About this course
Introduction
Our philosophy is to prepare students to become competent Mental Health Nurses, who are able to provide high quality evidence based care for people with mental health difficulties. Mental Health Nurses work in a dynamic environment. The course therefore aims to develop practitioners who are innovative, flexible and knowledgeable and are able to:
- work collaboratively with their clients, service users, families, carers and other health and social care professionals.
- be self-reliant and resourceful.
- take responsibility for their own learning and development.
In order to gain the most from the course, applicants must have a basic, but first hand understanding of the role of a Mental Health Nurse. This may be gained by talking to a qualified Mental Health Nurse and/or finding information from a number of sources such as visiting a unit or researching the role using professional journals, books, the internet, documentaries or multimedia.
Through a carefully integrated balance of theory and practice the degree programme aims to provide students at the point of registration with the knowledge, expertise and competence required of qualified practitioners.
Successful completion of the programme leads to registration as a nurse on the Professional Register held by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Student's view
"As part of the nursing course we get six placements, my first two were really good, I was lucky to have a positive experience with my mentors. I can't say enough about how supportive the staff have been. The best bit about the course for me is the staff, they've been brilliant."Samantha, Mental Health student
Structure
Content
You can choose to study the programme at either the Glenside Campus in Bristol or Gloucester Campus.
The programme is modular and combines a mixture of theory and practice. The theoretical modules facilitate knowledge and skills, which are enhanced and integrated in professional practice modules. The course aims to help you to develop the interpersonal skills that the Mental Health Nurse must utilise in order to initiate and maintain therapeutic relationships with clients/service users in a diverse cultural context. The aim therefore is to promote competent practitioners who continually strive to work effectively within the cultural context of the client/service user, families and/or carers and who are able to adapt and respond to changes in society and the developments in the changing context of care. Not least important is the ability to challenge opinions, including those regarded as received wisdom or long accepted practice in this controversial and exciting field of care.
Students following this branch programme will experience caring for people of all ages with a variety of mental health problems living within the community.
Fundamental to the work of the mental health nurse is the relationship between the nurse and patient and his or her family. Students will learn to work with vulnerable groups in the community such as elderly people and the homeless. The programme will therefore reflect the values and expectations of those individuals using mental health services.
Teaching and learning
The programme is run on a modular basis and delivered full-time between the hours of 09:30 and 18:30, Monday to Friday except bank holidays. Interprofessional activities play an important part in developing team working skills expected across professional groups in practice.
Teaching and learning methods include lectures, seminars, student led seminars, group work, critical incident analysis and case studies. Support for studying is provided by academic staff and practitioners on placement. Students will additionally acquire skills in self-directed and independent study, research and the key skills required for any workplace activity. The programme will provide an excellent preparation for future professional development, enabling students to transfer skills across a range of professional entities.
Study themes running through the programme include:
- Nursing theory and practice
- Nursing management
- Interpersonal skills
- Development of professional practice
- Bio-psychosocial development of the individual across the lifespan
- Sociology of health, wellness and illness
- Health care systems
- Interprofessional working
A number of these themes will be developed and taught alongside other health and social care student groups.
Study time
Computer skills are vital for your academic studies and future employment. At the University of the West of England computing is an integral part of your programme - many lecturers make lecture notes and materials available online, and some modules will require you to use information technology (IT) to help you undertake and present your work. IT facilities are available on all campuses. At the main Frenchay Campus there is 24 hour access to computing facilities, and the School offers help and support throughout your programme.
Prior to commencing your programme of study you may find it helpful to familiarise yourself with some core IT skills:
- Basic word processing
- Storing and retrieving files
- Communicating via e-mail
- Searching the web for information, e.g. online shopping, booking a holiday, homework
There is also a range of information and resources that includes interactive exercises to support study skills on the Department of Nursing and Midwifery website.
Assessment
Assessment methods are varied and include essays, written assignments, care studies and project work as well as timed, known topic examinations.
Special Features
Placements
The practice part of the programme is provided by National Health Service (NHS) Trusts and Primary Care Trusts (PCT's), and other organisations in the Strategic Health Authority region. Please click here for further information.
What is a placement?
A placement is a period of time within your programme that is to be spent in a practice setting. The type of placement you will go on will depend on your personal profile and on which module you are currently studying. The intention of placement practice is to build on the knowledge you gain at the University, to acquire or develop new knowledge and to apply it in the practice environment.
Practical experience accounts for half of the programme and a range of settings are used. A full range of shifts will be worked by the student including night and weekend duty. An early shift in some clinical areas may start as early as 07:00 and a late shift may end at 22:00 hours. These times need to be considered when travelling to and from placement and any personal responsibilities you may have.
You will have an identified mentor in each placement who will advise, counsel and provide feedback on progress when working with patients/clients and health care professionals.
The practice modules form a compulsory part of your programme, and provide you with the unique opportunity to integrate theory and practice.
Where are the placements?
The placements used for student clinical practice are primarily spread across the South West of England but occasionally it may be necessary for you to travel further afield. Applicants will identify and be allocated to a geographic 'zone' in which they will undertake the majority of their practical placements. Where an applicant's first choice is not available they will be invited to identify a second choice. However the Department reserves the right to place students in any of the zones used for practical placements. It is not usually possible for students to request particular placements however if there are exceptional reasons for a request the Practice Learning Unit will endeavour to respond accordingly. A positive response cannot always be guaranteed as allocations depend on placement availability, curriculum and personal profiling requirements.
Practice Placement Zones
What is a zone?
Zones are geographical groupings of practice placements, based on the counties and unitary authorities of the West of England. Each of the four branches of nursing has its own identified zones, providing you with a full and comprehensive range of practice experience within the NHS Acute and Primary Care Trusts, Social and Voluntary Services and the Independent Sector.
What is the purpose of the zones?
Placing you in a zone for the practice component of your course will enable you to identify with a practice base, which will offer you increasing stability as you proceed through your training. Zoning aims to reduce the amount of travel you will have to do as you undertake all or most of your practice placements in one geographical area. The success of this initiative is further enhanced by the use of longer placements, which means that you will have a better opportunity to become more familiar and secure within fewer areas of placement activity. Reducing the number of practice placements will not reduce the amount of experience you gain as each of the NHS Trusts provides a full range of services to the communities they serve.
What are the advantages of zoning?
Zoning and the establishment of longer practice placements will allow you to gain a deeper understanding of care delivery. You will become more confident in your ability and be able to take more control of your learning needs as you increasingly become part of a team. You will be able to take full advantage of the learning opportunities within the NHS Trusts and the wider community under the supervision and guidance of your mentor and assessor. Zoning also means that the staff who support you during your practice placement will have a better understanding of you as you will move around less frequently and therefore become part of the caring team. Together with your mentor and assessor you will be pro-active in identifying learning opportunities based on your particular requirements.
Further placement opportunity
There is also an opportunity to undertake an elective placement outside the geographical areas covered by the University, this varies across programmes.
Study facilities
The Department is superbly equipped with an extensive range of teaching and learning resources.
Facilities at Glenside Campus, Bristol
The Library on the Glenside Campus is one of the best health care libraries in England with a huge selection of books, journals, and audio-visual materials including access to specialist health and social care software packages.
The Interprofessional Simulation Suite provides excellent opportunities for the demonstration and practice of professional competencies for all health and social care students.
Information technology provision is in the form of multimedia laboratories.
Facilities at UWE Gloucester
UWE Gloucester is located at the Alexandra Warehouse in Gloucester Docks.
The centre has a high standard of teaching facilities and a well stocked library. Information Technology facilities include multimedia laboratories and various health and social care databases enabling students to carry out searches of available literature relating to topics of interest.
The Interprofessional Simulation Suite provides excellent opportunities for the demonstration and practice of professional competencies for all health and social care students.
Careers/further study
As a qualified Mental Health Nurse you will have opportunities to work with the NHS, private sector, non-statutory and voluntary sector. There is work available in all parts of the UK and in a wide range of specialities. As you gain experience you may wish to specialise and work with a particular client group such as forensic mental health care, child and adolescent mental health care and substance misuse. Mental Health Nurses have many opportunities to develop their career, through the ethos of life-long learning, at a pace that suits the individual.
Graduate destinations
Find out what our graduates are doing six months after graduating - includes examples of careers, employers and further study. Download a PDF from graduate destinations.
Key employer partnerships
We work closely with the NHS as the main employer for our graduates. See NHS Careers for more information about becoming a mental health nurse in the NHS.
Creating employable students
UWE places strong emphasis on employability and skills development at every level. Through work placements, volunteering, study abroad and UWE initiatives which nurture talent and encourage innovation, students gain valuable real world experience and graduate with diverse career opportunities and a competitive place in the job market.
See great graduate prospects for further information.
Be inspired
Read about Miriam's experience of studying Mental Health Nursing at UWE.
Useful links
A day in the life of a Mental Health Nurse
UWE Careers - Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting
Nursing Standard: www.nursing-standard.co.uk
Nurserve: www.nurserve.co.uk
The UWE careers service provides guidance and support throughout your studies in addition to useful resources, CV checks, career coaching and details of current job vacancies.
Entry
Typical offers
- Tariff points: Normally 280 minimum
- GCSE: A minimum of five subjects at grade C or above including English Language and Mathematics.
- A-level subjects: Grade C in Science or Social Science (PE accepted)
- Specific subjects: Biology, Science, Social Science
- Access: Achievement of the Access to HE Diploma; achievement of 15 Level 3 credits at merit in a Science or Social Science; achievement of Level 2 credits giving GCSE equivalence in English Language and Mathematics.
Advice on typical offers
In addition to the 'typical offer' given here, please read the general information about
entry requirements.
Entry requirements
We require evidence of recent assessed academic study within the last three years.
Because of funding arrangements we are unfortunately unable to accept applications from international students (overseas fee status) for this course.
Students who do not meet the minimum academic entry requirements but have significant life and/or work experience will be considered on an individual basis, but should have evidence of recent study in a science/health related subject area recognised as academically equivalent by the University.
We frequently accept the completion of further or adult education courses as an appropriate entry qualification. Completing an Access or Foundation course (please take a look at the Department's Foundation courses) may be a good move for people who have been away from formal education for a number of years.
Applicants whose first language is not English should have a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 or above with a minimum of 7.0 in all sections of the test. Full details of this language test can be obtained from the British Council. Please note the University's published list of alternative English Language qualifications does not apply to this course.
Additional selection criteria
As well as meeting the academic entry requirements, applicants should meet the following selection criteria:
Health assessment/declaration - applicants must be in good health. Those offered a place are required to complete a questionnaire and be prepared to undergo a medical examination if necessary.
Disclosure of criminal background - the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 does not apply and all convictions, including those which are spent, must be disclosed. Applicants who are offered a place must undergo a Criminal Record Bureau check and will be required to complete a disclosure application form. All information will be treated in confidence and only taken into account when absolutely necessary.
Questionnaire - shortlisted applicants may be asked to complete a Biographical Questionnaire.
Selection Event - shortlisted applicants will be invited to a selection event before being offered a place.
Completing the application form - we will be looking for applicants committed to Mental Health Nursing. This must be clearly demonstrated in the 'personal statement' section of the application form by saying why you want to study Mental Health Nursing and any relevant work experience that you have gained to date.
Fees
Bursary
Applicants accepted for an NHS funded place are eligible to apply for an NHS income-assessed bursary. The University will initiate this process on your behalf. The NHS bursary is split into different sections; tuition fees, maintenance (cost of living) allowance, additional allowances. The NHS will pay your tuition fees, your income and that of your parents or your spouse will be taken into account when calculating your maintenance (cost of living) allowance and there are additional allowances that can be applied for; extra weeks attendance; initial expenses; dependants; disabled students; hardship support; parents learning; practice placement; two homes; students entering training from care.
NB: Even if you do not think you will be eligible for an income-assessed NHS bursary we recommend that you still apply for one. This will entitle you to apply for placement travel expenses at a later date. You cannot apply retrospectively for an income-assessed NHS bursary.
EU nationals may be eligible for part of an income-assessed NHS bursary. Students may have their tuition fees paid but will not qualify for a maintenance (cost of living) allowance or the additional allowances.
If you have any questions please take a look at our NHS-funded pages.
Alternatively for more information contact: Student Grants Unit, telephone: +44 (0)845 358 6655 or email: eligibility@nhspa.gov.uk
Student Loan - In addition applicants who have been accepted should apply to Student Finance - England in advance of starting their programme in order to be eligible for a student loan if required.
EU applicants - Please contact Admissions and International Development for further information:
Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 83333
E-mail: Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
How to apply
Please see the general information about applications.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011