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How to become a mental health nurse

To become a mental health nurse in the NHS you will need to complete a pre-registration degree programme accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

What is a mental health nurse?

Mental health nurses help people improve their wellbeing and recovery from mental health problems. They work in hospitals, in the community, and in people’s homes.

Starting your career as mental health nurse

Choosing subjects at school

To get on a course that could lead to a career in nursing, useful subjects include:

  • Biology
  • Human Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Care
  • Psychology
  • English
  • Maths

Work placements and volunteering

You may find it helpful to get some healthcare experience by doing a work placement or volunteering. You’ll get training, increase your knowledge, and learn new skills. This could help you when applying to university, college or a new job with NHSScotland. 

College and university

At college, you can do an HNC in Healthcare Practice, which could lead to a pre-registration undergraduate nursing degree.

Widening access

Widening participation supports adult learners who want to go to university. If you’re an adult with few or no qualifications, you can get into higher education through the Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP). Many universities also provide access programmes to help learners get the degree entry qualifications they need.

Pre-registration mental health undergraduate nursing degree programme

In Scotland, the following universities offer undergraduate programmes in mental health nursing, approved by the NMC:

  • Edinburgh Napier University
  • Glasgow Caledonian University
  • The Open University

Pre-registration undergraduate programmes usually take 3 years full-time study. Part-time options and distance learning opportunities may also be available.

Fully-funded degree-level nursing programmes through the Open University are available if you’re an experienced nursing support worker who wants to become a registered nurse.

Course search

Search for college or university programmes on My World of Work.

Get to know the role

As a mental health nurse, you would deliver a range of different therapies to support patient recovery and help them stay well. Often, you’d work with people over long periods, helping them understand the nature of their illness and how to cope in a crisis.

Being able to understand things from each person’s point of view is a key skill, no matter what their background, or the problems they face. This includes being aware of and being able to challenge the stigma around mental health. Discrimination can affect people and hinder their recovery from mental illness.

Tasks include:

  • making sure people get the help and support they need
  • encouraging people to take part in art, music or dramatherapy sessions
  • providing physical support where needed
  • assessing people who may be at risk of self-harm or harming others
  • making sure people take their medications correctly

You’ll need these skills:

  • caring
  • listening
  • problem-solving
  • communication
  • teamworking
  • critical thinking

As a mental health nurse, you’ll also need to be able to review treatment plans to make decisions about care. 

Mental health nurses usually work in a team with other health and social care professionals, including:

  • psychiatrists
  • GPs
  • psychologists
  • healthcare support workers
  • occupational therapists
  • social workers
  • art therapists
  • music therapists
  • dramatherapists

As a mental health nurse in the NHS, you could work in:

  • mental health hospitals
  • GP practices
  • health centres
  • prisons
  • residential homes
  • a person’s own home

Learning and development

Once registered as a mental health nurse, there are ongoing requirements for education and skills development. You’ll also have lots of opportunities to go further and learn more.

In your first year as a newly qualified nurse, you’ll get extra support and guidance through the Flying Start programme.

Career development

In the NHS, you may choose to be a staff nurse throughout your nursing career, keeping up to date through continuing professional development. Taking extra courses and workplace learning could lead to progression through the career pathway to senior, advanced or consultant level.

When you've qualified and gained experience as a registered mental health nurse, there are a wide variety of specialisms to choose from including:

  • substance misuse
  • forensic mental health
  • early intervention
  • dementia care
  • children and young peoples’ mental health
  • community mental health

There are also opportunities to move into service management, public health, voluntary or private sector organisations, research or education. Many mental health nurses combine aspects of these roles with on-going clinical practice.

Revalidation

Revalidation is a process that nurses need to follow to maintain their registration with the NMC every 3 years.

It is an ongoing process throughout your career as a nurse and aims to:

  • promote good practice
  • maintain and strengthen public confidence in the profession

Find out more about revalidation on the NMC website.

Professional bodies

When you become a qualified mental health nurse, you must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to work in the NHS.

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