Mental Health Nursing Across the Continuum of Care

Competency assessment description:
In this assessment, students demonstrate competency with processes associated with mental health assessment including application of a theoretical model, and standards of psychiatric/nursing practice.
How to complete this Competency Assessment
A. Familiarize yourself with the general guidelines for written work for this competency assessment found in the Competency Set Syllabus.
B. This assessment comprises 15% of the total grade for this competency set. The scoring rubric for this assessment is at the end of this learning guide. You must complete the Assessment with a grade of C or higher.
C. Pre-assessment: Four pre-assessment questions in learning path are provided to guide your preparation for the
assessment.
D. Assessment directions: The purpose of this assessment is to demonstrate your ability to describe an overview and foundation of psychiatric/mental health nursing care and to articulate your assessment using language of the discipline of psychiatric mental health practitioners. Before you begin this assessment, you will need a good understanding of a foundational overview of psychiatric mental health. The readings in the resource section of this learning path are very important to improve your understanding of mental health concepts. We strongly suggest that you use the textbook and the other resources listed in the learning path to complete this assessment.
• For this assessment you will write referenced, scholarly paragraphs (1 -5) on each of the following topics and use
these as APA level one headings to separate your answers.
• Please review the readings and rubric carefully. Remember to use the four headings below for your answers.
• Use the headings on page two as centered, bolded level one headings to separate your paper topics
E. You may access Assessment 1 and the Scoring Rubric from the “Assessment 1” section of this Competency Set.
When you complete this assessment, please upload it to the Assessment link in Canvas (under the Assessment #1) .
You may access Assessment 1 and the Scoring Rubric from the “Assessment 1” section of this Competency Set.

Compare and Contrast Nursing Roles
Demonstrate your understanding of the role of the mental health nurse and relate it to the role of nursing in general (in acute care settings as well as other settings). Answer the following questions in paragraph form using references from the learning path.
• What are the differences and similarities between a mental health nurse and an acute care nurse?
• How might the mental health nurse role be incorporated in your own nursing practice currently?
Mental Health Nursing Theory
Using Peplau’s Interpersonal Theory of Nursing, clearly explain the meaning/purpose of nurses’ approach to interacting with patients in both mental health & all nursing areas. Answer the following questions in paragraph form using references from the learning path.
• How does Peplau’s Interpersonal Theory of Nursing apply (or not apply) to nursing practice in mental health and all other areas of nursing care?
• How does this theory apply or not apply to your current nursing practice?
Historical and Present Day Perspective
Thoroughly and accurately describe the historic origins of mental health nursing. Include at least 3-5 names & dates of key mental health nursing history and an explanation of the role’s significance today. Answer the following questions in paragraph form using references from the learning path
• What are some key historical events in mental health nursing and what is their meaning for today’s mental health nursing?
• How are these past events significant for today?
Key Concepts in Mental Health Nursing
Synthesize resources to accurately & thoroughly define 1) milieu therapy, 2) crisis intervention and 3) the use of pharmacological, biological and complementary interventions. Describe how mental health nursing uses each of these interventions. Answer the following
questions in paragraph form using references from the learning path.
• What are the key interventions related to milieu therapy, crisis intervention and pharmacological, biological and complementary interventions? How does a psychiatric mental health nurse use these?
• How are these key concepts interrelated or how do they relate to each other?
References
Check writing spelling, grammar, and APA in-text citations. Provide an APA styled final reference list. For additional help with writing and APA format – see the document “Important information about writing scholarly papers” in this D2L site under “Get Started”