Cardiff School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies

Mental Health (BN)

UCAS Code: B760 BN/MH B761 Mar

Mental health care in the UK is an expanding network of multi-professional and multi-agency care provision within which the mental health nurse is well placed to deliver quality care to enhance client experience. The foundation of mental health nursing care is holistic assessment to provide a value-based service for the client. Care delivery is underpinned by philosophies of recovery and social inclusion based on best evidence, ensuring that client dignity and integrity are maintained.

Throughout the mental health nursing undergraduate programme you will be supported in your development of the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes required to work successfully as a Registered Nurse in mental health care.

In a variety of classroom-based learning situations you will develop your understanding of theoretical frameworks and concepts which you will then be able to translate into your clinical practice. This will be complemented by individual tutor support.

In practice you will be supported to work with a variety of mental health service users and carers, including children and young people, working age adults and older adults. You will be based both in hospital and in community placements, where much of the work of the mental health nurse now takes place. You will work within multi-disciplinary teams, learning how the mental health nurse role fits into this and contributes uniquely to the working of the team to the benefit of the client.

You will spend 50% of the programme in clinical learning opportunities, each of which is provided within the SE Wales region by some of the leading healthcare providers in Wales. In Year Three you will be able to choose two of your clinical placements, the final one of which focuses on successfully making the transition from student nurse to Graduate Registered Nurse - Mental Health.

Please Note: All UK nursing programmes are being revised as required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The nursing programmes at Cardiff University will reflect these changes and will be implemented for 2012 entry. Details will be placed on this web page as they become available.

The following link provides useful information and resources available on mental health nursing

Royal College of Nursing Mental Health Forum & DVD

Year One

Common Foundation Programme

This provides the foundation for entry to the Adult, Child and Mental Health Branch Programmes. During this period you will gain experience of each of the three branches of nursing.

During this first year of the programme there are three modules:

Developing Personal and Professional Practice in a Nursing Context (seven weeks theory and seven weeks clinical practice)
Health, Individuals and Society (seven weeks theory and seven weeks clinical practice)
The Principles of Nursing Practice (seven weeks theory and eight weeks clinical practice)

Year Two

Core Modules

You will take the following modules:

Engaging with the Client in the Mental Health Context (eight weeks theory and six weeks clinical practice). Clinical placement - working age adult Mental Health services.
Mental Health Care of the Older Adult (eight weeks theory and six weeks clinical practice). Clinical placement - older persons' Mental Health services.
Children and Young People's Mental Health (eight weeks theory and six weeks clinical practice. Clinical placement - Children and Adolescent Mental Health services.

Year Three

Core Modules

You will take the following modules:

The Principles of Community and Specialist Mental Health Nursing (sixteen weeks theory). Dissertation is undertaken during the module.
The Practices of Community and Specialist Mental Health Nursing (twelve weeks clinical practice). Clinical placement - community mental health AND specialist mental health services: student choice from the areas listed: PICU, forensic, recovery, addictions, liaison, neuropsychiatry, mother & baby, early/crisis intervention/home treatment.
Preparation for Professional Mental Health Nursing Practice (two weeks theory and 12 weeks clinical practice). Clinical placement - in patient or community services.

Please Note: All UK nursing programmes are being revised as required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The nursing programmes at Cardiff University will reflect these changes and will be implemented for 2012 entry. Details will be placed on this web page as they become available.