Module Descriptors

This module will provide the student with the opportunity to care for people with a range of healthcare needs in order to promote positive outcomes for individuals. It will allow further development of critical decision-making skills within a multidisciplinary care team.

The practice element will allow the student to demonstrate an increasing degree of independence. The student will be supported to take the lead in relation to assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating safe and effective person-centred care, taking cognisance of professional and legislative requirements within mental health care delivery.

The module includes a six week theory block followed by a twelve week practice placement theory block, four weeks of which will be spent in a "wider experience" setting.

• Sessions will focus on the experiences of people living with common mental health conditions, such as major affective disorders, psychotic disorders, anxiety, personality disorders, substance abuse and dementia. Programme threads of Learning Disability, Dementia, Law and Safeguarding, Digital Health Technology, Palliative and End of Life Care and Trauma will also inform the module content.


• The pathophysiology and symptomology of the conditions will be explored, as well as the impact of social, environmental and childhood experiences on the individual.


• Evidence based practice, including assessments and treatment guidelines, such as SIGN guidelines, will be critically appraised for each condition.


• Mental Health Nursing skills will be developed by way of role play and group discussion. In particular, the focus will be to to encourage the students to work towards being independent practitioners.


• Where possible community groups and guest speakers will be included to add depth and an understanding to the impact on the wider community, including carers. The role of other professionals including the third sector will also considered and the nurses’ role within the multidisciplinary team. Mental health legislation will also be appraised with a focus on person centred care.


• The module will be supported by a twelve week practice learning experience including a four week wider experience placement. Students will maintain an e-Portfolio (TURAS) to reflect the application of theory to practice. Academic support and development will be offered as part of the Tutorial/Synchronous Support activity and Personal Development Planning.


• Students will have opportunity in placement experience to apply knowledge and understanding of mechanisms of drug interactions and adverse drug reactions to medicines optimisation, medicines administered and clinical practice, (BiNE, LO9 & 10, 11). Specific Annexe A & B skills for this module are detailed in the programme skills schedule and preload is related to assessment, formulation, care planning and clinical decision making and communication for approaches such as psychoeducation and concordance.

On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:

L1. Critically apply life science knowledge to the pathophysiology and symptomology of common mental health conditions.

L2. Critically appraise the evidence base for the principles and practice of mental health nursing, including the epidemiology and aetiology of the major conditions affecting individuals.

L3. Analyse, synthesise and evaluate the assessment and management of complex health needs and nursing interventions required to promote positive outcomes.

L4. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the health and social care agenda by appraising its impact on people and the wider community.

L5. Demonstrate evidence of achievement of the required standards of proficiency associated with your professional discipline.

Knowledge of the pathology and symptomatology of common mental health problems including the epidemiology and aetiology of the major conditions affecting individuals.

Knowledge of the relevant professional, ethical and legal issues which influence mental health care.

Knowledge of assessment and care management of common mental health problems.
Ongoing achievement with the research process.

Communicating effectively with inter-professional and inter-agency disciplines.
Ensuring patient safety and clinical governance procedures are followed.

Identifying and applying evidence based practice to the provision of nursing care.

Utilising literature search strategies and appraisal skills to critically evaluate the evidence base of the student’s chosen topic/issue, including the implications of the findings for practice.

Critically reflecting and evaluating the principles of professional practice required to achieve the NMC Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses (NMC, 2018.)

Demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the scope of professional and multi-disciplinary values and practice.

Reflecting and evaluating own responses to differing problems and issues with an increasing and varying level of complexity.

Demonstrating the ability to make safe informed, care management decisions.

Effective communication, numeracy and IT skills that support safe and effective nursing practice.

This may include developing and evaluating the use of
- Care plans
- Nursing notes
- Integrated care pathways
- Multi-disciplinary team meetings
- Drug administration
- Relevant risk assessment tools

Progressively demonstrating increased proficiency in relation to numeracy including, databases, rating scales and the ability to present logical and coherent information using graphs.

Appraising the complexities of partnership working with users, carers and other agencies.

Utilising initiative in response to the needs of people with mental health care needs within accepted professional boundaries and personal and professional practice limitations.

Accountability for personal and professional maintenance and development.

Critically evaluating and justifying the clinical decisions made in the delivery of care within a variety of contemporary health care environments.

Exercising knowledge and skills in effective delegation and the supervision of others within acceptable practice boundaries and contributing to team reflection and supervision activities to promote improvement in nursing practice..

Developing a self confidence and self awareness of strengths that celebrate difference and will enhance employability.

The following materials form essential underpinning for the module content and ultimately for the learning outcomes:

In line with the Academic Engagement Procedure, Students are defined as academically engaged if they are regularly engaged with timetabled teaching sessions, course-related learning resources including those in the Library and on the relevant learning platform, and complete assessments and submit these on time. Please refer to the Academic Engagement Procedure at the following link: Academic engagement procedure

Where a module has Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body requirements these will be listed here:
Students are deemed to be academically engaged if they are engage with synchronous teaching sessions as well as asynchronous workshops/groupwork and e-learning materials on the VLE. Engagement with the assessment process is also required and these should be submitted on time.


100% attendance in Practice Placement areas is required by the end of the programme to meet NMC requirements. In this module students may be assessed if at least 70% of the practice learning experience is met.

1.07

1. More than one assessment method can be used to assess individual learning outcomes.
2. Schools are responsible for determining student contact hours. Please refer to University Policy on contact hours (extract contained within section 10 of the Module Descriptor guidance note).
   This will normally be variable across Schools, dependent on Programmes &/or Professional requirements.