Course summary

Nursing is a challenging but rewarding career that will impact and change lives, including your own. As a Mental Health nurse you will play your part in improving access to healthcare, wellbeing, social inclusion, and quality of life. The course will enable students to work in hospital and community settings within the NHS, social care, primary care and private settings. Your studies will look at how to care for people across their lifespan and consider the importance of holistic nursing care. A £5,000 per year training grant is available for eligible students. Further information is available on the NHS Business Services website. You will learn from a passionate, enthusiastic, skilled, and supportive team with a range of experience across the many different aspects of Mental Health nursing. Many are active researchers; your learning will be enriched by the very latest in best practice and clinical understanding. This course has a strong practical focus, allowing you to gain competence carrying out the hands-on tasks you will perform in your career. About half your time will be spent on placements with our established partners. You will also have regular access to outstanding facilities including our Clinical Skills & Simulation Centre: an imitation ward where you will be able to develop your clinical expertise in a safe, instructive environment. Teaching Based at our Taunton campus, you will interact with and learn from other students from a range of health and social care courses. You will develop essential people skills as you work with patients and their families, as well as our partners on placements, in class and online. Our philosophy of nurse education encompasses flexible, progressive, and innovative approaches ensuring you will be a caring, competent, and critically thinking nurse. Some of our approaches include experiential learning, enquiry and action-based learning, group work and face-to-face learning. You will learn about the importance of your relationship as a nurse with both the service user and their family and friends. We will support you to develop the interpersonal skills you’ll need to build therapeutic relationships with people in diverse cultural contexts. Develop your expertise in healthcare systems, nursing management, and the sociology of health, wellness, and illness. Explore the latest research and evidence-based practice and learn to adapt and respond to changes in society and developments in care. With a strong focus on building independent learning and research skills, the course also provides an excellent preparation for future professional development. With the help of distance learning and self-directed materials you will be supported to take responsibility for your own learning. Progression Registered Mental Health nurses are in demand across the UK and our graduates enter careers in a variety of roles for the NHS, private and voluntary sector employers in community and hospital settings. You could go on to specialise in positions in hospitals, healthcare centres as a community nurse, in GP practices, schools, as a health visitor, or with patients in their own homes. Once qualified you can also combine clinical practice with study on a post graduate course to specialise in a specific area. Progression could lead to senior positions such as consultant nurse, nurse specialist, researcher, or local or regional services manager.