Nursing of Clients with Mental or Substance Abuse Problems (5 cr)

Objective

Students
- can describe the contents, practices and elements of nursing interactions and their significance to mental health and substance abuse clients/patients and their significant others in diverse cultural and operating environments and understand their importance
- can plan, implement and evaluate patient-oriented and family-focused mental health and substance abuse nursing within the theoretical framework applicable to diverse operating environments
- can tell about the impacts of mental health, mental health disorders and psychiatric illnesses as well as substance addiction and abuse on the wellbeing of an individual and his/her family
- are able to identify and reflect on the ethical questions of mental health and substance abuse
- are able to explain the basis for health promoting, problem preventing and resource-oriented mental health and substance abuse nursing
- can explain the theoretical foundation of mental health and substance abuse nursing (psychosocial interventions, medication) in the planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care
- can describe the basics of supporting an individual in acute crisis
- are proficient in the principal methods of early intervention and bringing up sensitive topics
- are able to explain the different phases of human development
- are familiar with the service system of mental health and substance abuse
- understand the main contents of legislation on mental health and the significance to individuals

Content

- basic knowledge of the most common mental health disorders and psychiatric illnesses
- basic knowledge of substances causing addiction (alcohol, tobacco products and drugs) and substance abuse problems
- methods of mental health and substance abuse nursing and the main contents of interaction
- ethics and legislation regarding mental health and substance abuse
- multiculturalism in mental health and substance abuse nursing
- pharmacotherapy in mental health and substance abuse
- principal methods of early intervention and facing sensitive topics in mental health and substance abuse
- basic knowledge of crisis psychology
- basic knowledge of developmental psychology
- recovery orientation as a framework

Location and time

Weeks 36-41
01.09.2025 - 10.10.2025

Materials

Brooks, McHenry & American. Counseling Association. 2014. A Contemporary Approach to Substance Use Disorders and Addiction Counseling: A Counselor's Guide to Application and Understanding. Available in eBook Central.

Cavallaro R & Colombo R. 2022. Fundamentals of Psychiatry for Health Care Professionals. Springer eBooks.

Townsend M. 2014. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: Concepts of Care in Evidence-Based Practice. F. A. Davis Company. Available in eBook Central.

Mental Health Act: https://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset/1990/en19901116_20101338.pdf

Weiner, I. B. L. & Lerner, R. M. (2012). Handbook of Psychology: Developmental Psychology. Available in eBook Central.

Wiley. Jacobs, G. A. (2016). Community-Based Psychological First Aid: A Practical Guide to Helping Individuals and Communities during Difficult Times. Butterworth-Heinemann. Available in eBook Central.

Other articles and materials provided by lecturer.

Teaching methods

Tuition in English
Interactive lecture (compulsory attendance)
Flipped learning
Web-based learning
Dialogue exams
Medication calculation exam
Simulations
Exam

Employer connections

N/A

Exam schedules

Medication calculation skills exami Exam class room.
Retake (2) during the module in Exam.

Course exam in Exam class room on week 41.
The re-takes are done in Exam
1. re-take during the week 46.
2. re-take during the week 50.

More information about Exam in Oma: https://oma.metropolia.fi/henkilokunnalle/strategia-ja-kehityspalvelut/digitalisaatio/ohjelmistojen-ohjeet/exam/exam-opiskelijoille

Completion alternatives

A student can apply for recognition of prior learning as instructed by Metropolia. The RPL application is done prior enrolling for the implementation.

Student workload

Study module is 5 ECTS (5x27h is 135 hours of students work) .
Mental health nursing and psychiatry 3 ECTS
Substance abuse nursing 1 ECTS
Psychology 1 ECTS

Further information

Prerequisites
Basics of Clinical Nursing Competence.
Basic knowledge of Pharmacotherapy.

Framework in Nursing: Recovery approach is a personal journey rather than a set outcome, and one that may involve developing hope, a secure base and sense of self, supportive relationships, empowerment, social inclusion, coping skills, and meaning.

Participation in the orientation lecture is mandatory.
Also attendance in Laboratory 1: Mental health nursing and psychosocial helping methods and Simulation is mandatory. If you are unable to attend, please ask the teacher in advance how to proceed.

Passing the course requires active participation in theory classes and active independent study.
If a student is absent from a theory class, they have to do a written assignment of the topic of theory class.

Students must confirm their attendance for a course implementation by being present when tuition begins or in another manner agreed with the lecturer; for example, by returning the first course assignment. Students who are unable to attend the first teaching session due to illness may also confirm their attendance by informing the lecturer of this in advance.

All assignments and materials (Power Point presentations etc.) are under Copyright Act (404/61) and a teacher has the copyright. Assignments and materials are not allowed to be distributed or used in any other way. Distributing materials are only allowed if the teacher grants the permit.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

Students may use artificial intelligence in the course assignments, but they must clearly indicate its use. The course exam must be completed without the assistance of AI. During the exam, students are required to use only their own knowledge, understanding, and skills. The use of AI during the exam or failure to disclose its use in assignments will be treated as a suspected case of academic dishonesty, in accordance with Metropolia's guidelines for handling disciplinary matters

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

See the attachment "Framework for evaluation criteria of competence"

Assessment methods and criteria

Mandatory attendance to course orientation
Active study in Moodle (pass/fail)
Pre-assignements for the lectures must be completed and submitted (pass / fail)
Passing the course requires active participation in theory classes
100 % attendance required, absences from mental health and substance abuse theory classes must be compensated with a written assignement
Psychology dialogue exam (pass/fail)
Medication calculation exam (pass/fail)
Simulations (pass / fail)
The course grade (0-5) is based on the exam

Qualifications

Basics of Clinical Nursing Competence.
Basic knowledge of Pharmacotherapy.

Objective

Students
- can describe the contents, practices and elements of nursing interactions and their significance to mental health and substance abuse clients/patients and their significant others in diverse cultural and operating environments and understand their importance
- can plan, implement and evaluate patient-oriented and family-focused mental health and substance abuse nursing within the theoretical framework applicable to diverse operating environments
- can tell about the impacts of mental health, mental health disorders and psychiatric illnesses as well as substance addiction and abuse on the wellbeing of an individual and his/her family
- are able to identify and reflect on the ethical questions of mental health and substance abuse
- are able to explain the basis for health promoting, problem preventing and resource-oriented mental health and substance abuse nursing
- can explain the theoretical foundation of mental health and substance abuse nursing (psychosocial interventions, medication) in the planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care
- can describe the basics of supporting an individual in acute crisis
- are proficient in the principal methods of early intervention and bringing up sensitive topics
- are able to explain the different phases of human development
- are familiar with the service system of mental health and substance abuse
- understand the main contents of legislation on mental health and the significance to individuals

Content

- basic knowledge of the most common mental health disorders and psychiatric illnesses
- basic knowledge of substances causing addiction (alcohol, tobacco products and drugs) and substance abuse problems
- methods of mental health and substance abuse nursing and the main contents of interaction
- ethics and legislation regarding mental health and substance abuse
- multiculturalism in mental health and substance abuse nursing
- pharmacotherapy in mental health and substance abuse
- principal methods of early intervention and facing sensitive topics in mental health and substance abuse
- basic knowledge of crisis psychology
- basic knowledge of developmental psychology
- recovery orientation as a framework

Qualifications

Basics of Clinical Nursing Competence.
Basic knowledge of Pharmacotherapy.