Mental health problems currently affect one in four of the UK population. If youÕre caring and compassionate, with exceptional communication skills and a real passion for helping people, thisÊ degree offered byÊUniversity of Derby is for you.

This course prepares you for registration as a mental health nurse, enabling you to work with a range of client groups with acute, diverse and long-term conditions.

Mental health nurses support people with depression, anxiety, dementia, bulimia nervosa, post-natal depression and a whole range of other conditions that can lead to unhelpful thoughts and ideas. They focus on peopleÕs strengths and resources Ð helping them to overcome and cope with their problems and maximising their life potential.

This course is built around the ethos that everyone has a right to evidence-based care, whatever their background and circumstances. It equips you to excel as a confident, versatile and capable mental health nurse.ÊÊ

YouÕll cover the core areas which are essential for mental health nursing, including biological sciences, pharmacology studies, psychological and sociological aspects of health care, evidence-based practice and research, integrated practice, professional, legal and ethical studies, and leadership and management.

YouÕll gain practical experience on varied placements in settings such as hospitals, the community and voluntary organisations. This is essential to your preparation for registration and includes 24-hour nursing with shift patterns so you gain a feel for the demands of the profession. Throughout, youÕll be supported by approved and qualified mentors.

Careers

Such is the courseÕs reputation that that you will receive a conditional job offer when you enrol. ÒWeÕre so confident about the quality of teaching on the Mental Health Nursing degree at the University of Derby that weÕll give you a conditional job offer when you enrol on to this course,Ó Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

On successful completion of this degree, youÕll be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and go into practice as a qualified mental health nurse, as long as you meet the NMCÕs requirements.

With a national shortage of nurses nationwide, you will discover a wide range of career opportunities. Many of our students have secured jobs before completing their studies and are increasingly offered positions in the early stages of their third year of training.