In September 1998, I became one of the first mental health nurses in Scotland to undertake a specialist practitioner course leading to a BA in Nursing Studies in Rehabilitation and Resettlement in Mental Health at the University of Abertay Dundee. A recent Scottish Office (1997) document identified severe and enduring mental health problems as being a priority for intervention by service providers. However, defining what constitutes a serious mental health problem is not easy. The specialist practitioner qualification followed UKCC guidelines (UKCC 1992) and was based on 16 weeks of theory and 16 weeks on placement. The course aims to provide students with a repertoire of skills and knowledge so that they can enter into collaborative relationships with clients and other service providers.