2 semester hours credit : 1 Theory / 1 Clinical   (15 class hours, 45 clinical hours)

Students should anticipate at least 3 hours of work time each week for theory and at least 3 hours work time for clinical preparation and documentation time.

1. Integrate previous learning in application of the nursing process to provide customized care to individuals and families experiencing transitions across the psychiatric-mental health continuum.
2. Participate as partners with individuals, families and communities in the customized therapeutic care process to protect, promote and restore optimal mental health.
3. Apply therapeutic communications skills specific to psychiatric-mental health nursing care with individuals and families when enacting professional practice.
4. Use critical thinking skills in designing and implementing comprehensive psychiatric-mental health care.
5. Apply theory and research findings in providing care for individuals and families experiencing transitions across the psychiatric-mental health continuum.
6. Demonstrate the ability to partner through collaborative relationships with individuals and families.
7. Conform to the ethical and legal principles that reflect the standards of nursing practice and professional codes in the transformation from LVN to RN.
8. Practice behaviors that demonstrate active participation in the integrated learning process.

1. Apply the nursing process with patients experiencing psychiatric-mental health problems in varied environments.
2. Perform mental health assessments and Mental Status Exams.
3. Implement strategies for health promotion, risk reduction, and disease prevention for individuals and families with psychiatric-mental health alterations.
4. Participate in therapeutic modalities such as milieu, individual, group, family therapies, educational and support groups and community based programs.
5. Use assessment data to identify nursing diagnosis, planning, delivery and evaluation of quality nursing care in various environments.
6. Integrate appropriate therapeutic nursing skills into the nursing process when providing care to include the patient's presenting problem(s) and related physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual aspects of the patient's experiences.
7. Identify important factors of family assessment.
8. Identify cultural variables in mental health nursing and how it affects nursing care.
9. Access and use technology to meet patient needs.

Successful completion of NURS.3220 requires satisfactory completion of both the clinical and theoretical objectives of the course.

Clinical performance is graded pass/fail and consists of successful completion of the clinical objectives. Students that miss 10% or greater clinical time will not progress in the course during the semester the time is missed in. Lack of successful completion of any portion of the clinical requirements will result a grade of F in the course, regardless of the grade in theory.

Theory is given a letter grade and is based on exams, written assignment/discussion, and class participation. If the student passes clinical, the course grade will be the grade achieved in theory.

In order to pass the theory portion of the course, the student must achieve a weighted average of at least 70% on the three examinations and a weighted average of 70 on all of the graded activities. The theory grade is based on the following activities and weights:

 American Psychological Association (2001).  Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association

      (5th ed).  Washington, DC:  Author.

 Schultz, Juith M. & Videbeck, Sheila L. (2007.  Lippincott's Manual of Psychiatric Nursing Care Plans,
      Lippincott, 7th Ed.