NURS 321 - Behavioral Health Nursing

Credit(s): 3
This course is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of the psychotherapeutic management of patients with behavioral health and psychosocial problems. Specific psychiatric disorders will be discussed in depth, as well as psychiatric disorders throughout the life span. General principles of psychiatric/mental health nursing will be presented. Students will learn the components of therapeutic nurse-patient communication psychopharmacology, and milieu management. The course provides the student with the opportunity to analyze therapeutic interaction skills and to evaluate the role of society and culture in mental health care, including current challenges in care such as violence, homelessness, access to care and HIV/AIDS.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of NURS 201, NURS 203, NURS 211, NURS 231, and NURS 242 with a grade of “C” or better.
Corequisites: NURS 301, NURS 311, NURS 312 and NURS 322
Course Level: Undergraduate