Working Life

On completion of a BSc in Mental Health Nursing, you will be eligible to apply to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN). In order to become a qualified practitioner, a 4 year programme is undertaken, which will provide you with opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills required for modern Mental Health/Psychiatric nursing practice.

On completion of this degree you will:

• Become a highly educated healthcare professional with an Honours Degree qualification.

• You will have a career for life with numerous opportunities for employment, promotion and further education.

• Learn critical thinking and problem solving skills to support people experiencing changes in their mental health status.

• Obtain the knowledge and competencies required to provide high quality, evidence based nursing care to people experiencing mental illness.

• Gain an understanding of the ethical principles and legal frameworks that govern the provision of mental health services in Ireland.

• Have the skills to help others to optimise their own health and wellbeing, through assessment, planning, implementing and evaluating appropriate physical and psychological nursing interventions.

What skills will I learn?

• From the start of your training you will learn how to develop your communication, observation and assessment skills to enable you to conduct a holistic assessment of the needs of the service users.
• The ability to collaborate with the service users and their families, as working together to plan and deliver individualised nursing care promotes recovery.
• How to deliver nursing care and interventions that are recovery-focused and follow a ‘strengths based’ approach which supports the service user to manage their own mental illness.
• Expert knowledge about mental illnesses including; Psychotic Disorders, Bipolar Affective Disorder, Eating Disorders, Depression, Anxiety Disorders, and Personality Disorders.

Specialised mental health care is also provided in areas such as:

•  Community Mental Health Teams (General Adult)
•  Adult Acute Inpatient Care
•  Psychiatry of Later Life (POLL)
•  Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
•  National Forensic Mental Health Services (NFMHS)
•  Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) Teams
•  Perinatal Mental Health Services
•  Liaison Psychiatry Team
•  Dual diagnosis of mental illness and Intellectual disability
•  Dual diagnosis of mental illness and Addictions
•  Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) – for people experiencing mental distress who are in crisis.

Where Will I Work?

Once qualified, you will have the choice to work in a variety of Healthcare settings including:

• Acute Hospital setting
• Residential, Rehab and Recovery care setting
• Primary Care centres
• Day Care centres
• Day Hospital
• Community clinics
• Home Care Team

As a mental health nurse you will be part of a multi-disciplinary team with other professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, cognitive behavioural therapists, addiction counsellors, dieticians  and other health and social care professionals. You will also work closely with patients' families and carers.

The HSE is the biggest employer in Ireland for this occupation. Further information from the HSE on the duties and skills for this occupation can be found here.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

 Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

 Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

There are two pathways to becoming a Mental Health/ Psychiatric nurse in Ireland:

The Pre-registration route-A four-year Bachelor of Science (Mental Health) following which you register on the Psychiatric Nursing Division of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) register.

The Post-registration route-This 1 year Higher Diploma in Mental Health is open to applicants who already have a nursing qualification.

Direct entry Mental Health/ Psychiatric Nursing is available in:

• Atlantic Technical University, Donegal
• Atlantic Technical University, Galway-Mayo
• Dublin City University
• Dundalk Institute of Technology
• Munster Technical University
• South East Technical University 
• Technical University of the Shannon
• Trinity College Dublin
• University College Cork
• University College Dublin
• University of Galway
• University of Limerick

Go to NMBI Careers in Nursing and Midwifery for further information on how to train and register as a mental health nurse including:

• Programme: type, purpose, structure and competencies.
• Making an application: including CAO application, Higher Education Access Route (HEAR), Disability Access Route to Education (DARE), allowances and grants.
• Clinical and theoretical components of the pre-reg programme
• Entry requirements: health requirements, Garda Vetting, English competency, non-EU applications. Standard and Mature applications.

Entry requirements for these courses can vary depending on where and how you would like to study, so it is important to check with the particular college.

Application Information from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Further Education & Training Entry Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research. 

Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.

Example search terms include: nursing studies, healthcare support, community and health services, anatomy and physiology, human growth and development, biology.

Search for FET Courses

PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.

Certain Specific QQI Level 5 Certificate Programmes can provide links to Nursing Degree Programmes.

• Nursing Studies (5M4349)
• Community and Health Services (5M4468)
• Healthcare Support (5M4339)

In all cases places are limited and applicants must have achieved distinctions in five components including;

• Anatomy and Physiology (5N0749)
• Nursing Theory and Practice (5N4325)
• Human Growth and Development (5N1279) or Biology (5N2746)

You can find details of where these courses are run by entering the course titles into the Course Finder from the link below.

Search for PLC Courses

If you are in a PLC course or considering taking one, you can check to see if there is a progression pathway to courses in the CAO system. The following link will list all PLC courses that are related to the Healthcare sector in Ireland. Use the filters on that page to narrow your search as required. 

Search Progression Routes

Note: Courses completed at PLC/FET level require specific FETAC awards and modules to meet minimum entry requirements to apply via CAO for a place in nursing under the HELS Higher Education Links Scheme.

Contact the Admissions Office of the individual (EB’s) Education Body or visit CAO Nursing FET- QQI places.

You can also check NMBI Careers in Nursing & Midwifery for any changes. 

Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate) 
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.

The Higher Education route is the most common route for students considering a nursing career. A full list of nursing courses can be found by entering the term 'Nursing, Mental Health Nursing or Psychiatric Nursing' into the Coursefinder from the link below, or following this link for all medical related courses.

Search for CAO Courses

Tertiary Education Programmes

Tertiary Education Programmes are a new pathway to a bachelor's degree. The tertiary degree is a comprehensive 5 year programme. Students spend the first year in the Further Education and Training (FET) sector then progress to the corresponding third level college with a locally designated pathway to Munster Technical University (MTU) Kerry) to undertake their four-year Mental Health Nursing programme. 

Search Tertiary Education Programmes 

Click here for full details Mental Health Nursing - MTU Kerry Campus.

Mature Entry:

All candidates are required to apply through CAO. Mature Entry is for those that are 23 years of age or older by 1st January in the year of entry, applicants are also required to sit a test. The Nursing Careers Centre (NCC) of Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI) assesses candidates.

Mature entry route is based on applying for a nursing course via www.cao.ie by 1st February or late application date of 1st May. Applicants can also avail of the change of mind facility on CAO up to 1st July. Although it is possible to make a late application to mature nursing, it is not possible to apply late for other mature entry routes. Other mature entry routes should be applied for by 1st February, to ensure they can engage in any mature assessments. 

Places are limited and mature applicants must satisfy the minimum entry requirements for the Nursing programme and will also be assessed based on each Colleges [RPL] Recognition of prior learning.

Check out NMBI Mature student guide for more information.

Higher Education (Postgraduate)
Postgraduate courses are courses at Levels 9 and 10 on the NFQ and usually last 1 – 2 years full time, or longer if a PhD or part time. Entrants typically require an undergraduate award (Level 8). A full list of postgraduate nursing courses can be found by entering the term 'Nursing' or Mental Health' into the Coursefinder from the link below, or following this link for all medical related courses.

Search for Postgraduate Courses

Career / Professional Development  

Once you have qualified as a Mental Health/Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) you can diversify and progress your career through continued study at graduate level. This can lead to jobs in management, clinical specialist practice, advanced practice, clinical research or teaching at clinical or university level. The National Office of N