[Link].

NURSING (Semester-5)
COURSE PLAN
ON

METNAL HEALTH NURSING 1ST

SUBMITTED TO SUBMITTED BY
 COURSE PLAN

PLACEMENT: 5TH SEMESTER

THEORY HOURS: 60 hours
PRESCRIBED HOURS: 80 HRS
ALLOTED HOURS: 80 HRS

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to develop basic understanding of the principles and standards of
mental health nursing and skill in application of nursing process in assessment and care of
patients with mental health disorders.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE
 On completion of the course, the students will be competent
 Trace the historical development of mental health nursing and discuss its scope.
 Identify the classification of the mental disorders.
 Develop basic understanding of the principles and concepts of mental health nursing.
 Apply the Indian Nursing Council practice standards for psychiatric mental health
nursing in supervised clinical settings.
 Conduct mental health assessment. Identify and maintain therapeutic communication
and nurse patient relationship.
 Demonstrate knowledge of the various treatment modalities and therapies used in
mental disorders.
 Apply nursing process in delivering care to patients with mental disorders.
 Provide nursing care to patients with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
based on assessment findings and treatment/therapies used.
 Provide nursing care to patients with mood disorders based on assessment findings
and treatment/therapies used.
 Provide nursing care to patients with neurotic disorders based on assessment findings
and treatment/ therapies used.
Course Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing ([Link]. Nursing) is a four-year undergraduate

professional program designed to prepare students to become competent, compassionate, and
skilled registered nurses. The course integrates theoretical knowledge with practical clinical
experience to enable students to provide comprehensive nursing care in hospitals,
communities, and specialized healthcare settings

A significant component of the [Link]. Nursing curriculum is Mental Health Nursing, which
equips students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to care for individuals with
mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. This subject emphasizes holistic care,
therapeutic communication, and evidence-based psychiatric nursing practices.

Mental Health Nursing focuses on the promotion of mental health, prevention of mental
illness, early identification of psychological problems, and rehabilitation of patients with
psychiatric disorders. Students learn about the concepts of mental health and illness,
personality development, stress and coping mechanisms, and the role of nurses in mental
health services. The course covers major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, mood
disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and childhood and geriatric mental
health issues.

Prescribed hours= 60 hours

Allotted hours = 80 hours
 Unit/ Topic Learning Detailed Subtopics & Hours Teaching- Assessment
Objective Content Learning Methods
Coverage Activities
1-Introduction Describe the  Perspectives of Mental 6hrs Lecture cum Short answer
historical Health and Mental Health discussion Essay
development & Nursing, evolution of
current trends in mental health services,
mental health nursing treatments and nursing
practices
Discuss the scope of
mental health nursing  Mental health team

Describe the concept  Nature & scope of mental

of normal & health nursing
abnormal behavior
 Role & functions of
mental health nurse in
various settings and
factors affecting the level
of nursing practice

2-Principles and  Definition of mental health

 Define terms used in nursing Short answer
Concepts of 10HRS Lecture cum
mental health nursing Essay
Mental Health discussion
Nursing  Classification of mental
 Explain disorders: ICD-11, DSM-5
classification of mental
disorders  Geropsychiatry

 Describe etiological  Personality development and

factors and psychodynamics
psychopathology

 Defense mechanisms
 Explain principles
and standards of
mental health nursing  Etiology: bio-psycho-social
factors
 Describe conceptual
models of mental  Psychopathology of mental
health nursing disorders

 Structure and function of brain,

limbic system, abnormal
neurotransmission

 Principles of mental health

nursing

 Ethics and responsibilities

 INC practice standards for

psychiatric mental health nursing

 Conceptual models: Existential,

Psychoanalytical, Behavioural,
Interpersonal

 Preventive psychiatry and

rehabilitation
3-Mental Health Describe nature,  History taking 6 Lecture cum Short answer
Assessment purpose and process of HOURS discussion Essay
mental health Practice session Assessment of
 Mental Status Examination
assessment Clinical mental health
(MSE)
practice status

 Mini Mental Status Examination

 Neurological examination

 Investigations: Blood chemistry,

EEG, CT, MRI

 Psychological tests

4-Therapeutic • Identify  Therapeutic 6 Lecture Essay

Communication therapeutic communication: types, HOURS Demonstration Short answer
and Nurse-Patient communicati techniques, Role play OSCE
Relationship on characteristics, barriers OSCE
• Describe  Therapeutic nurse–patient
therapeutic relationship
nurse–patient  Interpersonal relationship
relationship  Elements of nurse–patient
• Explain contract
therapeutic  Johari window
impasses and  Therapeutic impasse and
interventions management
 Process recording
 Simulation (video)

5-Treatment  Explain treatment  Physical therapies: 10 Lecture cum Essay

Modalities and modalities and Psychopharmacology, HOURS discussion Short answer
Therapies therapies used in Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT) Demonstration Objective type
mental disorders Group work
Clinical
 Psychological therapies:
practice
 Describe role of the Psychotherapy, Behaviour therapy,
nurse CBT

 Psychosocial therapies: Group

therapy, Family therapy,
Therapeutic community,
Recreational therapy, Art therapy,
Occupational therapy

 Alternative and complementary

therapies: Yoga, Meditation,
Relaxation

 Considerations for special

populations

6- Nursing  Describe the  Prevalence and incidence 8 hours Lecture cum Essay
Management of etiology, discussion short answer
Patients with psychodynamics Case discussion patient
 Classification
Schizophrenia psychopathology, Case management
and Other clinical manifestations, presentation, assessment
Psychotic prevalence, and  Etiology, psychodynamics, Clinical
Disorders incidence of clinical manifestations practice
schizophrenia and
other psychotic  Diagnostic criteria and
disorders. formulations

 Explain the  Nursing assessment: history,

diagnostic criteria and physical and mental assessment
 classification of  Treatment modalities and nursing
psychotic disorders. management

 Geriatric and special population

considerations

 Follow-up, home care and

rehabilitation

7- Nursing  Describe the  Prevalence and incidence 6 hours Lecture cum Essay
Management of etiology, discussion short answer
Patients with psychodynamics, Case discussion patient
 Mood disorders: Bipolar
Mood Disorders clinical manifestations, Case management
affective disorder, mania,
prevalence, and presentation, assessment
depression, dysthymia
incidence of mood Clinical
disorders. practice
 Etiology, psychodynamics,
clinical manifestations
 Explain the
classification and
diagnostic criteria of  Diagnosis
mood disorders such as
bipolar affective  Treatment modalities and nursing
disorder, mania, management
depression, and
dysthymia.
 Geriatric and special population
considerations

 Follow-up, home care and

rehabilitation

8- Nursing  Describe the  Prevalence and incidence 8 hours Lecture cum Essay
Management of etiology, discussion short answer
Patients with psychodynamics, Case discussion patient
 Classification
Neurotic, prevalence, and Case management
Stress-Related incidence of neurotic, presentation, assessment
and Somatoform stress-related, and  Anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD, Clinical
Disorders somatoform disorders. Phobias practice

 Explain the  Dissociative and conversion

classification, clinical disorders
manifestations, and
diagnostic criteria of  Etiology, psychodynamics,
anxiety disorders, clinical manifestations
OCD, PTSD, phobias,
dissociative and
conversion disorders.  Nursing assessment

 Treatment modalities and nursing

management

 Geriatric and special population

considerations

 Follow-up, home care and

rehabilitation
REFERENCES

 Stuart, G. W., & Laraia, M. T. Principles and Practice of Psychiatric Nursing. 8th ed. Elsevier India Pvt. Ltd., New
Delhi, 2005.
 Gelder, M., Mayou, R., & Cowen, P. Shorter Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry. Oxford Medical Publications, 4th ed., 2001.
 Bhatia, M. S. A Concise Textbook of Psychiatric Nursing. CBS Publishers, Delhi, 1999.
 Bhatia, M. S. Essentials of Psychiatry. CBS Publishers, Delhi.
 Townsend, M. C. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: Concepts of Care. 4th ed., F.A. Davis, 2003.