BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health)

Advice from graduate Rebecca Richards:

"Do it, but know why you want to: you’ll need that when you’re up all night, or stressed out. It’s not an easy course; it challenges and changes you in a lot of different ways, so you have to want to be there."

Read more from Rebecca in her case study.

Achieve a bachelors honours degree and register as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council in mental health enabling you to progress on to a rewarding career and work in a range of healthcare settings nationally or internationally. You’ll have a balanced learning experience with a wide and innovative range of teaching and assessment methods both in academic study and in practice. Your time with us will enable you to work with a range of allied health professions and other fields of nursing.

• Experience a course that teaches contemporary and innovative mental health practice.
  
• Focus on developing your interpersonal skills and the importance of building therapeutic relationships.
  
• Equip yourself with the knowledge and confidence to graduate with professional status as a registered mental health nurse.
  
• Qualify with outstanding employment opportunities in a profession that offers excellent career progression.
  
• Enjoy an accessible approach to your theoretical studies, with the option of studying in Plymouth, our Knowledge Spa campus in Truro or at our new University of Plymouth School of Nursing in Exeter.
  
• Experience clinical placements across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, designed to maximise your range of experiences and clinical skills.

• Course overview

• You will be introduced to being an accountable professional, whilst developing the knowledge and skills required to become a confident, academic and independent learner. You will gain an understanding of human development, key body systems and their relationship to nursing care. A range of effective therapeutic interpersonal skills to promote engagement and helpful collaborative person-centered conversations will be nurtured within the theory and the two practice components. You will be introduced to the importance of assessing, planning, providing and evaluating health and wellbeing in a broad range of contexts. You will learn and develop the values, knowledge and skills required for the successful achievement of the standards of proficiency required for the first NMC progression point. Modules will have field specific application.
  

  You will be introduced to research methodology and methods in order to develop their knowledge of the application of research-based evidence to professional practice. You will study the pathophysiological processes involved in commonly encountered health conditions to support nursing interventions. Your knowledge and understanding of co-ordinating care for complex health needs will be developed, as well as in relation to public health, policies and legislation. You will become a knowledgeable practitioner with an understanding of pharmacology and safe practice in the management of medicines. The theory and two practice components will Develop your values, knowledge and skills required for the successful achievement of the standards of proficiency required for the second NMC progression point. Modules will have field specific application.
  

  You will critically explore the concepts of management, leadership and working in teams. You will extend your knowledge around critical appraisal and the importance of research evidence to professional practice. Within four field specific modules you will develop knowledge and skills in a range of key therapeutic approaches for working with people with serious mental health problems or complex needs, and appropriate service approaches. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of the ‘lived experience’ of those engaging with mental health and social care services and develop your competence in nursing clients with complex needs in a range of care settings. You will build on and develop the values, knowledge and skills required for the successful achievement of the final NMC progression point. Your final module will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to perform as a capable and autonomous practitioner, fit for registration in your field of nursing practice.
  

  Core modules

  • NRS410 Being an Accountable Professional

    This module will introduce students to the nursing profession, professional standards, the use of evidence and the role of social media in health care practice.

  • NRS411 Communication and Therapeutic Relationships

    This module supports students to develop basic, person-centred communication skills enabling them to engage effectively with individuals and their families/carers utilising a range of collaborative interpersonal skills and adopting therapeutic and ethical frameworks that can be applied in health and social care.

  • NRS415 Providing and Evaluating Care

    This module introduces the student to the values, knowledge and skills required for nursing practice in a range of settings.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BSc Hons Nursing programme specification 6617

UCAS tariff

104 - 120

GCSEs
5 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above to include Mathematics, English, and Science. Consideration may be given to Functional Skills Level 2 in mathematics.

Extended entry requirements

• In addition to the above, evidence of academic study within the last five years is required.
• Please note we don't accept Key Skills level 2 in place of GCSE English.
  
• You must pass disclosure and barring service and occupational health checks satisfactorily in order to be able to start this course.
• If English is not your first language and you do not have GCSE English grade C / 4 or above you will have to achieve an IELTS (or equivalent qualification) at the grade of at least 7.0 (at least 6.5 in the writing section and at least 7.0 in the reading, listening and speaking sections).
  
• Meeting the academic minimum is the first stage of an application being considered. Applicants must also submit a strong personal statement in order to be considered further.
  
• English language requirements.
  
• For a full list of all acceptable qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.
  
• Admissions Test
  
• Institutions Own Tests (written and numeracy) / Interview.
  
• Health checks