BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing

Year 1

Semester 1

• 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)

Semester 2

• Mental Health Recovery 1 (Year Long)
• Psychology of Mental Health
• Advancing Wellbeing
• Clinical Skills in Mental Health
• Foundation Studies in Natural Sciences 2 (Shared Module)
• Clinical Placement 1 (year-long)

Year 2

Semester 1

• Mental Health Across The Lifespan
• Psychopharmacology
• Sociology and Mental Health
• Clinical Placement 2 (year-long)

Semester 2

• 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)

Year 3

Semester 1

• Quality, Risk & Safety in Healthcare
• Humanities in Mental Health
• Mental Health Recovery 3a
• Advancing Recovery
• Clinical Placement 3 (year-long)

Semester 2

• Ethical and Legal Practice
• Mental Health Recovery 3b
• Evaluating Research
• Psychotherapeutic Approaches
• Clinical Placement 3 (year-long)

Year 4

Semester 1

• Research Proposal

• Preparing for Professional Practice
• Complementary and Alternative Therapies
• Clinical Placement 4

Semester 2

• Internship

* All module titles are subject to change and are for indicative purposes only.

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

• Apply to practice as a Registered Mental Health Nurse in Ireland and throughout the UK and EU.
• Graduates can apply for positions at Staff Nurse grade in the Irish healthcare sector.

Opportunities for postgraduate study at both postgraduate diploma and Masters level in related areas such as clinical practice, education and management.

Students are supernumerary to the nursing service needs during three years out of the four and during this time do not receive any financial assistance other than that pertaining to other third-level students.

There is a 36-week, rostered clinical placement during which time students are paid a salary from the health services.

Please find information on fees and funding here: www.dkit.ie/fees

Leaving Certificate Entry Requirements:

Six Grades at O6 or H7 in Leaving Certificate

→ INCLUDING At least two H5 Grades
→ AND Mathematics Grade O6 or H7
→ AND Laboratory Science subject Grade O6 or H7
→ AND English Grade O6 or H7 OR Irish Grade O6 or H7
→ AND Minimum Points Score of 300.

Northern Ireland/UK Entry Requirements:

Applicants must meet the matriculation requirement of 6 different subjects which must include:

→ Mathematics at GCSE (Grade A* - C) or better
→ GCSE Pass in a Laboratory Science subject (Biology, Chemistry or Physics) OR GCSE Grade CC in Double Award Science
→ English (or Irish) at GCSE (Grade A* - C) or better
→ Two subjects at either:

• ‘A Level’ (Grade A* - C)
• AND/OR Applied A-Level (Grade A* - C)
• AND/OR BTEC National Level 3 (National Award, Subsidiary Diploma, Extended Certificate, 90-Credit Diploma, Foundation Diploma) (Grade Merit or Distinction).
• AND/OR OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 (Introductory Diploma, Extended Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Foundation Diploma, 90-Credit Diploma) (Grade Merit or Distinction)
• OR BTEC National Level 3 Diploma (Grade min: MM)
• OR OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Diploma (Grade min: MM)
• OR BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma (Grade min: MMP)

→ The remaining subjects must be different from that presented above and may be drawn from recognised subjects at:

• GCSE (Grade A* - C)
• AND/OR AS Level’ (Grades A - E)
• AND/OR A-level’ (Grades A* - E)
• AND/OR Applied ‘A-level’ (Grade A* - E)
• AND/OR BTEC National Level 3 (National Award, Subsidiary Diploma, Extended Certificate, 90-Credit Diploma, Foundation Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma*) (Pass, Merit or Distinction).
• AND/OR OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 (Introductory Diploma, Extended Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Foundation Diploma, 90-Credit Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma*) (Pass, Merit or Distinction).

→ And a minimum score of 300 points

Mature Applicants Entry Requirements:

Minimum of 23 years of age on January 1st of year of application.
An assessment test is carried out by the PAS on behalf of NMBI.
For further information please see our page on applying as a mature student or visit NursingCareers.ie

Please Note:

Offers of places on this course are subject to applicants successfully passing Garda Clearance and Health Status Clearance from the Health Service Executive (North East) Occupational Health Unit.

Clinical placements occur in each year of the programme, each placement building up the clinical competence of the student to become a registered Mental health nurse. In the final year the student are interns for 9 months and are employed and paid by the HSE as part of the service.

• People who enjoy being with people and can communicate easily.
• People who are interest in caring and supporting people with mental health difficulties.
• People who enjoy learning and working in groups.

Dr Myles Hackett (Head of Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Early Years)
Phone: +353-0429370263 Ext 2715
Email: myles.hackett@dkit.ie

Mark Cunningham (Programme Director )
Phone: +353-0429370200
Email: Mark.Cunningham@dkit.ie