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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

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Module Title
Module Code (ITS)
Faculty School
Module Co-ordinatorSemester 1: Siobhan Russell
Semester 2: Siobhan Russell
Autumn: Siobhan Russell
Module TeachersSiobhan Russell
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
None
Description

This module will expand students' knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and competence in relation to the care needs of people across the lifespan who have multiple and complex needs.

Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss the mental health issues and potential difficulties encountered during significant stages of the lifespan
2. Demonstrate awareness regarding the inter and intra personal dynamics and challenges involved in working therapeutically with children, adolescents and adults who are living with multiple and complex needs.
3. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to undertake assessment and care planning which is tailored to the complex mental health needs of people across the lifespan
4. Demonstrate understanding of the value and use of strength-based approaches to working with individuals families and communities
5. Demonstrate knowledge of referral pathways and the benefits and challenges of interdisciplinary/interagency working in addressing the needs of this client group.



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture32Formal Delivery of content in the classroom
Group work6Reflection on practice/personal development
Independent Study47Prescribed reading and self directed study
Fieldwork40Directed reading for class discussion in lectures
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Mental health issues and potential difficulties encountered during significant stages of the lifespan
Deliberate self-harm, personality disorder. eating disorder, substance abuse, dual diagnosis, people in a forensic mental health setting, people across the lifespan who have/are experiencing trauma/physical abuse/neglect/, young people with mental health problems, mental health of older people.

Inter and intra personal dynamics and challenges
Challenges to therapeutic alliance; trust, bias, boundaries, transference and counter-transference in interpersonal relationship

Engagement, assessment and care planning of people across the lifespan with complex needs.
Application of assessment frameworks; Biopsychosocial mental health nursing assessment for people with complex needs, mental health assessment instruments, risk assessment, therapeutic interventions and specialist approaches, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectic Behaviour Therapy, Decider Skills.

Strengths-based approaches to working with individuals families and communities
Meaning and purpose, Hope, Control and choice, Self-management techniques, Positive Risk-taking, Relationships, Inclusion, Peer support, Recovery Principles

Referral pathways and interdisciplinary/interagency working
Working in teams and in partnership, mental health and social care voluntary and statutory agencies.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment% Examination Weight%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Assignmentn/a100%n/a
Indicative Reading List

  • Barker: 2009, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing: The Craft of Caring., 2nd, Arnold, London,
  • Worden, J. W.: 2000, Grief counseling and grief therapy: a handbook for the mental health practitioner., 2nd, Routledge, London,
  • Evans, N. and Hannigan, B: 2016, Therapeutic Skills for Mental Health Nurses., Open University Press, London,
  • Gamble, C and Brennan, G: 2006, Working With Serious Mental Illness, Elsevier, Edinburgh,
  • Healy, D: 2009, Psychiatric Drugs Explained, 5th, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh,
  • Pryjmachuk, S.: 2011, 2011 Mental health Nursing. An Evidence Based Introduction, Sage, London,
  • Norman, I and Ryrie, I: 2013, The Art and Science of Mental Health Nursing, 3, Open University Press, Berkshire,
  • Videbeck, S.L: 2017, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, 7, Woltrers Kluwer, London,
  • Varcarolise E.: 2010, Manual of Psychiatric Nursing Care Planning, Saunders, London,
  • 2006: Child and adolescent mental health nursing, Oxford, UK,
Other Resources

None

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