MHN3110 Counselling Skills for Health Professionals

Contents

• Staffing
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Reference materials
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Important assessment information
• Assessment notes
• Production date
• PDF version

STAFFING

RATIONALE

Most people have contact with nursing professionals when the person is needing assistance or is under stress. Nurses are ideally suited to help people deal with psychosocial difficulties as well as their physical problems because of their responsible person centred roles. This course will focus on the development of micro-counselling skills as well as the use of reflection to promote and self-understanding and lifelong professional development in nursing practice. It is envisaged that nursing students will be able to apply the micro counselling skills learnt to a variety of nurse patient / nurse / staff scenarios.

SYNOPSIS

The content of the course is based on the premise that there are two people in a helping relationship: the nurse and the client. The better understanding nurses have of themselves, the better they are able to help others to work on their personal difficulties. Students will have the opportunity to develop their own self awareness through reflective practice for the purpose of lifelong professional development. Students will also explore a range of theoretical concepts underpinning counselling practice aimed at facilitating micro-skill development in a variety of nursing practise situations.

OBJECTIVES

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1.

describe the purpose and ethics of counselling in nursing practice (Reflect - Self Aware & Skills, Assignment - Parts A & B);

2.

examine the importance of developing reflective skills for self understanding in the development of interpersonal counselling skills (Reflect - Self Aware & Skills, Assignment - Parts A & B);

3.

describe the theoretical frameworks that underpin counselling strategies used in nursing practice (Reflect - Self Aware & Skills);

4.

develop specific micro- counselling skills (Assignment - Parts A & B);

5.

discuss the impact of culture on interpersonal communication (Reflect - Self Aware & Skills, Assignment - Parts A & B).

TOPICS

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Ivey, A & Ivey, M 2007, Intentional interviewing & counseling: facilitating client development in a multicultural society, 6th edn, Brooks/Cole Publishing, Pacific Grove, Australia.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

International Journal of Mental Health Nursing,

Boyd, M 2005, Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice, Lippincott, Philadelphia.

Burdess, N 1998, The Handbook of Student Skills; for the social sciences and humanities, 2nd edn, Prentice Hall, New York.

Frisch, N, Frisch, L 2006, Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Thompson, New York.

Hutchinson, D 2007, The Essential Counselor: Process, Skills & Techniques, Lahaska Press, Boston.

Pearson, A, Vaughan, B & Fitzgerald, M 2003, Nursing Models for Practice, 3rd edn, Heinemann, London.

Rogers-Clark, C, Martin-McDonald, K & McCarthy, A 2005, Living with Illness: Psychosocial Challenges for Nursing, Elsevier, Sydney.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available for each assessment item.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without (prior) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded. No assignments will be accepted after model answers have been posted.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   There is no examination in this course.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   There will be no Deferred or Supplementary examinations in this course.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

This version produced 11 Dec 2009.