STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 1. Apply mental health nursing concepts to safe, quality, patient-centered nursing care considering research, evidence, and patient preferences as the basis for the care of diverse patients at various levels of mental health promotion and mental illness management.

 2. Use critical thinking and clinical judgment to make patient-centered care decisions when caring for diverse patients at various levels of mental health promotion and mental illness management.

 3. Compare and contrast performance improvement/quality improvement measures to improved care for diverse patients at various levels of mental health promotion and mental illness management.

 4. Apply information about the Practical Nurse's role in collaboration with healthcare team members, the patient, and the patient's support persons when planning effective patient care when caring for diverse patients at various levels of mental health promotion and mental illness management.

 5. Demonstrate the use of information technology to support and communicate the planning and provision of patient care.

 6. Apply nursing theory to manage care for diverse patients at various levels of mental health promotion and mental illness management through the process of planning, organizing, and directing.

 7. Apply professional, legal, and ethical guidelines to the care of diverse patients at various levels of mental health promotion and mental illness management, within the scope of practice for the Practical Nurse.

 8. Apply concepts of a culture of caring to provide support, compassion, and culturally-competent, holistic care for diverse patients at various levels of mental health promotion and mental illness management.

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I. Symptoms and treatment of selected psychiatric disorders including:

 a. Cognitive disorders

 b. Anxiety disorders

 c. Mood disorders

 d. Somatoform disorders

 e. Thought disorders

 f. Substance abuse disorders.

 

 II. Concepts and mental health theories related to the mentally ill including:

 a. Nurse-client relationships

 b. Healthy therapeutic boundaries.

 

 III. Major program concepts as they apply to patients with a variety of mental health needs in various care settings, including:

 a. Safe, quality, patient-centered care

 b. Research and evidence-based care

 c. Culture of caring

 d. Critical thinking and clinical judgment

 e. Performance improvement/quality improvement

 f. Collaboration/teamwork

 g. Information technology/ patient technology

 h. The role and scope of practice for Practical Nursing in the larger context of Nursing Practice as related to care of the patient with mental health concerns.

 

 IV. Practice concepts of practical nursing as they relate to patients with a variety of mental health needs in a variety of settings, including:

 a. Teaching and learning

 b. Identification of community resources

 c. Health maintenance and promotion

 d. Pain management

 e. Nursing process

 f. Communication techniques.