This course is no longer accepting applications for September 2022 entry. The next start date will be 2023.
Poverty, austerity and the pressures of modern-day living are making mental health issues ever more visible in the UK today. Indeed, one in four people will experience a mental health problem. Through your skills in compassion, communication and problem solving, you can make a real difference to the many lives affected by this growing concern.
The is shortage a mental health nurses in the UK, and whilst this can be challenging, we achieved 100% employability in Unistats.
Our two-year course is open to graduates in any subject who are seeking a career as a mental health nurse. Our intake is extremely diverse and we welcome people from a wide variety of backgrounds and professions. Life experience is one of the most significant contributing factors to becoming an effective mental health nurse. We are seeking students who can demonstrate a passion for helping others, demonstrate empathy and care coupled with the ability to collaborate within multi-disciplinary teams and advocate on behalf of clients and their families/carers in a highly sensitive area of healthcare.
In addition to developing your core nursing skills, the course will build your knowledge of professional and ethical practice. Developed in close consultation with our trust partners (both acute and primary care), service users and students, this innovative diploma consists of 50% theory and 50% practice.
We have established relationships with leading mental health trusts and your placements will enable you to put your learning into practice. Many students gain future employment with one of their placement hosts.
On successful completion of this course you will gain registration with the NMC
To find out what makes mental health nursing unique and rewarding, watch our short video. Also, take a personality quiz to help you determine whether you might become a good mental health nurse.
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This course consists of 50% theory and 50% practice. You will receive Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for the following module, in recognition of your previous study and relevant experience:
This module aims to develop knowledge and skills required of a post graduate nurse to assess, plan and implement personalised care across the lifespan of a patient using recovery principles in partnership with stakeholders.
You will build on theoretical evidence-based knowledge to enhance clinical and professional judgements applicable to the wider perspective of health and well-being.
This module provides post graduate nursing students with an introduction to the field of mental health nursing science.
It examines key mental health conditions, identifying signs and symptoms of mental illness, aetiology and onset, progression of the condition, and prognosis.
It will explore the underpinning anatomy and physiology and associated pathology of physical illness as it relates to mental health.
This module has been developed to assist you to gain mastery of your physical care skills in providing comprehensive care for mental health service users (MHSUs).
It will also focus on government policy, professional practice and implementing best practice relating to physical care in mental illness.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
You will be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills in meeting the fundamental care needs of people across their lifespan, with a range of physical, mental, cognitive and behavioural health challenges.
During this module, you will demonstrate high standards of professional conduct in line with the NMC code in all aspects of your practice and be able to carry out a range of procedures, under supervision, that are expected of them at this level, in a variety of health and social care settings.
During this module, you will demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills to meet more complex care needs of people with a range of mental, physical, cognitive and behavioural health challenges, across health and social care settings in line with the new standards of proficiency.
You will be expected to demonstrate increasing independence in your mental health nursing practice whilst maintaining high standards of professional conduct in line with the NMC Code, showing awareness of the implications of the Code for self and others.
The module aims to consolidate knowledge and skills from the Developing Nursing Knowledge and Professional Practice Module (MHN4000) and will facilitate you in your preparation to practise as postgraduate nurses.
During this module, you will develop a professional confidence as leaders within the wider perspective of health and social care economies to influence evidence-based policy and initiate change in providing a safe and quality service within complex care and multi-disciplinary care settings.
Moreover, the module aims to promote partnership working with the patient (service user) and families, to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care that is effective.
This module will build on the knowledge and skills acquired in MHN4001 of the PGDip Nursing Mental Health Programme to consolidate the nursing science principles and deepen the knowledge and application to complex mental health.
This module will critically review current and best practice in physical care and how this is applied in a mental health context.
It also aims to extend knowledge and application of pharmacological principles especially as to underpin mental health nursing care and future potential prescribing practice.
You will be encouraged to master skills in cognitive behavioural strategies and techniques, based upon critical examination of theory and practice as applied to your own work with individuals with mental health problems.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
During this module, you will be able to demonstrate the ability to work autonomously in the mental health field of practice caring for all people across the lifespan with a range of physical, mental, cognitive and behavioural challenges.
You will display advanced clinical skills and have the ability to integrate leadership in all aspects of care management.
You will also utilise a critical and reflective approach in delivering high standards of professional conduct in line with the NMC Code as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
See the course specification for more information:
Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.
We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we have learnt during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.
We aim to model a wide range of teaching strategies and approaches on the course which you can adapt to your own setting.
Students gain knowledge and understanding through 50% of learning occurring in the practice setting and 50% theory based in the University;
All modules are assessed through coursework, which can be a combination of individual and/or group work, presentations and class based tests. There are also in-class tests and exams.
The learning, teaching and assessment approaches used throughout your programme will encourage you to be actively involved in your learning and to co-operate with other students.
Assessment is through exams (including osce's), practical assessments and coursework, including reports, case studies, care plans, drug calculations, individual and group presentations, online assessments.
We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we have learnt during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.
We are currently reviewing our approach to teaching and learning for 2023 entry and beyond. We've learned a lot about how to give you a quality education - we aim to combine the best of our pre-pandemic teaching and learning with access to online learning and digital resources which put you more in charge of when and how you study. We will keep you updated on this throughout the application process.
Your timetable will be built around on campus sessions using our professional facilities, with online sessions for some activities where we know being virtual will add value. We’ll use technology to enhance all of your learning and give you access to online resources to use in your own time.
The table below gives you an idea of what learning looks like across a typical week. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on campus sessions.
This information is likely to change slightly for 2023 entry as our plans evolve. You'll receive full information on your teaching before you start your course.
Learning structure: typical hourly breakdown in 2021/22 | ||
Live in-person on campus learning | Contact hours per week, per level: |
Year 1: 14 hours Year 2: 6 hours |
Live online learning | Average hours per week, per level: | Year 1: 6 hours |
This information is likely to change slightly for 2023 entry as our plans evolve. You'll receive full information on your teaching before you start your course.
Definitions of terms
Support
You have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.
Our support services will be delivered online and on campus and you have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.
You have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
We maintain strong partnership relationships with NHS and independent health and social care organisations so that you’ll have access to excellent placement opportunities as a nursing or midwifery student. We have approximately 500 pre-registration students out on placement at any one time, with over 400 placements being utilised.
Our main placement providers are:
In addition to a number of placements in both community and hospital environments in the NHS Trusts and independent sector that are highlighted above, we also have a range of placements in the following areas:
We also work with a number of other London NHS Trusts in supporting a range of pre-registration pathways. These include (but not limited to):
In addition to students accessing a range of placements in the London region we have excellent partnerships with European Universities and you will be offered opportunities to undertake a period of exchange (depending on availability). These include placements in Finland, Malta, Denmark, Portugal, Spain and Belgium. To find out more, please view our study abroad pages.
On successful completion of the course, students are eligible to enter the professional register for nursing. You will receive career guidance from a professional development tutor and take part in a workshop to discuss jobs opportunities within the various trusts. With many well-paid nursing jobs in both the NHS and private sector, you might also find employment in teaching, research or educational outreach.
Opportunities in the mental health sector offer great variety. Nurses are required in settings such as prisons, hospitals, GP surgeries, charities, the armed forces and the community. You can work with people of all ages – from children and adolescents right up the elderly, for whom you might oversee the pioneering techniques emerging in dementia care.
Employment prospects in the nursing field are excellent. Career progression may involve moving into a management position, consultancy work or developing a specialism in an area such as substance misuse. Furthermore, there is the potential for you to transfer your skills and experience overseas, with posts in both paid and voluntary capacities.
Mental Health, Social Work and Interprofessional Learning at Middlesex
Mental health nursing at Middlesex University, London
NHS Nursing Careers - mental health nursing
Mental Health Nursing - Keep it in Mind
She is the Programme Lead for PgDip Mental Health Nursing (year 2) and module leader for Trainee Mental Health Workers, BSC and PgDip Mental Health Nursing.
Katja is a Professional Academic and Registered Mental Health Nurse and was trained at Middlesex University/Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust (PgDip Mental Health Nursing).
She holds a MSc in Sociology/Social Sciences (Free University, Berlin and University of East London), a PGDip in Mental Health Nursing (Middlesex University, London, a PgCE for Secondary Schools in Social Sciences (Institute of Education, London) and a PgCERT for Higher Education (Middlesex University, London).
She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Nicky is registered as a Specialist Practitioner (NMC) and is a Senior Teaching Fellow (SFHEA). She is also a co-director of the Centre for Coproduction in Mental Health and Social Care. Nicky has worked across a range of mental health services both in the UK and internationally supporting staff and practice development in acute and mental health trusts, councils, businesses and charities. She is active in supporting mental health and wellbeing with the RCN and Unite. She is an editorial board member for Mental Health Nursing, a member of MHNAUK and on the education and communication committees. Nicky engages with local trusts and with the RCPsych to support sexual safety in mental health services. She is also a Trustee for The Bridge. And is a co-host on #mhTV .
Nicky has a professional Twitter feed: @niadla and is keen that all people with and interest in mental health engage together as a community to support good practice and challenge discrimination. She has teaching and research interests in women's health, physical and mental health, co-production, social media and health education.
We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
