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UCAS code:
B730
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Institution code:
S82
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Location:
Ipswich
Hospital Placement Locations:
Ipswich Hospital (R)
West Suffolk Hospital (W)
James Paget Hospital (P)
Colchester Hospital (C)
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (N)
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Duration:
Three years full-time. |
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Typical Offer:
2023-24 entry; 112 UCAS tariff points (or above), BBC (A-Level), DMM (BTEC), Merit (T Level) 2024-25 entry; 120 UCAS tariff points (or above), BBB (A-Level), DDM (129) (BTEC), Merit (T Level) |
- Nursing students will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year
- Our brand new Health and Wellbeing building, has dedicated specialist nursing facilities
- Accredited by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)
- Varied and high-quality clinical practice placements
- Develop key skills in our Clinical Skills Laboratory
- Possible opportunity to travel and learn overseas
- Small class sizes ensure superior tutor support
- Every teaching team member is NMC-registered
Introduction
Accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and underpinned by the NMC 2018 Standards for Pre-Registration Programmes, the degree has been designed by the programme team with practice and service users partners.
During your studies, you learn how to respond to the holistic health care needs of children, young people and their family and / or carers. We also encourage collaboration with other professionals from health, social care and education to deliver an excellent standard of care.
From the beginning, we prioritise your employability alongside your education. To make you a ‘career-ready’ graduate, you receive guidance throughout your studies from our teaching staff and clinical practice placements.
Tutors come to the course with substantial professional experience and personal tutors are registered with the NMC as Children Nurses and Adult Nurses. The whole team possess recorded teacher qualifications.
Your clinical placement makes up half of your degree, the other half consists of attending theory at the University.
To help you prepare for clinical placements, we use a variety of learning and teaching methods and technology. With support from a practice supervisor and practice assessor and in some cases a practice education facilitator, your placement could include:
- Children’s Ward
- Day Surgery Ward
- Outpatients
- Neonatal Unit
- Emergency Department
- Children’s Hospice
- Children’s Community Nursing Team
- School Nurse
- Health Visitor
- Special Educational Schools
- Children’s Mental Health Community
Expect to work 37½ hours a week, working on long days including early, late and night shifts, and on weekends, depending on your role. Although demanding, it is indispensable experience.
As an elective, you could also get experience elsewhere in the UK and possibly overseas.
We do our best to maintain excellent standards; we expect our students to comply with University policy and NMC Health and Character as a Student.
We embed the NHS Constitution Values into everything we do; defining the behaviours and expectations of our staff and students.
For more information, please contact Nicole Sloman, Course Leader for Pre-Registration Children’s Nursing: n.sloman@uos.ac.uk or Joanne Learney, Admissions Tutor: j.learney@uos.ac.uk
Further information about the University's relationship with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is available in the PSRB register.
Course modules
Course Aim:
This course will enable you to develop the knowledge, attitude and skills essential to register as a Children’s Nurse. Full downloadable information regarding University of Suffolk courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Record.
Course Structure:
The course consists of twelve credit-bearing and three non-credit-bearing modules over the three years. Learning hours total 4,600 with a 50:50 split between theory and practice. The year is divided into three terms of 14 weeks’ duration. Each year you will complete two 40-credit modules and two 20 credit modules, incorporating simulated learning in the clinical simulation suite.
This module will help the student to develop the skills to assist them to make a transition to the BSc (Hons) Children’s Nursing course. The module will focus on helping the student to develop the knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and practice aspects of the course. The theoretical content of this module will help the students recognise and meet the challenges of studying in a university setting, academic writing and the study skills required. The NMC Code (2018) identifies the importance of evidence-based practice; therefore, this module will introduce the students to this aspect of children’s nursing. The module will also facilitate opportunities for personal and professional development, including self-awareness, resilience, and working within teams.
Health promotion and public health are essential components of the children’s nurse’s role. This module will help the student to develop knowledge and understanding of the importance of early years and childhood experiences and the possible impact of these on life choices and mental, physical and behavioural health and wellbeing. This will underpin health promotion strategies used throughout the lifespan. Students will also learn about preventable illness and current health issues affecting children and young people in today’s society. This module runs concurrently with the Paediatric Biosciences module where students will learn about child development, which is an essential requirement in order to promote the health and well-being of children and young people.
This module will focus on the philosophical underpinnings of children’s nursing by helping students develop knowledge and understanding of family and child-centred care. It will build upon the students’ transition to children’s nursing and encourage students to understand and reflect upon the role of the nurse within contemporary society. It will equip students with an understanding of the distinct needs of infants, children, young people and their families. The module also offers students an opportunity to explore key policy, guidance and legislative frameworks central to the health and well-being of children, young people and their families. Key concepts will include the rights of the child, legal status, partnership working, advocacy and communication. The student will also gain knowledge of some common acute and long-term healthcare conditions and gain skills in the assessment of children and young people’s health as well as the principles of care planning.
This module will help the student to develop the skills and understanding of paediatric life sciences. Students will begin to demonstrate familiarity with anatomical and scientific terminology together with the biological concepts relevant to children’s nursing. The module will provide students with an understanding of the structure of the body’s systems and their function and how the human body maintains health. Students will also learn about child development theories, focusing on the social, emotional, and cognitive growth of infants, children and young people. The module will also focus on preparing the student for clinical practice by gaining practice as well as the underpinning knowledge of a range of essential skills, which will be introduced via simulated learning using facilities within the clinical skills laboratory. The module will run across the first two semesters to ensure application to practice as students experience a variety of practice areas.
The NMC (2018) Standards for pre-registration nursing requires that students learn and are assessed in practice environments. This module focuses on developing competence in the areas of practice covered in the Practice Assessment Document Part 1. Professional values are viewed as an important aspect of working in practice environments and are therefore, assessed through this module. Through practice placements students will be able to observe, participate and assist in the provision of evidence based patient/service user centred care.
Advances in technology and medical care means that more children are now living with complex healthcare needs and life-limiting illnesses. This module will help the student to develop knowledge and understanding of the complex needs of children and young people living with long-term conditions and life-limiting illness. It will build on the first year modules where common and acute illness will have been explored as well as the underlying principles of family and child-centred care. Key concepts will include symptom management, palliative care, professional, ethical and legal frameworks of care, intra-agency working, self-management strategies, transition to adult services and end of life care.
The Code (NMC 2018a, p.9) states that nurses are required to; “… assess need and deliver or advise on treatment … on the basis of best available evidence.” Students therefore need to build on their knowledge of evidence based practice gained from year 1, to understand the role played by research in this process. Research is fundamental for the progression of the profession of nursing and all nurses need to; “… appreciate the value of evidence in practice, be able to understand and appraise research, apply relevant theory and research findings to their work, and identify areas for further investigation.” (NMC 2018b, p. 6). This module will help to inform students’ knowledge and understanding of the research process in preparation for the Dissertation module.
There is a growing awareness that children’s nurses should have the necessary underpinning knowledge and skills; to care for the increasing number of children and young people with mental health illness. This module will help to enhance the students’ existing emerging knowledge and skills, developed from previous modules and clinical practice; in the holistic care of children and young people with mental health illness and families. It includes gaining an understanding of perinatal mental health, early year’s development and attachment factors, which can affect the emotional health and wellbeing of the child. The student will also explore risk and resilience factors, which influence the mental health of the young person. In addition, the module will help students to develop a deeper understanding and awareness of the contemporary issues faced in caring for children and young people with mental health needs
This module builds upon the knowledge and cognitive skills introduced in term one and two to enable students to make an increasingly significant contribution to the individual child/family plan of care. Students will develop knowledge and understanding of the assessment and care planning of the neonate, child and young person with an acute illness and their families; whilst taking into account their specific needs and how this influences care delivery. Within this module the student will also develop clinical skills and supporting knowledge required to assess plan, implement evidence based care for children with acute illness and their family in a variety of settings.
The NMC (2018) Standards for pre-registration nursing requires that students learn and are assessed in practice environments. This module focuses on developing competence in the areas of practice covered in the Practice Assessment Document Part 2. Professional values are viewed as an important aspect of working in practice environments and are therefore, assessed through this module. Through practice placements the students will be able to observe, participate and assist in the provision of evidence based patient/service user centred care.
Increasingly, practitioners are required to lead effective change, implement key leadership and management skills to improve patient care. Therefore, developing effective leadership, knowledge of service improvement strategies and lifelong professional development skills are vital for children’s nurses working within healthcare. This module will offer the opportunity to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of applying effective leadership and management theories to your own clinical practice. The module will offer the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills for employment and transition into contemporary professional practice within the developing health and social care environment.
This module will help the student to build on and develop the skills and understanding of medicines management in preparation for their role as a registered children’s nurse. The NMC (2018) Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses identify that students need to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, accuracy and competency in all aspects of medicines management to successfully complete the course. This module will focus on the leadership and management aspects of medicines management. The role of registered nurses as prescribers of medication is currently being developed by the profession. Therefore, this module will assist the students in this role by enabling them to demonstrate the theoretical knowledge to underpin this role and enable them to progress as prescribers after registration.
At the point of registration, the newly qualified nurse, must be able to demonstrate the clinical reasoning skills that guide and inform best practice decisions, and develop evidence-based practice for service users. This module provides an opportunity for students to refine and demonstrate independence in developing ideas, constructing sound arguments and to justify and defend developments in practice. It provides students with an opportunity to carry out an in-depth investigation on a topic of their own choice related to their field of nursing practice and seeks to equip them with the skills of project planning, design, analysis and critical evaluation. The module involves independent study under the guidance of a research supervisor.
This module aims to enable students to apply a range of assessment strategies to recognise and monitor deterioration in a range of children. The student will develop an in depth understanding of the physiological compensatory mechanisms of children. The module will increase the student’s understanding of evidence based interventions to increase their ability to respond safely when caring for a child whose condition may deteriorate.
The NMC (2018) Standards for pre-registration nursing requires that students learn and are assessed in practice environments. This module focuses on developing competence in the areas of practice covered in the Practice Assessment Document part 3. Professional values are viewed as an important aspect of working in practice environments and are therefore, assessed through this module. Theory hours are allocated for practice preparation; practice consolidation; e-learning and tutorial support.
Career opportunities
How we nurse children and young people in the community is constantly changing, creating new career opportunities for Child Health Nurses.
Once your course is completed you can apply to work locally, regionally or nationally in a variety of settings – Acute Hospital Trusts, Community Trusts, Nurse Education and research, for instance.
Every module on the course is mapped against NMC Standards of Competency, QAA Benchmarks Healthcare Professions, QAA Benchmarks for Nursing, and Graduate Headstart Employability Skills. This ensures you also learn transferable knowledge required by many other types of employers.
Travelling abroad also boosts your employability, exposing you to new experiences and perspectives. For example, in 2017 two University of Suffolk students spent a week at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan as part of a a knowledge exchange programme, primarily theory-based. Whilst attending the week-long programme, they were able to meet students from Japan, Korea and China to discuss aspects of healthcare such as healthy aging. The students funded their visits personally.
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Students visit Japan to see first hand how health care is delivered in a different culture.
Bethany Archer, one of the students, says:
"Summarising the trip is so difficult, but what I will say is that it was such an amazing experience. To compare and contrast the role of the nurse between the four countries involved was so insightful. We were also able to observe the nurses working in the community and within Keio Hospital which was so interesting.
"The trip was incredible and being able to observe the role of the nurse within a different a country / culture really opened my eyes to the universal career of nursing. It became clear that although the training and the way in which we work differs, the main aim of providing care for our patients remains the same. Also, the opportunity to sightsee with local people during free time made the trip all worth it."
Fees and finance
2023-24
- UK full-time tuition fee: £9,250 p.a
- International full-time tuition fee: £17,768 p.a (inclusive of placement fee)
Further Information
At University of Suffolk, your tuition fees provide access to all the usual teaching and learning facilities that you would expect. However, there may be additional costs associated with your course that you will need to budget for.
Entry requirements
2023-24 entry; 112 UCAS tariff points (or above), BBC (A-Level), DMM (BTEC), Merit (T Level) or Access to Higher Education Diploma – a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at merit grade or above.
2024-25 entry; 120 UCAS tariff points (or above), BBB (A-Level), DDM (129) (BTEC), Merit (T Level) or Access to Higher Education Diploma – a minimum of 45 Level 3 credits at merit grade or above.
Applicants are required to hold five GCSEs grade 4/C or above to include Mathematics and English (or equivalent).
For applicants whose first language is not English, but who have been living in the UK for less than 2 years (or have not lived in the UK at all), we will accept IELTS or the University of Suffolk Password test as meeting the English requirement.
Applicants whose first language is not English, but who have been living in the UK for 2 years or more will be expected to hold GCSE English at Grade C or above (grade 4-9 for the new GCSE), or the relevant Level 2 equivalent (if applicable).
Any offer of a place will be subject to:
- Successful interview
- Satisfactory Health check
- Satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
- Two satisfactory references
As part of the selection process, you will be expected to demonstrate good knowledge and a clear understanding of the scope of work that a nurse is required to undertake as well as the significance of the NHS Constitution and its core values.
IELTS 7.0 is required where English is not the students' first language.
Also see International and EU.
If you have previously studied at higher education level before you may be able to transfer credits to a related course at the University of Suffolk and reduce the period of study time necessary to achieve your degree.
Staff
Facilities and Resources
During your degree you have access to excellent quality technology and facilities.
Our Clinical Skills Laboratory in the James Hehir Building uses simulation equipment such as SIM BABY and SIM Junior. These high fidelity mannequins produce altered physiology, including heart and lung rhythms – ideal for your practice preparation.
View the below video to find out more about our brand new Health and Wellbeing building.
You will also have use of our modern Waterfront Building, featuring one auditorium which seats 200 people, two main lecture theatres each seating and 34 teaching rooms seating. Every teaching room has state-of-the-art AV equipment enhancing students learning experience and spread across the open study areas there are approximately 50 iMacs.
