MSc in Nursing (Psychosocial Interventions in Mental Health Care)

Key Points

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The overall goal of the Master of Nursing (Psychosocial Interventions in Mental Health Care) is to provide registered nurses with the opportunity to develop and enhance their knowledge and skills to implement evidence-based psychosocial interventions in a variety of mental health settings.

The overall aim of the programme is to provide registered nurses with the opportunity to enhance previously acquired professional education and develop critical enquiry, knowledge and skills, attributes and competencies in preparation for developing roles within nursing. Successful completion of the second year will provide students with the academic qualifications to be considered for advanced practice nursing positions. The programme provides opportunities to explore research as evidence to improve and change practice. Key emphasis is placed on the development of critical thinking and reflective skills at advanced and specialist practice levels.

At the end of the program, the student will:

You will use evidence to inform nursing practice in the monitoring, coordination and management of care.
You will critically review current innovations and developments within nursing.
Use a knowledge base consistent with that of the profession and incorporating the standards of the professional groups.
You will critically evaluate strategies to promote, maintain and restore health in relevant care groups.
Critically evaluate, generate and conduct research that incorporates evidence-based practice in nursing.
You will critically evaluate the role of the specialist and advanced practice nurse.
You will collaborate within multidisciplinary teams in the provision of quality outcomes.
Critically evaluate international, national and local policy strategies relevant to promoting nursing roles.
It will discuss factors influencing practice and theoretical knowledge at specialist/advanced levels of practice.
Demonstrate critical thinking skills and ethical decision making necessary for specialized/advanced practice in nursing care.
Critically evaluate the use of psychosocial interventions in mental health care.
You will critically discuss the role of the clinical nurse specialist/advanced nurse specialist in the monitoring, co-ordination and treatment of people experiencing mental health problems.

Program structure

The programme is listed as full-time but is taken part-time. The 90-credit MSc consists of six modules in year 1 (postgraduate diploma level 60 credits) and a research thesis in year 2 (MSc level 30 credits).

As part of the clinical practice modules, students must complete 1100 hours of clinical practice during the two semesters of the first year, in addition to successfully completing the specialist psychosocial care competencies.

In the second year, students will be required to complete a small-scale research project or systematic review, or practice-based research within a supported framework.

YEAR 1

Semester 1 – Fall

Health research: methods and methodology (12 credits)
Theories of psychosocial assessment and care (9 credits)
Clinical Practice 1 (9 credits)

Semester 2 – Spring

Promoting quality and safety in health care (12 credits)
Psychosocial interventions (9 credits)
Clinical Practice 2 (9 credits)

YEAR 2

Semester 1 – Fall

Dissertation 1 (9 credits)

Semester 2 – Spring

Dissertation 2 (21 credits)

Admission requirements

Be a registered nurse on the current register of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
Be involved in practice as a registered nurse for at least one year.
Students will normally hold an honours degree or show evidence of recognised prior learning.
Students are required to work in a practice environment for the duration of the program.
In the case of international candidates, the foreign equivalent is required. In addition, a degree officially translated into English will be required.
IELTS 6.5, with no less than 6 in any component (or its internationally recognised equivalent).