Mental Health Nursing

Overview

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 nursing programmes are taught in the purpose-built Sólás building at the MTU Kerry 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, Cork and beyond. 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 for students studying mental health nursing at MTU.

What will I study?

First year at a glance

• Professionalism in Nursing Practice: fundamental interpersonal, legal, ethical and regulatory dimensions of professional nursing practice
• Health and Wellbeing: provides a broad understanding of nursing and healthcare for both individual and population groups
• Skills for Safe Practice: fundamental knowledge and skills of nursing within the parameters of a safety culture in both general and mental healthcare settings
• Developing Competency in Mental Health Nursing Practice: encourages active engagement in evidence-based nursing practice
• Principles of Mental Health Nursing Care: introduces human anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology in conjunction with the evidence-based theory underpinning the nursing care and management of a person, from admission to discharge
• Caring in Context: introduces caring in the context of primary, secondary, and tertiary health care settings
• The Sociology and Psychology of Health and Illness: students develop an introductory knowledge of sociology and psychology as they apply to studies of health and wellness

Entry Requirements

Entry 2024

For admission to a programme, standard applicants must

• score the necessary CAO points and
• meet the minimum entry requirements

Leaving Certificate in six subjects i.e. H5 in two subjects and O6/H7 in four other subjects. The six subjects must include Science, Mathematics and either English or Irish grade O6/H7.

NOTE 1: Vetting by an Garda Síochána is a mandatory requirement for this programme.

NOTE 2: Deferrals will not be granted to nursing applicants.

For Non-EU International Entry Requirements please visit https://www.mtu.ie/international/non-eu/.

Career options

Employment Opportunities

Registered psychiatric nurses can explore a range of career pathways. Many enter clinical practice, specialising in areas like forensic psychiatry, community psychiatric nursing and counselling. You may also pursue a career in nursing management, research or education.

Progression

Further Studies

Suitably qualified level 8 honours graduates are eligible to progress to

• MSc in Nursing
• MSc in Professional Nursing
• MSc in Advanced Practice Nursing

at MTU Kerry Campus or to research at either master or PhD level.