Title: Independent Study - Observational Community Experience
Course: NUR 1521C Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing > Section: Module 8

Community-based services are evolving to meet the needs of individuals and families in the continuum of care. The continuum of care includes inpatient hospitalization, outpatient care services, residential care, self-help, and other resources. Nursing process and the psychotherapeutic management approach can be adapted in any setting along the continuum of care.

Self-help group meetings are conducted by members; not professionals. These meetings are held in many locations in the community, often on a weekly basis. By attending these meetings, the student will be able to assist her clients in linking with appropriate community resources.

The student will attend two support groups during the semester. The first one should include the experience of attending an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting if at all possible. The students should attend a second support group depending on their areas of interests. A paper template will be provided for the student to record the experience.

Examples of Self-Help Groups: Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Narcotics Anonymous, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Hospice of Northeast Florida, Depression/Bipolar Support Group, Grief, Divorce, Bereavement Support Groups, Chronic or Terminal Illness Support Groups.

How to Proceed:
1. Pair up with a classmate and make arrangements to attend two local support groups.
2. Complete sections (A-E) on the attached Observational Community Experience Guidelines document based on your experience.
3. Do not write the names of the participants!
4. Save the document as a Word (.doc or .docx) or Rich Text (.rtf) and upload to this Assignment drop box.
5. Be prepared to discuss this with your clinical group.

Attachments

- Observational Community Experience Guidelines .doc