Module: Advancing Practice ID & Mental Health

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Advancing Practice ID & Mental Health
Module Code	NUR1150 (ITS: NS515)
Faculty	Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10

Description

To analyse advancing practice in the care of people with intellectual disability and mental health issues.

Learning Outcomes

1. Examine current and future practice in the care of people with intellectual disability and mental health issues.
2. Critique the essential nursing and/ or health care priorities required in the care of people with intellectual disability and mental health issues
3. Appraise the value of therapeutic interventions and relationships with people intellectual disability and mental health issues
4. Critcally review and debate the psycho pharmacological interventions used in practice
5. Explore the complexity of working with individuals who have intellectual disability and mental health issues
6. Examine strategies for building community support networks for people with intellectual disability and mental health issues

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Assessment Feedback	1	No Description
Independent Study	1	No Description
Online activity	25	Time spent researching and working towards work generated by on-line weeks
Tutorial	10	Lecturer and student led
Clinical placement	24	Specialist placement
Assessment Feedback	1	No Description
Independent Study	154	No Description
Lecture	21	No Description
Online activity	15	On-line
Total Workload: 252

Section Breakdown
CRN	11323	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale		Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category		Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator		Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	n/a	100%	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

Advancing Practice
Examine current and future practice in the care of people with intellectual disability and mental health issues.

Therapeutic interventions
Overview of therapeutic interventions

Therapeutic interventions and people with intellectual disability
Multi modal therapeutic interventions and Positive Systems Approaches, Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive behaviour therapy,

Role of the Nurse / Heath Care Practitioner
Nursing/ caring priorities, specialist roles.

Pharmacological interventions used in practice
Review and debate areas such as audit, advocacy and the nurses / health care practitioner role

Complexity of supporting people with intellectual disability and mental health issues
Collaborative treatment approaches to prevention, early detection, crisis management and specialised long term supports

Community supports and quality of life
Role of the nurse in developing community and family supports and improving quality of life.

Research
Impact and importance of research and evidence based interventions.

Communication
Alternative and augmentative communication and communication strategies

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Nirbhay N. Singh: 2016, Handbook of Evidence-Based Practices in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Springer, 1028,
[editors,] Geraldine Holt, Steve Hardy and Nick Bouras.: 0, Mental health in intellectual disabilities, London; Pavilion, 1908066229
Taylor, John L: 2013, Psychological therapies for adults with intellectual disabilities, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell,
Jukes, Mark: 2013, Practice leadership in mental health and intellectual disability nursing, Quay Books, London,
Sheerin, Fintan, editor; Curtis, Elizabeth A., editor: 2019, Leadership for intellectual disability service: motivating change and improvement, ebook, New York: Productivity Press,
Taggart, L. and Cousins, W.: 2014, Health Promotion For People With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Open University Press,
Raghu Raghavan, Pradip Patel: 0, Learning Disabilities And Mental Health, Blackwell Publishing Professional, 1405106158
Emerson, E. and Hatton, C.: 2013, Health Inequalities and People with Intellectual Disabilities, Cambridge University Press,
Philip W. Davidson, Vee P. Prasher, Matthew P. Janicki: 0, Mental Health, Intellectual Disabilities and the Ageing Process, Blackwell Publishers, 248, 1405101644
Bob Gates (Editor), Owen Barr (Editor): 0, Oxford Handbook of Learning and Intellectual Disability Nursing, Oxford University Press, USA, 624, 0199533229
[edited by] Steven Reiss and Michael G. Aman: 0, Psychotropic medications and developmental disabilities, Ohio State University Nisonger Center ; c1998., [Columbus, Ohio], 0965896609

Articles:
None

Other Resources

Journal: Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities,
Journal: Journal of Intellectual Disabilities,
Quick Reference Guide: 2006, Using medication to manage behaviour problems among adults with a learning disability, http://thenadd.org/wp-content/uploads/DATABID%20QRG%20final%20version%2015.01.2007.pdf