Mental Health Nurse

Typical Salary

£24,907 To £44,503

Typical Hours

37 to 38 a week

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How To Become a Mental Health Nurse

You can get into this job through:

a university course
an apprenticeship
a specialist course run by a professional body

College / University

You can do a degree in mental health nursing approved by the Nursing & Midwifery Council.

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science

2 or 3 A levels, including a science, or a level 3 diploma or access to higher education in

Apprenticeship

You may be able to do a degree apprenticeship in nursing if you work in a healthcare setting like a hospital.

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

Other Routes

You may be able to qualify through an 18-month mental health nursing conversion course if you're already a registered nurse in a different branch. You'll need to speak to your employer if you want to do this.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of psychology
knowledge of medicine and dentistry
counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
customer service skills
sensitivity and understanding
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
the ability to work well with others
excellent verbal communication skills
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

As part of your daily duties, you may:

assess and supporting patients
encourage patients to take part in role play, art, drama and discussion as therapies
provide physical care, if the patient is too old or ill to look after themselves
give medication

Working Environment

You could work at a health centre, at an adult care home, in an NHS or private hospital, at a client's home, at a GP practice or in a prison.

Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career Path & Progression

With experience you could become a sister or ward manager and be responsible for running a ward or team of nurses in the community. You could go on to become matron or director of nursing.

With further study and experience, you could become an advanced nurse practitioner (ANP), clinical nurse specialist (CNS) or nurse consultant. Consultants work directly and independently with patients, carry out research and develop and give training.

You could also train in health visiting, become self-employed or work overseas.

Volunteering Opportunities

You'll find it helpful to get some paid or voluntary experience in healthcare, or with a charity that offers mental health services, before you apply for nurse training.

Tips & Information

Registration

you'll need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Career tips

It's possible to do a degree in mental health nursing and social work. You'll need to check that the course is recognised by the relevant professional bodies. Course providers can advise you on this.

Further information

You'll find more advice about working and training in nursing from the Royal College of Nursing and Health Careers.

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

pass enhanced background checks