Nursing (Mental Health) Aberystwyth University

Overview

Key Features

As a mental health nurse, you'll play your part in improving access to healthcare, wellbeing, social inclusion, and quality of life.

Working in a variety of settings, including specialist and community services, and people's homes, mental health nurses provide focused health support to people of all ages.

Our academic staff are registered nurses and allied health professionals, many of whom are also practising clinicians, providing an exceptional combination of theoretical rigour, professional insight, and practical expertise.

We have very strong links with Welsh health boards (Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Powys Teaching Health Board, Swansea Bay University Health Board) opening up clinical placement opportunities for you in a variety of settings in both urban and rural locations. Meanwhile, the nearest hospital, Bronglais General and Gorwelion is located in close proximity to our Healthcare Education Centre.

By taking a person-centred approach to care delivery, you will initially focus on meeting people's essential care needs and, as you progress through your second and third years, you will develop the skills and capabilities to assess, provide and manage the complex care needs of individuals and groups of people.

Students’ clinical and academic skills are developed within a strong and established system of support through personal tutors in the Health Care Education Centre and clinical mentors in placements. Placements are embedded into the programme to enable you to develop your clinical skills. You will experience a range of clinical settings which may require you to travel out of the local area of Aberystwyth.

To develop your skills in academic writing, reflection, critical thinking, and decision making, a small group approach to learning is adopted whereby you are supported by your personal tutor. This is complemented by lectures, online activities, individual tutorials, directed study, and skills-based learning in the Healthcare Education Centre’s Clinical Skills Unit.

Learning in the Nursing (Mental Health) program at Aberystwyth University is enhanced by our newly established Clinical Skills Unit, a simulation suite where you can learn and practice clinical skills in a safe and supportive environment. Our facilities which include the clinical suite allows you to put your theoretical knowledge into practice in an environment that reflects as closely as possible the actual conditions that you will experience when you go on placement in a hospital or community setting.

You can study 50% of your nursing degree through the medium of Welsh and you may be eligible for financial support from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Our practice-based module is supported by Welsh speaking Practice Supervisors and Practice Assessors. You can complete your clinical assessments through the medium of Welsh. If you’re a non-Welsh speaker and wish to learn Welsh, we offer basic conversational health-related Welsh lessons within the programme.

The study places on this programme are commissioned by Health Education and Improvement Wales, and funding to cover tuition fees will be in accordance with the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme. Further financial support from the Scheme is also available as well as being able to apply for reduced maintenance support through Student Finance. You will have to commit to working in Wales for two years after qualifying and registering as a nurse with the NMC. This process is managed centrally by NHS Wales Shared Service Partnership, and the Student Streamlining Scheme will ensure that you will be matched to a suitable position of your choice in your identified locality.

Careers

Upon graduation, you will be eligible to apply for Registered Nurse status with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and to register as a nurse for work in EU and EEA. You can expect a starting salary of £25,655 rising to £53,219 for a highly experienced staff nurse. Specialist nurses and practice managers can earn £45,000.

If you’re in receipt of funding from the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme you will have to commit to working in Wales for two years after qualifying and registering as a nurse with the NMC. This process is managed centrally by NHS Wales Shared Service Partnership, and the Student Streamlining Scheme will ensure that you will be matched to a suitable position of your choice in your identified locality.