Northumbria University has an established reputation for excellence and innovation in nursing education.
We are working closely with our NHS partners to deliver a pre-registration Nursing Science degree that embodies the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s ‘FutureNurse’ standards, to equip you to lead your profession.
Northumbria’s Nursing learning experience
You will study partially at our Coach Lane Campus, and partially on clinical placement, with both strands running alongside each other to give you an integrated approach to theory and practice. You will study within the standard university semester system, allowing time during the Easter and summer breaks for additional projects and internships – or simply a well-earned rest.
This programme will equip you to be curious, creative and collaborative in your care. It will allow your compassion to thrive within an evidence-based approach and it will enable you to make a genuine impact on the mental health and wellbeing of people, their families and the wider community.
How does the Mental Health Nursing course help with employability?
The BSc Nursing Science (Mental Health) degree will prepare you to build experience in a professional health care role, and graduate with NMC Registration as a fully Registered Nurse. Studying within the requirements of the new NMC standards means that you will be ‘future nurse’ ready, demonstrating critical thinking skills in relation to complex healthcare issues and the health and wellbeing of your patients and their families.
Why choose Northumbria to study Mental Health Nursing?
See similar courses you may be interested in: BSc (Hons) Nursing Science, Registered Nurse (Learning Disability)
Personal Statement Guidelines
Why is a personal statement important?
The Personal Statement in the application is about you (as the name suggests) and it is an opportunity to tell us why you want to study here and why you want to study the chosen field of nursing. The Nursing Midwifery Council require universities to conduct a face-to-face interview (including Skype) with all nursing candidates and the personal statement is key to you being asked to attend an interview. The personal statement is your chance to sell yourself to the person assessing your application.
What should you highlight in the Personal Statement?
Universities want to know what interests you about your chosen field of nursing and that you understand what it takes to be a nurse. You will need to include transferrable skills gained at school, work or in your personal life. You will really need to think about the skills and qualities that are required to be a nurse. Universities want to know what bearing your current studies have on your selection to the chosen field of nursing, and what experiences you have gained from your studies. Look at the NHS Constitution and the six NHS Values and include some of the values within the statement. We also want to know what bearing your current studies have on your selection to the chosen field of nursing, and what experiences you have gained from your studies. We also want to learn about you, your extra-curricular activities, what you do in your spare time, any relevant work/volunteer experience, and any other achievements.
Through all this, you also have to pinpoint the skills and attributes you have gained from inside and outside of school/college. This is very important. For instance, if you have good powers of analysis and problem-solving ability then record this in the statement. If you are not sure where to start, write down a list of what you have done, and pick out the most relevant parts and link them to the field of nursing chosen.
What should I avoid doing?
Do not waffle. It is tempting to list everything you have done and let the selector 'pick out' the relevant bits - that does not happen. Think of it as a job application - keep it concise, keep it clear, and keep it logically organised. For everything you write, make sure it is relevant. For instance, do not say you just 'find something interesting' - that does not tell us much. We want to know why you find it interesting, and why that makes you a good candidate. Always remember that phrases such as 'for as long as I can remember' may sound good but they can sound cliched and at times simply are not true. Keep it honest - keep it meaningful.
What sort of experiences might be relevant?
You can talk about what you have learnt from team sports, part-time work or volunteer work. If you have health care experience then include this in the personal statement. You may might want to give examples of situations where you have demonstrated commitment, leadership and hard work. When have you adapted to new situations or managed a variety of commitments? Can you relate this to how you will cope with the demands of nursing? Have you had to deal with a difficult situation at work or at school or college? Whatever your experiences, tailor them to the chosen field of nursing.
Where can you get further tips?
There is a wealth of information available online and from careers advisers. Access nursing journals and health care websites too so that information in the personal statement is relevant to the chosen field of nursing.
How will I learn during this Nursing Science course?
Throughout this course, you will experience a range of creative and challenging learning opportunities and different environments. This will enable you to grow, personally and professionally, within safe and supportive spaces.
Our concept-based approach will allow you to build the complexity of your understanding gradually over the course of your studies. It will encourage you to question and think critically, establishing a healthy learning habit that will last throughout your career.
Your learning experience will be enhanced by the use of innovative technology – all lectures will be delivered electronically, so that you can get the most out of your time with staff during seminars, discussion groups and practical sessions. This will also encourage you to develop excellent communication and interpersonal skills, which you can use in your delivery of safe, effective and compassionate care.
In addition, we will use the supported online learning environment to enhance your digital skills within practice, and to help you understand and promote the use of digital technology as a solution within care settings.
How will I be assessed during my degree?
Your assessments will be balanced between theory and practice, with essays evenly spaced through the year. Your supervision and assessment on placement will be extremely supportive, based on a model designed in collaboration with our partnership organisations, and will be structured to encourage you to develop the necessary proficiencies at the highest level
Who teaches the BSc Nursing Science (Mental Health) course?
You will be supported throughout your time at Northumbria by a truly remarkable team of highly experienced academics and practitioners.
You’ll benefit from our Personal Tutor system, Learning Leaders programme, and close partnership working with Practice Supervisors and Assessors, all of which play a part in ensuring you meet University and NMC expectations. We will all coach you towards independent learning and personal and professional achievements, as you journey towards graduation and registration.
Where is Northumbria University’s Nursing course based?
This course is based at our Coach Lane campus, which houses our Clinical Skills Centre – a purpose-built facility that will allow you to develop practical skills and gain valuable experience within a simulated scenario.
Our facilities are some of the most advanced and allow us to ensure your learning evolves in-line with the latest developments in this profession.
What facilities are available to Nursing students?
You will have access to our university library – which has been recognised as third best in the UK – and well-equipped working space, The Hub, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Technology is embedded throughout all aspects of your degree, and you will receive ongoing support through our innovative e-learning platform, Blackboard, where you can access module learning and assessment information, learning materials, and reading lists.
Northumbria’s specialised clinical skills centre
Our innovative Clinical Skills Centre replicates a range of nursing environments and situations. Its virtual reality equipment, high fidelity Simulated Mannequins (SimMan and SimBaby), and immersive technologies will allow you to practise skills, challenge your learning and develop confidence in your clinical ability – all within a safe environment.
Clinical Skills learning is embedded throughout the course, supporting you to develop a range of high-quality nursing skills, as well as skills for working as part of a multidisciplinary health care team.
Where is Northumbria University’s Nursing course based?
This course is based at our Coach Lane campus, which houses our Clinical Skills Centre – a purpose-built facility that will allow you to develop practical skills and gain valuable experience within a simulated scenario.
Our facilities are some of the most advanced and allow us to ensure your learning evolves in-line with the latest developments in this profession.
What facilities are available to Nursing students?
You will have access to our university library – which has been recognised as third best in the UK – and well-equipped working space, The Hub, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Technology is embedded throughout all aspects of your degree, and you will receive ongoing support through our innovative e-learning platform, Blackboard, where you can access module learning and assessment information, learning materials, and reading lists.
Northumbria’s specialised clinical skills centre
Our innovative Clinical Skills Centre replicates a range of nursing environments and situations. Its virtual reality equipment, high fidelity Simulated Mannequins (SimMan and SimBaby), and immersive technologies will allow you to practise skills, challenge your learning and develop confidence in your clinical ability – all within a safe environment.
Clinical Skills learning is embedded throughout the course, supporting you to develop a range of high-quality nursing skills, as well as skills for working as part of a multidisciplinary health care team
How is healthcare research applied to teaching throughout my degree?
Research is vital to the evolution of healthcare, and this course will equip you to play a valuable role in generating new knowledge within the nursing profession.
Research-rich learning will be embedded throughout the course, culminating in a dissertation that will allow you to explore a topic of your choice in significant depth. You will have the option to develop a practice based research proposal, supported by tutors with specialist knowledge in that area.
Our academic staff have extensive research experience across nursing, midwifery and health, where our work informs policy and practice to improve quality, safety and effectiveness. Our areas of research strength include forensic mental health care; personality disorder; recovery and the student-learning journey; psychosis and remission; suicide and health literacy.
How will my BSc (Hons) Nursing Science degree provide me with the skills needed for my career?
The focus on fitness for practice and employment in a nursing environment is a core throughout the programme, culminating in your Leadership and Management Internship in your final year. The course is vocational, leading directly to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, under the new Standards, which will allow you to start and quickly progress in your nursing career.
The NMC’s ‘Future Nurse’ programme seeks to drive forward changes in the profession, and we have embedded research, leadership and advanced practice strands throughout the course to equip you to play a key role in those future developments.
You will graduate as an accountable professional who has the knowledge and skills to promote health and prevent ill health; assess, plan, provide, co-ordinate and evaluate care; lead and manage nursing care and work in teams; and improve safety and quality of care.
At Northumbria we have long-standing strong relationships with our partnership Trusts, and we have developed this new course in close collaboration with them as well as with a wide range of experts by experience. This will ensure that the course prepares you for practice in exactly the way employers are seeking, so that you benefit from our consistently high employment rates.
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