Responding to requests from the health care community, professional practice leaders and practicing nurses, Fanshawe College will begin offering a Mental Health Nursing graduate program in the fall of 2020. The program was developed after close consultation with community partners to assist nurses who are caring for an increasing number of individuals living with complex mental health challenges.
Recognizing the importance of mental health promotion and the prevention of mental illness, the curriculum will extend beyond the traditional biomedical model of care and will have a strong social justice and human rights foundation. The specialized knowledge and skills learned will enable nurses in any work setting to develop a deeper awareness of and responsiveness to systemic issues, mental health promotion and treatment of mental illness.
“We created this unique mental health program to support nurses who are working on the front lines of healthcare,” says Dr. Sandra DeLuca, associate dean of Fanshawe’s School of Nursing. “Nurses will be better prepared to respond to the growing mental health needs of people within our community, especially during this global pandemic.”
COVID-19 has made mental health a high priority and all nurses require critical awareness, knowledge and skill to promote mental well-being, while also responding to the needs of people who may be experiencing emotional distress.
The Mental Health Nursing graduate certificate program is offered as a part-time, online program to accommodate practicing RNs and RPNs.