On entering the branch pathway (year 2), students encounter older persons with mental illness in hospital and community settings; the placement enables the honing of fundamental interpersonal helping skills; students become acquainted with the manifestations of mental illness in older persons and with therapeutic approaches and services developed for this client group; during the second semester of year 2, a further period of experience in an acute inpatient setting is provided; during this part of the programme, students are engaged in a greater breadth and depth of evidence-based mental health nursing activity; in the 1st semester of year 3, students encounter persons with enduring mental illness, in both hospital and community settings; during this placement students, under supervision, adopt the role of virtual primary nurse to a small group of clients; further exposure to the operations of the care programme approach, to inter-agency working and to the provision of a seamless service is made available during this period; the experience is underpinned by analysis of evidence-based approaches to the care of persons with enduring mental health problems; the final placement allows students to consolidate and develop further repertoire of skills and knowledge in specialist care settings; there is an elective element in placement selection; options include forensic services, drug and alcohol services, and child and family services; by these means, students are exposed to a broad range of mental health services and develop the competencies expected of a newly registered mental health nurse.