Stenberg College (Regional) Diploma

in Psychiatric Nursing Program

Course Outline

Course Code: PSYN 101-6

Course Name: Basic Concepts and Contexts of Psychiatric

Nursing Credit

Credit Hours: 6

Course Description: This course will contain an introduction to the basic concepts
of psychiatric nursing; it will also locate psychiatric nursing within a number of
relevant contexts. Content will include: the concepts of mental health and
mental illness, the historical context of mental health/ill health, historical and
contemporary political contexts of mental health care, sociological, biological and
cultural aspects and perspectives of mental health, theoretical underpinnings of
mental health care and psychiatric nursing, principal theories of psychiatric
nursing, treatment and care paradigms of the person with mental health
problems, psychiatric nursing roles, and the inter-personal focus of psychiatric
nursing.

Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, the

learner will be able to:

1. Explore the basic concepts of psychiatric nursing.

2. Describe the role of psychiatric nursing in the health profession.
3. Discuss the historical and contemporary contexts of the psychiatric nursing
profession.
4. Adopt personal views on mental health and illness
5. Discuss psychosocial rehabilitation

Delivery Format: This six- credit course uses a variety of on-line delivery
teaching and learning strategies. The course has an emphasis on participatory
learning approaches, student (or self) responsibility and group learning
approaches. A high priority of the course is the responsibility of the students to
undertake their own preparation and incorporate this with fellow students through
various on-line learning mediums. A further key element of the format involves the
students accessing the material, reading this in a critical way, and making a
positive contribution to discussions/debates.

Course Requirements and Allocation of Marks:

Quizzes (3) 40%

Midterm Participation 30%
Final Participation 30%

Required Reading:

2013, Stenberg College. All Rights Reserved. Revised: May 2014

1
Stenberg College (Regional) Diploma
in Psychiatric Nursing Program

Austin, W., Boyd, M. A., (2014). Psychiatric nursing for Canadian practice (3rd ed.).
Philadelphia, PA: Woulters Kluwer.

2013, Stenberg College. All Rights Reserved. Revised: May 2014

2