MSc Nursing (Mental Health) with Registration

Year 3

(Award available for year: Master of Science)

Learning outcomes

On completion of the programme students should have shown evidence of being able to:

- demonstrate in-depth, extended and specialist knowledge of theories, concepts and techniques relevant to healthcare and mental health nursing;
- exhibit competence in the exercise of advanced generic and mental health branch -specific intellectual and clinical abilities including advanced problem solving strategies and decision making skills;
- demonstrate an advanced understanding of evidence based practice and a knowledge of the research process as it applies to mental health nursing;
- take a proactive and self-reflective role in professional working practices and to develop professional relationships with colleagues, clients and their significant others;
- proactively formulate ideas and hypotheses based upon experiences in mental health nursing and to evaluate these;
- evaluate critically current issues and research in aspects of mental health nursing and consider the application of theory to practice;
- demonstrate critical ability and advanced understanding of research techniques applicable to their own research within the broader discipline of mental health nursing;
- meet the outcomes of the NMC’s competencies for entry to the professional register;
- meet the NMC’s requirements to prepare nurses who are ‘fit for practice, purpose and award;
- demonstrate achievement in QAA Benchmarking statements (Nursing) 2001.

Transferable (key) skills

Masters (Taught), Postgraduate Diploma & Postgraduate Certificate students will have had the opportunity to acquire the following abilities as defined in the modules specified for the programme:

- the skills necessary to undertake a higher research degree and/or for employment in a higher capacity in industry or area of nursing;
- evaluating their own achievement and that of others;
- self direction and effective decision making in complex and unpredictable situations;
- independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development;
- critical engagement in the development of professional/disciplinary boundaries and norms.

Assessment

Achievement for the degree of Master (taught programme) will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the modules specified for the year/programme and will involve the achievement of the students in:

- evidencing an ability to conduct independent in-depth enquiry within nursing;
- demonstrating the ability to apply breadth and/or depth of knowledge to a complex specialist area;
- drawing on a range of perspectives on an area of study;
- evaluating and criticising received opinion;
- making reasoned judgements whilst understanding the limitations on judgements made in the absence of complete data.

Learning context

For Masters (Taught), Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate students the learning context will include the analysis of, and decision making in, complex and unpredictable situations. The structure of the programme will provide breadth and/or depth of study and opportunities for drawing upon appropriate resources and techniques.

Opportunities will be provided for students to develop:
- interests and informed opinions;
- their involvement in the design and management of their learning activities;
- their communication of their conclusions.

Students will be expected to progress to fully autonomous study and work.