About the Integrated Master’s in Nursing course
The Integrated Master’s in Nursing course allows you to qualify in two fields of nursing at the end of the four-year course, three years in your first field and one year in your second. My first field is Adult and my second is Mental Health Nursing. Mental health is so engrained as a large part of our health and wellbeing, so it was an obvious good choice alongside Adult Nursing.
Why mental health matters to me
Mental health is a very personal subject for me, from dealing with issues from a fairly young age to seeing friends and family going through their own issues. I tried my best to aid them through those difficult times, even when the only thing I could offer was a good ear, comfy shoulder and a good cuppa; sometimes that is all people need to see them through. With that said, I was concerned about the ‘what ifs’. What if I spend three years training and, once I qualified, I couldn't cope as a mental health nurse because of my own mental health issues? Yet, I also knew that in the past I could have done with someone who could relate to their own experiences. As an adult nurse, you could progress through to Mental Health Nursing easier than the other way around. So when the time came to send in my application, the adult field was the way to go for me.
The here and now
Flash forward to the end of the interview with the University and I was told that I had a demeanour that would fit in well for Children’s and Mental Health Nursing. I laughed and told them that my first thought was Mental Health Nursing but I had worries about my own mental health, especially in certain types of environments. Again, those nagging ‘what ifs’ came back! What if my mental health relapsed after becoming a qualified mental health nurse, negatively impacting on patients and staff alike? Where would that leave me, how long would it take me to retrain, would it just be wasted time? My interviewers brought me back around and asked if I had considered the integrated course, which they explained in detail. All I could think was, “This sounds perfect for what I want and need."
I’ve always had my heart set on the emergency department, where sadly, like most areas, they are seeing an increase in cases related to mental health. Even then, mental health is part of our day-to-day lives and not just in emergencies. To me, these two fields would complement each other no matter where I decided to qualify.
Find out more about studying an Integrated Master's in Nursing at Chester.
