Mental Health Nursing - BSc (Hons)

This is a 5-year full-time programme leading to registration with the Nursing Council of Hong Kong as a Registered Nurse (Psychiatric). The programme aims to educate students to be competent, creative and caring practitioners of psychiatric/mental health nursing, and to apply their creativity and critical thinking skills in the care of their clients.

The programme equips students for holistic care that encompasses safe, ethical, legal and culturally sensitive nursing therapeutics provided to clients of all ages and their families in various mental healthcare settings, and recognises their central role in managing mental health care. Students have opportunities to develop sensitivity to their partners with individuals, families, groups, communities and other healthcare providers. Through their participation in the healthcare system, they will become key players in the health promotion and care of psychiatric patients.

The programme curriculum is based on the Bio-Psycho-Social Model of Psychiatric Nursing Care and includes the following major content:

• In junior years, studies include health foundation subjects to facilitate students’ understanding of the predisposing and precipitating factors of stresses. Applied sciences and nursing arts subjects such as Public Health and Infection Control, Human Physiology, Sociology of Health, Introduction to Psychology, Human Anatomy, Fundamentals of Mental Health Nursing, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, Medical and Surgical Nursing I, Communication Skills and Group Dynamics, Fundamentals of Nursing Therapeutics I & II, Abnormal Psychology and Mental Health Nursing Therapeutics I & II, Clinical Microbiology and Generic Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families, and Fundamentals of Nursing Therapeutics in Chinese Medicine and Chinese Communication for Nursing are introduced in the first two years of study.
• In the senior years, the programme broadens the focus from illness to health to develop nurses’ understanding of people and their experiences with health and recovery. Inherent in this orientation is the use of blended teaching methodologies, which encourage students to develop their critical thinking, enhance their self-awareness and discover the world around them. Subjects such as Medical and Surgical Nursing II, Psychotherapeutic Practice, Generic Social Work Practice with Groups, Organisations and Communities, Mental Health Nursing Therapeutics III & IV, Mental Health Education and Promotion, Neurobiological Basis in Mental Health, Ethical and Legal Aspects in Health Care, Mental Health Nursing Therapeutics in Community, Nursing Research and the Honours Project are introduced.
• In Year Five, the programme focuses on students’ preparation to take up the role of Registered Nurse. Subjects such as Quality and Patient Safety, Psychotherapeutic Practice II and Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Health Care are offered.
• There is also an emphasis throughout the programme on practical experience as the ground for integrating psychiatric nursing theory into practice. Students are encouraged to be thoughtful and reflective in their nursing practice. Psychiatric/mental health nursing practice experience is essential in the programme. Students are directly involved with clients in their homes, and in hospitals and community settings. This may involve working in shifts.
• A specific set of General University Requirement subjects such as Leadership & Intra-personal Development, Freshman Seminar, Healthy Lifestyle, Language and Communication, Service Learning and broadening subjects provides our students with a broad knowledge base for holistic professional learning.