Michelle Hartman, assistant professor, and Beth Phillips, associate professor, published "Integrating Mental Health Nursing in the Prelicensure Nursing Curriculum" in the Journal of Nursing Education. 

Abstract

Background

Learning to care for patients with mental health concerns is an important part of nursing school. Teaching mental health concepts across the nursing curriculum, rather than in just one course, prepares students for meeting the mental health needs of all clients. This article describes the integration of mental health concepts throughout an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program.

Method

Faculty developed an innovative approach to integrate mental health throughout the curriculum in lieu of a standalone course.

Results

Quantitative metrics remained consistent when comparing cohorts before and after the integration of mental health. However, students did not recognize mental health content within the program.

Conclusion

Integrating mental health concepts in the prelicensure nursing curriculum enables students to learn and understand how to care for clients with mental health concerns in any clinical setting. [J Nurs Educ. 2020;59(7):405–408.]