COURSE DESCRIPTION:

AH 119 Mental Health Aide. 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Certified Nurse Aide for Kansas Nursing Homes. Classroom experiences are designed to provide the student with a basic understanding of therapeutic communication techniques;mental health/mental illness principles; stress management; crisis intervention; and the dynamics of family violence. The course prepares the student to work as a mental health aide in a community-based long term mental health facility.

TEXTBOOK:

None. Printed material will be provided to each student.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

At the completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Define mental health/illness including signs and symptoms, theories, and treatments

2. Identify basic communication skills necessary for therapeutic communication

3. Discuss documentation guidelines and the plan of care

TOPICAL OUTLINE OF UNITS:

I. Understanding Mental Health

The student will be able to:

A. Define mental health and identify factors influencing good mental health

B. Contrast characteristics of good and poor mental health

C. Identify methods to maintain mental health

D. Define mental illness and explore myths surrounding mental illness

E. Discuss coping mechanisms

II. Differentiating Stress, Anxiety, & Crisis

The student will be able to:

A. List the dynamics of stress, anxiety, and crisis

B. Discuss the body's response to stress, anxiety, and crisis

C. Identify strategies to manage stress, i.e. problem solving techniques

D. Discuss types, characteristics, and phases of crises

E. Explore intervention techniques with the client in crisis

III.Communication

The student will be able to:

A. List key components of communication and differentiate between verbal and nonverbal communication

B. Identify factors/barriers influencing communication

C. Discuss tips for developing a therapeutic relationship

D. Identify concepts of effective communication with co-workers

E. Explore different types of communication styles

IV. Understanding Behavior

The student will be able to:

A. Identify and discuss factors which influence personality development

B. Explore theories of development

C. Describe psychosocial aspects of aging

D. State interventions to facilitate adjustment to aging

V. Dealing with Loss and Death

The student will be able to:

A. Discuss the concept of loss

B. Explain the stages of grief and identify characteristics of pathological grieving

C. Describe the stages of death and dying and the implications for staff workers at each stage

D. List the needs of the dying person and their survivors

VI. Treatment approaches

The student will be able to:

A. Define milieu therapy

B. Identify the characteristics and purpose of milieu therapy

C. List the role of each member of the mental health team

D. Emphasize the essential components of the "helping relationship"

E. Explore the types of therapies found within the milieu

VII.Developing a Plan of Care

The student will be able to:

A. State the purpose of the plan of care

B. Identify and explain the development of the plan of care

C. Discuss documentation guidelines

D. Explain the dynamics of the therapeutic relationship

E. Explore the stages of a relationship and identify techniques for establishing the relationship

IX. Legal/Ethical Issues of Caregiving

The student will be able to:

A. Define legal and identify types of legal charges that are common to healthcare

B. Define ethical behavior

C. Discuss competency issues that relate to involuntary commitment to an institution

D. Examine patient rights

E. List guidelines for avoiding liability

X. Understanding Major Mental Disorders

The student will be able to:

A. Discuss the cost of major mental illness to society

B. Discuss the etiology/characteristics of the eight major mental illnesses

C. State the clinical features of the major mental illnesses

D. Identify treatment strategies for the eight major mental illnesses

E. Explore interventions applicable to the eight major mental illnesses

X. Dealing with Difficult Behavior

The student will be able to:

A. List 3 core approaches for dealing with all behavior

B. Describe specific approaches for difficult to handle behavior

C. Identify guidelines for dealing with the physically assaultive person

D. Demonstrate physical responses to difficult behavior

XI. The Violent Society

The student will be able to:

A. Differentiate between child abuse and neglect

B. List the characteristics of the abuser and the victim of child abuse

C. Discuss the different areas of child abuse and their indicators

D. Identify treatment/intervention strategies

E. Discuss the dynamics of spouse abuse

F. Explore the phases of spouse abuse

G. Discuss the dynamics of elder abuse

H. Identify treatment/intervention strategies to use with the abused adult

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:

The following teaching/learning activities will assist students to achieve course objectives: lecture, instructor-led class discussion, videos, and assignments.

METHODS OF EVALUATION:

Four quizzes and a final will be given during the course. Grade determination will be dependent upon quizzes, assignments, and attendance.