It is the intent of faculty to facilitate student learning, foster ways of knowing and promote critical thinking through a variety of teaching/learning methods including lecture, audio-visual aids, group discussion case study analysis, computer-assisted learning programs and group and/or individual research and presentations.
In this course, within the context of the Douglas College Department of Psychiatric Nursing’s philosophy and conceptual framework, students will focus on developing the psychiatric nursing role and promoting health in clients experiencing episodic variances in wellness through an understanding, acquisition and application of psychiatric nursing theory.
Specific concepts that will be addressed are:
I. VARIABLES
Physiological Variable
- Metabolism *Variances in metabolism:
- Oxygenation *Variances in respiratory function
- Circulation *Variances in circulatory functioning
- Cellular Dynamics *Variances in responses: cancer
- Elimination *Variances in urological/bowel functioning
- Mobility *Variances in mobility
- Reproduction *Variances in reproductive functioning
- Neuro-sensory *Variances in neuro-sensory functioning: CNS and peripheral
- Protection
Psychological Variable
- Integration: as an organizer for the assessment of self-concept, emotions & cognition
- Problem-solving in psychiatric nursing
- Patterns of communication
- Crisis theory and intervention
- DSM-IVR (as a tool for assessment)
Exemplars:
Variances in psychological integration: paranoia, eating disorders, personality disorders, and violence and abuse.
Variances in sexuality and gender identity.
Sociocultural Variable
- Relationships; significant others
- Continued awareness of diversity issues
Exemplars:
Variances in relating: personality patterns, abuse, violence
Spiritual Variable
- Purpose & meaning
- Interconnectedness
- Faith
- Forgiveness
- Religion
- Creativity
- Transcendence
Developmental Variable
- Growth
- Lifespan
- Transition
II. CURRICULAR THREADS
Wellness-Illness Continuum
- Holism
- Primary Prevention
- Variance from Wellness
- Prevention as Intervention:
Health Promotion:
Preventative health practices to various episodic health challenges
Promoting health practices to enable the person to increase control over and improve their own health
Health promotion to allow the person to make informed choices
- Universal experiences: Crisis, Hope, Comfort, Loss, Power, Integrity, resiliency, revisited
Professional Values & Professional Caring
- DCPN & College policies
- Professional attributes: Compassion, Comportment, Commitment, Conscience, Competence, Confidence, Collegiality
- Legal & Ethical issues, Clients rights & guidelines
- Change theory
- Professional Role, professional nurse-client relationship
- Cultural Competence
- Advocacy
Health Care Delivery System
III. RELATED PHARMACOLOGY
Application of pharmacological principles to exemplars.
Students will continue to develop their understanding and application of the Douglas College Department of Psychiatric Nursing conceptual framework and the Psychiatric Nursing curricular threads (wellness-illness continuum, professional values, professional caring & health care delivery system), and within the context of the environmental, health and psychiatric nursing domains, to integrate the care of the person domain (client system, psychological, physiological, sociocultural, spiritual & developmental variables) for clients experiencing acute variances in wellness. Students will continue to expand and apply knowledge pertaining to pathophysiology and pharmacology concepts related to selected illness exemplars.
The course evaluation is consistent with Douglas College evaluation policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course.
This is a graded course.
Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:
A list of required and optional textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of each semester.