Overview

This unit provides mental health nurses with a greater understanding of the social, legal, political and clinical issues, including assessment and intervention skills that are required to work in forensic settings. The unit will equip students with knowledge regarding nursing interventions that are relevant to working with mental health service users in forensic settings, particularly those clients with challenging behaviours.

Requisites

Prerequisites

Rule

Admission into:

GC-FMHN Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health Nursing

OR

GD-FMHN Graduate Diploma of Forensic Mental Health Nursing

OR

MA-FBS Master of Forensic Behavioural Science

OR

GD-FBS Graduate Diploma of Forensic Behavioural Science

OR

MA-MHN Master of Mental Health Nursing

OR

GD-MHN Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
01-March-2027
30-May-2027
Last self-enrolment date
14-March-2027
Census date
30-March-2027
Last withdraw without fail date
20-April-2027
Results released date
06-July-2027

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  1. Apply advanced knowledge of the different settings forensic mental health nurses work in and evaluate how these settings may impact on practice.
  2. Critically appraise the unique factors of the forensic therapeutic relationship within an ethical framework.
  3. Evaluate the different nursing assessments and interventions relevant to working with forensic mental health service users
  4. Analyse the unique challenges for nursing in forensic mental health settings and identify appropriate principles to work through these challenges
  5. Prioritise responsive and safe nursing care for forensic populations, inclusive of marginalised groups, with specific consideration of First Nations peoples.

Teaching methods

Hawthorn Online

Activity Type Hours Per Week Number of Weeks Total Hours Venue Type and Activity Detail
Online
Directed Learning and Independent Learning		 12.5 12 weeks 150 Discussion boards (12 hours)
Reading (24 hours)
Independent study (42 hours)
Assessment preparation (72 hours)
TOTAL 12.5   150  

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Case Analysis Individual  35%  2,4 
Reflection Individual  35%  3,4,5
Presentation Individual  30%  1,4 

Content

  • The forensic mental health nursing setting
  • Mental illness and offending
  • The therapeutic relationship
  • Forensic mental health nursing assessment and intervention
  • Challenges to care in the forensic setting

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.