It is clear that mental health nursing is a very rewarding career which requires a variety of skills, training and experience in order to perform well in the role. For anyone who is considering a career in mental health nursing there is certainly no shortage of options.
Becoming an expert in mental health begins with obtaining the qualifications necessary, in order to enter into a nursing degree course. Entry requirements can vary depending on the university, but usually most require A-level students at many subjects.
If you are interested in a career in mental health nursing, then we share the ways in which you too can get there.
Why Mental Health Nursing?
The majority of people who are interested in this career path choose it as they are keen to help many people right across society, and the appeal is very strong to do so. Mental health nurses can help people from every background, whether they are older and suffering from loneliness and depression, to local residents at GP surgery or even those in A&E. The role is so variable and is exciting for a young specialist in this area.
First Steps To A Career in Mental Health Nursing
If you are interested in following this specific career path, the first thing you will require is your high school leaving certificate with at least a good grade in Maths, English and a science based subject.
The next step is to take a look and research which university is offering a good degree in Mental Health Nursing. There are many universities which offer this degree. Universities such as SCU, Southern Cross University for example even offer complete Master of mental health nursing entirely online!
Finding work experience at the same time as studying might even help to give you a bit more knowledge of what working in this role is really like. If you decide to study the Master degree online, you may even have more time to dedicate to a part-time role.
After Graduation
When you finally graduate from your course, you will then be looking to register with the Nursing and Midwifery council, or regulatory body in your country. This is what leads you to finding the perfect role as you will be registered and working to the best standards possible, and a lot more employable.
Once you have carried this out, you may start applying for any specific roles that you are interested in and could see yourself working in. This could be within both the public and private sector, whether in the prison service, with mental health charities, hospitals and also local authority services.
To Summarise
Becoming a mental health nurse is a very challenging and rewarding job as you are out to help those who are most vulnerable and who really need your help. In this role you can truly make a difference to someone’s life, and if you are a caring individual who is interested in well-being and health, then this career might just be for you.
