Program Overview

Nursing (Mental Health) BSc Honours

Course Overview

This highly respected mental health nursing degree is based at our Hendon Campus and includes teaching at the brand new £23 million West Stand facility at StoneX stadium, featuring one of the UK's best skills training centres including high-tech simulation suites.

About Your Course

Our course values the practical application of skills in real-life settings as a vital part of nursing training. Therefore, 50% of your study time is spent on placement. You will develop a detailed understanding of severe and enduring mental health conditions, which include dual diagnosis, psychoses, child and adolescent mental health and dementia.

Year 1 Overview

In year one, you'll cover the main scientific and biological underpinnings of mental health nursing such as anatomy and physiology and core communication skills. You'll also have your first placement experience, for which you'll be fully supported and prepared.

• Foundations of Expansive Learning for Professional Nursing Practice (30 credits) - Compulsory
• Foundations of Mental Health Nursing Knowledge (30 credits) - Compulsory
• Foundations of Scientific Principles for Mental Health Nursing (30 credits) - Compulsory
• Practice Learning 1 Mental Health (30 credits) - Compulsory

Year 2 Overview

In year two, you'll begin to develop your skills in mental health assessment and treatment. You'll have the opportunity to put into practice the interventions – such as psychosocial and medication management skills – you'll be learning.

• Developing Expansive Learning for Professional Nursing Practice (30 credits) - Compulsory
• Developing Nursing Knowledge in Mental Health Nursing (30 credits) - Compulsory
• Developing Scientific Principles for Mental Health Nursing (30 credits) - Compulsory
• Practice Learning 2 Mental Health Nursing (30 credits) - Compulsory

Year 3 Overview

In your final year, we'll support your preparation for employment by ensuring you are equipped with leadership and management skills. You'll consolidate the expertise you have built over the last three years and will be prepared for job applications and interviews.

• Consolidating Expansive Learning for Professional Nursing Practice (30 credits) - Compulsory
• Consolidating Nursing Knowledge in Mental Health Nursing (30 credits) - Compulsory
• Consolidating Scientific Principles for Mental Health Nursing (30 credits) - Compulsory
• Practice Learning 3 Mental Health (30 credits) - Compulsory

Teaching and Learning

You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team who have a wide range of expertise and professional experience. Throughout the course, we emphasise the importance of developing practical skills and the course is split equally between theory and practice.

• Teaching methods include lectures, participatory seminars, small group discussions, self-guided and directed learning, e-learning, support from the academic advisor, skills laboratory and practical clinical sessions, use of virtual and augmented reality resources and clinical placements.
• Practice-based learning amounts to 50% of the entire course and students must complete a set amount of hours to meet the professional body’s clinical criteria for professional registration. By the end of the course, you will have completed 2,300 hours of clinical training.

Facilities

Our high-tech simulation suites link the theories of the classroom with the practice of treating patients in a hospital environment with:

• The latest simulators for you to practice realistic emergency care situations and hospital scenarios
• Life-like mannequins that can simulate symptoms, diseases and conditions you’ll encounter as a working nurse
• Video recorders so you can receive evidence-based feedback from students and teachers watching you practice.

Careers

Nursing today is more flexible and varied than ever. Mental health nurses have the opportunity to work across a broad range of fields and the skills that make you a good mental health nurse are transferable to many other areas.

• Nurses work in services for children and adolescents right up to the ground-breaking work that is going on in dementia care.
• Mental health nurses are needed in secure facilities like prisons and special hospitals, in specialist mental health wards, across a host of community settings and in health settings like GP surgeries and emergency departments in general hospitals.
• There are specialist roles for mental health nurses which range from nurse prescribers to managers and consultants.

Entry Requirements

• UCAS Points: 112 UCAS points including GCSE grade C/4 in English and maths or equivalencies such as functional skills level 2*
• A-Level: BBC
• BTEC: DMM
• Access requirements: Overall pass: must include 45 credits at level 3, of which all 45 must be at Merit or higher
• Combinations: A combination of A-Level, BTEC and other accepted qualifications that total 112 UCAS Tariff points

Fees

• UK students: £9,535*
• International students: £16,000

Additional Costs

• The following study tools are included in your fees:
  • Free laptop loans for up to 24 hours
  • Free e-books and e-journals for key course texts
  • Free access to everything on your reading list
  • Free specialist software for your course
  • Free printing for academic paperwork
  • Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.