BSc (Honours) Nursing Studies (Mental Health)
Three years full-time
UCAS code • B760
This course is subject to approval
Location • Collegiate Campus
Subject area • Nursing and midwifery
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View a 360 degree tour of our mock operating theatre.
View a 360 degree tour of our mock hospital ward.
View a video explaining more about the benefits of this course and studying nursing with us.
Our health and social care courses place a strong emphasis on interprofessional learning. This means that you train alongside practitioners from other health professions. Find out more.
At a glance
Study to become a mental health nurse in facilities praised by the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council. Gain the professional experience you need to gain employment by spending 50% of your time on placement within a healthcare setting.
Key points
• Train for the workplace in £13 million facilities, including mock wards.
• Spend 50% of your time on placement within a local healthcare setting.
• Learn from lecturers with academic and practice expertise.
• Gain an additional level 2 award in understanding health improvement.
What is mental health nursing?
Mental health nurses need to be confident and competent in building, maintaining and ending therapeutic relationships with people who may be at their most distressed and vulnerable. This therapeutic relationship is the agent of change and our graduates will be able to use therapeutic techniques in a subtle yet effective manner. You become familiar in the theory and practice relating to core conditions of empathy, genuineness and unconditional positive regard (being able to work with people in a non-judgemental way).
This course
Study to become a mental health nurse in facilities described by the Nursing and Midwifery Council as 'a beacon for the future development of health education in this country'. Students who leave the course as qualified nurses go on to work in a wide area of healthcare settings.
We provide modern facilities to help you develop clinical skills and specialist knowledge for your career. You study in our £13 million purpose-built Robert Winston Building on Collegiate Campus. Our clinical suites include mock wards and replicated community settings in which you learn and work. This makes it easier to take what you’ve learnt in the University out into the real world with confidence.
Practice-based learning is central to your development and you spend 50% of each year on clinical placements in a hospital or community setting with Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Bassetlaw or Barnsley trusts. By learning this way, you find that your academic study supports your learning in clinical practice and you are provided with a mentor to help develop your skills.
In your final year you also write a dissertation, where you develop your specialist understanding and analytical skills by investigating a topic relating to mental health nursing. The dissertations tackle complex and sometimes contentious issues. These might include how best to promote good mental health in the community or how to better support people who express a wish to end their own lives.
As part of the course you complete a level two award in understanding health improvement, which provides you with a certificate from the Royal Society of Public Health. We are currently the only university in the UK that offers this as part of our healthcare courses.
Key areas of study
Key areas of study include • biological sciences • social sciences • psychology • practical nursing skills • communication skills • ethics • public health.
Professional mix
Some of your teaching takes place alongside students of other healthcare professions such as social work and paramedics. This allows you to learn together and understand more about other professions.
We have a full size computer programmable patient simulator designed to reproduce hundreds of different conditions in real time or at an accelerated speed. This might include a patient with dementia who needs physical as well as psychological care.
Find out more about BSc (Honours) Nursing Studies (Mental Health)
Related courses
You apply for this course through UCAS.
2013/14 academic year
If you are studying a course funded by the Department of Health (nursing, midwifery or the allied health professions) you will not normally pay any fees yourself, as they will be paid for you by the Department of Health.
You may be eligible for an NHS bursary but you will not be eligible for the bursaries and scholarships described in the Sheffield Hallam University Bursary Scheme. For more information on NHS bursaries visit www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students/4002.aspx
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees and funding see www.shu.ac.uk/study/ug/fees-and-funding
• examinations • project work • coursework • case studies • assessment of nursing practice in the clinical area
This course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Graduates are eligible to apply to register with them. You must be registered with the NMC in order to practise as a nurse in the UK.
Key Information Set 
Debbie Loukes
 NURSING STUDIES(CHILD)[1].jpg)
BA Nursing - Child Nursing, 2010 graduate
'My lecturers and the staff supporting my course are very good. I like the fact that my lecturers are still working in the hospitals as well as teaching. This way it feels like they really know what modern practice is.
'The facilities in place like the learning centre are also really good. I find the staff in the learning centre most helpful! They are always willing to help you out, even with things like referencing.
'I would advise prospective students if they come to join some sports clubs and societies. I never settled in properly when I was a fresher until I joined the music society at the Union. I am now part of lots of different groups within the Union through which I have made a lot of good friends.'
Gail Beeston
BA (Honours) Nursing Studies - Adult, final year
'I chose to study in Sheffield for a number of reasons really! Firstly it was the closest university to home so I thought it would be convenient if I had to travel home for anything. Secondly, I really fell in love with the facilities and staff on the open day, I felt very welcome. Finally, the university is close to the peak district which is great for me because I love the outdoors.
'As a nurse I get to use all the equipment open to everyone such as computers. I have also been able to use specialist equipment such as Simman and Simbaby which was useful and less embarrassing than having to practice on your course mates. I have also been able to use the blood pressure machines, oxymeters and thermometers as well as having access to biomedical labs where we used microscopes and machines that tell you how clean your hands are.
'In terms of facilities preparing you for the workplace or placement, nothing can ever be as good as the real thing, but it helps to practice before you go out on placement because you can get the embarrassment of making mistakes out of the way. We are always supervised when using the facilities related to the course.
'The things I like most about Sheffield are the food, entertainment and travel is relatively cheap for a city. Sheffield has a great atmosphere and there's always lots to do with, regular fairs, concerts and activities in the parks. It has good transport links with all major cities with quick travel down to London. The people in Sheffield are really friendly too.'
Kathryn Braisdell
BA Nursing Studies – Adult, Child or Mental Health Nursing, 2010 graduate, child nursing
'I chose Sheffield Hallam after enjoying an open day, where I got to talk to different students about their experiences and see the excellent courses and equipment they have for nursing students.
'I have always wanted to be a child nurse as long as I can remember, but what confirmed it for me was having a gap year in South Africa. While I was there I worked with children in many different settings and helped in a disabled centre. It was a great experience but I felt if I was a qualified nurse I could help these children so much more.
'The best thing on my course for me is having placements. I love being able to put theory into practice and getting hands-on experience. I've worked in many different settings including accident and emergency, theatre and community.
'Placements have allowed me to grow in confidence, become an effective communicator and prepare me for my future in nursing. Another good thing about child nursing is that because it is a small group, you get to know all the people from your course and make some great friends.
'I believe the University offers a huge amount of resources to help you along the course. The learning centre has everything you need from books to computers to current journals to laptop hire, and the staff are normally always willing to help.'
Profiles
Debbie Loukes
BA Nursing - Child Nursing, 2010 graduate
 NURSING STUDIES(CHILD)thumb.jpg)
Gail Beeston
BA (Honours) Nursing Studies - Adult, final year
Kathryn Braisdell
BA Nursing Studies – Adult, Child or Mental Health Nursing, 2010 graduate, child nursing
Mock operating theatre
Mock theatre at our Collegiate Campus gives students a hands-on experience as it would be in a real hospital.
Mock hospital ward
The mock hospital ward at our Collegiate Campus gives students a hands on experience as it would be in a real hospital.
Course benefits (1:28)
View a video explaining more about the benefits of this course and studying nursing with us.
Together in the real world of health and social care
Our health and social care courses place a strong emphasis on interprofessional learning. This means that you train alongside practitioners from other health professions. So, depending on your course you could spend time working alongside
• nurses
• midwives
• operating department practitioners
This gives you a fresh perspective on situations. And it also prepares you for the real world. Collaboration between health professionals is increasing as organisations try to provide a more integrated and effective service. At Sheffield Hallam we understand that by working together we can we give the best possible care.
