This course is offered subject to validation.

This course is also available as a MSc. The Dissertation for the full MSc is additional to the 2 years funding (4 months full-time, 1 year part time).

A PGDip/MSc Adult Nursing is also available.

The PGDip/MSc in Mental Health Nursing leads to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and offers graduates a funded route over two-years into mental health nursing whilst simultaneously obtaining a postgraduate qualification. This postgraduate qualification is aimed at graduates who wish to develop and apply the knowledge gained through their undergraduate degree and relevant life experiences to pursue a career in mental health nursing. The aim of this course is to prepare a registered nurse who is able to offer excellent and compassionate care, enhanced leadership, management and strong inter-professional and research skills that influence practice and initiate change.

Our exceptional teaching provision based upon contemporary research, (a key focus of the schools highly ranked research activity), is grounded in modern mental health practice. The Mental Health Nursing PGDip will equip graduates to develop and thrive in rapidly changing environments, taking into account how early trauma and adversity, culture, socioeconomic influences, stigma and other factors can impact resilience, function, health status and mental health outcomes. The programme will equip students with engagement and assessment skills necessary for planning and delivery of compassionate high-quality care and manage complex practice across the lifespan.

PGDip Students will graduate from this programme as creative and skilled mental health nurses in a position to apply to part one of the NMC register. If they complete the additional dissertation module they will also be awarded an MSc. The successful graduate will have the necessary values, knowledge and skills to practice to the highest standards of safe, compassionate care in mental health services.

What will you study on this course?

Throughout the programme, practice placements in acute and community and specialist mental health services in North Wales are designed to provide a range of experiences. You will have compulsory theoretical study in addition to clinical placements designed to equip you for practise. During placements you are supernumerary, and this allows you to work alongside your practice supervisors and assessors to participate in delivery of nursing care. Support is available from a personal tutor who is a registered nurse and an academic member of staff and supervision from practicing registered nurses and other professional on placement. Theoretical and practical work is assessed through assignments, examinations, presentations and the Once for Wales Practice Assessment Document and On-going Record of Achievement.

Course Structure

Year 1

• Engagement and assessment in mental health
• Legal & Ethical Concepts
• Planning and delivering humanised care in mental health
• Physiology & Pathophysiology
• Nursing Practice 1 PGD

Year 2

• Managing risk and complexity in mental health
• Lead, Innovate and Implement
• Clinical Decision Making & Evidence Based Practice
• Nursing Practice 2 PGD

An addition dissertation module enables the student to obtain a full MSc, 4mths fF/T 1yr P/T.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

The teaching and learning strategy for the course will take a student-centred approach and build on the graduate skills developed during your first degree. Whilst there will be some taught lectures for each module, the main emphasis will be on working as a group to develop your knowledge, clinical decision-making skills and finding solutions to real life problems.

Students successfully completing the Msc PG Mental Health nursing are able to register their professional status with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and seek employment as a registered nurse.

Those completing the Post Graduate Diploma and who are able to register with the NMC will be required to work in Wales for a minimum period of two years in accordance with the guidance provided by Welsh Government.

Employability rates are high in comparison to other graduates, given the professional competence and qualification in association with a degree. Career opportunities once employed as registered nurse are excellent and can lead to promotion opportunities in clinical practice/specialism, research or education. Career pathways and progression frequently facilitate opportunity to undertake further study to complete a full Master’s degree or /and Doctoral Study level.

Our employability record is excellent and you can view current statistics as well as other essential information about our programmes at Unistats:

• Currently 100% of graduates of all undergraduate nursing degrees are in a professional/managerial position after 6 months (KIS)” and
• 100% of midwifery students and;
• 100% radiography students go on to work
• We’d anticipate graduates from this new programme will be equally in demand

Careers Advice

Careers advice is gained from healthcare professionals both in practice and in dedicated careers sessions and NHS Careers has more details of the career opportunities that are available to Midwifery graduates. You are also eligible to register for the Bangor Employability Award to further enhance career prospects and advice is also available from the Bangor University Careers & Employability Service.

Also see the Careers information here.

We offer a range of postgraduate masters for health care professionals including Nurses, Midwives, Paramedics and those involved in clinical service management, public health and social work.