Mental Health Nursing - BSc (Hons)

Abertay University

Understand the impact of life-experiences, including psychological, biological, developmental and societal, on mental health and wellbeing. It focuses on case formulation primarily with biomedical and biopsychosocial models of mental illness to understand how mental health can be affected at different stages of life. Indicative content - Impact of early life experiences: Childhood experiences and how these may impact on life choices, mental, physical and behavioural health and wellbeing. Working with families and carers in young person services including assessment of needs, risk, and the monitoring and evaluation of care delivery. - Demographics of health': Demographics, genomics and the wider determinants of mental health, illness and wellbeing, including health policies, for people in each age bracket. - Services and support: Evaluation of the range of services available for people in each age bracket and referring people safely to an appropriate service and the implications of this to interprofessional working. The role of the family and carers. - Dying well': The evidence base for person-centred nursing care at end of life, including palliative care, and care of families, the deceased and the bereaved.

Explore interventions used in health care, providing you with a good working knowledge of the key strategies for responding to service-user and societal needs, and the understanding you need to recognise and work with different interventions in a range of contexts. This module provides knowledge of what interventions are used in health and mental health settings and services. It focuses on decision-making and the application of medical, pharmacological, psychological and behavioural interventions. Indicative content - Challenges to health and well-being: ' The responsibility of the state and the individual. High risk and vulnerable groups including responses to critical, chronic, and enduring mental health problems. - Models of working: Health promotion, health education, screening and treatment. The role of primary, secondary and tertiary services. Competing philosophical positions - recovery and cure, biological, psychological and social accounts of mental distress. Pluralism as a way of addressing competing positions. - Examining the evidence base - interventions for common problems: Identifying, locating and evaluating evidence for interventions for mental health problems, self-harm and suicide, anxiety, depression, psychosis, influencing lifestyle choice, recognising deterioration. - Role function and philosophy of mental health nursing:' Self-help, self-management and specialist approaches. Collaboration, partnership, involvement and person-centred care, power, custodialism, restrictive practice and detention. - Deployment of interventions: The practice of common intervention methods, including psychological therapies (e.g. CBT, MI, Psychotherapy), including effective communication to service users, collaboration, and choice within person-centred nursing.

To provide you with a facilitated environment to develop your capacity to work within mental health nursing in a skilled, professionally and ethically sound manner, and conceptualise yourself within the professional context as both students and as active agents. Indicative content: - Practice competence: Use of assessment and treatment sections of the mental health act, administration of medication, concepts of consent. - Skills and Knowledge: Professional practice skills including: Personal care, measuring and interpreting blood pressure, pulse, temperature and respirations. Assisting with eating and drinking. Assessing need and recognising change . Understanding care plans, prescription charts, handover and team meetings. Writing professional notes, understanding confidentiality and its limits. Developing a helping relationship. Understanding the roles of others in the MDT. - Working safely: Incident report forms. Health and safety checklist. Risk assessment and risk management . Raising concerns, using QMPLE, manual handling and personal safety. Taking care of self. Working in an evidence based way to promote patient safety. Understanding accountability. Quality improvement and patient safety. - Practice learning Experience 4 and 5': Practice learning under supervision.

Understand and apply the principles of safe and effective administration and optimisation of medicines management and understand and respond to common mental, physical, behavioural and cognitive health conditions applying evidence from research that informs and develops best nursing practice. Indicative content - Nurse prescribing': Nurse prescribing and the V100/150 competencies. - Policies and legalities of prescribing: Local and national policies in relation to safe and effective medication admin. Drug calculations. Licensing and monitoring. Common mental, physical, cognitive and behavioural health conditions. - Pharmacological interventions: Pharmaceutical interventions, side effects, contra indications, prescribing errors, poly-pharmacology, over the counter medications. - Role function and philosophy of mental health nursing:' Self-help, self-management and specialist approaches. Collaboration, partnership, involvement and person-centred care, power, custodialism, restrictive practice and detention. - Deployment of interventions: Understand the application of common intervention methods, including alternatives and adjuncts to pharmacology, e.g. psychological therapies , effective communication to service users, collaboration, and choice within person-centred nursing.

Understand the broader public health context of your professional role, abling you to work effectively with the public health agenda. Indicative content - Policy: Health policy, resource allocation, health outcomes, cost-effectiveness and models of care provision in Scotland and beyond. Health economics and the political context of health care. - Determinants of health:' Salutogenesis, influences on health and well-being including the social and structural determinants of health. Epidemiology, demography, genomics and the wider determinants of health, illness and wellbeing in a global context. The role of the state, the health and social care provider and the individual. - Public health priorities in mental health: Examining the evidence base for public health issues and how priorities are addressed e.g. suicidality and self-harm, smoking cessation, weight management, substance use and addictions, sexual health and screening. - Health promotion and people with complex needs across the lifespan: ' Models of health promotion. Principles of pathogenesis, immunology and the evidence base for immunisation, vaccination and herd immunity. Early intervention, working with people with co-morbidity. Health promotion across the lifespan – neonatal to end of life.

This module gives you the preparation and hands-on practice you need to build the skills and professional behaviours required to join the NMC register as a Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN). You’ll develop the confidence, knowledge and practical experience that will support your transition into professional practice. Indicative Content - Assessments and Care-Planning: You’ll learn how to apply your knowledge of body systems, homeostasis, anatomy and physiology, biology, genomics, pharmacology, and the social and behavioural sciences to carry out accurate, person-centred nursing assessments. You’ll also develop the skills to create effective care plans that respond to individual needs. - Co-Morbidities and Prioritisation: You’ll explore how to recognise and respond to co-morbidities, gaining an understanding of the challenges involved in meeting people’s complex nursing and social care needs. You’ll also learn how to prioritise care plans to ensure safe, effective and compassionate practice. - Implementation of Nursing Care: You’ll develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to deliver evidence-based, person-centred nursing care. You’ll also learn how to act as a role model for others, demonstrating professional behaviours that support high standards of practice. - Practice Learning Experience 6 and 7: You’ll take part in supervised practice learning, giving you the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in real healthcare settings while receiving guidance and feedback from experienced professionals.

In this module, you’ll explore the vital role of psychosocial interventions in mental health nursing. You’ll be encouraged to develop practical skills in using talking therapies as part of your nursing practice, while also considering the ethical, professional and personal issues that come with delivering these interventions. By the end, you’ll understand how psychosocial approaches can work alongside other treatments to support people’s recovery and wellbeing Indicative Content - Psychological and Talking Therapies: You’ll explore the nature of psychosocial interventions and how they connect with nursing philosophies. You’ll learn how talking therapies can be used within Mental Health Nursing, examine the evidence that supports their effectiveness, and consider the ethical and professional responsibilities involved. You’ll also reflect on the role of the nurse as an agent of therapy and develop an understanding of the barriers that can make it challenging to work psychosocially and collaboratively with service users. - Practice Skills in Talking Therapies: You’ll take part in simulated practice sessions to build your skills in a range of approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and systems or family therapies. You’ll focus on developing collaborative relationships in mental health contexts, understanding when and why different interventions are used, and gaining confidence in applying these approaches in practice.

In this module, you’ll develop the skills to assess and support a person’s mental health and wellbeing when they’re also living with additional conditions or complex care needs. You’ll learn how to recognise the challenges that come with co-morbidities, and how to provide safe, person-centred support that meets both mental and physical health needs Indicative Content - Complex Care Needs in Practice : You’ll explore the challenges of delivering safe, effective and person-centred nursing care for people with co-morbidities and complex needs. You’ll learn how to evaluate the demands of providing mental, cognitive, behavioural and physical care across a variety of integrated care settings, preparing you to work confidently in diverse environments. - Care Planning and Monitoring: You’ll develop the skills to monitor and critically evaluate the quality of people’s experiences when receiving complex care. You’ll also learn the important difference between managing risk effectively and simply avoiding it, helping you to make balanced, professional decisions in practice. - Individuals, Families and Carers: You’ll gain an understanding of the principles and processes involved in supporting people and their families. You’ll learn how to help individuals maintain independence wherever possible, while avoiding unnecessary interventions or disruptions to their daily lives. - Decision-Making, Health Legislation, End of Life and Capacity : You’ll build a foundation in health legislation and policies that guide care for people with complex mental health needs, including the Mental Capacity Act. You’ll also learn how to assess and respond to the needs of people and families at the end of life. Working in partnership with individuals, families and carers, you’ll practise shared decision-making, regularly reviewing and adapting care plans, and documenting progress with professionalism and sensitivity.

In this module, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of why effective communication is essential for delivering safe, evidence-based mental health care and support. You’ll explore the core elements of communication within mental health settings and learn how different methods can be used to build positive, professional relationships. By examining a range of communication approaches, you’ll gain the skills to choose the most appropriate method for each situation, helping you to work confidently and collaboratively as a mental health nurse. Indicative Content - Relational Communication: You’ll develop the skills to communicate effectively with individuals, groups, teams and organisations. You’ll explore strategies for clear and collaborative communication, learn how to contribute to positive working environments, and practise person-centred decision-making. You’ll also consider accessibility issues and how to adapt communication to meet people’s needs, including knowing when and how to refer to appropriate services. - Legal and Ethical Issues: You’ll gain an understanding of the policies, best practice guidance and professional standards that shape nursing, including the NMC Code of Conduct. You’ll explore key responsibilities such as confidentiality, legal and governance requirements, and the professional duty of candour. You’ll also learn how to challenge discriminatory behaviour and recognise, report and respond to situations or errors that could lead to poor care outcomes. - Communication Needs of People with Mental Health and Complex Needs across the Lifespan: You’ll learn how to communicate effectively with people experiencing mental health challenges and complex needs, as well as with families, carers and other professionals. You’ll practise using verbal, non-verbal, written and digital methods of communication, developing the flexibility to adapt your approach across different situations and stages of life. - Psychosocial Interventions and Strategies: You’ll explore the use of talking therapies in mental health nursing and evaluate how and when they’re most effective. You’ll also learn the importance of maintaining professional and personal boundaries when working with psychological theories. In addition, you’ll develop strategies for communicating with people who have difficulties or sensory impairments, ensuring your practice remains inclusive and person-centred.

In this module, you’ll develop the knowledge and confidence to work professionally across a wide range of settings and within multidisciplinary teams. You’ll learn how to collaborate not only within the NHS but also with organisations and individuals who provide mental health and wellbeing support in other contexts. By the end, you’ll be prepared to adapt your practice and contribute effectively wherever your career takes you. Indicative Content - Introduction to Community Working: You’ll explore how health and social care services work together through integration, Joint Boards and locality commissioning. You’ll look at what ‘community’ means in different contexts, examine models of community practice, and gain an understanding of the historical influences that have shaped the way community work is delivered today. - Partnership and Multidisciplinary Working: You’ll learn how to work effectively as part of a team, developing the skills to build strong partnerships across a range of community-based settings. You’ll explore the different roles, skills and values that professionals bring, and practise communication strategies that support collaboration with colleagues, families and carers. - Assessment of Need: You’ll be introduced to the theory and practice of assessing needs within community-based services. You’ll learn the principles of good practice, how to critically evaluate need, and how to use tools such as community profiling and health needs assessments to inform care planning. - Inclusive Framework for Health in the Community: You’ll examine both social and medical models of health and consider how they influence approaches to care. You’ll also explore the wider policy context of health and social care, helping you understand how services are shaped and delivered in practice. - Mixed Economy of Care : You’ll investigate the different ways welfare and health systems are organised, with a particular focus on the role of third sector and voluntary organisations. You’ll gain insight into how these groups contribute to the wider ‘mixed economy of care’ and the impact they have on supporting communities.

n this module, you’ll build on your knowledge of mental health by learning how to apply it directly to nursing care. You’ll explore how different professionals and organisations work together in healthcare, and develop the skills to deliver safe, effective, and compassionate care within these systems. Indicative Content - Collaborative Working Practices: You’ll explore theories of organisations and management, and learn how different professionals and services work together to provide safe, effective care. You’ll develop the skills to recognise and assess people at risk of harm, understand the importance of prompt safeguarding action, and coordinate safe discharges or transfers between care settings. You’ll also focus on the essentials of inter-professional practice across health, social care, and education, and practise communication strategies that help build trust, respect, and positive outcomes for service users. - Recognising and Managing Challenges: You’ll examine how safe staffing levels, the right mix of skills, and effective teamwork contribute to high-quality care. You’ll learn to identify risks to public protection, escalate concerns appropriately, and use self-awareness to guide your personal and professional growth. Key themes include communication challenges, equality and diversity, professionalism, accountability, and safeguarding. - Informed Decision-Making: You’ll develop the ability to assess a person’s capacity to make decisions about their own care and to give or withhold consent. You’ll also explore the legal and ethical issues around capacity and consent, particularly in multi-agency and multi-disciplinary contexts. - Evidence Based Practice: You’ll strengthen your understanding of professional practice by applying it to diverse populations and communities. You’ll learn how to find and interpret key policy documents, national and international directives, and research evidence. You’ll also practise critically appraising and discussing evidence to support safe, effective, and ethical care.

In this module, you’ll explore the real-world challenges of delivering mental health nursing care. Through the lens of service-user experience, you’ll be encouraged to think critically about how care is provided and to develop approaches that are both relationship-focused and person-centred. This will help you build the skills and confidence to deliver compassionate, effective care in practice. Indicative Content - Communication: You’ll develop the ability to role model high-quality nursing interventions that meet people’s needs. You’ll strengthen your skills in building therapeutic relationships, working towards concordance, and collaborating effectively within teams and across agencies to deliver safe, joined-up care. - Developing, Managing and Maintaining Effective Relationships: You’ll explore the enablers and barriers that affect access to healthcare for people who are vulnerable or living with a disability. You’ll learn how to act as an advocate, safeguard individuals, and understand issues of consent. You’ll also practise identifying and assessing the needs of people and families across the lifespan, including palliative care and decision-making around treatment and care preferences, always with a focus on collaborative working. - Evidence Based Practice: You’ll learn how to prioritise what matters most to people and their families, and provide nursing care that’s both evidence-based and person-centred. You’ll critically analyse and appraise research evidence, and apply models, frameworks, theories, and values that support relationship-centred practice. You’ll also consider safety and holistic approaches to mental health support. - Quality Improvement: You’ll examine the complexity of healthcare systems and develop strategies for managing risk, empowerment, and positive risk-taking. You’ll gain experience in using audits and service evaluations to identify opportunities for improvement, while developing as a reflective practitioner who can contribute to raising standards of care.

This is the final module in your practice placement journey, designed to prepare you for life as a registered mental health nurse. You’ll build on your clinical skills and complete your final placement, gaining the confidence and experience needed for professional practice. Alongside this, you’ll take part in reflective practice groups, giving you the chance to share experiences, learn from others, and continue developing as a professional. Indicative Content - Patient Safety: You’ll focus on leadership, professionalism, and the responsibilities of a registered nurse in ensuring safe, high-quality care. This will help you understand the vital role you play in protecting patients and maintaining professional standards. - Effective Practice: You’ll develop your ability to reflect on your own practice, identify areas for growth, and take action to address them. Through reflective and reflexive practice, you’ll strengthen your personal and professional development. - Practice Learning: You’ll continue your placement journey with Practice Learning Experiences 8 and 9, giving you the opportunity to apply your skills in real clinical settings and build confidence as you prepare for registration. - Leadership and Management: You’ll take on responsibilities that develop your leadership and management skills, including supporting and guiding staff in practice. You’ll also explore your own leadership qualities and learn how to apply them effectively in a healthcare setting.

This module is designed to prepare you for taking on real responsibilities and leadership roles once you’re a registered nurse. You’ll be introduced to key theories of leadership and management that connect directly to healthcare practice, and you’ll be encouraged to reflect on your own strengths, evaluate your skills, and identify areas for further development as you grow into a confident professional. Indicative Content - Leadership and Management : You’ll explore the similarities and differences between leadership and management, and consider how different structures and contexts shape their effectiveness. You’ll also look at how leadership and followership work together within the NHS and wider healthcare settings. - Theories of Leadership and Their Evidence Base: You’ll be introduced to a range of leadership theories and approaches, examining how they’re applied in practice. You’ll evaluate the evidence for different leadership styles, considering their suitability for particular contexts, teams, and individuals. You’ll also explore systemic change and analyse how workplace functions can be understood through tools such as transactional analysis. - Challenges and Strategies for Leading: You’ll develop strategies for managing change and conflict, handling challenging conversations, and building personal resilience. You’ll practise setting goals, evaluating and managing performance, and learn how to prioritise, delegate, plan, and organise effectively. You’ll also explore responsibility and accountability, team development, and creating a shared philosophy of care. Ethical dilemmas such as bullying, safe staffing, duty of candour, poor care, and professional failure will also be addressed. - Strengths and Areas for Development: You’ll focus on managing yourself as a professional, including recognising and addressing unconscious bias. Through reflection, you’ll identify your strengths and areas for development, and create plans for your own career growth as well as supporting colleagues. You’ll also learn about supervision, mentoring, staff development, and the role of HR in disciplinary procedures, equality, and anti-discrimination. - Supervisor Training: You’ll prepare for the responsibilities of being a practice supervisor and assessor, gaining the knowledge and confidence to support and guide others in their professional development.

This module sets out what it means to be a registered mental health nurse and gives you the theory and knowledge you’ll need to succeed in your career. You’ll explore the professional standards expected in practice and develop the understanding that will prepare you for a rewarding future in healthcare. Indicative Content - Professional Working: You’ll learn about the role of professional bodies such as the NMC and RCN, and what revalidation and fitness to practise mean for maintaining your registered status. You’ll also explore local and national policies, legislative frameworks, and the importance of professionalism in promoting best practice and building public confidence in modern nursing. - Political and Sector-Wide Influences on Practice: You’ll develop an understanding of NHS structures and the wider socio-political context that shapes healthcare. You’ll examine how organisational and public policy changes happen, with a focus on the evolving landscape in Scotland and across the UK. You’ll also compare international models of healthcare delivery to broaden your perspective. - Drivers for Change in Healthcare: You’ll explore the key drivers that shape improvements in healthcare, including auditing, quality improvement, and quality assurance. You’ll also look at professional regulations, the registration of allied health professionals and other professions, and the roles of organisations such as the GMC and HCPC. - Economics of Health: You’ll be introduced to the principles of health economics and how resources are allocated within healthcare. You’ll study the integration of health and social care, the importance of multi-agency collaboration, and how political awareness can be used to influence and drive positive change in the sector.