Do you have patience, empathy and excellent listening skills? Are you interested in caring for the mind and the body? If you’re looking for a career in nursing where you can work with people of all ages across a variety of settings, then our Nursing (Mental Health) degree could be a great place to start your journey.

• The course is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and led by committed and passionate lecturers who are research active with experience across the mental health nursing spectrum.
• Alongside building your theoretical knowledge in lectures and seminars, you’ll be able to focus on your practical skills through simulation and group work.
• You'll practice and develop your skills through clinical placements in a range of statutory, private and voluntary services, in order to prepare you to pursue your career.
• You’ll have the opportunity to hear the experiences and viewpoints from service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group.
• You’ll also learn how to respond to the physical, cognitive and mental health care needs of all patients and service users across their lifespan.

Mental health nursing involves working with people suffering from various mental health conditions across the lifespan, and their families and carers, to offer help and support in dealing with the condition. This could include anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, psychosis and obsessive compulsive disorders.

This course is designed to help you become a confident, competent and compassionate nurse. Our mental health nursing team will support you to develop the intellectual, personal and professional skills you need to practice in this challenging and rewarding field of healthcare. After successfully graduating from the course you’ll be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and work as a Registered Nurse in Mental Health.

The Government has announced that from September 2020 new and existing students studying this course will be eligible to receive a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000 each year. Further information is available on the Government's website and the Council of Deans Frequently Asked Questions.

Placements

Nothing can really replicate working in the real-world, which is why practice placements are essential and a compulsory part of the course. The Nursing and Midwifery Council require you to complete the minimum of 2300 hours over the three years in order to obtain registration. Each year you'll complete two blocks of placement.

You'll have the opportunity to complete your practice learning experiences in a diverse range of health and social care settings. These may be in private, voluntary, charitable or statutory settings and include forensic services, assessment teams, in-patient treatment units, rehabilitation centres, community teams, respite services, crisis and home based treatment, liaison services, child and adolescent mental health services and prisons. You'll be mentored throughout your practical experiences by qualified nurses, who will provide you with any required help and advice.

In order to provide you with the broadest professional experience possible, practice experiences are generally offered across West Yorkshire and beyond, covering 24 hour care including evening, weekend and occasional night shifts. For more information visit our placements page. You'll be required to travel to and during your placements.

Your Career

A career in mental health nursing can be varied and interesting with a wide range of satisfying career opportunities. Our graduates have gone on to work in local healthcare trusts, private hospitals and in the community.**

Other career opportunities could include working in child and adolescent mental health services, forensic settings, substance misuse, accident and emergency liaison, self harm, criminal justice system, youth offending, management of violence and aggression, as well as specialist roles such as admiral nursing and nurse consultant.

After qualification further professional development opportunities are available in relation to enhancing knowledge relating to psychological therapies and intervention, medicines management and nurse prescribing, and becoming an approved mental health practitioner.