Course Title: Physical Assessment, Therapeutics and Mental Health

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Physical Assessment, Therapeutics and Mental Health

Credit Points: 12.00

Important Information:

 

 


Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

NURS2188

City Campus

Postgraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024

Course Coordinator: Dr Sinead Barry

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 0520

Course Coordinator Email: sinead.barry@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Bundoora West Campus


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

This course provides you with opportunities to develop physical health assessment modalities that are particularly related to iatrogenic disorders arising in mental health presentations such as cardiac and metabolic syndromes. An overview of physical health assessment of the human body and normal parameters for physiological variables in health will consolidate and build on knowledge and skills from your previous studies. Assessment and care planning for people with co morbid conditions, hard to treat presentations and early detection strategies for risk of health care deterioration are all addressed. The course also considers psychopharmacological interventions and the role of the mental health nurse when working with consumers.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the development of the Program Learning Outcomes for MC268 Master of Mental Health Nursing in the following ways. The Mental Health Nurse:

  • PLO 4: Collaboratively plans and provides ethically based care consistent with the mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, social and cultural needs of the individual.
  • PLO 5: Values the contributions of other agencies and stakeholders in the collaborative provision of holistic, evidence-based care and in ensuring comprehensive service provision for people with mental health issues.
  • PLO 6: Actively pursues opportunities to reduce stigma and promotes social inclusion and community participation for all people with mental health issues.
  • PLO 7: Demonstrates evidence-based practice and actively promotes practice innovation through lifelong education, research, professional development, clinical supervision and reflective practice.
  • PLO 8: Practices by incorporating and reflecting common law requirements, relevant statutes and the nursing profession’s code of conduct and ethics. Integrates international, national, local and state policies


On completion of this course, you should be able to:

  1. Differentiate between normal and abnormal parameters of health and physiology in the human adult. 
  2. Examine the impact of psychotherapeutic agents on body systems, in particular the cardiac and endocrine systems. 
  3. Critically evaluate nursing systems for monitoring pharmacological treatments for mental illness and promoting adherence using health teaching strategies. 
  4. Identify assessment, monitoring and intervention strategies for any physical health complications. 
  5. Explore evidence-based approach to promoting good physical health for consumers living with a mental illness. 
  6. Formulate strategies to work with consumers to manage physical health issues including the use of evidence-based tools and modalities.  


Overview of Learning Activities

Learning activities you will undertake during this course include a mixture of online lectures, class discussion and self-directed learning exercises including directed reading of academic literature to provide a solid theoretical basis to help you to achieve professional practice. The assessment associated with this course will comprise of formative and summative elements and incorporate a variety of assessment modes. Your assessments will primarily take the form of written work requiring reflection and critical analysis. Your participation in classroom or online activities will also form part of your summative grade.

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course.

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Lived Experience Case Study Essay 
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Assessment Task 2: Written report and oral presentation  
Weighting 50%
This assessment task supports CLOs 3, 4, 5 & 6

Assessment Task 3: Lectorial Participation Reflective Activities 
Weighting 10%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.