Nursing: Mental Health Nursing – (B.Sc.)

The BNurs degree programme extends over three years and enables students to specialise in one of three fields of nursing practice: adult nursing, mental health nursing or child nursing. Students must choose their desired field prior to starting the programme.

Students study the theoretical basis of nursing practice and a range of theories of human functioning drawn from behavioural, social and biological sciences. Emphasis is placed on the importance of competence in clinical nursing practice combined with in-depth knowledge and evidence-based decision making skills.

Clinical practice placements

The development and assessment of nursing competencies in clinical practice is a key feature and requirement of the programme. Throughout the programme, students will learn what it is like to work within the modern NHS, developing clinical knowledge, skills and confidence as a key member of the professional healthcare team.

The School maintains excellent working relationships with local NHS Trusts in Greater Manchester and the wider North West. Students will undertake a range of practice placements in both community and hospital settings. Clinical staff based within practice placements and academic staff from the School are available to support students with their studies whilst on placement, and to assist and guide should any difficulties arise.

50% of the programme is undertaken in clinical practice and students will be required to follow shift patterns in clinical placement areas where they are working. This will include early shifts starting from 7.00am and late shifts, sometimes finishing at 9.30pm. Students will also be required to work some weekends and some night duty during the 3 years.

Annual leave entitlement is set in advance by the University and is non-negotiable. However, it does include time off over Christmas, New Year and Easter.
During clinical placements, students are supervised by qualified health professionals and are allocated a named mentor. Their role is to support students in practice-based learning and to assess their developing knowledge and skills against required competencies.

In order to gain sufficient time in practice, the programme is 38 weeks per year and extends beyond the normal university semesters.

The programme prepares students to practise effectively in a variety of professional mental health nursing settings. This well-established programme has a national and international reputation for excellence, and has produced many of the country's leading nurse practitioners, researchers, academics and policy-makers.