MSc Nursing (Mental Health) with NMC registration

Why study this subject?

Mental health is something which effects many people during their lifetime. Whether you have had a personal experience with mental illness or simply want to help those who struggle day-to-day, this course can teach you the knowledge you need to become a compassionate nurse.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

This exciting and dynamic MSc programme is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and is delivered in a shorter time scale (two years as opposed to the standard BSc undergraduate three years route). 

We've been running our nursing programmes for many years and have a high rate of employability. Many of our students are employed by the Trust that they worked with during their time at the University.

You will benefit from an excellent standard of teaching provided by staff from the University and practice, in partnership with our NHS Trust partners. As well as this you will be taught by lecturers who have a wide expertise in the field. Our lecturers also maintain close links with practice, ensuring that the programme is up-to-date with modern practice.

We have simulation facilities to enable you to practise your skills in a realistic and safe environment. We offer continuous support throughout the programme, both in the University and in practice.

You will receive personal tutoring and benefit from a high level of research within the teaching team. You will also benefit from our annual one day inter-professional conference, focused on safeguarding and dementia.

As well as this you will have the opportunity to put your learnt skills into practice through a range of clinical placements. We're renowned for the support we offer you while you are on placement. Members of the teaching staff are assigned to each clinical area and will visit you regularly whilst you are out in practice.

What facilities can I use?

During your time at BNU you’ll have access to our state-of-the-art facilities including our library, computer suites and simulation suites.

Simulation is an important aspect of our nursing and healthcare programmes. Students regularly spend time in these areas, to practice technical skills and use the newest technologies, in a safe and supportive environment. We use simulation manikins programmed to act like humans, and ‘moulage’ – the process of applying mock, realistic injuries for training purposes. We also engage service users in role-play sessions. This allows us to provide realistic scenarios where students can gain experience, exposure and feedback to boost their confidence before going out on placement.

Both our Uxbridge and Aylesbury campuses offer these facilities to students.

What will I study?

Mental health nursing involves more than practice. You'll grasp the theory and facts behind diagnosis that can help you make crucial decisions when looking after a patient. You will be able to design strategies for the collection and analysis of scholarly material relating to care, as well as being able to identify issues from a wide perspective. You will be able to lead changes in practice, improving the quality of delivery of care.

Opportunities for Registered Nurses within mental health are continually expanding. For example: you may be working in a busy hospital ward or department, as a nurse specialist running your own clinic, working in a prison or in one of the community areas such as a large health centre. Majority of our placements are within centres of excellence in North West London and the Thames Valley NHS and private practice, due to our brilliant connections and partnerships.

How will I be taught and assessed?

The duration of the programme is two years. Whilst fully integrated, the programme has a nominal division of theory and practice hours, as required by the NMC. Applicants are asked to demonstrate 500 clinical hours and 500 theoretical hours through an enhanced CV. These hours can be utilised and counted towards to meet the 2,300 hour of clinical practice 4,600 NMC hours requirements.

Theoretical teaching will be blended and consist of:

• lectures
• seminars
• simulated practice learning
• digital virtual learning and tutorials.

Some of the teaching will be face-to-face contact, online and some will be directed or guided learning and some will be independent learning.

Clinical practice opportunities include:

• adult acute mental health inpatients
• adult mental health recovery inpatients
• older persons mental health inpatients
• children and adolescent mental health services
• forensic mental health community teams
• prison healthcare
• a range of community services supporting people to remain in their home  whilst receiving support and treatment e.g. crisis resolution and home treatment teams, primary care plus, recovery teams, older persons community mental health team, memory teams, cognitive impairment and dementia teams, etc.
• private healthcare settings.

We make sure that you'll have the knowledge and the confidence to work as a nurse before sending you out into clinical practice.

Our team of experienced lecturers have a collective wealth of knowledge from working in a number of areas, including:

• child mental health
• dementia
• cognitive behavioural therapy
• community mental health care
• acute mental health inpatient care. 

When you go out into practice, a clinical staff member in the workplace will provide mentorship, supervise your experience, and assess that you are meeting the requirements of the course. All other health professionals and staff members will also contribute to your learning experience, so you have the opportunity to engage with the multi-disciplinary team.

Our enthusiastic and dedicated nursing team have a passion for what they do and will support you throughout the programme.

Once you graduate, you'll be able to register as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and be able to practice in the UK. 

Placement plus

BNU is a Placements Plus university. So, whatever degree you do, you can be sure there’ll be plenty of industry-relevant opportunities on offer, to help you get into your chosen field.

We’ll also prepare you for work beforehand, with special skills for work training, further boosting your CV, and building skills employers will value. In recognition of the value we place on these skills we have incorporated this experience into your study time.

Placements Plus is all about helping you get some valuable experience under your belt while you’re a student, to increase your choices later, and help you get the graduate-level job you want.