Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE NUR4301

 
TITLE Acute Care of the Mentally Ill Adult

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Mental Health

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit is the theoretical underpinning of care offered within an acute care in-patient mental health care setting. It explores both the clinical and managerial aspects of acute care and considers special circumstances found within this clinical environment. Acute care of the psychiatric patient is considered to be the area in which most of the key elements of mental health nursing are developed and internalized. For a practitioner to appreciate the full range of clinical opportunities available it is necessary to explore these in relation to the care setting and its individual biopsychosocial influences. In addition systems and frameworks of care are more easily identified within this clinical sub-specialty and it is the intention of this unit to consider these against the processes of wellness and recovery. The unit is driven by the need to explore evidence-based materials and their application to clinical practice.

Study-unit Aims:

- To provide students with information detailing the various types of conditions and mental health problems that may be found in acute mentally ill individuals;
- To consider the differences between the needs of acute and chronic mental health patients;
- To provide an overview of the issues relating to nursing in an acute setting as opposed to other clinical areas;
- To consider legal and ethical issues that influence the provision of care within acute care settings.

Learning Outcomes:

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

- Describe mental illnesses/conditions prevalent in acute care settings;
- Describe the differences between the needs of patients with acute mental health problems and those with chronic mental illnesses;
- Explore strengths and weaknesses in their own personal care skills for acute care patients;
- Identify the care management issues related to acute care;
- Explore personal strategies for managing acute mental health problems with special consideration given to issues of patient compliance, collaboration and concordance;
- Discuss the legal and ethical issues related to the provision of effective acute mental health care.

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

- Use clinical assessment tools, i.e. risk and mental health assessments, to gauge personal performance against patient outcomes;
- Use interpersonal and therapeutic relationship models to interact effectively with patients in an acute phase of a mental health illness/problem;
- Show how knowledge of treatment collaboration influences patient health outcomes;
- Demonstrate the skills necessary to be able to choose effective nursing interventions for patients with acute mental health problems.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Newell, R & Gournay, K (2008) Mental Health Nursing: an evidence-based approach. (2nd Ed) UK. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN 0-443-05873-3.
- Norman, I & Ryrie, I (2004) The Art and Science of Mental Health Nursing: a textbook of principles and practice. Open University Press. UK.
- Hall, J & Howard, D (2006) Integrated Care Pathways in Mental Health. Churchill Livingstone. UK.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (2 Hours) SEM2 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Alexei Sammut

 

 
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 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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