Mental Health Nursing

Making the move into the specialised field of mental health nursing can help you develop a rewarding and challenging career. As a mental health nurse, you work with people who suffer from a wide range of mental health disorders and psychological distress.

Designed to equip you with the latest research and theory in contemporary mental health nursing and clinical practice, the Master of Mental Health Nursing at the University of Newcastle will build your knowledge in key areas of nursing and health. At the end of your studies you will be eligible to apply for accreditation with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.

As this area of expertise continues to develop, new models of care are established. A postgraduate qualification will equip you with the latest models of care. This program is particularly suited to those looking to specialise in the area of mental health and is delivered predominantly online.

With one in four Australians with a mental health problem, there is increasing demand for skilled nurses. Helping people deal with the challenges associated with managing mental health issues can provide a very rewarding career as you work to help patients manage their illness and medication, set and achieve life goals and care for their wellbeing.

Our advanced online learning system provides you with the flexibility and support to study anytime, anywhere to balance work, life and study. You can work towards completing the Master of Mental Health Nursing at a time that suits you.

Explore this page and find out if the Master of Mental Health Nursing is for you, what you will study and the career opportunities it can provide you

Description

The Master of Mental Health Nursing is intended for Registered Nurses wishing to undertake a specialist qualification in Mental Health Nursing. The main focus of the program is on clinical practice in an area of mental health service provision. In addition to providing foundational studies in Mental Health Nursing, the program also provides opportunities to study issues and topics of particular interest such as dual diagnosis, psycho-social and psycho-educational interventions, mental health care for older people, illness management and recovery and mental health in primary care.

Career Opportunities

Employment as mental health nurses in a range of services locations. Mental health nurses work in a wide variety of service locations, in both the public and private sectors. The discipline is rapidly developing with new models of care being developed in areas such as rural mental health, child and adolescent mental health, mental health nursing in emergency departments and mental health nursing in primary care (general practice).

This year long course (full-time) will see you emerge as a well-rounded nurse in the area of mental health, with the ability to apply your knowledge and skills in a variety of mental health care areas in the public or private sector.

To successfully complete the Master of Mental Health Nursing, you must undertake an ongoing arrangement for mentoring/clinical supervision by a suitably qualified and experienced registered nurse.

The program not only focuses on foundation studies in mental health nursing, but offers you the opportunity to strengthen your clinical practice in areas such as:

• the delivery of psycho-social and psycho-educational interventions
• mental health care for older people
• illness management and recovery
• mental health in primary care
• forensic mental health.

You will also learn how and where the mental health nurse can play a role in a clinical context, including the provision of services such as:

• medication education, management and compliance monitoring
• liaising between GPs and psychiatrists
• supporting and providing interventions post discharge from a mental health service
• monitoring of mood, suicide and self-harm tendencies
• counselling to manage and contain psychological distress

All of this can be studied via specialised courses such as mental health emergency care, managing challenging behaviour, therapeutic engagement and psychosocial interventions, aged and acute care, forensic mental health and symptom management in clinical practice.

The program has been developed to provide you with a balanced and effective theoretical and practical knowledge applicable to real world environments and situations.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) entry levels:AQF Level 8 applicants will possess a Bachelor of Nursing degree and Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing or related studies Currently hold a practicing certificate with an authorised registration authorityAQF Level 7 applicants will possess a Bachelor of Nursing degree with a minimum of 3 years continuous practice within a specialist area of nursingCurrently hold a practicing certificate with an authorised registration authorityProvide a portfolio demonstrating advanced continuing professional development and education in a specialist area of nursing and related professional areas.AQF Level 6 applicants will possess an Advanced Diploma (hospital based training equivalent) with a minimum of 8> years-experienceCurrently hold a practicing certificate with an authorised registration authorityProvide a portfolio demonstrating advanced continuing professional development and education in a specialist area of nursing and related professional areas. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5

Accreditation

The University of Newcastle has designed the Master of Mental Health Nursing to enable you to be eligible for employment as registered nurses in mental health nursing positions with capacity for you to undertake advanced nursing level roles. Graduates of the program are eligible to seek to be credentialed as mental health nurses under the Credentialing for Practice Program of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.