Section Four

Student Reflective Practice and Self-Care in Mental Health and Addiction Nursing Education

Also in this section

Outcomes

Purpose

This section provides educators with an overview of the knowledge and skills required to promote, develop and support ongoing student reflective practice as a key process for advancing learning and clinical practice in mental health and addiction nursing. This section also demonstrates the importance of self-care and mental health
promotion strategies that are consistent with practices to enhance student personal and professional resilience and reduce occupational stress in mental health nursing practice.

Outcomes

At the end of this section, educators will support students in the following ways:

  • Recognize the importance of reflective practice for developing nursing practice, including seeking new and innovative practices, as well as for engaging in lifelong learning, self improvement and professional development.
  • Engage in ongoing critical reflection related to the study and practice of mental health nursing with persons and families across the lifespan.
  • Use self-reflection as a primary learning modality for promoting knowledge and skill development in the provision of mental health care.
  • Increase understanding and awareness of self-care concepts to enhance ongoing student personal and professional development in mental health nursing practice.
  • Increase understanding and awareness about factors that contribute to occupational stress reactions (e.g., acute stress, PTSD, Secondary Stress, burnout) in the context of mental health nursing practice.
  • Identify strategies and practices to decrease the impact and manage occupational stress reactions.

CASN/CFMHN Competencies

1.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5