Master of Nursing Science Program in Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing Curriculum Master of Nursing Science Program in Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing Academic Degree Master of Nursing Science (Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing) M.N.S. (Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing) Philosophy Mental health is an essential element of individual homeostasis. The mental health status of the individual is a dynamic state because persons interact with each other and also interact with the environment. Due to the changing world and the complexity of society, mental illness problems have become challenging issues for nurses. It is believed that only advanced practice nurses, particularly advanced mental health and psychiatric nurses, can play a vital role in solving these problems by utilizing nursing potential and competence in mental health promotion and mental disorder prevention for individuals and risk groups with mental health problems regarding drug and substance use. The potential and competence of advanced mental health and psychiatric nurses cover psychiatric nursing therapeutics and rehabilitation for mental illnesses, including drug and substance abusers. Advanced mental health and psychiatric nursing education at the master level is a developmental process that provides students with in-depth knowledge in the area of mental health and psychiatric nursing regarding related science. This process helps students to perform advanced clinical nursing practice in this area through the use of evidence, the development of critical thinking and self-directed learning skills, and leadership ability, which includes ethical decision making in terms of protecting the rights of clients. The quality of the teaching-learning process at the master level focuses on a student-centered approach. Field practice is the core of nursing education, helping to promote a learning climate as well as providing students with a professional model in real situations. Nurse educators must be excellent role models with expertise in this area, have capability in teaching-learning strategies, in order to help students achieve their needs and goals, provide sufficient resources, and continuously improve the quality of nursing education. Purpose/Goals The graduates from the master of nursing science program in mental health and psychiatric nursing should have competencies as follows: 1. Be able to assess the mental health status of adults and the aged through appropriate methods and tools. 2. Be able to assess and analyze the factors influencing mental health regarding the mental health needs of adults and the aged.. Be able to acquire the knowledge needed to diagnose and differentiate mental disorders in accordance with evidence bases. 4. Be able to plan and implement in the aspects of mental health promotion, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation for persons who have mental illness by utilizing advanced mental health and psychiatric nursing procedures, evidence, as well as appropriate strategies in dealing with individuals, families, and communities regardless of socio-cultural background or ethics. 5. Be able to make decisions ethically concerning issues of law and ethics in mental health and psychiatric nursing.
6. Be able to manage mental health and psychiatric nursing services with quality and efficiency by utilizing leadership ability to collaborate, initiate and manage change, including continuously improving the quality of nursing services. 7. Be able to seek knowledge and learn innovation as well as utilize research results in this area to develop advanced mental health and psychiatric nursing knowledge. General characteristics of the curriculum This course has divided into two plans: Plan A and plan B with 46 total credits. The curriculum structure and academic year plan are as follows: Structure Credits Total credits 46 1. Core Courses 15 2. Specific Courses 16. Elective Courses 4. Thesis 12 Academic Year Plan Plan A YEAR 1 SEMESTER 1 NS. 611 Theoretical Foundation for Advanced Nursing NS. 612 Advanced Health Assessment NS. 61 Conceptual Basis for Advanced Nursing 2 NS. 616 Clinical Pathophysiology 2 NS. 641 Psychopharmacology 2 YEAR 1 SEMESTER 2 NS. 614 Leadership and Management in Nursing 2 NS. 615 Nursing Research NS. 642 Advanced Practice Nursing for Mental Health Promotion NS. 64 Practicum in Advanced Practice Nursing for Mental Health Promotion YEAR 1 SUMMER
- - - TOTAL YEAR 2 SEMESTER 1 NS. 644 Advanced Practice Nursing for Treatment Modalities in Psychiatric Nursing NS. 645 Practicum in Advanced Practice Nursing for Treatment Modalities in Psychiatric Nursing NS. 800 Thesis Elective YEAR 2 SEMESTER 2 NS. 646 Practicum in Mental Health Case Management 2 NS. 800 Thesis 9 Plan B YEAR 1 SEMESTER 1 NS. 611 Theoretical Foundation for Advanced Nursing NS. 612 Advanced Health Assessment NS. 61 Conceptual Basis for Advanced Nursing 2 NS. 616 Clinical Pathophysiology 2 NS. 641 Psychopharmacology 2 YEAR 1 SEMESTER 2 NS. 614 Leadership and Management in Nursing 2 NS. 615 Nursing Research NS. 642 Advanced Practice Nursing for Mental Health Promotion NS. 64 Practicum in Advanced Practice Nursing for Mental Health Promotion YEAR 1 SUMMER
- - - TOTAL YEAR 2 SEMESTER 1 NS. 644 Advanced Practice Nursing for Treatment Modalities in Psychiatric Nursing NS. 645 Practicum in Advanced Practice Nursing for Treatment Modalities in Psychiatric Nursing NS. 648 Seminar in Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing Practicum NS. 691 Research Utilization in Nursing YEAR 2 SEMESTER 2 NS. 646 Practicum in Mental Health Case Management 2 NS. 647 Advanced Practicum in Selected Mental Health and 2 Psychiatric Nursing NS. 649 Independent Study in Mental Health and Psychiatric 4 Nursing Elective COURSE DESCRIPTION NS. 601 Group and Group Process (-0-0) This course focuses on the presentation of group structure, group discussion, group members, group leaders, and the function of the group. In addition, the discussion of the group agenda, hidden agenda and what to observe in the group, types of group members, types of group leaders, group atmosphere, the role and power of group members regarding group goals and group achievement will be emphasized. NS. 602 Interpersonal Relationships for the Health Profession (-0-0) This course includes the presentation and discussion of the concepts of interpersonal relationships, types of interpersonal relations, the relationship between the health care profession and health care recipients, and the factors that contribute to and inhibit these relationships. Also included in the discussion are the techniques and principles of communication that enhance the relationship between health care professionals and health care recipients. NS. 606 English for Nursing Communication (-0-0)
This course places emphasis on the study of the principles and skills required for the critical reading of a variety of articles in the nursing field. Students will be trained to read for meaning and purpose and to summarize the main ideas of texts. Skill in academic writing as well as listening and speaking for communication for effective nursing operations will also be emphasized. NS. 611 Theoretical Foundation for Advanced Nursing (-0-0) This course includes fundamental concepts and theories: health concepts, system theories, nursing theories and other theories related to health and health behaviors. The relationships between theory, research and nursing practice are also included. NS. 612 Advanced Health Assessment (2-2-0) This course includes the concept and principle of assessment of the health status of individuals, interview and physical examination techniques, and data collection by using evidence regarding normal and ill health states. Physical examination covers head to toe assessment and specific health examination according to symptoms and state of the illness. Special and advanced technology techniques and laboratory findings to help analyze data in assessing health problems are also included. NS. 61 Conceptual Basis for Advanced Practice Nursing 2 (2-0-0) Health Policy, Health care system, Law related to health system, Nursing system in primary, secondary, and tertiary care, Health organization, Evolution of advanced practice nursing (APN), APN role in nursing practice and research, Role of change agent, health care team builder, counselor, Nursing informatics system, Ethical theories, Ethical issue in nursing, and Moral judgment NS. 614 Leadership and Management Nursing 2 (2-0-0) This course includes the study of administrative and managerial theories for the health service system, principles of health economics, cost analysis, writing methods for health-service projects, project analysis and evaluation, and quality management of the health service system. The course includes change theory and change management, leadership and related behaviors, conflict management, the policy making process, negotiation, the decisionmaking process, communication, assertiveness, administrative ethics, knowledge management, and application of nursing leadership and management. NS. 615 Nursing Research (-0-0) The emphasis of this course is on research design, research methodology, the collecting of research data with different research instruments, including finding the validity and reliability of the research instrument and the analysis of data employing applied statistics. Interpretation of research data, reporting and writing up the research findings will also be presented. In addition, research critiques and utilizing research findings will also be discussed. NS. 616 Clinical Pathophysiology 2 (2-0-0) This course focuses on a study of the physiological changes in the function of the human body and in responding to illness. It also includes the scientific study of the symptoms of common health problems. NS. 641 Psychopharmacology 2 (2-0-0)
Biological concepts, hypotheses, and theories explaining human behaviors are the focus of this course, including structures and functions of the nervous system. Factors related to nervous system development and behavioral change, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, toxicity, and side-effects of psychotherapeutic drugs will also be discussed. The nurses roles in psychotherapeutic drug- administration and integration of the basic knowledge related to biology, physiology, genetics, psychopharmacology, and research relevant to advanced mental health and psychiatric nursing will also be included in the course. NS. 642 Advanced Practice Nursing for Mental Health Promotion (-0-0) This course includes the study of mental health and mental-health promotion concepts and principles, including theories related to mental health and psychiatric nursing as well as the risk factors influencing mental health problems. The course includes developmental and psychosocial assessment regarding mental health detection. Family assessment and intervention, application of standardized mental health and psychiatric instruments, as well as psychiatric emergency and crisis, are discussed. The concepts of counseling and consultation, stress management, empowerment, life skill, mental health education, including legal and ethical issues in mental health and psychiatric nursing, will also be included in this course. NS. 64 Practicum in Advanced Practice Nursing for Mental Health Promotion (0-0-15) This is a practicum in psychiatric mental health assessment and diagnosis in the promotion of mental health for individuals and families, and in community and psychiatric screening utilizing standard instruments. In addition, practice in helping individuals with mental-health problems by providing counseling and consultation, stress management, ego strenthening, life skill development, and psychoeducation for individuals, families and the community will be discussed. The topics of psychiatric emergencies and patients in crisis will also be included. NS. 644 Advance Practice Nursing for Treatment Modalities in Psychiatric Nursing (-0-0) This course includes the following: the presentation of various mental health problems and diagnosis, including psychiatric diagnosis employing ICD-10 and DSM-IVR criteria, nursing diagnosis, basic treatment for individuals with psychiatric problems, continuity of care and rehabilitation for individuals with complicated mental health problems, drug addiction and somatic illness complicated by mental health problems. Also included in the discussion are treatment modalities, such as deep counseling, stress management, psychotherapy, family therapy, psychosocial therapy, and the role of the advanced practice nurse in case management in the hospital and the community. In addition, issues surrounding the law and the ethics of the psychiatric nurse will be presented. NS. 645 Practicum in Advanced Practice Nursing for Treatment Modalities in Psychiatric Nursing (0-0-15) Included in this course are advanced practices nursing in mental health assessment and mental disorder diagnoses and their differentiation, including the following: nursing therapeutics and restoration for patients who have mental health complications, substance abusers, and physically ill patients who have mental health problems. The concepts of counseling, stress management, individual and group psychotherapy, family therapy, and psychosocial group therapy regarding law, ethics, background, and social and cultural issues will be applied.
NS. 646 Practicum in Mental Health Case Management 2 (0-0-10) This is a practicum concerning the role of the nurse in case management. Practice includes the assessment, diagnosis, and provision of primary treatment, including the responsibility in coordinating and managing cases to receive continuity care both in the hospital and in the community. NS. 800 Thesis 12 Research focuses on clinical nursing practice in relation to selected topics under advisor supervision.