Mental Health Nurse (Student)

Joining the Royal Navy as a Student Nurse means you’ll get paid to study your BSc in Mental Health Nursing as Birmingham City University, completely paid for by us. You’ll complete Initial Naval Training at HMS Raleigh before starting university in either Sept or January, depending on when you get your A-level results. You’ll train alongside other military students, which means you’ll have great academic and personal support for the duration of your training.

Once qualified, you’d work in one of our Department of Community Mental Health centres in Plymouth, Portsmouth or Faslane in Scotland. As well as carrying out the initial assessment of your patients, we’ll give you extra training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, group therapy and many more to enable you to treat your patients too. Our mental health nurses can be deployed around the world when required. This could be in support of the Maritime Role 3 capability on board RFA Argus, caring for clinical staff and patients alike. Or you could be part of the Waterfront Logistics Support Group; a network of specialists ready to deploy to ships and units around the world, should the need arise.

• Complete your BSc in Mental Health Nursing at Birmingham City University
• Once qualified, start your preceptorship at one of our Department of Community Mental Health Centres
• Combine military training with medical skills
• The role is varied – you could work ashore, offering community care to returning personnel, or provide occupational mental health assessment, treatment and management on missions all over the world 
• Contribute to the operational effectiveness of our personnel
• Be part of a world-class medical service that’s respected far beyond the Armed Forces
  
   

• Get paid to go to university with subsidised accommodation and food allowances
• A salary that rises to at least £20,000 after serving for 6 months
• Once qualified, salary rises to over £33,000
• Six weeks of paid holiday every year
• Sports and adventurous training opportunities
• Free medical and dental care
  
   

Qualifications you'll gain

• BSc Mental Health Nursing
• Option for additional therapy qualifications after your BSc
• Civilian recognised Leadership and Management qualifications

Skills you'll develop

• Unique mental health care, assessment, treatment and management
• Specialist vocational qualifications in areas such as cognitive behavioural therapy and addictions
• Become adaptable and versatile in carrying your nursing expertise around the world
• Team work, multi-disciplinary collaboration and communication

• Aged 17 and a half to 39
• Multiple entry points exist to gain 120 UCAS points; check with MSAT PO as not all accepted
• At least 3 GCSEs at grades A-C (9-4) (or Scottish equivalent), which must include English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject. Other Level 2 study may be considered
• A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
• Be a British or Irish national, a Commonwealth citizen, or a Dual National. Dual Nationality restrictions do apply
• Pass the Naval Swimming Test

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• A caring and compassionate nature
• An independent thinker
• A highly organised team player, who remains calm under pressure 
• An adventurous spirit