EPN-V2

SYKKPRA50B Nursing Persons with Mental Health Problems Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Sykepleie til mennesker med psykiske lidelser
Study programme
Bachelor's Programme in Nursing
Weight
15.0 ECTS
Year of study
2025/2026
Curriculum
FALL 2025
Schedule
Course history

Introduction

In this course, students will learn about mental health work, relational skills and factors that promote and harm the mental health of individuals and groups. People's resources and opportunities, but also their vulnerabilities as individuals, are areas of focus. The significance of close relationships and society's influence are important for mental health and are emphasised in the course. This includes patient phenomena such as hope and hopelessness, pain and pain relief, exhaustion and energy.

Required preliminary courses

To start this course you must have passed:

  • Passed the first year of study.
  • SYKP/SYKP2100 Person Centered Care, 15 credits.
  • SYKK/SYKPPRA21 Nursing Patients with Acute, Critical and Chronic Diseases 1, 15 credits.
  • SYKK/SYKPPRA30K Nursing Patients with Acute, Critical and Chronic Diseases 2, 10 credits.

or equivalent.*

* For year group 2022 at OsloMet, the equivalent is:

  • Passed the first year of study.
  • SYKK/SYKPPRA20 Nursing Patients with Acute, Critical and Chronic Diseases 1, 20 credits.
  • SYKP/SYKP1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care, 5 credits.
  • SYKP/SYKK2000 Theory of Science and Research Methods, 5 credits.
  • SYKK/SYKPPRA30 Nursing Patients with Acute, Critical and Chronic Diseases 2, 10 credits.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

  • can present mental health work in a historical perspective
  • can reflect on factors that inhibit and promote mental health at individual and group level
  • can s discuss how psychosis, personality disorders, anxiety, mood disorder and drug addiction can influence the patients’ fundamental needs and self-understanding and what consequences this has for person-centred nursing
  • can explain the psychological and psychosocial challenges faced by immigrants, refugees, Sami and other minority groups, as well as explain how stigma, alienation, discrimination and racism can affect mental and psychosocial health
  • can describe strategies for mastery and concepts such as improvement processes, user participation, recovery, and empowerment
  • can explain how framework factors such as current legislation and compulsory regulations can be of significance to the practice of nursing in mental health work
  • can discuss the special needs of children and young people related to trauma, neglect, violence, abuse and drug and socio-economic problems

Skills

The student

  • can apply key milieu therapeutic principles related to patients with mental disorders and can establish, maintain, and terminate relationships
  • can apply knowledge about the main groups of psychotropic drugs and integrate knowledge from disease theory in assessing the effects and side effects of drugs
  • can apply communication and interaction skills when encountering people with mental health issues and their next-of-kin in interdisciplinary collaboration
  • can make a comprehensive survey of symptoms, risks and life history of people with various mental and drug-related disorders and conditions and use current documentation tools in the practice of nursing
  • is capable of continuously assessing situations that entail a risk for patients and/or staff and preventing unwanted incidents

General competence

The student

  • can reflect on his/her own professional practice and power structures when encountering people with mental health issues and drug addictions and and receive guidance and feedback
  • can reflect on existing procedures and methods in the field of practice, and taking the initiative to engage in dialogue about the implementation of new knowledge and new work methods in person-centred nursing and in interdisciplinary collaboration

Teaching and learning methods

Practical training consists of both practical training, activities along the way and supervised practical training that takes place during the practical training period. The practical training period (7 weeks) take part in municipal health service/specialist health service, mental health and is supervised by a practical training supervisor and contact teacher. Other practical training and activities (1 weeks) can be, simulation, digital learning resources, lectures and seminars.

The flipped classroom is used as a teaching method for part of the course. Digital learning resources will be made available in advance.

Course requirements

For practical training, there is a requirement for 80% attendance in theory, activities and practical training that is marked compulsory in the timetable, as well as 90% attendance during the practical training period itself. The student fills in the self-assessment for the start of the practical training, the rotating schedule during the first week of practical training and the self-assessment form no later than two working days before the agreed mid- and final assessment. Other compulsory assignments included in the overall assessment of the course are:

  • Reflection assignment, individual assignment on ethics, power and legislation related to the student's own experience from practical training. Scope of 1000 words (+/- 10%).

Assessment

Assessment in practice.

The assessment takes its point of departure in given criteria based on learning outcomes for the course, criteria for failing the practical training, criteria for suitability assessment and compulsory activities carried throughout the entire course. During the practical training period, a minimum of 90 percent attendance is required to pass the practical training. For more information, see the general part of the programme description about the assessment of practical training.

If the student has failed the practical training, the whole practical training course must be retaken. This includes associated requirements.

Permitted exam materials and equipment

Not relevant.

Grading scale

Pass-fail.

Examiners

Contact lecturer approves grade after recommendation from practical training supervisor. The final decision on whether to award a pass or fail grade is made by the university.

Overlapping courses

SYKKPRA50x, SYKPPRA50x, SYKDPRA50 and SKOMPPRA20 are fully overlapping.