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Psychopathology

The aim of this course is to review in-depth knowledge of Mental Health disorders and their psychopathologies. The students will also be introduced to some rare mental

conditions such as Capgras, Othello, Munchausen and other syndromes that have cultural colouration e.g. multiple personality. The medico-social implications of the conditions

on the sufferer, his/her family and the community will be explored, focusing on the causes, diagnosis, nursing care and management and prevention. 

Course Code: 
MHN 314
No. of Credits: 
3
Level: 
Level 300
Course Semester: 
Second Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Mental Health Nursing

Psychopharmacology and Treatment Protocols

This course is designed to introduce students to the pharmacological agents used to promote, maintain and restore mental health. Emphasis is on therapeutic

and adverse effects of the psychotropic medication. The role and function of the professional nurse as related to the pharmacological agents will be reviewed.

Treatment protocols will be discussed indicating the relevant medications to be prescribed and dispensed by the practitioner under the given circumstances. 

Course Code: 
MHN 313
No. of Credits: 
2
Level: 
Level 300
Course Semester: 
First Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Mental Health Nursing

Essential Skills in Mental Health Nursing

The purpose of this course is to enable students to acquire the specialised knowledge and skills required by the Mental Health Nurse. Content of the course will include

self-awareness, developing therapeutic relationships, interpersonal communications, motivational interviewing, care planning, writing and keeping records of care, working

in groups, case management, assertive skills, Six category intervention skills and De-escalation skills. The student will also be equipped with the necessary skills needed

to effectively admit and discharge clients with mental health problems.

Course Code: 
MHN 311
No. of Credits: 
2
Level: 
Level 300
Course Semester: 
First Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Mental Health Nursing

Mental Health Care Assessment

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). 

 

Course Code: 
MHN 309
No. of Credits: 
2
Level: 
Level 300
Course Semester: 
First Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Mental Health Nursing

Legal,Ethical and Human Righhts Issues

The aim of this course is to provide students with a legal and ethical framework for practice. This includes developing an understanding of key legislation

relevant to a variety of patient/client groups, and awareness of the ethical tension between the protective use of authority and the principle of empowering practice.

Students will be introduced to the underlying principles of mental health law and policy issues related to practice.  They will also examine physical health care issues

and safe drug administration. Ethical dilemmas arising out of clinical situations, decision making frameworks/models will also be studied. Students will also be exposed

to international human rights issues particularly Conventions on the Right of Persons with Disabilities.

 

Course Code: 
MHN 308
No. of Credits: 
2
Level: 
Level 300
Course Semester: 
Second Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Mental Health Nursing

Communication in Mental Health Nursing

The aim of this course is to equip students with communication skills including Information and Communication Technology (ICT) application to nursing practice in general and particularly to Community Mental Health Nursing. The content includes theories for analysing communications

Course Code: 
MHN 307
No. of Credits: 
2
Level: 
Level 300
Course Semester: 
First Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Mental Health Nursing

Mental Health Promotion

This course will enable students to analyse theories, concepts, issues and trends from contemporary Nursing Science. The emphasis is on teaching and capacity

building skills that the individual and community groups may use to maintain their health. Content of the course will include models of health promotion and education.

Concepts such as stigma, discrimination, advocacy, empowerment, social capital and social inclusion will be explored. Using an evidence-based approach,

students will develop strategies to effectively communicate health information to the public. Ethical issues related to the distribution of resources and health disparities

together with appropriate health education strategies and access to care will be explored.

Course Code: 
MHN 306
No. of Credits: 
2
Level: 
Level 300
Course Semester: 
Second Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Mental Health Nursing

Department of Mental Health

Vision statement: 
To be a Department with an international acclaim that is strongly positioned for educating Mental Health and Community Mental Health nurses.
Mission statement: 
The Department of Mental Health is an iconic leader in mental health nursing education that prepares mental health nurses for advancing nursing practice and scholarship with meaningful contributions to clinical practice, disease prevention and health care policy development.
History: 
The Department commenced training of mental health and community mental nursing students in the 2014/2015 academic year. The Department is the first to start a degree programme in Mental Health Nursing in Ghana.  The Department of Mental Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Cape Coast, was set up to produce Mental Health and Community Mental Health nurses with the appropriate academic background and professional skill as part of the overall national strategies of bridging the nurse-patient gap in the country.
Core Values: 
Not Published
College/Faculty/School/Department: 
Department of Mental Health
About College/Faculty/Department: 
The Department of Mental Health is under the School of Nursing and Midwifery within the College of Health and Allied Sciences.  The Department became operational in 2014/2015 academic year to run two degree programmes in B.Sc Mental Health Nursing and B.Sc. Community Mental Health Nursing.  The Department runs both regular and sandwich B.Sc. programmes. Recognizing the need for further education and continuous professional development for mental health nurses in Ghana, this programme was designed to strengthen the Mental Health delivery system by upgrading the competencies of mental health nurses.  The programme will empower graduate nurses apply evidence-based tools in clinical decision-making. The Department is the first to start graduate programmes in mental health nursing in Ghana with 15 students in the 2014/2015 academic year.  Currently, student enrolment for the regular and sandwich programmes are over 200.  Some of our products are currently working with the Ghana Health Service, Non-governmental organizations and the Mental Health Authority.

About School of Graduate Studies

Overview

The School of Graduate Studies, University of Cape Coast, has close to 7500 students pursuing graduate programmes. Out of this number, 2969(1859 males and 1110 females) are sandwich students, 3235 (2006 males and 1229 females) are distance students and the rest, 1125(405 females, 720 males) are regular students.  
 

Vision

A School of Graduate Studies, UCC, that is well positioned for innovative teaching and research, with a world-wide acclaim.

Mission

To create a facilitating environment for teaching, learning and training of graduate students, equipped with initiative and leadership in key sectors of inter/national endeavour.

Core Value

  1. Accessibility to graduate education
  2. Scholarship and academic excellence
  3. Contribution to knowledge
  4. Collaboration with sister institutions and industry
  5. Maintaining a highly motivated staff and graduate students
  6. Transparency

Our Commitment

  1. To ensure the relevance of graduate programmes for the promotion of economic, social, scientic and technological development of Ghana and beyond.
  2. To deepen graduate training and promote teaching, research and creativity.
  3. To make graduate training and research continually responsive to the changing climate of the world of work.
  4. To mobilize appropriate human and material resources from within and outside the University to ensure maximum utilization of available potentials.

Strategic Plan

This second Strategic Plan of the School of Graduate Studies (2018-2022), is in response to the University of Cape Coast Corporate Strategic Plan (2018-2022). In line with provisions of the Corporate Plan, the Dean, School of Graduate Studies is holder of this Plan (herein after called the Graduate School Plan – GSP). It is pertinent that this GSP derives authority from the Corporate Plan and therefore adapts Key Thrusts and Action Plans from the latter, for the principal purpose of enhancing graduate education in the University of Cape Coast (UCC). Key features of this plan include ownership by management and staff of the School, flexibility in its operationalization, user-friendliness and special committees for its implementation and monitoring. It is expected that those features will further motivate responsible officers of the plan, primary and secondary implementers and that targets/expected outcomes will be achieved within the projected time frames. Effort has been put in to ensure finesse, but the School welcomes suggestions for improving this Plan and subsequent ones. 

Key Thrusts

  1. Promote active and reflective teaching and learning environment that seeks to improve students’ life and produce graduates with strong ethics and commitment to society.
  2. Strengthen and improve ICT infrastructure and facilities that enhance usability.
  3. Improve upon physical infrastructure and municipal services that support conducive working and learning environment for Graduate Students.
  4. Strengthen research capacity and output to position SGS as a centre of excellence.
  5. Embark on internationalization drive that seeks to enhance the visibility of the School of Graduate Studies.
  6. Improve on institutional governance system that provides leadership for equal opportunity, teamwork, efficiency, discipline and commitment.
  7. Create an organization capable of continuously learning, transforming itself and responding to change.  

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