Study Guide

Objectives (course unit)

The student
-is able to interview patient to recognize and assess the symptoms of the severe mental health and substance abuse problems with different psychiatric rating scales
-manages the planning and implementation of the client-centered nursing process with patients and significant others.
-manages the pharmacotherapy in the care of mental health and substance abuse problems
-is able to utilize interdisciplinary knowledge in professional decision-making and bases his/ her practice on evidence-based knowledge
-manages oral and written reporting
-recognizes and is trying to influence on negative attitudes towards mental health and substance abuse problems with his/her own practice.

Further information (course unit)

At the beginning of the elective vocational studies, the student must have completed 135 credits. These should include the theoretical studies and orientation to practical training of the area which the student has chosen for the elective studies, as well as courses in anatomy and physiology.The required area is mental health and substance abuse care.

Participation in the course Mental Health and Substance Abuse Nursing Competence in Specialized services.

Assessment criteria, pass/fail (course unit)

Approved
The student
-has demonstrated his/her capability to recognize, choose and implement different evidence-based mental health nursing interventions according to the needs of the patient and his/her significant others.
-has worked as a nurse in interdisciplinary co-operation
-has interviewed patients and used psychiatric rating scales according the patient symptoms when needed.
-has planned and put into practice a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship and has co-operated with patient’s significant others if possible during the clinical placement.
-has demonstrated skills to conduct safe pharmacotherapy, when possible in clinical placement and has fulfilled student documentation on pharmagological care when applicable.
-has proven to use interdisciplinary knowledge in professional decision-making and has based his/her practice on evidence based knowledge
-has proven to manage reporting practices of the clinical placement
-has aimed to decrease negative attitudes towards mental health and substance abuse problems with his/her own actions.
-has reflected mental health and substance abuse care practices from an ethical viewpoint
-has recognised his/her own development need in different professional situations and can use clinical supervision approach to support his/her own professional growth

Rejected
The student
-does not recognize or is not able to choose and implement different evidence based mental health nursing interventions according the caring needs of the patient and patient’s significant others
-has not demonstrated a capability to work as a nurse in interdisciplinary co-operation
-has not demonstrated skills to conduct an interview with a patient or to use psychiatric rating scales to recognize symptoms of the mental health and/or substance abuse problems.
-is not able to work in a therapeutic nurse-patient relationships or to support patient’s significant others
-has not demonstrated skills to implement pharmacotherapy although this would have been possible during the clinical placement.
-has not conducted pharmacotherapy in a safe manner.
-has not utilized interdisciplinary knowledge in professional decision-making or has not based his/her actions in evidence-based knowledge
-does not manage reporting according the practices of the clinical placement
-has not aimed to decrease negative attitudes towards mental health and substance abuse problems
-has not reflected mental health and substance abuse care practices from an ethical viewpoint
-has jeopardized patient safety with his/her actions during the clinical placement, e.g. by violating confidentiality
-has not followed the rules and instructions of the clinical placement, e.g by not following the working hours
-has shortcomings in work shift planning and its implementation
-does not recognize his/her own development needs in professional practice or is not skilled to use clinical supervision approach to support his/her own professional growth.

Assessment scale

0-5