Programme Overview

The Mental Health Services are undergoing changes that emphasise movement towards a community based service (Planning for the Future, 1984; Department of Health and Children, 2006). This programme seeks to assist nurses to develop skills to enable autonomous practice. Required attendance is 12 academic days in college. This enables the student to study in the comfort of their own home, with excellent support still offered by the college.

This programme consists of seven modules as per the below.   

A unique aspect of the programme is the quality clinical practice (Professional Practice Module) of a minimum of 300 hours under the supervision of an experienced community mental health nurse. Students provide care to an assigned caseload of a minimum of twelve clients with a range of mental health problems.

Psychosocial Interventions in Mental Health Care 1
While acknowledging the importance of medication in supporting someone with a mental illness, this module examines other complimentary ways such as relapse prevention; medication management; holistic assessments; solution focused brief interventions; use of CBT with psychosis; family interventions; supporting someone with auditory hallucinations among others to ensure a quality recovery for these individuals.

Therapeutic Communication
The aim of this module is to enhance knowledge and understanding of therapeutic communication. The module with further enhance therapeutic skills and help the student to develop the therapeutic relationship which serves to underpin the basis of all psychological therapies. Critical exploration of attitudes, feelings and behaviour will take place.

Primary and Community Mental Health Care
This module will critically consider the concepts and definitions of community and primary health care. Key concepts of the community nursing role as well as the fundamental dimensions of primary care, with special emphasis on mental health will be examined. The role of voluntary agencies will also be addressed.

Mental Health Nursing in the Community
This module covers many key issues regarding caring for someone with a mental illness in a community setting. The importance of mental health promotion, as well as advocacy groups, service user rights and management and caseload issues are all examined.

Reflective Practice
Developing professionals as reflective practitioners and responding to their personal and professional needs are two of the key values of this module. It aims to introduce the participants to the theory and practice of professional reflection in ways that enhance their own performance and contributes to the work of which they are part.

Professional Practice
This module will build upon the practitioner's previous nursing experience and expertise. The focus of this module is on the development of the professional role of the student as a community mental health nurse. The student will manage, under supervision a minimum of 12 service users, thus caring for a caseload with a variety of mental illnesses and care plans.

Psychosocial Interventions in Mental Health Care 2

This module complements the previous module regarding interventions from a psychological and social perspective that support people with mental health difficulties.

Downloads & Other Information

Contact Details

Tom O Grady
E:  togrady@stangelas.nuigalway.ie
T:   071 91 35624.