Program Overview
This four-year Mental Health Nursing Masters program equips students with the knowledge and skills to become registered nurses in mental health and leaders in the nursing field. Through a blended learning approach emphasizing clinical, research, leadership, and quality improvement skills, graduates are highly sought after for clinical practice, management, research, and education roles. This program boasts strong partnerships with Birmingham NHS Trusts and includes global elective placement opportunities.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
This program is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies required to become a mental health nurse. It also aims to develop students into future leaders in nursing. The program emphasizes clinical, research, leadership, and quality improvement skills, all taught at the Masters level. Students will be able to develop, manage, evaluate, and disseminate the findings of a clinical research or improvement project in conjunction with the clinical academic and nursing management team. They will also gain a deeper understanding of physiology and physiological changes, enabling them to recommend diagnostic techniques for future clinical nursing decisions.
Outline:
The Mental Health Nursing Masters course is a four-year program structured as follows:
Year 1:
- Essential Nursing Care: This module covers the principles of nursing practice and nursing skills, underpinned by relevant biological, pharmacological, psychological, and social sciences. Students will gain an appreciation of the health and social needs of people and their families.
- Health and Wellbeing: This module examines the health and social needs of people across the lifespan, including children, adults, and the elderly.
Year 2:
- Promoting Health and Self-Management: This module supports students' development as nurses by exploring health promotion and healthcare in a social, economic, and political environment.
- Clinical Decision Making: This module focuses on the process of making informed clinical decisions in mental health nursing.
- Evaluating Nursing Care in Mental Health: This module examines the evaluation of nursing care in mental health settings.
- Research and Improvement Methods for Practice: This module prepares students for the ethical study and practice of clinical nursing research.
- Evidence-Based Nursing Practice: This module explores the principles and application of evidence-based practice in mental health nursing.
- Negotiated Career Development for Nursing: This module allows students to explore potential nursing careers, including a negotiated experience of their choice, either overseas or in the United Kingdom.
Year 4:
- Leading and Managing Care Teams: This module focuses on leadership and management skills within the clinical environment, including risk management, safe delegation, and supervision.
- Health and Social Care Enquiry: This module delves into research methods and critical analysis of health and social care issues.
- Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration within Complex Mental Health Nursing Care: This module develops students' skills in recognizing and responding to acute deterioration in complex mental health nursing care.
Assessment:
Students will be assessed through a variety of methods, including:
- Exams: Written examinations to assess theoretical knowledge.
- Coursework Assignments: Essays, reports, and presentations to demonstrate critical thinking and application of knowledge.
- Placements: Clinical placements assessed through observation, reflection, and practical skills demonstrations.
- Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs): Simulated clinical scenarios to assess practical skills and decision-making abilities.
Teaching:
The program utilizes a blended learning approach, combining face-to-face learning with online resources. Teaching methods include:
- Lectures: Formal presentations of key concepts and theories.
- Workshops: Interactive sessions for skill development and problem-solving.
- Simulation: Simulated clinical scenarios to practice skills in a safe environment.
- Laboratory Practical Sessions: Hands-on practice of clinical skills.
- Group Work: Collaborative learning activities to enhance teamwork and communication.
- Seminars: In-depth discussions of specific topics.
- Seminar Presentations: Opportunities for students to present their research and findings.
- Enquiry-Based Learning: Student-led exploration of topics and questions.
- Action Learning: Applying theoretical knowledge to real-world problems.
Careers:
Graduates of this program are eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Registered Nurse (Adult, Mental Health, or Child). They are highly sought after by employers in the NHS and other healthcare settings. Potential career paths include:
- Clinical Practice: Providing direct patient care in hospitals, community settings, and other healthcare facilities.
- Management: Leading and managing nursing teams and services.
- Research: Conducting research to improve nursing practice and patient outcomes.
- Education: Teaching and mentoring future nurses.
Other:
- The program has strong partnerships with Birmingham NHS Trusts, providing students with access to a diverse range of patients and health conditions.
- Students have the opportunity to undertake a four-week elective placement in any healthcare setting worldwide, gaining a global perspective on nursing.
- Students will have access to dedicated clinical simulation suites for simulated practice.
- The program includes a research governance module at the Masters level.
- The program is taught in study blocks, with clinical practice placements interspersed throughout the year.
- The University of Birmingham has excellent links with local NHS trusts, ensuring high-quality clinical training opportunities.
- The program emphasizes the importance of reflection and confidence in professional development.
- The University of Birmingham's Careers Network provides specialized career guidance, work experience opportunities, and support with CVs and job applications.
- Students can participate in voluntary work to gain practical experience and develop transferable skills.
