Module: Mental Health Nursing 3

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Mental Health Nursing 3
Module Code	NUR1025 (ITS: NS210)
Faculty	Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	7.5

Description

This module aims to assist students develop skills in assessing and engaging with people experiencing mental health problems; and to develop the capacity and skills to form relationships which are therapeutic.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of therapeutic skills in engaging with and assessing people who experience mental health problems.
2. Display knowledge and skills required for assessing people with mental health problems through the adoption of a recovery orientated approach to assessment.
3. Utilise information gathered through nursing assessment to develop clinical formulations and identify presenting strengths and needs.
4. Demonstrate skills documenting nursing assessments, clinical formulations and need statements.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	32	Formal delivery of content in the classroom
Laboratory	12	Practice of clinical skills through simulation and workshops
Group work	4	Reflection on practice /personal development
Independent Study	100	Prescribed reading and self directed study
Fieldwork	40	Reading for class discussion/activities
Total Workload: 188

Section Breakdown
CRN	11250	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Mary Farrelly	Module Teacher	Siobhan Russell

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Reflective journal	Students are required to submit a reflective learning journal based on their learning for the first 4 weeks of the module..	20%	n/a
Assignment	n/a	80%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

Therapeutic skills
Components of a therapeutic relationship Therapeutic mental health nursing assessment skills Reflection and self-awareness in practice

Mental health nursing assessment
Assessment frameworks used in mental health settings Theory and skills of comprehensive (bio-psycho-social) mental health nursing assessment Observation skills Interviewing skills Theory and use of mental health assessment instruments Theory of and skills in risk assessment

Assessment skills
Documenting assessment data and process Formal and informal assessment Writing clinical formulations Writing clear and comprehensive need statements.

Clinical formulation
Definition and process of clinical formulation Developing explanations and conceptualisations of nursing assessment information.

Working with the information gained in mental health nursing assessment
Articulating client needs based on clinical formulation in collaboration with clients and their families/significant others

Using a recovery orientated approach when conducting a nursing assessment
Client experiences and perspectives on assessment Strengths-based assessment

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Videbeck S: 2017, Psychiatric-Mental health nursing, 7th, Wolters Klumer,
Evans, N. and Hannigan, B.: 2016, Therapeutic Skills for Mental Health Nurses., Open University Press., London,
Steven Pryjmachuk: 2011, Mental Health Nursing, Sage, London,
Catherine Gamble and Geoff Brennan: 2006, Working with Serious Mental Illness, 2nd, Elsevier, Edinburgh,
Barker, P: 2004, Assessment in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing., 2nd, Nelson Thornes, Cheltenham,
Norman I and Ryrie I: 2013, The Art and Science of Mental Health Nursing, 3rd, Open University Press,
Mental Health Commission: 2008, A Recovery Approach within the Irish Mental Health Services A Framework for Development, Mental Health Commission, Dublin,
Healy D: 0, Psychiatric Drugs Explained,, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh,

Articles:

Crowe, M., Carlyle, D and Farmar, R.: 2008, Clinical formulation for mental health nursing practice., Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 15, 800-807, 522640
2007: Take my hand, help me out’: Mental health service recipients’ experience of the therapeutic relationship, International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 16, 274–284, 522641, 1
Recording Clinical Practice Professional Guidance: https://www.nmbi.ie/nmbi/media/NMBI/Publications/recording-clinical-practice-professional-guidance.pdf?ext=.pdf, 522642, 1, Higgins, A. Morrissey, J. Doyle, L. Bailey, J. Gill, A. Dublin: Health Service Executive.
https://www.lenus.ie/entities/publication/67f931f7-d342-4d26-b4bf-a80f12425ce9:

Other Resources

1: www, • Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath Mental Health Services, 2009, Mental Health Assessment Tools,