Nursing (Mental Health)

At ARU, we’re dedicated to the continual improvement of every aspect of healthcare and delivering the values set out in the NHS Constitution.

Our Nursing and Midwifery Council-validated degree mixes classroom learning in our clinical facilities with practical placements. We will consider the experiences of people with mental health issues from different age groups, cultures, belief systems and ethnicities. We’ll also look at the experiences of carers and care-givers; and learn how the law – including human rights legislation – affects the management of mental health.

Biological, psychological and social factors can all have an impact on mental health and illness. Our understanding of causes and ‘triggers’ is changing all the time, so we’ll keep up to date with the latest knowledge – as well as the different interventions used to help people. Since mental health nursing is very much about connecting with people, you’ll also enhance your ‘softer’ communication and people skills. As people with mental health issues may also have physical health conditions, we’ll prepare you to offer advice to aid prevention.

Most mental health nurses work in the community, but some provide in-patient care. Either way, it’s standard practice to work as part of a team of health and care professionals. As part of your studies, you’ll develop your team working skills and gain practical experience in mental health settings, both in the community and in hospital.

While on placement, you’ll work shifts with your supervisors and assessors, taking part in late, early and night shifts and will work at weekends and on bank holidays. There’s also the option of a self-funded overseas placement at the end of Year 2.

We want to make sure you experience a variety of placements and that you graduate as an effective practitioner. Our placement maps will help you plan your travel before you start on the course. Meanwhile, teaching usually takes place between 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday, and on campus time is supplemented by online learning and virtual lectures.

Throughout your degree, you’ll have the chance to share experiences with students from other health care courses, and to see how the professions work together to provide effective and seamless care.

We’re proud to have been shortlisted for Nurse Education Provider of the Year in 2023 by the Student Nursing Times. It speaks volumes about the quality of our teaching.

We also offer our Nursing (Mental Health) degree as a degree apprenticeship.