Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (Mental Health)


Institution code	H36
Course length	Full Time, 3 Years
Location	University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Entry requirements

UCAS points A Level BTEC
112-120 BBC-BBB DMM-DDM: in health and social care or other health related subject

Additional requirements

A Levels: at least 112 UCAS tariff points that include two A Levels.
Or
BTEC Diploma: 112 (equivalent tariff, depending on the field) in a health-related subject.
BTEC National Certificate: 112 (equivalent tariff, depending on the field) in a health and social care or a health-related subject.
Access to Nursing Course: 112 (equivalent tariff).
GCSE: grade C/4 or above (or equivalent), to include English and mathematics. Science is required for some fields.
Shortened APL routes
English and Mathematics GCSE grade C/4 or equivalent.
The completion of a foundation degree in health care is achieved while working as a health care assistant/support worker or an equivalent academic qualification and/or relevant practice experience.
Successful accreditation of any prior learning and/or practice experience against the current programme outcomes.
All offers will be subject to the applicant's demonstration of the NHS constitution's 'Values and Behaviours', satisfactory interviews, numeracy and literacy tests, health screening and the Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) checks. You can view the full NHS Constitution for England on the Government website.

UCAS points	A Level	BTEC
112-120	BBC-BBB	DMM-DDM: in health and social care or other health related subject

About the course

Apprenticeship Standard: Registered Nurse

Final Award: BSc (Hons) Nursing

Nurses are the largest profession working in mental health services. With a quarter of the population thought to have some form of mental health issues, it's clear that nurses have an essential role in supporting people. As a mental health nurse, you’ll have the vital and challenging role of establishing therapeutic relationships with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and age groups. This pre-registration course gives you the essential skills to make evidence-based interventions and provide care, while respecting and valuing the aspirations of individuals with mental health challenges.

A career as a Nurse means working with a variety of service users, families and carers, and with a range of health and care professionals and other agencies, to give care, advice and support to sick, injured or disabled people.

This programme enables apprentices to develop a set of core skills and knowledge, with specialisms in adult nursing, children’s nursing, mental health and learning disabilities. Apprentices are able to choose their preference.

Why choose this course?

Mental Health Nursing is a highly skilled, rewarding and caring profession where you can make a real difference to people’s lives.
Gain a well rounded understanding of all factions of the nursing profession, whilst being able to specialise in your chosen field and develop your critical, analytical and reflective skills.
Graduates of this programme will be entitled to apply to enter the professional register of the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the field of Mental Health.
Those who have successfully completed a Level 5 qualification in nursing (or a related subject), are eligible to undertake a two year top up version of this Level 6 qualification, through Accredited Prior Learning (APL).

Level 4

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Key Concepts, Theories and Debates for Mental Health Nursing	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module will examine a range of supporting theoretical and policy perspectives on the nature of mental health, mental illness and wellbeing. Students will explore how contributions from psychology, sociology and philosophy inform our understanding of the evolving, contested and constructed notions of mental health, mental illness, and mental wellbeing.
Communication and Relationship Management Skills for Nursing	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module will develop students' existing communication skills in line with the relevant nursing standards. It will enable students to develop their skills in searching and evaluating the literature, critical reading and writing skills aiding students to formulate and communicate scholarly arguments and ideas.
Therapeutic Communication for Mental Health	15 Credits	Compulsory
Students will build upon their empathetic and therapeutic communication skills so that they can effectively engage with a range of service users, families, and carers in different therapeutic situations. Students will learn about counselling and therapeutic interactions that can be used to support service user engagement and recovery.
Foundations of Health and Wellbeing	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module will examine bioscientific and professional concepts that underpin nursing practice. It will address how these inform nursing care and health and wellbeing. It will also consider wider social, political and economic issues and their impact on health and care delivery.
Mental Health Nursing Professional Practice 1	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module will enable students explore their learning and progression as they begin their journey of becoming a registered mental health nurse. Structured learning activities will facilitate inquiry skills and solution building through experiential learning. Students will attend a range of practice placements during the year that this module runs.
Skills for Professional and Academic Development	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module is designed to develop the academic skills required for higher education and equip students with the ability to identify their learning and development needs. It will facilitate the acquisition of values, knowledge and skills that are essential for learning and effective independent study.

Level 5

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Developing Health and Wellbeing	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module builds on the knowledge acquired in Fundamentals of Health and Wellbeing. While the focus on the professional aspects of nursing practice continues, ideas of health and wellbeing alongside the social and political context of health and wellbeing are further examined. The focus on bioscience shifts to the pharmacological aspects of health and wellbeing.
Essentials of Mental Health Nursing	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module encompasses key elements surrounding recovery-focused care, collaborative working, and evidence-based practice. Learners will develop understanding of person-centred, compassionate care, through research, analysis and critical reflection of theoretical constructs, models, and legislation. Whilst building upon key professional values and ethical principles, to apply these skills in practice.
Research and the Evidence Base for Mental Health Nursing	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module focuses on research and evidence as well as its potential impact on mental health nursing. Students will develop ability to access and systematically search the literature from a range of sources, recognising the multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder contribution to research. A key focus of this module is recognition of the centrality of users and carers in the research agenda and how their engagement is shaping the conduct and output generated by research.
Mental Health Nursing Practice 2	30 Credits	Compulsory
Patient risk assessment and care planning as well as reflection is practised through simulated learning in a realistic environment using authentic case scenarios to develop skills and knowledge required for practice. The module content is tailored to support knowledge and development of skills to practice safety at the level of 2nd year student nurse in clinical practice and which are reflected in the Part 2 PAD requirements.

Level 6

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Enhancing Health & Social Care through Inter-professional Education	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module is designed to give students further opportunities of working in multi-professional groups in order to improve understanding across professional boundaries and encourage collaborative learning and working that will bring benefit to patient/service-users. The justification for inclusion of inter-professional working within health care is addressed. The module requires students to bring specialist in-depth knowledge of their profession and professional codes of conduct to a group setting so that health and social care pathways are critically reviewed in the context of professional practice.
Imagination and Innovation in Evidence Based Nursing Practice	30 Credits	Compulsory
Students on this module will be supported to create an evidence-based proposal to effect positive change in service delivery. It represents an exciting opportunity for students to engage in a negotiated work-based practice project proposal that will encourage them to focus upon a practice issue of personal and professional interest.
Medicines Management for Mental Health Nursing	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module will equip students to develop a critical understanding, awareness and skills related to medicines used within mental health care. Students' knowledge and competence in medication management will allow them to effectively apply this in their practice.
Leading and Managing Mental Health Nursing Care	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module will enhance your leadership skills, critical thinking, and grasp of mental health dynamics. Leadership models and theoretical approaches will be examined. These deal with uncertainty, and complexity and impact of technology for effective collaboration and resilience building to promote better service user outcomes.
Mental Health Nursing Practice 3	30 Credits	Compulsory
Simulated learning, which reflect the proficiencies of the Practice Assessment Document Part 3, is included in this module which aims to build on previous, year 1 and 2 practice modules. Students will be supported to transfer skills learnt through simulation into practice, reflect on professional development, and achieve practice learning outcomes.
Final Numeracy Exam	0 Credits	Compulsory
Using both lecture based teaching and online resources this module intends to enable the student to develop knowledge of the formulae used for calculating medication dosages for both enteral and parenteral medicine administration.

Professional Accreditations

Entitlement to apply to enter the professional register of the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Registered Nurse (Mental Health).

Careers

Following successful completion of the programme, apprentices will be entitled to apply for registration as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the Branch of Nursing in which they have specialised.

Areas in which apprentices can be employed include:

acute services within the NHS
a range of community settings including general or specialised community nursing
acute care or Hospice Care

What job can I get?

The course entitles you to apply for registration as a mental health nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. This opens up a range of fascinating and rewarding career options for both work and advancement in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, community practice, individuals’ homes and rehabilitation units. There are a variety of mental health fields a registered nurse can pursue a career in and these include; Staff Nurse, Community Mental Health Nurse, Crisis Nurse, Nurse Practitioners or Specialists, Modern Matrons and Consultant Nurse. Some individuals advance to become senior managers, researchers and educators.

100% of our mental health nursing students go on to employment or further study within 6 months of graduating.

Course fact sheets
BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) (Degree Apprenticeship)	Download

Programme specifications
BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) (Degree Apprenticeship)	Download

Additional information
Sandwich placement or study abroad year	n/a
Applications open to international and EU students	No

Dates

2025

Start Date	End Date	Year	Location	Link
17/09/2025	30/09/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Full Time)
21/01/2026	31/01/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Full Time)

2026

Start Date	End Date	Year	Location	Link
17/09/2026	30/09/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Full Time)
21/01/2027	31/01/2028	1	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Full Time)

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