1. Analyse the impact of mental illness on the individual, their families and communities.

Enabling outcomes

You should be able to:

a. Discuss the theoretical underpinnings of mental illness and mental health;

b. Explain the issues lived by those who experience a mental illness and the impact these have on their lives.

2. Apply a recovery orientated model of intervention

Enabling outcomes

You should be able to:

a. Describe a recovery orientated model of intervention;

b. Describe how a recovery framework ensures the delivery of quality evidenced based care;

c. Discuss the concept of continuity of care, identifying barriers and facilitators to implementation;

d. Describe the services available for specialised clinical presentations;

e. Describe and use factors in care strategies that ensure continuity of care and rehabilitation;

f. Develop management strategies for people of various ages, social and cultural backgrounds who have experienced mental health breakdown;

g. Apply national standards in evaluation of treatment.

3. Appraise and describe the role of the Mental Health Nurse (MHN)

Enabling outcomes

You should be able to:

a. Describe the relevant professional standards and policies related to mental health nursing;

b. Recognise the value of research and its contribution to the further development in mental health nursing to improve standards of care;

c. Explain the ethical and legal dimensions of mental health nursing;

d. Apply beginner Division 1 knowledge and skills in the delivery of MHN interventions encompassing the biopsychosocial model across a variety of clients and settings.

4. Participate in the development of a care plan for a person with mental health issues and/or mental illness

Enabling outcomes

You should be able to:

a. Identify and recognise diagnostic frameworks used in psychiatry;

b. Describe component parts of psychiatric assessment;

c. Conduct a psychiatric nursing assessment of a person with mental health illness and/or mental health issues.

5. Relate pharmacology knowledge to the area of psychopharmacology

Enabling outcomes

You should be able to:

a. Identify potential mental health issues arising from use of commonly prescribed general medications;

b. Recognise and describe the four main drug groups used in psychiatry;

c. Safely administer drugs in the four drug psychiatric groupings.

6. Relate specific mental health legislation to the provision of mental health care

Enabling outcomes

You should be able to:

a. Describe the Mental Health Act (Victoria) 1986;

b. Explore the impact of involuntary care for a person and carers;

c. Debate the implications of involuntary care for mental health service delivery.

7. Undertake the role and responsibilities of the beginning registered nurse in the development and maintenance of therapeutic relationships with a person presenting with a mental illness.

Enabling outcomes

You should be able to:

a. Identify the constituents of the interdisciplinary team;

b. Participate in clinical supervision;

c. Reflect on clinical practice;

d. Describe personal boundaries and responses to various emotional stimuli;

e. Explain the barriers and facilitators to gaining the individual's, family, carer and interdisciplinary team member perspectives on the treatment process;

f. Combine clinical, social science, experiential and traditional knowledge when performing specific mental illness assessment and planning.