PNUR 4574

This course examines psychiatric nursing in relation to mental health emergencies. Students will explore relevant legislation, legal and ethical issues, triage processes, and strategies that support the psychiatric nurse in the provision of care to those experiencing a mental health crisis. Students will develop skills in performing mental status exams and risk assessments, managing crisis calls, and implementing urgent psychiatric nursing interventions to respond to episodic mental health challenges. Assessment criteria, tools, interventions, and emergency mental health dispositions are addressed in the context of variances in wellness. Throughout the course, there is a focus on developing advanced interviewing skills to effectively assess and respond to mental health emergencies.