COURSE SYLLABUS
VNSG 1138 (1:1:0)
MENTAL ILLNESS
**********
VOCATIONAL NURSING
NURSING DEPARTMENT
HEALTH OCCUPATIONS DIVISION
LEVELLAND CAMPUS
SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE
SPRING 2012
Levelland
Campus
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE TITLE:
Mental Illness, VNSG 1138
INSTRUCTOR:
Jennifer Ponto, R.N., B.S.N
OFFICE LOCATION AND PHONE/E-MAIL:
Room TA 204, 806 716 2471 Email: jponto@southplainscollege.edu
OFFICE HOURS:
By Appointment
SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE IMPROVES EACH STUDENT’S LIFE
I.
GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION
A. COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Study of human behavior with emphasis on emotional and mental abnormalities and
modes of treatment incorporating the nursing process.
B. LEARNING OUTCOMES (WECM):
The student will:
1. Identify common mental illness and maladaptive behavior.
2. Utilize the nursing process to assist in planning care for the individual with
mental illness or maladaptive behavior.
3. Discuss trends in the management of the individual requiring psychotherapeutic
treatment.
Specific Goals/ Objectives of this course are to:
1. Provide appropriate care of individuals with mental illness, to include those with
thought disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and
substance abuse.
SEE CHAPTER OBJECTIVES IN THE TEXTBOOKS.
.
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VNSG 1138
C. COURSE COMPETENCIES:
Grading Scale:
A
(100-93)
B
( 92-83)
C
( 82-77)
Below 77 is failing
D. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Please refer to SPC Catalog and Vocational Nursing Student Handbook.
E. SCANS AND FOUNDATION SKILLS:
C1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 17
F1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17
F. VERIFICATION OF WORKPLACE COMPETENCIES:
Successful completion of NCLEX PN
II.
SPECIFIC COURSE/INSTRUCTOR REQUIREMENTS
A. REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
1. Womble, D. (2011) Introductory Mental Health Nursing. (2nd Ed.). Wolters
Kluwer/LWW.
2. Deglin, J.P. & VaLlerard, A. (2011). Davis Drug Guide for Nurses, (12th Ed.).
Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.
3. White, L Foundation of Adult Health Nursing. (3rd Edition) Delmar 2011).
B. ATTENDANCE POLICY:
(16 contact hours) Please see SPC catalogue and Vocational Nursing Student
Handbook. Students are expected to attend all classes and to remain for the entire
class period. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of class. Students not
responding to roll are marked absent in the attendance record.
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VNSG 1138
C. ASSIGNMENT POLICY:
All assignments are to be turned in by 8:00 a.m. on the due date assigned.
Assignments turned in after 8:00 a.m. will be counted late and 10 points will be
deducted each day after the due date. Failure to complete assignments will result in a
grade of INCOMPLETE. Please refer to the Student Handbook for vocational
nursing
D. GRADING POLICY/METHODS OF EVALUATION:
Unit I Exam
Unit II Exam
Unit III Exam
Unit IV Exam
25%
25%
25%
25%
E. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Students are expected to read the assigned chapters prior to lecture time. There will
be an exam after the completion of each unit. A make up exam may be given at the
time specified by the instructor. An essay or alternate type of exam may be
substituted at the discretion of the instructor.
III.
COURSE OUTLINE
Required Readings:
Texts as stated above, chapter(s) as assigned. It is required that the students read the
assigned chapter(s) prior to the first lecture hour. The student is responsible for
completing the learning objectives and learning the key terms at the beginning of the
chapter.
Unit I
Mood Disorders
Chapter 10
Meds for Mood disorders Chapter 5
“
Davis Drug Guide
Med Surg Textbook, pages 588 – 600; 604 - 607
Unit II
Psychotic Disorders Chapter 11
Meds for Psychotic disorders Chapter 5
“
Davis Drug Guide
Med Surg Textbook, pages 601-604
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VNSG 1138
Unit III
Substance Abuse
Chapter 15
Substance Abuse
Chapter 18 Med/Surg Textbook
Films Substance Abuse
Unit IV
Personality Disorders Chapter 12
Somatoform Disorders
Chapter 13
Dissociative Disorders
Chapter 14
Eating Disorders
Chapter 16
Sexual Disorders
Chapter 17
Disorders of Children,
Adolescents
Chapter 18
Disorders of Older Adults
Chapter 19
IV.
ACCOMMODATION
South Plains College strives to accommodate the individual needs of all students in order
to enhance their opportunities for success in the context of a comprehensive community
college setting. It is the policy of South Plains College to offer all educational and
employment opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender,
disability or age (SPC Equal Opportunity Policy – General Catalog). Students with
known disabilities or requiring special considerations are encouraged to contact the
instructor to review options and make arrangements for necessary accommodations, as
soon as possible. Students may also contact the South Plains College Special Services
Office and/or Counseling Center for individualized assistance.
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WARNING SIGNS OF CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY IN HEALTH CARE
JOB PERFORMANCE:
Excessive sick time, especially following days off -- most common in alcohol dependency
Absence without notice or last minute requests for time off
Excessive breaks or lunch hours
Frequent or unexplained disappearance from the unit
Does minimum work necessary for the job
Cannot meet deadlines or schedules
Sloppy or illogical charting
Frequent mistakes, errors of judgment, medication errors
Smell of alcohol on breath OR excessive use of breath mints, chewing gum, mouthwash
Elaborate, implausible excuses for behavior
PERSONALITY AND MENTAL STATUS:
Emotional liability, mood swings
Snapping at colleagues, uncontrolled verbal or emotional responses
Diminished alertness, dazed or preoccupied, confusion, memory lapses
Isolates self from unit/group activities, requests night or weekend shifts
DIVERSION OF MEDICATIONS
Consistently volunteers to be "med nurse"
Signs out more controlled drugs than co-workers
Frequently reports "spillage or wastes"
Fails to obtain required co-signatures
Excessive use of PRN meds for patients assigned
Discrepancies in end of shift medication counts
Evidence of tampering of vials or drug containers
Being alone to open narcotic box; disappears into bathroom after opening box
Patient complaints of unrelieved pain
Defensiveness when questioned about medication errors
Coming in early and staying late
Volunteering to work with patients who receive large amounts of pain medication
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What to do if you suspect a co-worker of substance abuse:
1.
Make private notes of observations -- stick to facts/dates/time. "Sept 8, MJ absent from
unit 8 pm to 8:45 pm, did not explain absence. At 9 pm, noted odor of alcohol on
breath" NOT "I think MJ left unit to drink"
ALSO: "at 2 pm, Pat at nurses station dozing off, could not state patient's last BP when
questioned. Nurses notes state patient in room 131 medicated for pain at 1:30 pm for
headache with Demerol 50 mg IM. Patient states did not receive injection at 1:30 pm."
2.
Report to supervisor. (Even if you don't have written notes). Report immediately, if
person has strong odor of alcohol, slurred speech, shakiness, hand tremors, etc.
3.
If no response from immediate supervisor, discuss you concerns with the supervisor's
manager or director.
What will happen to the employee?
HOPEFULLY . . . Formal measures will be taken.
Intervention with trained counselors, referral to an employee assistance program
or consultant with the state nurse assistance program (TPAPN).
Employee is USUALLY not terminated from employment unless refuses to submit to drug
screening/counseling/treatment.
Licensed employees are not usually reported to the licensing board unless they do not submit
to voluntary assistance and intervention, or if they relapse under certain conditions.
Employee CAN be prosecuted for drug diversion, and can be held liable for civil acts, such as
patient injury.
Employee should receive treatment for withdrawal from addicting substances. Should adhere to
to 12-step program such as AA or NA, or nurse support groups.
After treatment completed, may be allowed to work under certain restrictions, such as limited
access to narcotics, documented attendance at prescribed group meetings, random drug
screens, and restrictions on practice, such as day shift duty only, or work only under
supervision.
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WHAT NOT TO DO IF CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY SUSPECTED:
DON'T "excuse" the employee, such as "maybe they're having a 'bad day'.
DON'T try to confront the individual yourself; instead, report to the appropriate supervisor.
DON'T cover for the individual by working extra shifts or taking additional responsibilities.
DON'T IGNORE THE BEHAVIOR. YOU WOULDN'T IGNORE A CO-WORKER’S
SYMPTOMS OF A BRAIN TUMOR. THIS IS JUST AS DEADLY.
Above from article in American Journal of Nursing, September, 1994. "Is Your Colleague
Chemically Dependent" by Tonda L. Hughes, RN, Phd, and Linda L. Smith, RN, MN, CAP
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