Nursing

Mental health nursing is the specialist field dedicated to supporting people living with mental illness, emotional distress, and the challenges of conditions such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, and personality disorders. Mental health nurses provide not just clinical care but therapeutic relationships, working with patients over time to support recovery, manage risk, and promote wellbeing. The nursing associate pathway provides a structured two-year entry route into mental health nursing practice, preparing you for registration at the nursing associate level with the scope and skills to contribute directly to mental health care.

At the University of Salford, this two-year full-time programme prepares you for registration as a nursing associate with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, with a specialisation in mental health. You will develop your clinical and therapeutic skills through a combination of academic study and clinical placements in mental health settings, building the knowledge of mental health conditions, therapeutic approaches, risk assessment, and professional communication that the role requires. The university is currently reviewing some elements of the programme's structure for future cohorts, and prospective students should check for the most current details of course content and assessment.

Nursing associate graduates in mental health work in inpatient psychiatric units, community mental health teams, crisis services, primary care mental health, and other settings where mental health support is delivered. The nursing associate role provides a direct contribution to care under the supervision of registered mental health nurses, and it also creates a pathway for progression towards full registered nurse status for those who want to continue their professional development. The typical entry tariff is 120 points.