Nursing (Mental Health)

This unique course offers you an exciting opportunity to become a fully qualified nurse, providing compassionate nursing care in mental health. You’ll consider the changing nature of health, illness and recovery – as well as the relationship between healthcare professionals and service users. You’ll graduate as a reflective, competent and employable professional.

How you learn

On this course you’ll learn from academic staff who have a variety of clinical expertise and experience. You’ll apply your theoretical study directly to your practice setting, using the knowledge, skills and attributes you’ve gained. The course is a blend of theory and hands-on practical work, giving you the opportunity to practise what you learn in both simulated and real-world settings.

Nurses are an integral part of a multidisciplinary team. You’ll have the chance to learn and collaborate with students from other health and social care courses, helping you to deliver person-centred care, with an understanding of how other professionals contribute to the person's journey through health and social care services.

Key Themes

You’ll learn how nurses who specialise in mental health help people. They assist with various challenges – from depression, anxiety and dementia to bulimia nervosa, post-natal depression, and other conditions that may trigger unconstructive thoughts and beliefs. You’ll then learn theoretical underpinnings, such as recovery-based practice, DSM-V criteria and psycho-social interventions.

You’ll explore the various settings mental health nurses work in – from acute inpatients to accident & emergency to community treatment teams. You’ll also discover the areas of practice that mental health nurses often specialise in, such as child and adolescent mental health.

Applied learning

Live Projects

Applied learning takes place in our specialist labs, practice facilities, simulation environments and workshops – as well externally through field trips, educational visits, digital technologies, and even by loan access to specialist equipment so you can work on or off-campus. These activities are directed or supported by lecturers or technical experts, providing you with opportunities to practise and apply your learning.

Practice learning takes place in a range of settings where nurses care for adults, children, and young people. You’ll participate in activities that contribute to your training and demonstrate the responsibilities involved.

Work Placements

You’ll apply your learning through real-world placements, projects, internships and voluntary activities. These take place in work settings, through online interfaces and within the university.

There’s also an optional placement – where you can arrange an experience nationally or internationally to meet your personal professional development needs and support your employability.

You’ll be supervised and supported by practice supervisors, practice assessors, link lecturers and academic assessors – enabling you to learn and safely achieve proficiency and autonomy in your professional role.