Gail B. Williams, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC
E-mail: williamsg@uthscsa.edu
Voice: (210) 567-3811
Pager: (210) 220-8931
Office: 2.358
Office Hours:TBA
Family Nursing Care Department

Mark Soucy, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FPMHNP-BC
E-mail: soucy@uthscsa.edu
Voice: (210) 269-8651
Pager: (210) 917-6044
Office: 2.356
Office Hours: TBA
Family Nursing Care Department

Beverly Robinson, PhD, RN, FAAN

E-mail: robinsonb@uthscsa.edu

Voice: (210) 567-5815

Office: 1.118-17

Office Hours: TBA

Chronic Nursing Care Department

1. Demonstrate self-insight and professionalism through on-going analysis of the therapeutic use of self.
2. Assess individuals in transitions through comprehensive mental health assessment to include findings of the mental status examination, cultural assessment, developmental assessment, application of diagnostic tools, and other relevant sources of information.
3. Analyze data for actual and potential mental health deviations.
4. Identify the underlying neuroanatomy and physiological processes at work in psychiatric syndromes across the lifespan.
5. Organize symptoms into current diagnostic categories.
6. Contrast the effects of the dualist and holistic perspectives in understanding human behavior in specialized populations of interest to the APN .
7. Apply a crisis intervention model in partnership with patients with mental disorders.
8. Partner with others to effectively use consultation and referral sources to provide adequate care for patients with mental disorders.
9. Design effective pharmacological and other biological therapies (sleep-rest manipulation, nutrition, exercise, light therapy) in partnership with *patients to customize care for people with mental disorders.
10. Demonstrate ethical and legal behaviors that reflect the standards of advanced practice nursing.
11. Apply nursing scholarship and integrated learning skills to improve mental health care.

The student will:

1. Assess a wide variety of people in various states of crisis
2. Complete mental health histories, mental status exams, and functional assessments to make an appropriate diagnosis using the DSM-IV-TR
3. Perform a satisfactory psychiatric evaluation
4. Select at least 4 persons for crisis intervention
5. Hold treatment sessions with selected clients who would benefit from crisis intervention once or twice a  week, in consultation with agency staff and instructor. It is expected that you will see 4-6 clients for 1-2 sessions each.
6. Direct treatment sessions toward the establishment and maintenance of a therapeutic relationship with the patient throughout his/her stay in the agency.

Students should plan time for intensive study of theories and concepts relevant to the practice of mental health nursing. This course assumes preparation at the baccalaureate level of nursing, if students find they do not have adequate preparation for this course, they should talk to the faculty about ways to succeed. It is expected that you will undertake independent study of relevant topics (e.g., basis psychiatric nursing).

Practicum

The student will be placed in a community mental health center or in an agency that does evaluation and treatment of people with mental health problems across the lifespan.  The student will gain experience in assessment of many clients at various ages.  Each student will provide crisis intervention (4 to 6 sessions) for one to two clients in transition.  Practicum is graded pass/fail; the student must pass the practicum in order to pass the course.

Students must pass the clinical portion to pass the course.

1. Therapeutic use of self
2. Review of brain anatomy and physiology and behavioral models in
   1. Mental processes and symptoms
   2. Models of human behavior
3. Assessment of mental health in various age groups
   1. Assessment tools
   2. Mental Health History
   3. Mental Status Examination
   4. Laboratory Tests for mental health: Basic screening tests, Neuroendocrine Tests, Blood levels of  psychoactive agents, Urine screens for substance abuse
   5. Neuropsychological testing
   6. Imaging techniques: MRI, PET, SPECT
   7. Other
4. Classification systems for mental health
   1. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
5. Crisis Intervention
   1. Psychiatric emergencies
   2. Transitional (maturational and situational) Crises across the lifespan
   3. Techniques of crisis intervention
   4. Evaluation of outcomes
6. Psychopharmacology & Disease Processes
   1. Assessing the need for medication
   2. Referral of appropriate clients for medication evaluation
   3. Medication teaching and monitoring specific to people with mental disorders across the lifespan
7. Other biological therapies
   1. Light as therapy
8. Other therapies
   1. Social support manipulation
   2. Curanderism
   3. Stress management techniques
   4. Affirmations and visualization
9. Teaching/learning strategies
10. Scholarship in mental health
    1. Issues and methodologies
    2. Research findings
11. Ethical/Legal Issues: Code for Nursing, Mental Health Code, Human/Patient Bill of Rights specific to protected populations