Psychiatric Nursing

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:

• QQI FET/FETAC Entry
• Advanced Entry - Years 2,3,4 or 5
• Non-EU Applicants
• Mature Entry Route

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.