Study mental health nursing abroad

Mental Health Nursing program structure

To qualify as a registered mental health nurse, you’ll need to complete a bachelor’s degree. These are normally offered as a BSc or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). Undergraduate programs typically take three or four years of study, depending on your university and country.

If you’re hoping to become a nurse practitioner or a clinical nurse specialist, you must enroll in a two-year master of science in nursing (MSN) degree.

After finishing your MSN, it’s possible to pursue a doctoral degree. Doctor of nursing practice (DNP) programs require students to participate in research projects alongside their clinical practice. Most DNP programs take an additional three or four years of work.

To gain a robust understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of mental health nursing, you’ll spend half of your time working with medical professionals in clinical settings. The other 50% of your time will be dedicated to lectures, seminars, tutorials, and practical workshops.

Programs around the world can differ quite substantially in terms of content and structure, so it’s best to do your research and make sure you choose the course and university that reflects your ambitions. However, most mental health nursing programs will address these core topics:

• Fundamentals of care and professional practice
• Mental health ethics and law
• Evidence-based practice
• Biopsychosocial aspects of mental health
• Mental health and contemporary society
• Assessment and care planning
• Psychopharmacology and medication management
• Interventions and helping approaches in mental health nursing