About the course
Gain hands-on skills and experience on a course where 50 per cent of your learning is practice based and course completion leads to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a children's nurse.
A nurse needs to be able to assess care needs then plan, implement and evaluate care for children and young people with a range of illnesses and conditions. This calls for excellent communication skills and compassion as well as specialist knowledge and nursing skills, all of which you acquire from this degree.
Areas of study include health and primary care in the community; assessment and interventions; complex care; public health; multi-professional care for mental-health problems; and advocacy, empowerment and protection.
Why choose this course?
- Develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours required of a children’s nurse who can meet the demands of the role with confidence
- Work in close partnership with a multi-professional team to deliver holistic care to children, young people and their families in a variety of healthcare settings
- Study with a team of lecturers who are also experienced registered nurses. In practice settings, you are supervised by practitioners trained to support your learning
- Learn how to prioritise the wellbeing and safety of children and young people as well as their families, carers and educators through critical self-reflection and safe practice in accordance with The Code (NMC 2018)
- On completion of the course, you will have met the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Future nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses (2018) and can apply for registration as a children’s nurse
Course Leader - Melanie Webb
I am a Paediatric Advanced Nurse Practitioner with experience in caring for children with a wide variety of conditions.
I have worked in general paediatric care since I qualified in 1995 – I have worked at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Northampton General and Bedford Hospital.
Units
- Academic Skills Development For Nursing (NUR022-1) Compulsory
- Exploring Health And Primary Care Services In The Community (NUR019-1) Compulsory
- Growth, Development And Rights Based Practice In Children And Young People'S Nursing (NCH003-1) Compulsory
- Introduction To Nursing Interventions (NUR020-1) Compulsory
- Understanding Health (NUR021-1) Compulsory
- Assessment And Interventions In Children And Young People'S Nursing (NCH020-2) Compulsory
- Exploring Evidence (NUR027-2) Compulsory
- Introduction To Public Health (NUR008-2) Compulsory
- Multi-Professional Care For Children And Young People (NCH021-2) Compulsory
- Partnership Working In Children And Young People'S Nursing (NCH022-2) Compulsory
- Advocacy, Empowerment And Protection (NUR031-3) Compulsory
- Law And Decision Making In Medicines Management (NUR032-3) Compulsory
- Leading And Managing Complex Care In Children And Young People'S Nursing (NCH014-3) Compulsory
- Supporting Learning (NUR007-3) Compulsory
- Transforming Care (NUR033-3) Compulsory
The assessment strategy for this course is closely aligned to the teaching and learning strategy which is designed to have: immediate professional relevance to ensure safe and effective practice; foster active learning, be leaner-centred in approach and draw on expertise-by-experience. The choice of assessments is determined by their fitness for purpose i.e. to evidence achievement of unit learning outcomes at undergraduate level (Level 6). You will be assessed across a range of practice settings and learning environments throughout the course. To enhance your understanding and experiences of assessment practices you will encounter a wide range of formative and summative assessment methods including those that enable you to undertake practice-focussed tasks that have the potential to influence care delivery. Many of the assessment tasks are designed so that you can tailor them to your professional interests, experience and development needs. They are also designed so that you can rehearse ways of thinking and acting that are professionally relevant. Examples include: written assignments ranging from reflective pieces to case studies and academic essays as well as assessed practice within your placements. Assessments are also designed to support you integrating learning in theory and practice and in demonstrating that integration. You will be assessed in practice through the use of a Practice Assessment Document which outlines the skills and competencies required as a registered nurse. These assessments are recorded and confirmed by a Practice Assessor, alongside your own self-reflections on your progress. Service users and carers also contribute to your assessments. During each of your placement allocations you will have a nominated Practice Assessor in accordance with the NMC Part 2: Standards for student supervision and assessment (NMC 2018). They conduct assessment to confirm that you have achieved the NMC proficiencies and course outcomes for practice learning. You will also have a nominated Academic Assessor who is responsible for confirming your achievement of the NMC proficiencies and course outcomes in the academic environment for each part of the course. Together the Practice Assessor and Academic Assessor evaluate and recommend a student for progression for each part (year) of the course, in line with course standards and local and national policies.
Why study in the School of Nursing and Health Education?
- Placements in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire
- Simulation labs for real life scenarios
Entry Requirements
UCAS Tariff Points
Five GCSEs at grade 4 (or grade C if taken before 2016) including English language or English literature and mathematics (or equivalent), plus one of the following:
- 112 points with at least 96 points from 3 A levels or BTEC level 3 QCF qualifications and other qualifications in the UCAS tariff. AS levels and General Studies A level do not count towards this score.
- Access to HE Diploma - a QAA recognised Access to HE course in health studies, health science, nursing or another science-based course: 15 credits at Level 2 and 45 at level 3 of which at least 12 credits should be graded at distinction level and at least 12 credits at merit.
- Diploma in Higher Education or BSc degree
- IELTS Grade 7.0 overall and 7.0 in each area where English is a second language.
- Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, Scottish Advanced Highers or International Baccalaureate
Note: NVQ Level 3 is not accepted for any of our professional healthcare courses.
You can work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth with the UCAS tariff calculator
Entry Requirements
UCAS Tariff Points
Five GCSEs at grade 4 (or grade C if taken before 2016) including English language or English literature and mathematics (or equivalent), plus one of the following:
- 112 points with at least 96 points from 3 A levels or BTEC level 3 QCF qualifications and other qualifications in the UCAS tariff. AS levels and General Studies A level do not count towards this score.
- Access to HE Diploma - a QAA recognised Access to HE course in health studies, health science, nursing or another science-based course: 15 credits at Level 2 and 45 at level 3 of which at least 12 credits should be graded at distinction level and at least 12 credits at merit.
- Diploma in Higher Education or BSc degree
- IELTS Grade 7.0 overall and 7.0 in each area where English is a second language.
- Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, Scottish Advanced Highers or International Baccalaureate
Note: NVQ Level 3 is not accepted for any of our professional healthcare courses.
You can work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth with the UCAS tariff calculator
How will this course improve my career prospects?
The course is vocational, leading directly to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, under the new Standards, which will allow you to start and quickly progress in your nursing career, across a range of healthcare environments where children and young people require health care. It can also provide a route into specialised clinical practice, management or education.
Fees and Funding
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2021/22 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs.
See www.gov.uk/student-finance
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
Additional NHS funding available. Click here to find out more.
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2021/22 is £9,250 per year.
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2021/22 is £14,300 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
Fees and Funding
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2021/22 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs.
See www.gov.uk/student-finance
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
Additional NHS funding available. Click here to find out more.
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2021/22 is £9,250 per year.
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2021/22 is £14,300 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
Extra Costs
Campus Library
The Bedford Campus Library set over four storeys offers students access to our extensive range of physical and digital resources with 300,000+ books & 80,000+ ebooks.
PCs are provided on each level for students to use offering access to a wide range of applications as well as access to group-work areas and presentation-practice rooms and a dedicated silent study floor.
BedsSU - The Hub
The Hub is home to BedsSU providing a great space for socialising with friends, catching up on some coursework or taking a well-deserved break.
The Hub is the place to go to take a break from your studies, play table tennis, socialise and watch live sport on the big screen.By night the venue becomes the place to be, with a variety of student events such as pub quizzes, live music and various themed club nights. Evening food includes delicious freshly made pizzas as well as a range of other beverages and snacks.
Bedford Gym
The Aspire Gyms offer a range of affordable membership options giving students exclusive use of a convenient campus-based fitness facility.
The Bedford gym facilitates state of the art cardiovascular equipment with smartphone compatibility as well as an extensive range of fixed resistance machines and a small free weights area. Changing rooms with showers and lockers are available for members to use.
Dance Studios
At the centre of our campus is four fully sprung dance studios equipped with ballet barres, mirrored walls, audio playback and projection for our dance and performing arts students.
Our two campus theatres also provide the ideal performance space for students with regular events held that are open audiences of students, staff and the wider community.
Campus Theatres
Set within the Campus Centre is a 260 seat professional theatre on the ground floor with industry-standard lighting, media desk, roll-down screen, full backstage comms system and large dressing rooms with en suite showers. On the first floor there's also a well-equipped 80 seat studio theatre.
Our theatres welcome new and existing audiences to see a range of student work including contemporary dance, theatre and performing arts; holding regular events that are open to students, staff and the wider community.
Sports Science Labs
Our specialist sports science labs give students a fantastic environment to develop their research skills and expertise, where a student can explore the biology of an elite athlete who could be performing simultaneously within the sports hall.
The state-of-the-art laboratories are purpose built for research and teaching in the fields of exercise and nutrition science. This includes specialised equipment and facilities for assessing human health risk and delivering exercise and diet interventions for health promotion.
How to Apply
Application for most full-time undergraduate and foundation courses is via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
We expect to receive UCAS applications between 1 September and 15 January for courses starting in the following academic year, but may consider applications received after this date should places be available.
Please contact admission@beds.ac.uk for further details.
All UK schools and colleges are registered with UCAS to manage their students' applications. Advice on how to submit your UCAS application is available from your school or college.
If you are not at school or college (including mature students) you should apply independently via UCAS
EU students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply via UCAS or direct using our admissions form
International students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country
You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
How to Apply
Application for most full-time undergraduate and foundation courses is via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
We expect to receive UCAS applications between 1 September and 15 January for courses starting in the following academic year, but may consider applications received after this date should places be available.
Please contact admission@beds.ac.uk for further details.
All UK schools and colleges are registered with UCAS to manage their students' applications. Advice on how to submit your UCAS application is available from your school or college.
If you are not at school or college (including mature students) you should apply independently via UCAS
EU students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply via UCAS or direct using our admissions form
International students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country
You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
Additional information
The Department of Health and Social Care in England has announced that all NHS Staff must be vaccinated against Covid-19 if they wish to work in roles that involve face-to-face contact with service users. This rule comes into effect from 1st April 2022 and includes healthcare students.
All applicants need to provide evidence to our Occupational Health provider that they have received a full course of Covid-19 vaccination prior to commencing the course. If the applicant is exempt on medical grounds or because they have been involved in a clinical trial, or are under the age of 18 years of age, their ability to complete the course may be compromised. These cases will be reviewed by our Occupational Health provider to determine if reasonable adjustments to placement allocations can be made.
If reasonable adjustments are not possible due to the ruling, or if an applicant declines to being vaccinated, they will be unable to meet the NMC/HCPC proficiencies for the course as they will be unable to complete placements in Care Quality Commission regulated settings, for example, the NHS or care homes.
