| CODE | MNH3005 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Medication Management in Psychiatric Nursing | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 2 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Mental Health | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit consists of theoretical and pragmatic components that are required to equip the psychiatric nurse with skills of how to manage psychotropic medication that is prescribed to service users under his/her care. Whilst the introductory part of this study-unit will address drug classification and the pharmacokinetic/ pharmacodynamic aspect of medication, the rest of the lectures will address the specific duties of the psychiatric nurse in practice. To this extent, the following topics shall be included: - Classification of psychiatric drugs; - Drug interactions; - Side-effects; - Precautions; - Monitoring requirements; - Medication management and the Psychiatric Nursing Process; - Patient education in relation to medication; - Enhancing physical well-being whilst taking psychiatric medication; and - Education of significant others. The final focus of this study-unit shall be on Compliance and Concordance Theories and Techniques as these can provide the nurse with the tools needed to facilitate the medication-taking process by service users. Study-Unit Aims: The aims of this study-unit are: - To provide students with theoretical knowledge in relation to the characteristics of psychotropic medication; and - To equip nurses with the necessary information and tools that are required to monitor and support the act of medication-taking by service users. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Distinguish between the different classes of psychotropic medication; - Illustrate the important characteristics related to each drug type and its mechanism; - Recognise the importance of psychiatric nursing intervention within the medication process; - Discuss the main tenets of psychoeducation in relation to medication; and - Show an understanding of the concept of concordance to medication. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate the ability to incorporate medication management within the Psychiatric Nursing Process during case studies; - Demonstrate ability to provide psychoeducation in relation to psychotropic medication; - Identify cues and signs of non-concordance to medication; - Illustrate the ability to address service user difficulties in relation to medication-taking; and - Relate theoretical aspects discussed during the study-unit to case studies based on the practical setting. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Marland, G., Snowden,A. & McNay, L. (2012). Promoting Concordance in Mental Health. Quay Books. - Taylor, D., Paton C. & Kapur, S. (2015). The Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines in Psychiatry. Wiley Blackwell (12th Ed.) Supplementary Readings: - Healy, D. (2009). Psychiatric Drugs Explained. Churchill Livingstone (5th Ed.). - Holland, E. (2018). The Nurse's Guide to Mental Health Medicines. Sage Publications |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Christie Attard Kristian Sant |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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