Placement : 1st Year
Hours of Instruction
Theory 150 hours
Practical 650 hours
Total : 800 hours
Course Description
This course is designed to assist students in developing expertise and indepth
understanding in the field of Psychiatric Nursing. It will help students
to appreciate the client as a holistic individual and develop skill to function
psychiatric nurse specialist . It will further enable the student to function
as educator, manager, and researcher in the field of Psychiatric nursing
Objectives
1. Appreciate the trends and issues in the field of psychiatry and
psychiatric nursing.
2. Explain the dynamics of personality development and human
behaviour.
3. Describe the concepts of psychobiology in mental disorders and its
implications for psychiatric nursing
4. Demonstrate therapeutic communications skills in all interactions
5. Demonstrate the role of psychiatric nurse practitioner in various
therapeutic modalities
6. Establish and maintain therapeutic relationship with individual and
groups
7. Uses assertive techniques in personal and professional actions
8. Promotes self-esteem of clients, others and self
9. Apply the nursing process approach in caring for patients with mental
disorders
10. Describe the psychopharmacological agents, their effects and nurses
role
11. Recognize the role of psychiatric nurse practitioner and as a member
of the psychiatric and mental health team
12. Describe various types of alternative system of medicines used in
psychiatric settings
13. Incorporate evidence based nursing practice and identify the areas of
research in the field of psychiatric nursing
Course Content
Units Hours Content
I 15 Introduction
Mental Health and Mental Illness
Historical perspectives
Trends, issues and magnitude
Contemporary practices
Mental health laws/Acts
National mental health program -National mental health
authority, state mental health authority
Human rights of mentally ill
Mental Health/ Mental Illness Continuum
Classification of mental illnesses-ICD, DSM
Standards of Psychiatric nursing
Challenges and Scope of psychiatric nursing
Multi-disciplinary team and role of nurse
Role of psychiatric nurse- extended and expanded
II 10 Concepts of Psychobiology
The Nervous System:
• An Anatomical Review
• The Brain and limbic system
• Nerve Tissue
• Autonomic Nervous system
• Neurotransmitters
Neuroendocrinology
• Pituitary, Thyroid Gland
• Circadian Rhythms
Genetics
Neuro psychiatric disorders
Psychoimmunology
• Normal Immune response
• Implications for psychiatric Illness
Implications for Nursing
III 10 Theories of Personality
Development and relevance to
nursing practice
Psychoanalytic Theory- Freud’s
Interpersonal Theory-Sullivan’s
Theory of Psychosocial Development-Erikson’s
Theory of object relations
Cognitive Development Theory
Theory of Moral Development
A Nursing Model-Hildegard E.Peplau
IV 5 Stress and its management
An introduction to the concepts of stress
Psychological Adaptation to stress
Stress as a Biological Response.
Stress as an Environmental Event.
Stress as Transaction between the Individual and the
Environment.
Stress management.
V 10 Therapeutic communication and interpersonal relationship
Review communication process, factors affecting
communication
Communication with individuals and in groups
Techniques of therapeutic communication-touch therapy
Barrier of communication with specific reference to
psychopathology
Therapeutic attitudes
Dynamics of a therapeutic Nurse-client relationship;
Therapeutic use of self Gaining self-awareness
Therapeutic nurse-patient relationship its phases ; Conditions
essential to development of a therapeutic relationship
Therapeutic impasse and its management
VI 10 Assertive Training
Assertive Communication
Basic Human Rights
Response Patterns
• (Nonassertive Behavior
• Assertive Behavior
• Aggressive Behavior
• Passive-Aggressive Behavior)
Behavioral Components of Assertive Behavior
Techniques that Promote Assertive Behavior
Thought-Stopping Techniques Method
Role of The Nurse
VII 10 Promoting Self-Esteem
Components of Self-Concept
The Development of Self-Esteem
The Manifestations of Low-Self-Esteem
Boundaries
Role of The Nurse
5 Women and Mental Health
• Normal reaction to conception, pregnancy and puerperium
• Problems related to conception, pregnancy and puerperium
and its management.
• Counselling – Premarital, marital and genetic
Units Hours Content
VIII 10 The nursing process in
psychiatric/mental health nursing
Mental health assessment- History taking, mental status
examination
Physical and neurological examination
Psychometric assessment
Investigations, Diagnosis and Differential diagnosis
Interpretation of investigations
Nurse’s role
Nursing case management
• Critical pathways of care
Documentation
• Problem-oriented recording
• Focus charting
• The PIE method
IX 35 Psycho social and physical therapies
Individual therapy
Behavioural Therapy- Relaxation therapy, cognitive therapy,
positive- negative reinforcement, bio-feedback, guided imagery,
ab-reactive therapy
Group Therapy
Family Therapy
Milieu Therapy
The Therapeutic Community
Occupational therapy
Recreational therapy
Play therapy
Music therapy
Light therapy
Color therapy
Aroma therapy
XI 5 Electroconvulsive Therapy
Historical Perspectives
Indications
Contraindications
Mechanisms of Action
Side Effects
Risks Associated with Electroconvulsive Therapy
The Role of The Nurse in Electroconvulsive Therapy
X 10 Psychopharmacology
Historical Perspectives
Role of a Nurse in Psychopharmacological Therapy
• Antianxiety Agents
• Antidepressants Agents
• Mood stabilizers
• Antipsychotics
• Sedative-Hypnotics
• Central Nervous System Stimulants
Future developments
Units Hours Content
XII 15 Alternative systems of medicine in mental health
Types of Therapies
• Herbal Medicine
• Unani
• Siddha
• Homeopathic
• Acupressure and Acupuncture
• Diet and Nutrition
• Chiropractic Medicine
• Therapeutic Touch and Massage
• Yoga
• Pet Therapy
Practical
Total = 660 Hours
1 Week = 30 Hours
S.No. Area of Posting No. of Week Total Hours
1 Acute Psychiatric Ward 4 120 Hours
2 Chronic Psychiatric ward 4 120 Hours
3 Psychiatric Emergency Unit 2 60 Hours
4 O.P.D 2 60 Hours
5 Family Psychiatric Unit 2 60 Hours
6 Community Mental Health Unit 4 120 Hours
7 Rehabilitation / Occupational Therapy
Unit/Half way home/ Day care centre
4 120 Hours
Total 22 Weeks 660 Hours
Student Activities
• History taking
• Mental health assessment
• Psychometric assessment
• Personality assessment
• Process recording
• Therapies- Group Therapy
• Family Therapy
• Psychotherapy
• Milieu Therapy
• The Therapeutic Community
• Occupational therapy
• Recreational therapy
• Play therapy
• music therapy
• Pet therapy
• Counselling
• Assisted ECT
• Assisted EEG
• Case studies
• Case presentation
• Project work
• Socio and psycho drama
• Field visits
