This four-year, ab initio honours degree offered by TUS in conjunction with its Associated Healthcare Providers and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. This programme has been developed in response to the changing mental health needs of the Irish public. It incorporates the study of theoretical and practice-based modules. Students will be exposed to classroom teaching and taught placements in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings, primarily within the Longford/Westmeath Mental Health Services and the Laois/Offaly Mental Health Services.
You will undertake 1,740 hours of theoretical study and 2,925 hours of clinical placement over the four years. This programme in psychiatric nurse education will provide you with a substantive knowledge base and facilitate the development of professional skills that will enable you to respond constructively to mental healthcare needs. Successful completion of the programme leads to the award of a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Nursing in Mental Health Nursing from TUS and registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) allows you to work as a mental health nurse nationally and internationally.
TUS uses the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) to assess the suitability of applicants for placement within this programme. This is due to the considerable amount of placements undertaken with children and vulnerable groups in society. Therefore, offers to this programme are conditional and could subsequently be withdrawn if applicants do not meet the Garda vetting requirements.
Vaccinations Alert for all Nursing and Healthcare students, please note that
(1) As health care students, vaccinations may be advocated not only in the interest of the individual student, but also as a protection to health service users and workers, some of whom may have medical vulnerabilities. Getting vaccinated helps to protect people around students, particularly people at increased risk for severe illness from certain viruses.
(2) Access to educational opportunities in some healthcare settings may not be granted to healthcare students if they are not and will not agree to vaccination that is not otherwise contraindicated. In many instances it may not be possible for the Higher Educational Institutions to provide alternative training/educational opportunities to replace this access. As placements are a critical component of nursing programmes and are regulated Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland requirements, this in turn may delay progression through and potential completion of a nursing educational programme at TUS.
