Mental Health Nursing and jobs
Hello, I am an A level student in year 12 and I am starting to think about university and jobs that I may want to go into. I want to help people who are struggling with mental health as I have lived experience of supporting a friend with an eating disorder. In particular I would like to work in an inpatient setting.
I have thought about mental health nursing at university as I would love to help people. The only thing that I am unsure about is the level of general nursing skills I would need to know for this role. I am not the best with medical stuff but realise this would be important for the role. What is the role of a mental health nurse specifically?
I have also thought about working as a mental health support worker in an inpatient unit. How much would this role differ from mental health nursing? Would I be able to do this job and later go back into education to progress as a mental health nurse?
I have thought about mental health nursing at university as I would love to help people. The only thing that I am unsure about is the level of general nursing skills I would need to know for this role. I am not the best with medical stuff but realise this would be important for the role. What is the role of a mental health nurse specifically?
I have also thought about working as a mental health support worker in an inpatient unit. How much would this role differ from mental health nursing? Would I be able to do this job and later go back into education to progress as a mental health nurse?
(edited 2 months ago)
Reply 1
Hello!
I would strongly recommend gaining experience as a support worker in an inpatient setting before committing to any nursing studies. This will provide you with valuable insight into the role of nursing staff and equip you with essential experience for your university application. While the role of a support worker is quite different from that of a registered nurse, it will give you the opportunity to observe nurses in action and make a well-informed decision about whether this career path is right for you.
You can absolutely take a break from education if you wish. You could work for a year, or however long suits you, before applying to university. This way, you would be earning money while also gaining relevant experience.
Alternatively, you could apply to university straight away without prior experience. Most mental health nursing courses focus on your skills and potential rather than your background in the field. However, I would highly recommend gaining some experience, as it will help you decide whether a career in mental health is the right choice for you.
Best of luck!
I would strongly recommend gaining experience as a support worker in an inpatient setting before committing to any nursing studies. This will provide you with valuable insight into the role of nursing staff and equip you with essential experience for your university application. While the role of a support worker is quite different from that of a registered nurse, it will give you the opportunity to observe nurses in action and make a well-informed decision about whether this career path is right for you.
You can absolutely take a break from education if you wish. You could work for a year, or however long suits you, before applying to university. This way, you would be earning money while also gaining relevant experience.
Alternatively, you could apply to university straight away without prior experience. Most mental health nursing courses focus on your skills and potential rather than your background in the field. However, I would highly recommend gaining some experience, as it will help you decide whether a career in mental health is the right choice for you.
Best of luck!
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