Mental Health Nursing - BSc (H - Technological U

This four-year honors degree in Mental Health Nursing prepares students to be professional nurses in a healthcare environment. Through a combination of theoretical and clinical placements, students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to provide recovery-focused and individualized care for diverse populations. Graduates are eligible to register as Psychiatric Nurses with NMBI, and may pursue further academic progression or postgraduate studies in related disciplines.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This four-year honours degree program in Mental Health Nursing is offered in partnership with healthcare providers and accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). The program aims to equip students with the knowledge, competencies, attitudes, and skills necessary to function effectively as professional nurses in a healthcare environment, providing recovery-focused, individualized care.

Objectives:

Develop fundamental nursing skills and adapt them to various populations and environments.
Foster and nurture the ethos of continuous professional development throughout their careers.
Provide opportunities for development of the fundamental nursing skills and allows the student to adapt these skills to a variety of populations and environments.
Foster and nurture the ethos for the student around the necessity for the continuation of professional development throughout their career.

Program Description:

The program involves a combination of theoretical and practice-based modules. Students will engage in classroom teaching and clinical placements in various areas of expertise at three regional hospitals in the Health Service Executive Midlands area (Tullamore, Portlaoise, and Mullingar), throughout the Midlands (Laois/Offaly and Longford/Westmeath), and with private healthcare facilities nationally.

Clinical Placements:

Students will undergo a total of 2,925 hours of clinical study and 1,740 hours of theoretical study across the four-year program.
The diversity of placement requirements and their geographical spread means that students may need to travel to clinical placement areas throughout various stages of their program.
This ensures students meet the required clinical instruction set out by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.

Garda Vetting:

TUS uses the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) to assess the suitability of applicants for placement within this program.
This is due to the significant number of placements undertaken with children and vulnerable groups in society.
Offers to this program are conditional and could be withdrawn if applicants do not meet the Garda vetting requirements.

Vaccinations:

As healthcare students, vaccinations may be advocated not only in the interest of the individual student but also as a protection to health service users and workers, some of whom may have medical vulnerabilities.
As placements are a critical component of nursing programs and are regulated Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland requirements, this in turn may delay progression through and potential completion of a nursing educational program at TUS.

Careers:

Upon completion, graduates can apply to register as a Psychiatric Nurse with the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), the profession's regulatory body.
After registration, graduates are prepared to work as qualified psychiatric nurses in various clinical settings, including hospitals and community mental health facilities.

Other:

Students who successfully complete this level 8 program are eligible to continue their academic progression in other disciplines of nursing or undertake taught postgraduate studies with TUS or another HEI, providing they meet the requisite entry requirements.
Those who achieve a first or 2:1 honours degree may be eligible to undertake a PhD or MSc.
Where a student chooses to leave their program of study, they may be eligible to receive one of the following awards:
After 2 years of study and having successfully completed 120 ECTS, a student will be awarded a Higher Certificate in Mental Health Studies.
After 3 years after successful completion of 180 ECTS, a student will be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Mental Health Studies.

Mental Health Nursing - BSc (Hons)

Program Overview