Nursing

Dual field nursing in adult health and mental health recognises that the boundaries between physical and psychological illness are rarely clean. Adults with long-term physical conditions frequently experience mental health difficulties, and people with severe mental illness often have complex physical health needs. A degree that qualifies you to practise in both fields gives you a distinctive and increasingly valued range of competences, and it prepares you for a healthcare environment that is moving steadily toward more integrated models of care.

At Plymouth this four-year full-time programme prepares you to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council in both adult nursing and mental health nursing fields. You will develop knowledge across both domains, studying the biological and psychological dimensions of health and illness, the principles of evidence-based practice, professional and legal frameworks, and the therapeutic communication skills that effective nursing in both fields demands. Practice placements are central to the programme, taking you into a range of adult health and mental health settings so that your theoretical learning is grounded in real clinical environments from early in your studies.

The typical entry tariff is 136 UCAS points.

Dual-field nurses are well positioned for careers across the NHS and independent sector, with the flexibility to work in adult medical and surgical wards, community nursing, mental health inpatient and community settings, and integrated care teams. The combination is particularly relevant in settings such as liaison psychiatry, older adult care, and community mental health, where physical and psychological needs consistently intersect. Many dual-field nurses go on to specialist roles, advanced practice, or nursing leadership, and the breadth of qualification provides unusual versatility throughout a career.