COURSE CURRICULUM

The BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing curriculum is structured across three stages to develop students into competent, compassionate and evidence-based mental health nurses through a balanced combination of academic study and extensive clinical practice. In the first stage, students establish a strong foundation by developing their nursing identity, academic abilities and professional values required for safe and effective nursing practice. They study applied anatomy and physiology to understand the relationship between physical health and mental wellbeing while learning essential assessment skills used in clinical settings. The Principles of Mental Health Nursing module introduces the core concepts of mental health care, therapeutic communication, patient-centred practice and recovery-focused approaches. Students also examine the nurse’s role in promoting health, preventing illness and reducing health inequalities, enabling them to understand the wider social, psychological and environmental factors that influence mental health. Professional Practice 1 provides supervised placement experience where students apply classroom knowledge to real healthcare environments while building confidence, clinical competence and professional judgement. During the second stage, students strengthen their knowledge through modules covering acute and crisis care in mental health nursing, enabling them to assess and manage individuals experiencing severe mental health conditions and psychiatric emergencies. They also study the assessment and care of people living with long-term mental health conditions while developing leadership, advocacy and collaborative working skills. Professional Practice 2 further enhances practical experience across diverse healthcare settings. In the final stage, students focus on research and quality improvement in nursing, learning how evidence-based practice contributes to improving patient outcomes and healthcare services. The Mental Health Nursing Care for People with Complex Needs module prepares students to provide comprehensive care for individuals with multiple or severe mental health challenges while working effectively within multidisciplinary teams. An optional module allows students to develop specialist knowledge aligned with their professional interests. Professional Practice 3 consolidates advanced clinical skills and professional competence, ensuring graduates are fully prepared for NMC registration and successful careers in hospitals, community mental health services, forensic settings, child and adolescent services, older adult care, crisis intervention, rehabilitation and other specialist mental health environments.