Nursing (Specialist Mental Health Nursing Practice)

University College Cork

Overview

This Nursing (Specialist Mental Health Nursing Practice) programme  from University College Cork is delivered using an innovative blended learning model which includes online and face-to-face teaching and learning. This will facilitate mental health nurses in engaging with lifelong personal and professional development through flexible modes of learning.

On successful completion of this programme, Specialist Mental Health Nursing students should be able to achieve a number of learning outcomes including the following:

• Understand and critically evaluate the theories, concepts, and principles underpinning specialist mental health nursing practice in order to actively contribute to the development of person-centred, co-produced and recovery-oriented services through critical reflection, innovation, and leadership;

• Critically appraise, evaluate, and apply current research and best practice evidence when working with people experiencing mental health problems;

• Identify and critically evaluate ethical issues and work with service users, family, friends, carers, supporters and other health care professionals;

• Challenge and question values, beliefs, and policies underpinning mental health care at the individual, team, and organisational level;

• Develop knowledge of and skills in implementing and managing change, leadership, research, audit, quality care and inter-agency working, in order to initiate nursing-related practice developments, which will lead to the provision of high-quality care for people experiencing distress;

• Develop specialist clinical competence and practice, using a recovery approach, to ensure that the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of person-centred care and clinical decision-making is based on best practice and evidence and supported through clinical supervision and practice development;

• Act as a means of professional support, educator, and role model for the facilitation of lifelong learning to ensure ongoing professional development in self and others.