This course is designed to further develop students’ advanced knowledge and skills for obtaining and recording a systematic health history and advanced physical and mental state examination of individuals and families across the lifespan. The course involves the synthesis of nursing, biological, psychological, and socio-cultural knowledge and theories as applied to mental health nursing. The central objective is the development of cognitive and clinical skills necessary for obtaining a comprehensive health history of individuals on admission. The course will emphasise the use of nursing process to assess the complex factors that affect the health of the individual requiring admission to hospital. Students will also be trained in the use of various valid and reliable measures (e.g. the Kavannagh–Goldberg–Vaughan (KGV) scale; Krawiecka et al, 1977) and need (e.g. the Camberwell Assessment of Need; Phelan et al, 1995).