Aug 18, 2025  
2025-2026 SJC Online Catalog 
    
2025-2026 SJC Online Catalog
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NU 400 - Mental Health Nursing


This course is based on the belief that psychiatric / mental health nursing is integral to all areas of nursing.  It is built upon a fundamental understanding of human behavior and examines the impact of major mental illness on the individual in the context of the family and community, explores treatment options and issues, and emphasizes the evidenced-based principles and practice of psychiatric / mental health nursing.  The student will obtain a basic understanding of the mental health continuum and the causes, treatment, and prevention of psychiatric disorders across the life span.  Emphasis is placed on application of therapeutic communication techniques, psychiatric assessment skills, and the nursing process.

Prerequisites & Notes
NU 390

Assignment Overview
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to do the following:

  • Evaluate professional behaviors and articulate knowledge of the standards and scope of practice of psychiatric nursing and the legal and ethical aspects of psychiatric nursing.
  • Develop comprehensive awareness of the global aspects of psychiatric care and collaborate with others in planning safe holistic nursing plans of care for people at risk for or with diagnosed mental illness, and people who are distressed, suffering, or in need of psychosocial support, guidance or helpful information.
  • Explore effective therapeutic communication with client, families, and the multidisciplinary health care team.  Also, sets and maintains appropriate professional boundaries.
  • Explore critical and systematic thinking and nursing judgment in the provision of assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care in partnership with the multidisciplinary health care team, persons with mental health problems and mental illnesses and their families.
  • Adapt the need for safety and utilize continual assessment methods to manage the detection, prevention, intervention and post-intervention phases of crisis situations with persons with mental health problems and mental illnesses.


Credits: 4



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