HNN790 - Sustaining the Mental Health Nursing Workforce
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Claire Hayes |
| Cohort rule: | This unit is only available to students enrolled in H568, H569, H575, H645, H665, H666, H667, H668, H669, H672, H675, H679, H771, H777, H779 |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | Online independent and collaborative learning activities delivered, including 4 x 1-hour online seminars. |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
Content
In order to support consumers living with mental health challenges, nurses must be resilient and able to thrive in spite of the demands and stress of working in this challenging environment. Currently there is a shortage of mental health nurses, and this is exacerbated by the high stress environment and an ageing workforce. This unit is designed to enhance and support students’ nursing practice by providing them with practical resources and skills to manage the dynamic and challenging experiences of working in the mental healthcare environment. In order to achieve this, students will develop an understanding of clinical supervision for nurses, and its role and importance in the mental health setting. In this unit, students will explore the skills necessary to safeguard and conserve their personal mental health through developing, recognising and preventing burnout. This unit will also provide an understanding of ways both nurses and workplaces can strengthen resilience and wellbeing. Vicarious trauma is also a threat to both nurses and the workforce, and this unit will also comprehensively explore this concept.
Learning outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Critically analyse clinical supervision in mental health as a process to support individuals and mental health nurses. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Explore resilience in the context of self, colleagues, and consumers. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO3 | Critically reflect on vicarious trauma and its impacts on mental health nurses. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
Assessment
| Assessment description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Digital group presentation (E-poster) | 10 minutes (in pairs) | 20% |
|
| Assessment 2: Critical essay | 2000 words | 40% |
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| Assessment 3: Critical reflection | 2000 words | 40% |
|
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for HNN790 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
To fully engage with Deakin's learning experiences, students must be able to access and use internet-connected devices as outlined in computing requirements at Deakin.
To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.
Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.