The aim of mental health nursing is to promote mental health and wellness, to plan with, support and provide nursing care to people who suffer from mental illness and mental distress, and to support families and communities in dealing with mental health challenges.

This care can be provided in acute care facilities such as hospitals, in peoples own homes and community care settings. Supporting on-going mental health recovery is an important role of being a mental health nurse. Our graduates work with individuals, families and communities to prevent mental health problems so that as many people as possible can live full lives in community settings. At the heart of the role of the mental health nurse is the ability to establish therapeutic relationships with individuals and their families.

The course consists of 76 weeks of classroom-based theory and practical learning, interspersed with 81 weeks of clinical placements. A 36-week continuous rostered clinical placement is also included. This can take place either locally or internationally and encompasses a very broad range of clinical settings, including acute mental health, care of the older person, specialist care, adult general nursing and working with voluntary and statutory bodies.

When you complete this course, you will be eligible to have your name entered into the Psychiatric Division of the Register of Nurses maintained by Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann.

Our partnership with the HSE offers students a wide range of exciting clinical placement facilities across counties Kerry and Cork, including acute mental health, care of the older person, specialist care, adult general nursing and community placements.

Our nursing programmes are taught in the purpose-built Sólás building at the North Campus. This state-of-the art facility has technology enhanced classrooms, lecture halls, practical skills laboratories and computer suites. Our partnership with the HSE offers students a wide range of exciting clinical placement facilities across counties Kerry and Cork.

Throughout this programme, you will get great support from the University and from clinical staff, both in the classroom and on placement.

ERASMUS opportunities are available in Oxford Brookes University in England for students studying mental health nursing at MTU Kerry Campus.

Nursing offers exciting opportunities to develop valuable specialist knowledge and skills that are in demand both nationally and internationally.

Registered Psychiatric Nurses can develop career pathways in a number of ways, including:

• Clinical practice: specialisation in a wide range of clinical practice areas, e.g. forensic psychiatry, community psychiatric nursing, counselling, etc;
• Management: progression in nursing and health care management structures
• Research: joining the fast developing field of nursing and health care research
• Education: becoming lecturers in nursing in third level or health care institutions

Former MTU Kerry Campus nursing students have worked across Europe and in America, Canada, Australia, Africa, Saudi Arabia and other middle-eastern countries.