This course requires 104–120 UCAS tariff points, including a minimum of two A-levels or equivalent. We are happy to consider a combination of qualifications and grades to meet the overall tariff, for example A-levels A*CC, ABC, BBB or BCC, BTECs DDM or DMM. You can use the UCAS calculator to see how your qualifications equate to UCAS tariff points.
If you do not meet these you may want to consider our foundation year, a one-year course that will prepare you for degree-level study.
If English is not your first language you will need 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and 7.0 in all other components
Why study BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing at BU?
One in four people will struggle with mental health issues at some point during their life. It is a rapidly expanding area of nursing that needs caring, compassionate and competent professionals
This course will teach you how to deliver high-quality nursing care; to enable, educate and encourage those experiencing mental health problems to progress towards recovery
Practical experience takes a central role in the course, with 50% of your time being spent on placement in a variety of healthcare environments across the south
Learn from registered nurses and other healthcare practitioners, as well as carers and service users who provide valuable insight and personal experience of mental health care
Put your learnings into practice in our new £48 million Bournemouth Gateway Building and benefit from simulated hospital wards and community home settings
Our annual Careers Fair has numerous healthcare exhibitors in attendance, helping you to gain employment as a registered nurse on completion of the course.
Funding support: Nursing students may be eligible for a non-repayable government training grant of at least £5,000 a year and mental health nursing students may also be eligible for an additional £1,000 specialist subject payment as it has been confirmed as a shortage specialism. Find out more information about the funding. Please note that this funding is not eligible for students on the foundation year, however you will be able to access it once you complete the foundation year and move onto the degree.
Foundation Year: We have a Foundation Year option for UK students who do not meet the entry requirements for the degree course. This additional year of study will give you a grounding in the scientific skills needed to prepare you for the Mental Health Nursing degree, building your confidence, knowledge and skills for further study. After successful completion of the Foundation Year, you will progress to the full degree and begin your Mental Health Nursing study. The Foundation Year will be based at the Talbot Campus, Bournemouth.
Apprenticeship route: Our registered nursing degree apprenticeships (RNDA) in Mental Health Nursing and Adult Nursing allow you to be employed and receive a full wage while studying.
UCAS Code: B701
With foundation year: B704
More info: Click here
Foundation Year
Core units
Academic Study Skills: You will gain the fundamental academic and research skills required for degree level study. The unit will introduce you to a broad grounding in literature searching, literature review, data collection, methodological approach, data analysis and interpretation and ethical practice. It will also support you to begin to develop a critical and analytical approach to your work and identify areas for personal development.
Applied Sciences: You'll gain a basic understanding of some fundamental aspects of science underpinning more specific disciplines, and an appreciation of how various scientific disciplines impact human life. You'll understand the differences between pure and applied science, as well as the roles of different ways applied science can be funded, and implications of these funding mechanisms.
Introduction to Biology: Biology is the study of life and hence knowledge of plant and animal cell biology is fundamental to understanding wider concepts in biology. This unit also introduces key themes in human, environmental and ecological sciences to provide a sound underpinning in knowledge for future studies.
Introduction to Psychology: This unit is designed to prepare you for advanced coursework in psychology. You will complete the unit with a good understanding of the various areas of psychology and how they seek to explain behaviour.
Mathematics in Science: You will build your confidence in mathematics, in order to perform calculations on a range of scientific data from biology, chemistry and psychology and to be able to represent the findings in an appropriate format, including graphs. In order to carry this out, it is essential to be able to convert the data between systems of units and to understand how to present very large and very small numbers in standard form. Basic statistical analysis of tabulated data will be carried out to introduce the concept of confidence limits and familiarisation of statistical testing.
Foundation Year Project: You will carry out a research task on scientific topics chosen by the unit leader which you will be able to conduct a scientific investigation on. You will devise your own investigation and produce a literature review as a final scientific report.
Year 1
Core units
Foundations for Professional Practice and Research: This interprofessional unit will provide you with a foundation understanding and appreciation of the context of nursing care. You’ll develop the skills to prepare for your first practice placement by exploring the importance of respectful, reflective, resilient and person-centred professional practice.
Nursing Theory and Application 1: You will be introduced to the theoretical foundations of nursing by examining philosophical, historical, ethical, methodological, political and legislative processes that inform the practice of mental health nursing. You will gain an understanding of the core values that underpin the different fields of nursing practice.
Applied Health Care Science 1: This unit introduces students to bio-psychosocial theories and concepts as they apply to health and wellbeing. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of the biological, genetic, pharmacological, psychological, social and environmental factors that promote health and wellbeing.
Communication Skills for Nursing Practice: This unit focuses on the importance of good communication and interpersonal skills when having conversations with patients/service users and colleagues in the healthcare setting. You’ll develop effective communication and interpersonal skills in order to develop supportive relationships with patients/service users and their carers and families in mental health nursing.
Developing Skills for Promoting Health and Wellbeing: Public Health England requires all health practitioners to work to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities and nurses are seen as being pivotal to this movement; by offering health improvement and wellbeing support to individuals, families, carers, communities and populations. This unit will provide you with the foundations of the knowledge and skills nurses require to facilitate a person and/or family for the promotion of their own health and wellbeing.
Nursing Practice and Nursing skills 1: This unit will provide you with practice learning opportunities to develop your skills and confidence in-line with requirements set out in the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) 2018 Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses. Simulation will be utilised to practice skills in a safe environment across this practice unit and you will participate in care with guidance from practice supervisors and assessors. Placements will take place in mental health settings.
Year 2
Core units
Research for Professional Practice: Building on foundation studies from year one you will work in an interprofessional group to advance your research and problem-solving skills to engage critically with evidence based practice.
Improving Safety and Quality of Care: You’ll develop the knowledge and understanding required to promote and contribute to maintaining service user/patient safety and to engage in risk management in clinical practice. You will also explore strategies for quality improvement and international frameworks to promote quality of care.
Nursing Theory & Application 2: By considering the issues that may be pertinent to patients and their family’s health and wellbeing, you will explore and analyse how the impact of legal and ethical principles and values impact upon healthcare.
Applied Health Care Sciences 2: During this unit you will analyse the impact of challenges to physical and mental health and wellbeing in individuals and groups across their lifespan. You’ll also examine biological, psychological, sociological and social factors that impact on diseases that affect both physical and mental health, applying this to the assessment, management and evaluation of care for individuals and groups.
Acute and Long Term Health Challenges: This unit will develop your knowledge and understanding of the nursing management and co-ordination of health care which is necessary for managing patients with acute and long term health challenges.
Clinical Pharmacology and Medicines Management: You’ll learn how to apply your understanding of clinical pharmacology and medicines management as part of health care management, in the context of relevant regulatory frameworks.
Nursing Practice and Nursing Skills 2: This professional practice unit will provide you with the range of experiences you’ll need to develop your proficiency in-line with the requirements set out by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). Placements will take place in mental health settings.
Year 3
Core units
Team Working for Service Improvement: During this unit you will develop skills for working in inter-professional teams to design and develop service improvements for the people who use services and their carers.
Clinical Leadership and Management: This unit will prepare you to lead and manage yourself and others in the healthcare setting by evaluating management and leadership theories and how they inform managing change in the workplace.
Applied Health Care Sciences 3: You’ll critically analyse biopsychosocial concepts that underpin complex health needs and the challenges that individuals and groups face across their lives. You will also builds upon developing your knowledge and confidence in the application of pharmacology.
Developing a Literature Review: You’ll evaluate a specific area of interest relating to your field of mental health nursing and build on your understanding of research and literature reviewing and academic writing skills.
Therapeutic Communications and Interpersonal Skills for Nursing Practice: This unit prepares you for the clinical and therapeutic conversations you will have with patients/service users in the healthcare setting and provide you with the skills to support individuals and their families to make informed decisions about their health and health care.
Caring for People with Complex Health Care Needs: You’ll show your knowledge of care management and develop the clinical decision making skills for undertaking mental health nursing assessments and risk assessments, leading to the planning and prioritising of care for individuals who experience critical and complex health care conditions.
Nursing Practice and Nursing Skills 3: This unit will develop the personal and professional skills you’ll need as a graduate entering the world of work as a professional nurse. You will demonstrate the appropriate ability to practice safely, responsibly and professionally and be accountable for your practice in accordance with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses. Placements will be in mental health settings.
A diverse range of roles are open to you as a mental health nurse, allowing you to forge a career that you're truly passionate about. You can work within the NHS or in the private sector and can be based in a hospital environment or community setting.
Being able to educate those with mental health problems about how to work towards a recovery, as well as supporting their families, is important regardless of the job you have and this course will ensure you're equipped to do exactly that.
OSHC: 624 ($) GBP per year
