Mental Health
What is mental health nursing?
Mental health nursing is a postgraduate qualification as there is no direct entry to mental health nursing.
Queensland is the only State in Australia that recognises endorsement in mental health nursing.
The endorsement in mental health nursing both recognises and authorises mental health nursing practice at an advanced level.
What do mental health nurses do?
Mental health nurses monitor the biological dimensions of mental illness through medication administration and behavioural observations and interpretation in general. In line with current trends and reforms, mental health nurses protect patients' rights and support their families, carers and significant others.
How do I become a mental health nurse?
Mental health nursing is a postgraduate qualification as there is no direct entry to mental health nursing. Queensland is the only State in Australia that recognises endorsement in mental health nursing. The endorsement in mental health nursing both recognises and authorises mental health nursing practice at an advanced level.
After obtaining an undergraduate degree in nursing, nurses who would like to work in mental health are able to enter mental health services by applying to graduate transition programs provided by some metropolitan and regional hospitals. These programs are often articulated with select universities for accreditation of postgraduate subjects and offer preceptorship, educational preparation and clinical placements for new graduates. Some hospitals may even offer experienced registered nurses in general settings an opportunity to undertake these transition programs as a means of entering mental health nursing.
At this time, Queensland Health is offering generous scholarships to registered nurses to undertake postgraduate study programs that lead to endorsement. For more information on postgraduate course availability in this area, click here to go to the further education section.
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