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Why choose the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Education
98% of our Nursing graduates are in graduate-level employment (Guardian, 2024)
100% of Health graduates went into highly skilled employment or further education (HESA, 2023)
£5,000 a year available with the NHS bursary.
About the course
The demand for nurses with a postgraduate qualification is growing. If you have an Honours degree from a health- social care- or health science-related area and have the dedication and commitment to study and work full time then this course enables you to become a registered nurse in two years.
The course supports you to develop the knowledge skills attitudes and behaviours needed to be an adult nurse able to meet the demands of the role in a constantly evolving healthcare system. The course covers core aspects of adult nursing practice before exploring areas such as assessment and decision-making; medicines management and pharmacology; and professional values and governance.
You study in both academic and clinical practice settings with assessments that encourage you to make links between theory and practice. On successful completion of the course you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a registered adult nurse.
Why choose this course?
- Gain the knowledge experience and skills you need to achieve registered nurse status
- Benefit from University facilities that include new simulation labs with state-of-the-art medical mannequins so you can experience real-life scenarios in a safe and supported environment
- Secure a local practice placement through our strong links with healthcare providers in Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire and Berkshire
- Study with a research-active academic team who have published widely in their fields in journals including the British Journal of Nursing and Nurse Education Today
- Learn from visiting lecturers who are clinical specialists providing you with the latest research and practice in their field
- Bedfordshire's School of Nursing Midwifery and Health Education works closely with its Institute of Health Research (IHR) which is renowned for the global impact of its research
The NHS Constitution brings together details of what staff patients and the public can expect from the National Health Service. It sets out the principles and values that guide how the NHS should act and make decisions. The NHS Constitution states that the NHS "aspires to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism". Applicants are expected to demonstrate their understanding and application of these values throughout the selection process. View the Constitution here
Nursing and midwifery students will be eligible for additional support of at least £5,000 to help with living costs with funding from the NHS. The funding will be given to new and continuing degree-level students.
The funding comes as part of the government’s pledge to increase nurse numbers by 50,000 over the next five years.
You will receive at least £5,000 a year, with further funding available for eligible students:
- £1,000 for specialist disciplines
- £2,000 for childcare costs
- Exceptional Hardship Fund of up to £3,000.
The funding will not have to be repaid by recipients. You will also be able to continue to access funding for tuition and maintenance loans from the Student Loans Company.
What will you study?
Essentials Of Adult Nursing
This unit will enable you to respond to the physical, social and psychological needs of individuals. You will plan, deliver and evaluate, safe, competent, person centred care paying specific attention to changing health needs during different life stages, including progressive illness and death, loss and bereavement. You will learn how to use a reflective model to develop on your professional practice.
The unit addresses the central question: What health issues may affect individuals and how can your assessment and delivery of care optimise their recovery or management
Introduction To Adult Nursing Practice
This unit will familiarise you with working under guided supervision in nursing teams to deliver care to people in adult clinical environments, using skills and knowledge gained from the course. You will also have opportunities to experience inter- professional working within your practice placements.
The unit addresses the central question of how nurses respond to the needs of adults with ill health.
Health, Life And Social Sciences For Nursing
The unit will enable you to develop knowledge related to life, health and social sciences to inform your delivery of holistic care and promote the well-being of individuals across the life-span.
The unit addresses the central question: How theoretical knowledge informs the bio-psycho-social approach to caring for an individual.
Professional Values And Governance In Nursing And Healthcare
This unit aims to enable you to have a critical awareness of the structure, function and governance of the NHS, and critical insight into the development and influence of healthcare policy on nursing practice. You will examine the professional regulation of nursing and the professional values, ethics of the nursing profession, and how these contribute to risk management.
The unit addresses central questions relating to the values informing nursing practice, how nursing and healthcare are regulated, and how the quality of healthcare delivery assured?
Medicines Management And Pharmacology In Adult Nursing
This unit will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to be able to safely administer medicines in accordance with professional standards and legislation, make appropriate decisions in relation to medicines and educate adults with ill health about the pharmacological aspects of their care.
The unit addresses what an Adult nurse must know and do to fulfil the professional standards in relation to the law, safeguarding, consent, pharmacology and medicines administration and optimisation. This is in line with the NMC Future nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses (NMC, 2018)
Assessment And Decision Making In Adult Nursing
This unit aims to equip you with the skills to make informed judgements using the concept of decision making, and to develop your history taking and assessment skills so that you can work both collaboratively and autonomously to plan and deliver person-centred, holistic and safe care.
The unit addresses the central question of how assessment and decision-making skills enhance clinical practice and contribute to patient outcomes
Developing Adult Nursing Practice
This unit will build on your experiences from part one of the course. You will actively participate within nursing teams to deliver care to people using skills and knowledge from the course. You will also have opportunities for inter- professional working.
The unit addresses the central question of how nurses respond to the needs of adults with ill health.
Preparation For Adult Nursing Registered Practice
This unit will enable you to meet the proficiencies you need to be ready for registration. You will be expected to care for people while under indirect supervision and by the end of this unit you will lead and coordinate care with confidence.
The unit addresses the central question of what is the role of the adult nurse in leading and developing care?
Research Methodologies For Healthcare
This unit will provide you with systematic knowledge and critical awareness to analyse the health and social care evidence base that informs nursing practice. Key research methods and methodologies, how to implement a research project and take account of ethical and regulatory considerations, will also be examined.
As practitioners, this unit addresses the specific question of how knowledge for nursing practice is generated.
Improving Care: Principles Of Clinical Leadership
This unit will enable you to understand the principles of leadership, management and change so that you begin to develop the key skills to lead change, work effectively in teams, supervise and manage others to promote best practice. The unit addresses the central question: How can leadership and management shape and influence nursing care?
Nursing Dissertation
The unit enables you to conduct an extended scholarly enquiry that is focused on healthcare practice in order to contribute to the knowledge base for healthcare. You will contribute to the systematic knowledge base underpinning Healthcare practice by completing a master’s dissertation project.
As practitioners, this unit addresses the specific question of how research and research governance shape and inform contemporary practice in your field.
How will you be assessed?
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 learner-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 Master's level (Level 7). 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. The assessments culminate in a choice of dissertation projects: a literature review a research proposal or a service development project. 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. As there is no break at the end of each Part in which to complete any assessment referrals in practice students on the course will be able to retake a referred practice assessment in the next placement. This will be at the 6 week point and only for the learning outcomes/assessments outstanding.
Careers
On successful completion of the course you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a registered adult nurse opening up career opportunities within the public private and not-for-profit healthcare sectors.
Graduates are likely to go on to work in acute care; rehabilitation; community; specialist areas of practice; or residential care settings.
Entry Requirements
Fees for this course
UK
The fee for this MSc for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £18,500.
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
Scholarship Available
The University of Bedfordshire is proud of its alumni and is delighted to offer a tuition fee discount for those who choose to continue or return to the University for on campus Postgraduate level studies.
We offer a 20% discount on full and part-time Masters courses to those who were successful in completing an Honours Degree with the University of Bedfordshire, DMU’s Bedford campus or the University of Luton.
International
The international fee for this MSc for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £31,000
For more information, please see international fees, or contact internationalnursing@beds.ac.uk
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
