BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing
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Course Overview
Over the duration of the course, students will develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to care for people experiencing mental health challenges. Student’s academic and clinical knowledge will be developed using simulated learning environments and modern learning spaces. Students gain their clinical experience in a diversity of clinical placements, caring for people experiencing mental health challenges. Mental health nursing clinical placements account for fifty percent of this course. In preparation for clinical placement students attend practical classes in the Clinical Skills Laboratory.
What makes this course different
This programme exposes the student to the current and future direction of mental health nursing nationally and internationally.
Primary focus of this programme is recovery, which enables the student work with people with mental health difficulties.
The nursing clinical sites associated with this programme give the student a broad range of clinical experience to equip them with the clinical skills necessary for practising as a registered psychiatric nurse.
The engaging teaching strategies ensure that the students can learn in a stimulating and supportive environment.
This course in Mental Health Nursing leads to registration as a Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
Understanding the Industry
At the heart of the role of the mental health nurse is the ability to establish therapeutic relationships with people and their families. The mental health nurse facilitates the maximum development of the mental health of the person, and to promote mental health in the wider community. In partnership with the person, they support them through empathetic care, allowing them to live a full and purposeful life while respecting their dignity and rights.
Career Opportunities
Future Careers:
- Mental Health Nurse
In these areas:
- Community mental health services or community mental health residential services
- Home care
- Outpatients’ department
- Mental health units
- Mental health intensive care units
- Private healthcare companies
- Mental health charities
- Forensic mental health services
- Addiction services
- Eating disorder services
- Homeless service
Course Delivery and Modules
The programme is delivered through time in college and time in clinical sites. While in college, the learning strategies include lectures, group work, practical labs, presentation and role-play. Clinical learning involves being supervised by a qualified nurse while engaging with people with mental health difficulties.
- Learning to Learn (Shared Module)
- Safe Health Care Practice 1 (Shared Module)
- Mental Health Recovery 1 (Year Long)
- Foundation Studies in Natural Sciences 1 (Shared Module)
- Mind and Body
- Clinical Placement 1 (Year Long)
- Psychology of Mental Health
- Advancing Wellbeing
- Clinical Skills in Mental Health
- Foundation Studies in Natural Sciences 2 (Shared Module)
- Mental Health Across the Lifespan
- Psychopharmacology
- Sociology and Mental Health
- Clinical Placement 2 (Year Long)
- The Research Process
- Nursing the Person with a Physical Illness
- Theoretical Approaches to Mental Health Nursing
- Therapeutic Relationships and Alliances
- Mental Health Recovery 2
- Clinical Placement 2 (Year Long)
- Quality, Risk & Safety in Healthcare
- Humanities in Mental Health
- Mental Health Recovery 3a
- Advancing Recovery
- Clinical Placement 3
- Ethical and Legal Practice
- Mental Health Recovery 3b
- Evaluating Research
- Psychotherapeutic Approaches
- Research Proposal
- Preparing for Professional Practice
- Complementary and Alternative Therapies
- Clinical Placement 4
- Internship
Work placement
Clinical placements occur in each year of the programme, each placement building up the clinical competence of the student to become a Registered Psychiatric Nurse. In 4th year, students undertake a 9-month internship clinical placement and are employed and paid by the HSE as part of the service.
Professional Accreditations
Graduates will be eligible for professional registration as a Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
Education Progression
Graduates are also qualified to apply for a range of postgraduate programmes in nursing such as the Postgraduate Cert/Diploma/ MSc in Specialist/Advanced Nursing.
MSc in Professional Nursing
MSc in Professional Practice: Professional Management of Complex Behaviour in Clinical Practice
MSc in Community Mental Health Nursing
Certificate in Perinatal Mental Health
Certificate in Comprehensive Advanced Health Assessment
Certificate in Comprehensive Advanced Health Assessment for Midwives
Fees and Funding
Please find information on fees and funding here: www.dkit.ie/fees
Entry requirements
In addition to the standard entry requirements below, a Laboratory Science subject at Grade O6 or H7 is also required. Applicants from NI/UK require a GCSE pass in a Laboratory Science subject (Biology, Chemistry or Physics) or GCSE Grade CC in Double Award Science. Single award GCSE Science is not applicable.
- Standard Requirements for Leaving Certificate Applicants
- Standard Requirements for UK/NI Applicants
- Standard Requirements for QQI-Further Education Applicants
- Mature Applicants: Minimum of 23 years of age on January 1st of year of application. The PAS carries out an assessment test on behalf of NMBI. Visit NursingCareers.ie for more information.
Please Note: Offers subject to successful Garda Clearance and Health Status Clearance from the Health Service Executive (North East) Occupational Health Unit. Students on the course are also subject to fitness-to-practice regulations.
Recent CAO points
Student Stories
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Deborah Adeniran
Lisa Foster
How to apply
Apply on CAO
All standard entry first-year applicants must apply for entry through the CAO. See Important application dates for CAO and information for specific applicant types below:
Advanced Entry & Transfer Applications
Advanced Entry is for applicants who have previous educational achievements and/or work experience and want to be considered for direct entry into year 2, 3, or 4 of a course. This includes students looking to transfer to DkIT from another Higher Education provider.
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