What is Psychiatric Nursing?
Psychiatric/Mental Health nursing is a specialist field within the health care profession. It involves an interpersonal caring process which acknowledges the uniqueness of each person. The psychiatric nurse is concerned with the promotion of mental health, the prevention of mental illness and the provision of care to those with mental health problems.
Reasons to Choose this Course
- Nursing is an excellent choice for students interested in a healthcare career. Because human beings are complex, careers in nursing are amongst the most challenging; they are also some of the most rewarding.
- The Psychiatric Nursing Course is delivered in a purpose-built, state-of-the-art learning environment and students undertake clinical practice in hospitals around the south east region.
- You will be taught over four years through a model that we call KSVSE (Knowledge, Science, Values and Attitudes, Skills and Experience).
- Successfully completing all aspects of the course allows you to register as a Psychiatric Nurse with An Bord Altranais.
Clinical Placements
Clinical experience is an essential element of the course in order to register as a psychiatric nurse. There are over 80 weeks of clinical placement throughout the course including a 36 week continuous internship placement in year four. Students will be accommodated on clinical placements in Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow and South Tipperary.
Mature Applicants
- Mature Applicants must apply using CAO code SE914
- Mature Applicants for this and other nursing courses must apply by 1 February. Late applications will not be accepted.
- Please note that the course content is exactly the same for mature and non-mature students.
Year 1
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Anatomy & Physiology 1 | Altered Mood & Perception |
| Fundamental Nursing Skills & Psychiatric Nursing Experience | Anatomy & Physiology 2 |
| Introduction to Psychiatric Nursing | Health & Psychosocial Studies 1 |
| Learning to Learn | Introduction to Evidence Based Practice 1 |
| Personal & Professional Development | Medication Management 1 |
| Professional & Personal Safety 1 | Psychiatric Nursing Experience 2 |
Year 2
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
|---|---|
| Child & Adolescent Mental Health Disorders | Ethical, Legal & Political Issues in Mental Health Nursing |
| Essential Nursing Skills: Specialist Groups | Evidence Based Practice 2 |
| Health & Psychosocial Studies 2 | Nursing Mental Health Conditions in the Adult |
| Introduction to Pathphysiology (Psychiatric) | Psychiatric Nursing Experience 4 |
| Nursing the Personal with a Physical Illness | Psychiatric Nursing & Medication Management |
| Psychiatric Nursing Experience 3 |
Year 3
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
|---|---|
| Neuroendocrine Pathophysiology | Evidence Based Practice 3 |
| Nursing Experience 5 | Integrated Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing Skills 1 |
| Nursing Psychiatric Disorders in Later Life | Management & Leadership in Healthcare |
| Psychiatric Medication Management | Professional and Patient Safety |
| Recovery and Social Inclusion | Psychiatric Nursing Experience |
| Substance Misuse, Addictions & Nursing Interventions |
Year 4
| Semester 7 | Semester 8 |
|---|---|
| Contemporary Issues in Acute & Community Setting | Consolidation of Knowledge, Science, Values and Attitudes, Skills and Experience through Clinical Internship. This is a 36 week placement within the South East. |
| Health & Psychosocial Studies 3 | |
| Integrated Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing Skills 2 | |
| Nurse as Educator in Pratice/Preceptorship | |
| Pre-internship Nursing Experience 7 |
Leaving Cert: Minimum entry requirements for BSc (Hons) in Psychiatric Nursing
2 subjects: H5
4 subjects: O6/H7
English or Irish: O6/H7
Mathematics: O6/H7
Science: 06/H7
- A laboratory science subject (biology, physics, chemistry, physics & chemistry (joint) or agricultural science).
- Three other subjects (may include Irish or English and a laboratory science subject not included already) or have equivalent second level educational qualifications to the foregoing.
- The minimum educational requirements may be accumulated over not more than two sittings of the leaving certificate examination or an equivalent examination.
Advanced and Equivalent Entry:
Additional Applicant Requirements
1. Fitness to Practice - All applicants will be required to undergo a full medical examination, to establish that they are medically fit to take up the profession of nursing.
2. Garda Clearance - All applicants will be required to complete Garda Vetting Application Forms. Please note the following with regard to vetting procedures once registered with SETU:
- Applicants will be provided with relevant forms and documentatioon for vetting within Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.
- It is mandatory for applicants who have resided abroad for a period greater than 6 months since the age of 12 years to provide SETU Waterford with a Police Clearance Certificate from those countries.
- Clinical placements can only be arranged for students on receipt of satisfactory clearance.
- Further information re Garda/Police clearance is available from the Nurse Allocations Office, SETU Waterford at 051 845601.
Graduates of the BSc (Hons) in Psychiatric Nursing may apply for positions at staff nurse grade within the Irish healthcare sector. Universally Irish nurses are highly regarded by other countries thus enhancing work opportunities.
Postgraduate Opportunities
Following qualification it is possible to specialise in a number of areas within psychiatric nursing - Cognitive Therapy, Behavioural Therapy, Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, Eating Disorders, Psychiatric Nursing of Old Age, Forensic Psychiatric Nursing, Addiction Counselling at Higher Diploma or MSc level. Alternatively graduates may choose to pursue advanced studies in nursing education or nursing management.
Practice Placements at SETU
Practice placements are a vital part of your nursing education. In line with European directives and NMBI requirements, students complete a minimum of 81 weeks of supervised clinical experience over the four-year programme. SETU offers a wide network of high-quality placement sites across Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, and Carlow, including both HSE and voluntary services, with additional specialist placements available for some programmes. These placements provide diverse acute and community learning environments where you can apply theory to practice, develop professional values and achieve the competencies required for entry to the nursing register. All placements are planned and coordinated by the Nurse Allocations Office to ensure they meet national standards and support your development as a safe, caring and competent practitioner.
Psychiatric Nursing
This episode focuses on Psychiatric (also known as Mental Health) Nursing, a specialist field within in the health care profession. We’ll hear the many ways in which mental health nurses can utilise their skills and qualifications, as well as delving into the attributes that are important for the roles available.The panel on this podcast comprises Dr Colman Noctor, a lecturer on the course at SETU, fellow lecturer and graduate of Psychiatric Nursing at SETU Eleanor Kirwan, and current 2nd year student Eoin Dowling.
Listen on podcasts.setu.ieStories
Course Leader
Ms Miriam Farrell
Lecturer in Nursing & Programmer Leader for BSc in Psychiatric Nursing -
Call: +35351306150
Email: [email protected]
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