Abstract
M.Cur.
The purpose of this study is to describe guidelines for a Community Based Curriculum in
Psychiatric Nursing Science for a nursing college in KwaZulu Natal. The study consists of 4
phases. To reach the purpose of the study, a situational analysis was done in 3 phases to identify
the principles for a Community Based Curriculum in Psychiatric Nursing Science. In Phase I - a
document analysis of relevant government policies and legislation was conducted to obtain the
principles of mental health care.
In Phase H - the statistics of the psychiatric diagnoses of patients from two community
psychiatric clinics and one psychiatric hospital admission unit were collected.
From the prevalence of the mental disorders, the mental health needs and problems were
identified. These were the principles of Phase II.
Phase III - was the focus group interviews with the psychiatric nurse educators of a nursing
college in KwaZulu Natal to ascertain their viewpoints on a Community Based Curriculum in
Psychiatric Nursing Science. From the findings of the focus group interviews, a literature control
and conceptual framework were done. Thereafter, the principles of mental health care from this
phase were identified.
The principles of Phase I, II and III were used to formulate Phase IV, which was the guidelines
for the operationalisation of Community Based Curriculum in Psychiatric Nursing Science.
The outcomes based approach was used in the Community Based Curriculum in Psychiatric
Nursing Science in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework of the South African
Qualifications Authority.
Recommendations concerning nursing practice, nursing education and further study were made at
the end of the study including the limitations affecting the study