Nursing (Mental Health)

Overview
Our Mental Health Nursing degree programme at Aberystwyth University, accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), will give you the skills and experience to meet the evolving health needs in this diverse and rewarding profession. Nursing is a challenging but rewarding career that'll change lives, including your own. As a mental health nurse, you'll play your part in improving access to healthcare, wellbeing, social inclusion, and quality of life.

Working in a variety of settings, including specialist and community services, and people's homes, mental health nurses provide focused health support to people of all ages. The nursing programme at Aberystwyth University embraces its rural Mid Wales roots, offering a bespoke and intimate learning experience where the mountains meet the sea. The fundamentals of holistic nursing practice are complemented by dynamic nursing care delivery models underpinned by evidence-based healthcare. The Aberystwyth University Healthcare Education Centre is newly established and houses the Clinical Skills Unit, a state-of-the-art simulation suite where you will learn clinical skills in a safe and supportive environment. Working collaboratively with Health Boards and other Healthcare Services in the area, the programme will benefit from practical clinical application in real world environments.

Fifty percent of the overall programme is available through the medium of Welsh and if you are a non-Welsh speaker and wish to learn Welsh, the programme also offers basic conversational health-related Welsh lessons.

Aberystwyth University will provide you with different perspectives of caring and the programme will equip you with the skills needed to enhance the future nursing workforce.

Learning and Teaching
As a student undertaking the 3-year full time nursing programme, you will be expected to undertake 37.5 hours weekly study during theory weeks, and 37.5 hours per week when attending practice placements. The full-time programme is divided equally into theory and practice learning weeks with a total of 4,800 hours of learning. The full-time programme will offer one intake per year, and the commencement date will be in September.

Theoretical content will be delivered in several ways to suit all types of learning styles including lead lectures, seminars, workshops, small group work, clinical skills simulation, blended online learning and self-guided study.

Employability
Upon graduation, you will be eligible to apply for Registered Nurse status with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and to register as a nurse for work in EU and EEA. You can expect a starting salary of £25,655 rising to £53,219 for a highly experienced staff nurse. Specialist nurses and practice managers can earn £45,000. If you’re in receipt of funding from the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme you will have to commit to working in Wales for two years after qualifying and registering as a nurse with the NMC. This process is managed centrally by NHS Wales Shared Service Partnership, and the Student Streamlining Scheme will ensure that you will be matched to a suitable position of your choice in your identified locality.