions commonly found in psychiatric settings;
- Discuss the main general nursing care principles related to these disorders/ conditions;
- Enable familiarity with common medication used in these disorders/ conditions.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Demonstrate awareness of the common medical disorders/ conditions in psychiatric settings;
- Discuss evidence-based general nursing care that needs to be delivered in the management of these disorders/ conditions;
- Evaluate the rationale informing practice;
- Justify clinical actions with theoretical knowledge.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Assess general nursing care requirements of patients under their care;
- Prioritise care requirements;
- Select and implement appropriate nursing interventions under supervision in a safe way;
- Deliver nursing care to a patient who is undergoing Electroconvulsive Therapy;
- Offer basic first aid;
- Understand routine medical tests and follow guidelines.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Perry Potter (2010). Clinical Nursing Skills and Techniques. 7th edition.,USA, Mosby Inc.
- Smeltzer et al (2009). Brunner and Suddarth's Textbook of Medical Surgical Nursing. 12th edition., USA, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Oral Examination SEM2 Yes 30%
Practical SEM2 Yes 70%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit