Mental Health Nurse
Specialist nursing role focused on assessing, planning and delivering care for people with mental illness.
This UK mental health nurse career guide covers what the role involves day to day, typical salary at each stage, the usual entry route, the skills employers expect, and related careers worth comparing.
Quick facts
- Starting salary
- £28,407 (Band 5)
- Mid-career salary
- £35,392 - £42,618 (Band 6)
- Senior salary
- £43,742 - £58,972 (Band 7-8)
- Work environment
- Wards, community, prisons, schools
- Time to entry
- 3 - 4 years (BSc Mental Health Nursing) or nursing apprenticeship
- Degree required
- Regulated - NMC registration required
- Category
- Mental Health and Therapy
What a Mental Health Nurse does
Specialist nursing role focused on assessing, planning and delivering care for people with mental illness.
- Community Mental Health Nurse - Care for people in their homes via Community Mental Health Teams.
- CAMHS Nurse - Work in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
- Forensic Mental Health Nurse - Work in secure units and the justice system.
How to become a Mental Health Nurse
- Look up Mental Health Nurse roles on LinkedIn or Indeed and read 5 real job ads
- Talk to someone already working as a Mental Health Nurse - even a 15-minute call helps
- Find one beginner course or qualification used by people in this role
- Build one small piece of evidence you've explored this (project, shadowing, short course)
- Apply to one entry-level role or related opportunity within the next month
Key skills
- Clinical assessment
- Risk assessment
- Resilience
- Therapeutic communication