Mental health nursing, like many other professions, has met fundamental changes in recent years. Due to modern technology, the complexity of society and stressful life events, mental health problems have become challenging issues for nurses. These changes have prepared the way towards better systems and properly trained staff working in the field. It is believed that psychiatric nurses, can play a vital role in solving these problems by utilizing nursing competence in mental health promotion, prevention and treatment.
The College of Nursing at the University of Dammam is interested in developing a Master of Science in Clinical Nursing program in Psychiatric and Mental Health in response to urgent mental health needs. Developing such a program will prepare nurses capable of fulfilling the needs of the community by providing comprehensive patient centered mental health care to individuals, groups and families across the life span. The program is specifically designed to focus on the importance of mental health as well as on understanding the prevention and management of mental disorders. This creates existing opportunities for advanced practice psychiatric nurses. Moreover, the master program will strengthen nursing education to meet the competency levels that will open numerous career opportunities for nurses and lead to the development of a new breed of self-reliance, confidence and skilled professional academic nursing staff, researchers and specialized nurse.
- College
- College of Nursing
- Campus
- Dammam
- Level
- Postgraduate
- Degree
- MSN
- Gender
- Female
- Credit hours
- 42
The Master of Science in Clinical Nursing in Psychiatric and Mental Health will help students to perform advanced clinical nursing in this area through the use of evidence, the development of critical thinking and self-directed learning skills, and leadership ability, which includes ethical decision making in terms of protecting the rights of clients. The psychiatric nursing specialization is also a valuable tool in research findings, sharing of experiences and ideas, and develops the knowledge and skills essential to provide effective psychiatric nursing practice.
The program prepares graduates to function as psychiatric clinical nurse specialists. The central focus is on the clinical practice where students develop the knowledge and skills in psychiatric nursing and apply their learning to provide safe and effective health care for clients with different mental disorders and their families. Theory courses run congruent with the practicum in order to provide application of theory to practice. Emphasis is placed on the development of specialized nurses who will be prepared to function autonomously with psychiatric patients and their families in the home, hospitals, community and other health care facilities.
