Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Mental Health Nursing

The BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing is designed to develop the knowledge, competencies, attitudes, and skills required to function effectively as a professional nurse, providing recovery-focused, individualised care in a healthcare environment. The programme supports the development of fundamental nursing skills and the ability to adapt these skills to a variety of populations and care settings, while fostering a commitment to ongoing professional development throughout a nursing career. This four-year honours degree is delivered in partnership with healthcare providers and accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). The programme combines theoretical and practice-based modules, including classroom teaching and clinical placements across regional hospitals in the Health Service Executive Midlands area (Tullamore, Portlaoise, and Mullingar), as well as other locations throughout the Midlands and private healthcare facilities nationally. The geographical diversity of placements requires travel to various clinical sites to meet NMBI clinical instruction requirements. Over the duration of the programme, students complete 2,925 hours of clinical study and 1,740 hours of theoretical study. Successful completion leads to the award of a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing from TUS and eligibility for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. TUS uses the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) to assess the suitability of applicants for clinical placements, due to the significant involvement with children and vulnerable groups. Offers to the programme are conditional and may be withdrawn if applicants do not meet Garda vetting requirements. Vaccination requirements are highlighted for all nursing and healthcare students. Vaccinations are advocated not only for the protection of individual students but also to safeguard patients and healthcare workers, particularly those with medical vulnerabilities. Access to certain healthcare placements may be restricted for students who do not comply with recommended vaccinations, and in many cases, alternative educational opportunities cannot be provided. Since clinical placements are a critical component of nursing programmes and are regulated by the NMBI, non-compliance may delay progression and completion of the nursing programme at TUS.