Nursing (Mental Health)

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Enhancing Therapeutic Relationships

  Research shows that better relationships with patients leads to better outcomes. In this module, you’ll gain an insight into how the diverse experiences of people and their families inform all stages of the nursing process, and help them get the most out of therapy from a physical and mental health care perspective.

  You’ll deepen your knowledge from Year 1 of how human connection, communication and self-awareness can be a crucial element in forming a therapeutic relationship with the patient, greatly influencing their quality of care and overall health outcome.

  You will be supported to critically reflect on the concept of therapeutic use of self and approaches to working collaboratively with people and their families, who may be at any stage of life and who may have a range of mental, physical, cognitive or behavioural health challenges.

  By the end of this module, you’ll be able to manage individuals’ physical, psychosocial and developmental stages in order to inform your practice.  

• Research Methods and Analysis

• Promoting Health in Mental Health Nursing Practice

  In this module, you’ll be learning how to support mental health through promotion of health and wellbeing. You’ll take a compassionate person-centred approach to improving social inclusion that might support the recovery process for people with mental health needs. You’ll consider the factors that affect the mental health and the changing health needs of the population, and will learn how vital it is to work in effective partnership with GP’s, psychiatrists and carers.

  By the end of this module you will have a clearer understanding of how to promote health as part of helping people who are in a vulnerable phase to make a positive mental health difference to their lives.

• Assessing and Planning Mental Health Nursing Care

  In this module you’ll learn how to assess, plan and evaluate the care of patients experiencing mental health issues across the lifespan. You’ll train in methodologies in interpreting information to form plans and processes in order to develop the best evidence-based person-centred interventions designed to meet the holistic care needs of those with mental health care needs.

  You’ll train up in the principles of quality improvement strategies and will explore the importance of measuring outcomes in clinical effectiveness to inform your own reflective practice so that you can be certain that you are providing the best possible care.

• Clinical Practice Experience 2 (Mental Health)

  This module will introduce you to positively engaging with people, their carers, families and other health care practitioners to promote shared-decision making in their health and mental health needs. You’ll consider the common treatment approaches such as how improved social inclusion might support the mental health recovery process.

  You’ll have National Public Health resources at your fingertips to research the latest mental health nursing practice concepts, from universal prevention campaigns to targeted approaches. This module will build upon your learning in Year 1. 

Year 3

Compulsory modules

• Dissertation

  In this module you’ll develop research awareness and understanding of the principles and how to apply them in this particular clinical practice. You’ll be given the opportunity to identify your own research question and undertake an independent project under the guidance of an academic member of staff. In addition, there will be the chance to utilise various texts and literature to support your study.

• Nursing Care of People with Complex Mental Health Needs

  In this module, you’ll consolidate your existing learning, and develop your knowledge of problem solving and decision-making skills with a person-centred approach for specific population groups. You’ll focus on implementing safe and effective practice, ensuring that you are well equipped to appropriately meet the complex needs of the adults in your care. You’ll use an Enquiry Based Learning (EBL) approach to undertake the assessment and management of complex scenarios in a variety of multi-field settings, allowing you to implement holistic methods of care to support the health needs and outcomes of adults with complex needs.

  You’ll explore how collaborative working with professional colleagues provides optimal care. Alongside this, you’ll have the opportunity to integrate and develop your understanding of relevant theory as well as anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of complex care needs of adults to ensure you are capable of making the right decisions for their healthcare needs.

• Consolidation of Mental Health Nursing Practice

  In this module you’ll be provided with the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to perform as a skilled and knowledgeable mental health registrant, capable of identifying effective strategies to develop and improve interventions. You’ll learn how to efficiently manage your own professional practice, in addition to supporting, supervising and managing others; and lead the development of the mental health nursing profession. Throughout the module you will have chances to consider your future career, lifelong learning and, your autonomy as a mental health nurse. You’ll explore practice-based learning and will experience working with multi-professional diverse teams. You’ll consider the wider political context and key drivers of health, in addition to engaging with change management theory to support the development of your own service improvement project proposal.

• Clinical Practice Experience 3 (Mental Health)

  You’ll develop your knowledge base and skills in mental health clinical training in practice through a combination of simulation-based education and direct care, enabling you to fulfil the professional requirements for the mental health nursing programme and ensure you are eligible for nurse registration. You’ll participate in to experience placements during the year, and completion of this module will contribute to the achievement of Part 3 of your programme. 

Work placements

Optional modules