Psychiatric/mental health nurses have traditionally been prepared for practice in institutional settings where the biomedical model predominates and thus the nursing role is constrained. This subject explores the social and institutional construction of mental health care and nursing and explores alternative models for understanding and responding to mental health needs. In particular, the nurse-patient relationship, the strengths model, and therapeutic approaches are explored. Mental health care in Australia has tended to follow a circular pattern with the dominant institutional model being interspersed with community initiatives. Current trends will be examined in the light of social, political, economic and cultural imperatives.The subject also provides practice and development of therapeutic skills such as individual counselling, group, miliey and social internventions.
20 (20)
Band 1