Mental Health Nursing is a demanding but rewarding career choice. In this blog, we'll discuss what being a Mental Health Nurse entails, how to become one, and what support is available to you if you choose this degree path.
What do Mental Health Nurses do?
The role of a Mental Health Nurse is to build effective relationships with patients who use mental health services and also their relatives or carers, whether that’s helping them to take their medication correctly, or advising about relevant therapies or social activities.
For some people, mental health issues can be triggered by an event such as divorce, death, birth, substance abuse or changes in circumstances at work. Others are affected by long term chronic conditions which need to be managed throughout their lives, so it's important to be aware of all of the factors that may feed into mental health conditions and why they exist.
You should be able to establish trusting relationships quickly, to help the individual understand their situation and get the best possible outcome. You’ll also be trained to understand the legal context of your work and be able to identify whether and when someone may be at risk of hurting themselves or someone else.
Helping people manage their mental health is every bit as valuable and satisfying as caring for those with physical illnesses.
Responsibilities
Some of the tasks you may be expected to do on a daily basis include:
- Assess patients by discussing their mental health conditions with them
- Provide treatment to patients and ensure medications are correctly administered
- Work to understand the source of patients’ disorders
- Conduct one-on-one therapy sessions
- Prepare patients’ records and maintain them effectively
- Conduct risk assessments on patients
- Monitor their progress with their family
- Ensure all legal requirements are complied with
Where will I work?
Mental Health Nurses can be based in hospitals or the community, as this is where the majority of mental healthcare is offered. Wherever you work, you may be required to do shifts to provide round the clock care.
In a hospital role, you may work in:
- Psychiatric intensive care unit
- Psychiatric ward
- Outpatient unit
- Specialist unit dealing with eating disorders
In the community, you may work in:
- GP surgery
- Prison
- Community healthcare centre
- Residential centre
- In patients’ own homes
Mental Health Nursing Courses
Find out more about this course
Characteristics and traits
To become a Mental Health Nurse, your personality and communication skills are crucial. You’ll be warm, engaging and be able to teach patients to fight the social stigma of mental health issues, which can be as hard to overcome as the condition itself. Thinking on your feet and staying calm are also useful traits for a Mental Health Nurse. The skills you’ll use on a daily basis include:
- Problem solving
- Using good judgement
- Offering advice
- Interpersonal communication.
What do our Mental Health Nursing staff and students think?
“I think a great thing my course has taught me is that I am now more mature in my outlook to life, I have realised that instead of taking things at face value, I am now more analytical. I no longer get offended quickly by people’s behaviour; I’m more understanding of the intricate influences of past experiences on people’s presenting behaviours.”
- Portia Nyamakanga, BSc Mental Health Nursing student.
“Over 20 years I've worked in the community with adults with chronic mental health problems, inpatient rehab with adults, older people with dementia and I've supported adults with learning disabilities living in the community too. Regardless of where I've worked, no two days were ever the same and every day has been an opportunity to build on relationships and support people to live their best lives. I've had a great career and if you like working with people, being a mental health nurse might be for you”
- Philip Jones, Senior Lecture in BSc Mental Health Nursing
How do I become a Mental Health Nurse?
If you’re looking to become a Mental Health Nurse, it’s a professional qualification so you’ll need to study at degree level. Whether you choose to take on a degree, or an apprenticeship, is up to you.
Entry requirements will vary depending on how and where you would like to study. See our entry requirements on the course page.
Support to study Nursing
Mental Health Nursing is an NHS funded course and offers financial benefits that other courses do not get. Nursing student will receive at least £5,000 a year, with further funding available.