Nursing

Mental health nursing is the branch of the nursing profession concerned with the care and treatment of people experiencing mental health difficulties. Mental health nurses work with people across the full range of mental health conditions, including psychosis, severe depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and substance misuse, in settings including inpatient units, community mental health teams, crisis services, forensic environments, and specialist services for older people, children, and young people. The role requires clinical knowledge, therapeutic skills, compassion, and the ability to maintain professional relationships with people in significant distress.

At the University of the West of England, Bristol, this three-year, full-time programme prepares you for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a qualified mental health nurse. You will develop knowledge of mental health conditions and their neurobiological and psychological dimensions alongside the legal and ethical frameworks that govern mental health care, including the Mental Health Act. Practice placements are integral from the start of the programme, giving you supervised clinical experience across a range of mental health settings throughout your studies.

The programme's strong graduate outcomes reflect both the quality of the training and the significant demand for qualified mental health nurses in the NHS and beyond.

Graduates qualify to work in NHS mental health trusts, community mental health services, private healthcare, forensic settings, and voluntary organisations. The profession offers extensive opportunities for career development, with many mental health nurses going on to specialise in areas such as early intervention in psychosis, eating disorders, older adult mental health, or crisis care. Many also progress to advanced practice roles, management, research, or education.

Postgraduate study in mental health, psychiatry, or psychological therapies is another route for those who wish to extend their practice.