NS4018/NURS1065: Contemporary Evidenced Based Mental Health Nursing Practice Assignment

Module Co-ordinator: Liam Mac Gabhann
Email: liam.macgabhann@dcu.ie

Introduction

This module aims to enable students to develop a critical understanding of advances and trends in mental health service delivery, to collaborate with others in practice and service reform to provide evidence based and recovery focused care and develop their capacity for working therapeutically with mental health service users.

On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to :

1. Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary issues and challenges for mental health nursing
2. Discuss and critically appraise key components of evidence based approaches to mental healthcare/service delivery
3. Explore the principal elements of strengths-based approaches to working with service users including psychosocial, solution-oriented, humanistic and cognitive behavioural methods and their application to people with mental health problems in various clinical settings and the community
4. Discuss the rationale for and implementation of group and family work in mental health care
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of strategies to develop selfawareness for professional mental health nursing practice
6. Discuss the importance of life-long learning
7. Demonstrate an understanding of mental health legislation and its application in a clinical context.

Module Delivery

Module delivery will be through a mixed format, all of which learners have become familiar with at different stages of their programme. Although there will be a minimal of lectures, informed course material will be provided, particularly thorough the online ‘Loop’ portal. Much of the course content will be covered through tutorials, workshops with group work and role play. A significant element of module learning will occur through both peer interaction/discussion, self directed practice development and through individuals practice requirements for the module.

Assessment

The module will comprise of two assessments together equally 95% of marks.

• Each learner will complete the MHA online course situated on Hseland and submit their certificate of completion to Loop in week 10.

This assignment equals 10% of overall mark

• Each learner will present a retrospective case study. You will be expected to first present a Gibbs reflection on a process of care you were involved with that has not necessarily facilitated a recovery approach to care.

Thereafter, you will outline a potential process of engagement based on contemporary evidence based practice as explored in class, that may have created better outcomes for the client/family and you the practitioner. The potential process of engagement will include: referenced justification and rationale for approach; initial interaction with client/family; negotiated process of care; and based on the relevant literature the  potential outcomes for the client and practitioner. The case study will include critical reflection on your potential process in relation to the retrospective case it is based on. This assignment equals 85% of overall mark

Marks will be awarded for the following:

• clear and coherent structure
• use of Gibbs reflective cycle
• a reflective analysis of the process of engagement through to evaluation of outcomes
• an analysis of any assessments, tools and other interventions potentially planned for with the client/family/group
• clear account of how care would be negotiated and facilitated, including measurable milestones, e.g. goals/interventions
• Critical reflective analysis
• presentation – indicated by proof reading, editing, spell checks and accurate referencing using the Harvard method.

In addition to both assignments, class interaction of 80% or above will be allocated 5% of overall mark

Date of submission

Your case study  assignment is to be submitted to the School of Nursing, Psychotherapy & Community Health, DCU via Loop assignment submission portal on 06/12/2025. As per DCU policy there will be an automatic deduction of 20 marks for assignments submitted late. It is the learner’s responsibility to familiarise themselves with university regulations on plagiarism, copying and collusion – please refer to,

• http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/regulations.shtml#15
• http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/plagiarism.shtml

In keeping with DCU policy each learner must complete a front page cover sheet with each assignment.

Form of submission

Written assignment should be presented in typed form, 12 font and submitted via the provided Loop assignment link

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is advisory and other specifically relevant reading will be provided as part of module delivery

Videbeck, S.L. 2009, Mental Health Nursing,, Woltrers Kluwer London

Gamble, C and Brennan, G. 2006, Working With Serious Mental Illness.,, Elsevier London

Barker, P. (ed) 2003, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing.The Craft of Caring.,, Arnold London

Healy, D . 2009, Psychiatric Drugs Explained, 5th Edtn Ed.,, Churchill Livingstone London

Higgins, A. and McDaid, 2014, Mental Health in Ireland. Policy, Practice and Law, Gill and Macmillan London

Mental Health Commission 2008, A Recovery Approach within the Irish Mental Health Services,MHC Dublin

Nelson-Jones, R. 2010, Theory and Practice of Counselling and Therapy, 5th Ed., Sage London

Stout, C.E. and Hayes, R.A. (eds) 2005, The evidence-based practice: Methods, models and tools for mental health professionals., John Wiley & Sons Hoboken, New Jersey

Repper J & Perkins R. 2003, Social Inclusion and Recovery: A model for mental health practice, Bailliere Tindall Edinburgh

Hatcher, S., Butler, R and Oakley-Brown, M. 2005, Evidence-based mental health care., Elsevier,Edinburgh

Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D. and Jasper, M. 2001, Critical reflection for nursing and the helping professions., Palgrave Hampshire UK

Health Research Board. 2006, Family Support Study. A study of experiences, needs, and support requirements of families with enduring mental illness in Ireland., Health Research Board. Dublin

Mental Health Commission. 2005, A Vision for a Recovery Model in Irish Mental Health Services., Mental Health Commission. Dublin

Mental Health Commission. 2007, Happy Living Here…A Survey and Evaluation of Community, Residential Mental Health Services in Ireland., Mental Health Commission. Dublin

Provisional Timetable 2025   

** The scheduled content on weeks may change