Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Dual Diagnosis and Community Work

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

NURS2119

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

150H Health Sciences

Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2010

NURS2119

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2016

NURS2119

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024,
Sem 1 2025

Course Coordinator: Mr Shingai Mareya and Dr Lin Zhao

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7079

Course Coordinator Email: lin.zhao@rmit.edu.au ; shingai.mareya@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 201.07.010


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

This course will examine dual diagnosis within the context of mental health care.  Dual Diagnosis will explore policies and concepts related to developing strategies and interventions of working with consumers with co-existing mental health and drug and alcohol problems.  The course will also determine the complex needs often associated with providing care to consumers with a dual diagnosis as well as the health, social and economic impacts of substance use.   


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the development of the Program Learning Outcomes for GD158 Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing in the following way:

  • PLO 1: The Mental Health Nurse acknowledges diversity in culture, values and belief systems and ensures his/her  practice is non-discriminatory, and promotes dignity and  self-determination
  • PLO 2: The Mental Health Nurse practices within a professional and ethical nursing framework
  • PLO 3: The Mental Health Nurse develops a therapeutic relationship that is respectful of the individual’s choices, experiences and circumstances. This involves building on strengths, holding hope and enhancing resilience to promote recovery.
  • PLO 8: The Mental Health Nurse’s practice incorporates and reflects common law requirements, relevant statutes and the nursing profession’s code of conduct and ethics. The Mental Health Nurse integrates international, national, local and state policies and guidelines with professional Standards and competencies.


On successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Examine the aetiology of substance use disorders across the lifespan of an individual.  
  2. Critically evaluate the impact of substance use on individuals and their families.  
  3. Examine overdose and withdrawal impacts from alcohol and other drugs  
  4. Justify the harm reduction paradigm and its importance in mental health nursing 
  5. Critically examine the services and support networks available to individuals and families with dual diagnosis.   


Overview of Learning Activities

Learning activities you will undertake during this course include a mixture of online recorded lectures, lectorial discussion and self-directed learning exercises including directed reading of academic literature.

The assessment associated with this course will comprise formative and summative elements and incorporate a variety of assessment modes. Your formative and summative assessment will take the form of a written piece of work requiring reflection and application on learning and practice undertaken during the course. Your participation in online activities will also form part of your summative grade.

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course.

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Minor assignment
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 & 3

Assessment Task 2: Reflective Learning Activities
Weighting 10% 
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Assessment Task 3: Critical analysis assignment
Weighting 50%
This assessment task supports CLOs 2, 4 & 5

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.