Nursing - Mental Health BSc (Hons)

Year one, core modules

• Fundamentals Knowledge and Skills for Nursing

  This first theory / practice module aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills required to deliver fundamental and safe care. You will reflect on patient safety, the NMC Code (2015) and NHS Constitution values. An introduction to human anatomy and physiology and to the prevention of ill-health and promotion of healthy behaviours will prepare you to recognise the nurse’s role in public health. Mental illness and recovery and common mental health problems and diagnoses will be studied and conditions such as dementia will be explored. You will also be introduced to leadership skills, study skills, communication and interpersonal skills. Finally, fundamental skills of hygiene, infection control, nutrition, fluid management and medicines management awareness will be provided in skills based sessions.

• Professional Knowledge and Values for Nursing Practice

  Professional and NHS Constitution values will be explored from a range of perspectives. Person-centred care will be addressed through the exploration of patient autonomy and patients’ rights. The concepts of advocacy, raising concerns and candour will provide you with an understanding of the legal and ethical parameters that support the delivery of safe care. The module builds on knowledge of bioscience and clinical skills to further enhance delivery of safe fundamental care. Communication skills are also considered across a range of service user groups including those with sensory impairment, learning difficulties and dementia. Key themes include professional values, multi-cultural needs, recognising and raising concerns as well as safety in drug administration.

• Medicines Calculations for Safe Practice 1

  A professional requirement of the course is that you become proficient in medicine calculations. Each year, you will undertake an online medicine calculations module which offers the opportunity for unlimited practice related to a variety of medicine calculations. When you take your exam in your first year, you will be required to get a pass rate of 80%.

Year two, core modules

• Values and Engagement in Mental Health Nursing

  This module will explore the nature of mental illness and mental health nursing practice within a biopsychosocial, cultural and historical context. You will identify and explore both the purpose and process of assessment with people using mental health services. Quality assessment requires practitioners to be knowledgeable, skilful and able to recognise, communicate and respond competently, with care and compassion. You will be encouraged to use local and national policies, guidance and directives to guide your studies. The module intends to challenge your pre-existing values, beliefs and opinions and aims to facilitate the development of core principles that support a philosophy of recovery led and service user focused care across the lifespan.

• Therapeutic Interventions in Mental Health Nursing

  This module encourages the acquisition of skills and knowledge around therapeutic engagement and interventions within mental health care. The spectrum of interventions ranging from prevention, to treatments, to continuing development will be examined. You will analyse how socially inclusive practice and focusing on the promotion of dignity influences participation and the result of interventions. Subjective and objective appraisals will be included to illustrate perceptions and measurements of intervention outcome. This will help you understand the function of transparent clinical actions and will provide vital consideration for your future practice.

• Medicines Calculations for Safe Practice 2

  A professional requirement of the course is that you become proficient in medicine calculations. Each year, you will undertake an online medicine calculations module which offers the opportunity for unlimited practice related to a variety of medicine calculations. When you take your exam in your second year, you will be required to get a pass rate of 90%.

Year three, core modules

• Leadership and Decision Making in Nursing

  This module will enable you to enhance your leadership, peer coaching and decision making skills. You will develop a varied and flexible repertoire of skills to be able to work effectively within multi-disciplinary teams, in the often challenging environments encountered in modern clinical practice. Development of key management skills of assertiveness, delegation and coaching will be provided as well as tools for resilience to withstand the stresses and pressures of practice. You will be equipped to make a successful transition to registered nurse and to generate positive change in delivering high quality patient care.

• Promoting Quality in Health Care

  Understanding and applying concepts of quality assurance, clinical governance, standard setting and the role of audit in maintaining standards will be key drivers in this module. Risk assessment and management are equally as important in supporting patient safety and you will have the opportunity to consider how patient safety may be enhanced through an exploration of human factors and system design. All practice will take place in Adult Nursing settings to ensure that you develop and apply these skills to you own field of nursing. During the final practice placement, you will be expected to negotiate an area for service improvement to enhance the patient experience.

• Medicines Calculations for Safe Practice 3

  A professional requirement of the course is that you become proficient in medicine calculations. Each year, you will undertake an online medicine calculations module which offers the opportunity for unlimited practice related to a variety of medicine calculations. When you take your exam in your final year, you will be required to get a pass rate of 100%.

The above modules will be changing for September 2020 in line with the new NMC standards for nursing degrees