Skip to main content

Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing

Cork ETB logoKerry ETB logoMunster Technological University logo

Overview

The aim of mental health nursing is to promote mental health and wellness, to plan with, support and provide nursing care to people who suffer from mental illness and mental distress, and to support families and communities in dealing with mental health challenges. This care can be provided in acute care facilities such as hospitals, in people’s own homes and community care settings. Supporting on-going mental health recovery is an important part of being a mental health nurse.  

Our graduates work with individuals, families and communities to prevent mental health problems and promote recovery so that as many people as possible can live full lives in community settings. At the heart of the mental health nurse’s role is the ability to establish therapeutic relationships with individuals and their families.  

Incorporating the Level 5 Nursing Studies with the BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing gives students the opportunity to start their preparation for the Mental Health Nursing degree programme in the FE sector, leading to seamless progression into the third level college.  Students will spend the first year of this programme in their local ETB in Kerry or Cork, and upon successful completion will undertake their four-year Nursing programme at MTU Kerry. 

Provider Locations and Structure

Year 1

Education and Training Board – Kerry College – Denny Street Campus, Tralee.

OR

Cork Education and Training Board – Cork College of FET – Morrison’s Island Campus. 

Years 2-5

Department of Nursing and Healthcare Sciences, Munster Technological University, Kerry Campus, Sólás Nursing Building, Tralee, Co. Kerry.

Course Content – for all years

Year 1 – Level 5 Award – FE

Care Skills 5N2770
Communications 5N0690
Human Growth & Development 5N1279
Anatomy & Physiology 5N0749
Nursing Theory & Practice 5N4325
Work Experience 5N1356
Infection Prevention & Control 5N3734
Care of the Older Person 5N2706

 

Year 2 – MTU

Module Code Module Title
EDUC 61000  Learning at Third Level
COMM 61032  Professionalism in Nursing Practice
HLTH 61012  Health and Wellbeing
HSFT 61002  Skills For Safe Practice
NURS 61014  Developing Competency in Mental Health Nursing Practice 1
NURS 61011  Principles of Mental Health Nursing Care 1
NURS 61009  Caring in Context
SOCL 61014  The Sociology and Psychology of Health and Illness
NURS 61015  Developing Competency in Mental Health Nursing Practice 2

 

Year 3 – MTU

Module Code Module Title
INFO 71003  Introduction to Health Informatics
NURS 71011  Developing Competency in Mental Health Nursing Practice 3
NURS 71005  Principles of Mental Health Nursing Care 2
NURS 71013  Fundamentals of Nursing Knowledge and Research
NURS 71004  Compassion and Integrity in Caring
COMM71015  Therapeutic Relationships and Interventions
NURS 71012  Developing Competency in Mental Health Nursing Practice 4
NURS 71007  Principles of Mental Health Nursing Care 3
HLTH 71007  Health Promotion
EDUC 71016  Inter-Professional Education and Collaborative Practice

Year 4 – MTU

Module Code Module Title
NURS 81010  Developing Competency in Mental Health Nursing Practice 5
NURS81025 Principles of Mental Health Nursing Care
LAWS    81008  Law and Ethics for Practice
PSYC     81012  Psychotherapeutic Approaches and Recovery
HLTH    81012  Enabling Positive Ageing
PHRM   81005 Principles for Nursing Care 5: Applied Pharmacology for Mental Health Nursing
RSRH   81013  Nursing Research Methodology

 

Year 5 – MTU

Module Code Module Title
HSFT 81001 Safety Quality Accountability
MGMT 81023 Leadership and Management
MGMT 81024  Principles of Nursing Care 6: Clinical Decision Making
RSRH 81011 Research for Evidence Based Nursing
NURS 81013 Developing Competency in Mental Health Nursing Practice 6
RSRH 81012 Applied Nursing Research

Accreditation and Embedded Awards

Year 1: QQI Level 5 Certificate in Nursing Studies (5M4349). 

Year 3: TL_NHSMN_C – Higher Certificate in Science in Health Studies (Mental Health), 120 credits 

Year 4: TL_NHSMN_D – Bachelor of Science in Health Studies (Mental Health), 180 credits 

Year 5: MT927 BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing, 240 credits (Stages 1,2, 3 and 4 successfully completed) 

Planned intake (number of places)

9 per location

Entry requirements and eligibility

Leaving Certificate with five subjects at grade O6; LCVP including maths or a distinction in Leaving Certificate Applied

or

QQI Level 4 award with a minimum of a merit grade

or

Mature applicants – (aged 23 on or before 1st January of the course commencement year).  These applicants do not have to meet the minimum entry requirements listed here and are considered on an individual basis (previous education, work experience, and demonstration of competence to undertake the programme)

or

An applicant who is a minimum of 17 years of age with at least 2 years post Junior Certificate relevant experience.  All applicants must demonstrate that they would qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant under the Student Grant Scheme (SUSI) and/or are in receipt of a Department of Social Protection (DSP) long-term means-tested social welfare payment and/or be from one or more of the priority groups or from any priority group identified as part of the next National Access Plan (2022-2028).

CERFL proficiency at B2 for access to Level 5 courses for those whose first language is not English.

Learner pre-requisites

  • Self-declared medical statement signed by their GP
  • Personal Statement
  • Interview
  • Garda Vetting

This course requires students to be Garda vetted. Prospective students should also be aware that some aspects of this course are physically demanding and should satisfy themselves that they are physically fit enough to undertake it. All applicants will undergo a processing stage during which further information will be gathered in relation to their application.

Learner’s Desirable competencies and experience
Learners interested in undertaking this course should want to be part of an active and changing dynamic environment. They should, enjoy working with others and value caring for people. In addition, learners should have a special interest in mental health and recovery, be excellent communicators with problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Onward pathways

MSc Nursing 

MSc Professional Nursing

MSc Advanced Practice Nursing

Contact Details

For more information, please contact the Tertiary Managers at feather@corketb.ie

Our use of cookies

We use necessary cookies to make our site work. We'd also like to set optional analytics cookies to help us improve it. We won't set these optional cookies unless you enable them. Using this tool will set a cookie on your device to remember your preferences.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, see our Privacy Policy page


Necessary cookies

Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.


Analytics cookies

We'd like to set Google Analytics cookies to help us to improve our website by collecting and reporting information on how you use it. The cookies collect information in a way that does not directly identify anyone.