Students encouraged to consider a future in mental health nursing

Government funded course to help plug gap in mental health care

With January’s UCAS application deadline drawing near, the University is encouraging prospective students living in Wales to consider a future in mental health nursing.

It is estimated that one in four people suffer from varying degrees of mental health issues. On the severe end of these issues are self-harm and suicide.

Emergency units around Wales annually receive around 6000 admissions relating to self-harm incidents, whereas the most recent figures show 11,198 admissions to mental health facilities in Wales over a 12-month period.

Mental health nurses are crucial to the recovery and care of these patients. They work with families and healthcare professionals to help patients come to terms with their illness and lead a more positive life.

Yet in 2014 the Royal College of Nursing reported a dramatic decline in mental health nurses, stating that 3300 nurses had left the profession since 2010, leaving the profession in near crisis.

Cardiff University is responding to this shortfall by offering Welsh students a specialist degree in mental health nursing, with fees paid by the Welsh Government, as part of its commitment to improving the mental health and well-being of people in Wales.

“The future of mental health care presents many challenges,” explains Alex Nute, an admissions tutor from the School of Healthcare Sciences.

“These will include long-term conditions, an ageing population, and providing more community based services outside of hospitals for individuals and families.

“Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) provides our graduates with a passport to a career of diverse opportunities, with a 98% employment rate on successful completion of Cardiff University’s nursing programme.

“With fees paid by the Welsh Government, we hope to encourage more people to consider the challenges and rewards of a future in Mental Health Nursing.”

The three-year Cardiff Bachelor of Nursing (BN) degree is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and requires students to complete 50% of the programme in clinical practice.

The degree supports the aims of the Welsh Government’s ‘Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat’, which was published earlier this month.

More information about the course and mental health nursing can be found here. The Royal College of Nursing has produced a video which lends an insight into the challenges and rewards of the occupation.