Nursing (Mental Health)

UCAS code: B762

Here's what Cardiff University says about its Nursing (Mental Health) course.

Join a School that is ranked 1st in England and Wales and 3rd in the UK for Nursing by The Complete University Guide 2021.

Mental health nursing is a diverse, challenging and rewarding career with people at its heart. Validated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) our programme provides you with the skills and knowledge to become a registered Mental Health Nurse within 3 years.

You will offer help and support to people of all ages, their families and carers. The role is diverse, and care can be offered in a variety of situations including hospitals, homes and community settings. Whilst a key role of the mental health nurse is to form therapeutic relationships it is important that you are also able to use effective communication strategies to demonstrate compassionate, creative and critical mental health care that focuses on recovery.

The programme content emphasises the holistic components of individual mental health recovery, acknowledging the importance of maintaining health and the wider psychological and social impacts of personal wellbeing.

We have a highly equipped Clinical Simulation Suite which enables you to learn in a realistic ward, community, home and emergency simulations, meaning you can safely practice and develop essential skills to develop your confidence before going into placement. We also have dedicated mental health communication booths where you can develop your practical skills.

You will spend 50% of your time in clinical practice, working alongside experienced practice supervisors in hospitals, community and other specialist mental health care team provisions. A varied placement experience undertaken across the three years of the programme will allow you to integrate academic theory with clinical practice. Our clinical placements reflect the work of the mental health nurse in supporting people from all age groups when they experience the impact of mental health problems.

You will be allocated both a personal tutor who will offer you pastoral support and an academic assessor who will support your professional development during the programme.

On successful completion of the programme you will be eligible to register with the NMC as a Mental Health Nurse. With this registration, you can work in a range of healthcare settings, both in the United Kingdom and abroad.

Above all else, we strive to ensure that you are ready for the next step in your career. That’s why 100%* of our nursing students are in employment or further study after 6 months of graduating (*DHLE and HECSU).

As part of a large School based at the largest University Hospital in Wales, we will help you to enjoy an academically rich and fulfilling experience. Key features of our programme include:

• Fully funded place – you will have the option to choose a fully funded place on the programme. A full NHS bursary, including tuition fees and a non-repayable bursary for living costs, is available for this programme providing you agree to work in Wales for two years after registration (subject to change).

• Specialist experiences – you will have the opportunity to practice in our dedicated communication booths and transfer those skills into practical experience in a range of mental health settings from a range of services within the locality, including substance misuse services and within the prison setting.

• Clinical specialists - you will be taught by a staff group that hold a wide range of clinical experiences at senior and specialist levels in Mental Health Nursing.

• Innovative use of the latest technology – you will use augmented reality which will be utilised to teach anatomy and physiology, enabling you to view the internal mechanics of the human body and understand pathophysiology.

• Opportunity for international experience - during Year Two, there is an opportunity for you to undertake a placement learning opportunity in an environment of your choice, either within the UK or overseas.