1
NURS 304
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
Spring 2023
***Students are responsible to be familiar with the contents of this syllabus**
BRYANT & STRATTON COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS
, 2
Bryant & Stratton College
Course Syllabus NURS 304 Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
This course syllabus is a contract between you and Bryant & Stratton College. It represents the minimum expected learning
outcomes for this course. Your instructor will also provide a supplemental syllabus describing the approach to the course,
instructional methods, tracking calendar, assignments, assessments and grading scheme, plus guidelines for your success.
Semester Credit Hours:4 Lecture or Clinical hrs/wk:2 (30 hours total) Term: Spring 2023
Lab: 0
Clinical hrs/wk: 6 (90 hours total)
Internship hrs/term: 0
Proficiency Available: NO Prerequisite(s): Co-requisite(s): Date of Last Revision:
NURS 301 Nursing Care of the Adult 4/2021
Research Required: YES I 0
NURS 302 Gerontology Nursing
COURSE CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
The course examines theoretical approaches to diagnosing, planning, implementing and evaluating the care for persons with
major mental illness and personality disorders across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on the nurse/client relationship, legal
and ethical issues, psychopharmacology, and evidence-based treatment modalities. A comprehensive exploration of major
psychiatric disorders and current treatments prepares the nurse to function as an effective member of the multidisciplinary
mental health care team. Given the critical role of nurses in all areas of health care, this course will provide students with the
critical skills to affect the emotional well-being of all clients regardless of the health care setting.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Bryant & Stratton College prepares graduates for career and life by facilitating learning experiences for students to achieve
the following intended outcomes.
Course Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Assess clients experiencing psychiatric disorders.
2. Plan, implement, and evaluate age appropriate interventions for clients with psychiatric disorders based on current
best evidence.
3. Demonstrate assessment skills with emphasis on mental status and neurological functioning.
4. Explain the pharmacokinetics of various psychotropic medications and complementary integrative therapies
including safe administration, symptom abatement, side effects, toxicity, and potential interactions with other
medications/substances.
5. Apply therapeutic communication techniques in care practices with clients experiencing common psychiatric
symptoms including disorganized speech, hallucinations, delusions, and decreased production of speech.
6. Develop professional boundaries necessary for professional care giving relationships.
7. Evaluate how the settings, client acuity, and needs influence nursing roles.
8. Provide culturally and spiritually competent care within the scope of nursing that meets the needs of clients from
diverse cultural, racial and ethnic backgrounds.
9. Plan, implement, and evaluate care interventions that protect the civil and legal rights and dignity of vulnerable
populations.
10. Plan and evaluate for a continuum of care that provides safety, structure, and support for clients with psychiatric
, 3
disorders.
11. Evaluate the impact of economics on access and availability of health care for the client and family with psychiatric-
mental health disorders.
Institutional Outcomes:
• Information Literacy and Communication - Utilize appropriate current technology and resources to locate
and evaluate information needed to accomplish a goal, and then communicate findings in visual, written and/or oral
formats.
• Relational Learning - Transfer knowledge, skills and behaviors acquired through formal and informal
learning and life experiences to new situations.
• Thinking Abilities - Employ strategies for reflection on learning and practice in order to adjust learning
processes for continual improvement.
• Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning - Follow established methods of inquiry and mathematical
reasoning to form conclusions and make decisions.
• Community and Career - Participate in social, academic, and professional communities for individual
growth and to function as a citizen of a multicultural world.
MEDIA/EQUIPMENT/SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS:
Bryant & Stratton College faculty, as content area experts, selected the following media package for this course. A decision
was made from these approved packages and is reflected on the supplemental syllabus.
SKILLS ASSISTANCE: The instructor will be available for Skills Assistance hours. The times and locations are published in
the supplemental syllabus.
, 4
NURS 304
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
Spring 2023
***Students are responsible to be familiar with the contents of this syllabus**
BRYANT & STRATTON COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS
, 2
Bryant & Stratton College
Course Syllabus NURS 304 Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
This course syllabus is a contract between you and Bryant & Stratton College. It represents the minimum expected learning
outcomes for this course. Your instructor will also provide a supplemental syllabus describing the approach to the course,
instructional methods, tracking calendar, assignments, assessments and grading scheme, plus guidelines for your success.
Semester Credit Hours:4 Lecture or Clinical hrs/wk:2 (30 hours total) Term: Spring 2023
Lab: 0
Clinical hrs/wk: 6 (90 hours total)
Internship hrs/term: 0
Proficiency Available: NO Prerequisite(s): Co-requisite(s): Date of Last Revision:
NURS 301 Nursing Care of the Adult 4/2021
Research Required: YES I 0
NURS 302 Gerontology Nursing
COURSE CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
The course examines theoretical approaches to diagnosing, planning, implementing and evaluating the care for persons with
major mental illness and personality disorders across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on the nurse/client relationship, legal
and ethical issues, psychopharmacology, and evidence-based treatment modalities. A comprehensive exploration of major
psychiatric disorders and current treatments prepares the nurse to function as an effective member of the multidisciplinary
mental health care team. Given the critical role of nurses in all areas of health care, this course will provide students with the
critical skills to affect the emotional well-being of all clients regardless of the health care setting.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Bryant & Stratton College prepares graduates for career and life by facilitating learning experiences for students to achieve
the following intended outcomes.
Course Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Assess clients experiencing psychiatric disorders.
2. Plan, implement, and evaluate age appropriate interventions for clients with psychiatric disorders based on current
best evidence.
3. Demonstrate assessment skills with emphasis on mental status and neurological functioning.
4. Explain the pharmacokinetics of various psychotropic medications and complementary integrative therapies
including safe administration, symptom abatement, side effects, toxicity, and potential interactions with other
medications/substances.
5. Apply therapeutic communication techniques in care practices with clients experiencing common psychiatric
symptoms including disorganized speech, hallucinations, delusions, and decreased production of speech.
6. Develop professional boundaries necessary for professional care giving relationships.
7. Evaluate how the settings, client acuity, and needs influence nursing roles.
8. Provide culturally and spiritually competent care within the scope of nursing that meets the needs of clients from
diverse cultural, racial and ethnic backgrounds.
9. Plan, implement, and evaluate care interventions that protect the civil and legal rights and dignity of vulnerable
populations.
10. Plan and evaluate for a continuum of care that provides safety, structure, and support for clients with psychiatric
, 3
disorders.
11. Evaluate the impact of economics on access and availability of health care for the client and family with psychiatric-
mental health disorders.
Institutional Outcomes:
• Information Literacy and Communication - Utilize appropriate current technology and resources to locate
and evaluate information needed to accomplish a goal, and then communicate findings in visual, written and/or oral
formats.
• Relational Learning - Transfer knowledge, skills and behaviors acquired through formal and informal
learning and life experiences to new situations.
• Thinking Abilities - Employ strategies for reflection on learning and practice in order to adjust learning
processes for continual improvement.
• Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning - Follow established methods of inquiry and mathematical
reasoning to form conclusions and make decisions.
• Community and Career - Participate in social, academic, and professional communities for individual
growth and to function as a citizen of a multicultural world.
MEDIA/EQUIPMENT/SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS:
Bryant & Stratton College faculty, as content area experts, selected the following media package for this course. A decision
was made from these approved packages and is reflected on the supplemental syllabus.
SKILLS ASSISTANCE: The instructor will be available for Skills Assistance hours. The times and locations are published in
the supplemental syllabus.
, 4
