Nursing (Registered Nurse - Mental Health), BSc (Hons)

Nursing practice in the 21st century is increasingly demanding, with nurses playing a vital role in primary and secondary care by restoring health, supporting patients and families, and addressing community healthcare needs. The University of Lincoln acknowledges these challenges and offers a professionally accredited course to prepare students for registration as mental health nurses with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. This programme equips graduates to shape future healthcare, aligning with the Council's standards for pre-registration education, focusing on professional skills, ethical decision-making, and readiness for autonomous practice.The course modules build foundational skills in year one, covering communication, interpersonal abilities, nursing fundamentals, anatomy, physiology, and professional principles. Year two advances these with mental health assessment, ethical applications, and recovery principles, while year three consolidates knowledge through specialized mental health care, leadership, and management skills. Assessment methods vary, including coursework, exams, portfolios, group work, and presentations, with support from diverse educators and peers.

Year one modules aim to provide the core foundation skills for nurses to work within health and social care setting. Topics include communication, interpersonal skills and fundamentals nursing skills including caring and compassion. Students are introduced to the principles of professional practice and associated legal, ethical and professional issues. There is an emphasis on acquisition of knowledge and understanding of the human body’s anatomy and physiology. Students can learn and develop essential study and academic skills to enable the effective use of evidence to inform practice. The modules in year two build upon the knowledge and skills gained from year one in relation to the development of professional skills and the application of ethical principles to rational decision- making. In addition mental health assessment, partnership working and principles of recovery will be studied. The final year modules again build upon and consolidate the knowledge and skills gained from the previous two years. Specialist aspects of mental heath and care in complex situations will be studied. Within this final year leadership and nursing management skills will be developed to enable the preparation for the transition from student nurse to an autonomous qualified practitioner. Final project work will focus upon the theory and practice of innovative and transformational change in practice.