Program Overview

Nursing Studies (Mental Health) (Pre-Registration) Apprenticeship, BSc (Hons)

Overview

This course provides the springboard for apprentices to achieve personal career aspirations to become a registered nurse specialising in mental health nursing.

Course Details

Stage 1

• Fundamentals of Nursing Practice
  • Develop fundamental knowledge and skills that pre-registration nurses must demonstrate when caring for people of all ages and care settings.
  • 40-credit module.
• Nursing Decision-making and Evidence-based Practice
  • Build knowledge and skills in the role, nature and use of evidence to support decision-making, health and social care practice and service improvement.
  • 40-credit module.
• Professionalism, Relationships and Communication
  • Develop professionalism, relationship building and communication skills that pre-registration nurses must demonstrate when caring for people across all care settings.
  • 20-credit module.
• Understanding Health and Illness
  • Develop understanding of health and illness across the lifespan, exploring factors contributing to human development from conception to death.
  • 20-credit module.

Stage 2

• Fundamentals of Mental Health Nursing Practice 2
  • Combine theory and practice elements, building on the earlier module.
  • Promote ability to assess and meet fundamental, complex physical and mental health needs of service users and their families in a diverse variety of locations.
  • 40-credit module.
• Mental Health Nursing Decision-making and Evidence-based Practice 2
  • Explore person-centred evidence-based decision-making within mental health nursing practice.
  • Develop knowledge required to actively manage the health care needs of people accessing mental health nursing services within primary, secondary and tertiary care settings.
  • 40-credit module.
• Mental Health Nursing Intervention 1
  • Focus on nursing actions, procedures or treatments that promote positive expected outcomes for patients and their families.
  • Build on knowledge and understanding of altered pathophysiology, physical, cognitive, emotional, and developmental needs across the lifespan.
  • 20-credit module.
• Service Improvement
  • Explore the quality improvement agenda and use a systematic approach to improve the safety, effectiveness and people’s experience of care.
  • Further develop knowledge and understanding of the nursing role and evidence in the context of service improvement.
  • 20-credit module.

Stage 3

• Dissertation Module
  • Develop and build on ability to take on analytical enquiry relating to a professional point of view.
  • Complete a robust and evidence-based literature review on an area of professional nursing practice of your choice.
  • 40-credit module.
• Fundamentals of Mental Health Nursing Practice 3
  • Build on nursing skills from year one and two to support coordination, delivery, and evaluation of nursing care for individuals and groups across the lifespan.
  • Lead and manage the nursing assessment, plan, implement, and evaluate care for a caseload of patients based on evidence-based practice.
  • 40-credit module.
• Mental Health Nursing Decision-making and Evidence-based Practice 3
  • Equip with necessary knowledge, skills and understanding to make evidence-based decisions to support the delivery of high-quality patient-centred holistic care.
  • Collaborate with people who access mental health nursing services, their families, and carers across a range of primary, secondary and tertiary care environments.
  • 40-credit module.
• Mental Health Nursing Intervention 2
  • Explore a biopsychosocial perspective in relation to patient care.
  • Use the nursing process and apply to a chosen service user for a case study.
  • Focus on the holistic care of a service user to prevent ill health and promote health in line with the NMC Code.
  • 20-credit module.

How You Learn

• 50% of learning time is spent engaging in University or self-managed learning activities (theory) and 50% of the time is spent within placement allocations (practice).
• The remainder of the time is spent working within your contracted job role.
• The teaching week during theory/study blocks is Monday to Friday and may involve some evening sessions.
• During practice allocations, you are required to complete the shift patterns allocated to you by your assessor or supervisor.

How You Are Assessed

• A variety of assessments are used to measure the apprentice's progress and achievement of module outcomes and practice competencies.
• Examples include written assignments, reflection, case studies, examinations, poster presentations and projects.
• You are also assessed in practice each year through a Practice Assessment Document (PAD).
• Essential practice proficiencies contained within the PAD, linked to the NMC platforms, communication and relationship management skills and nursing procedure skill, must be met for this course.

Entry Requirements

• To be accepted on to a degree apprenticeship course, you must have support from your employer and meet the course entry requirements.
• Applicants must:
  • Hold Level 2 qualifications in English and maths before starting their apprenticeships.
  • Have an NVQ level 3 or equivalent.
  • Be currently, or on entry to the course, employed as an apprentice nurse in a health or care role (full-time).
  • Demonstrate the appropriate values and attitudes for the programme in line with the NMC values and behaviours.
  • Undertake an interview with you, as the employer and the University, and must have a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure.

Employability

• A diverse range of career opportunities are available within the NHS and private sectors in the UK and overseas.
• This course has been designed to prepare the apprentice for the challenges and demands of contemporary and future nursing, health and social care practice.
• It also provides a stepping stone for the apprentice to further develop their expertise in the fields of nursing practice, leadership, research, education and consultancy.

Work Placement

• The range of placements provide diverse and rewarding learning experiences.
• Placements may not be near to your home or within your local trust or organisation.
• You are expected to travel to different areas if unable to gain the experience in your area of employment.

Professional Apprenticeship

• An apprenticeship combines vocational work-based learning with study for a university degree.
• Designed in partnership with employers, apprenticeships offer it all - a higher education qualification, a salary, and invaluable practical experience and employment skills.

Part-time

• Entry: September
• Fee for UK applicants: £26,000
• Length: 2-4 years +6 months EPA
• Attendance: Blended

Service User and Carer Involvement

• Service users and carers support all aspects of our students' lifecycle from recruitment to graduation.