Nursing Studies (Mental Health) Bachelor of Science - BSc

Mental health nurses have the skills to make a huge difference to people’s lives. They offer compassion, care and support to those finding it difficult to cope with aspects of their life. They promote individual strengths, wellbeing and independence to empower people throughout their recovery.

The BSc Nursing Studies (Mental Health) programme will inspire and equip you to make a lasting impact as a mental health nurse. You’ll explore the causes, symptoms and treatments for conditions like depression, addiction, eating disorders and dementia. Your focus throughout will be on the individual, learning how to apply different techniques and approaches when supporting a person in a way that suits them.

Half of your learning will take place in clinical placements. You’ll build confidence caring for mental health patients in the community, in hospital, and across a range of specialist settings. Meeting real people and engaging with real mental health challenges will teach you important skills like empathy, flexibility and communication.

As Scotland’s largest single-campus provider of pre-registration nursing education, you’ll train in our state-of-the-art Interprofessional Simulation Centre.  Here, you will practise in realistic hospital wards and home environments using real equipment and advanced patient manikins.  You will work alongside health and social care students from other disciplines, building the teamwork and leadership skills employers value.  It will support you to become a confident and competent nurse, delivering person-centred care, safely and effectively.

You will graduate ready to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Registered Nurse. You’ll be ready to begin a rewarding career in individualised, recovery-focused mental health care, making a real difference every day by supporting people to live happier, healthier lives.

*Please note:*

The BSc Nursing (Mental Health) and BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) follow the same structure in the first 3 years.

The BSc focuses on the core knowledge and clinical skills needed to become a Registered Nurse. The BSc (Hons) provides an additional fourth year of specialist study and academic dissertation.  Both the BSc and BSc (Hons) lead to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Registered Nurse following completion of the first 3 years.

Important: You must apply for your preferred route. Opportunities to transfer between the BSc and BSc (Hons) once you accept your offer are very limited and will not be considered until Year 3.

Why choose this course?

* Build an understanding of a wide range of complex mental health problems. Learn how to support people through difficult times and give them individualised tools to help them cope.

* Study at the largest single-campus provider of pre-registration nursing education in Scotland.

* Practice clinical skills in lifelike hospital wards and community settings. Build confidence with real equipment and advanced patient manikins at our Interprofessional Simulation Centre.

* Set yourself up to thrive as part of a dynamic multi-agency team, working regularly with students from other health and social care courses.

* 50% of the course is dedicated to clinical placements. Engage with patients face-to-face and get hands-on experience of real-life settings.

Careers

When you complete this course, you will be eligible for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Registered Nurse.

You’ll be ready to take up employment opportunities across the NHS and in third sector services. You could work in:

* assessment and treatment units

* community learning disability teams

* hospital liaison services

* forensic services

* child and adolescent mental health services

* other specialist services.

Prior graduates have also sought employment in other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the USA.