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Undergraduate study
childrens nursing, childrens nursing degree, nurse degree

Nursing Studies (Child)* BSc (Hons)

A child nurse cares for sick and healthy infants, children and young people and their families in a variety of health care settings. You share the child and family healthcare experiences, in sometimes very difficult and emotional times, is a privilege requiring sensitivity and compassion.

 
 
  • This course is closed for September 2024 and January 2025 entry for UK applicants and international applicants.
 

Course overview

Accredited

Health facilities at Teesside University

Check out Teesside University’s facilities for the School of Health and Life Sciences.

The public places high expectations and levels of trust upon nurses, and this course develops practitioners who can meet these expectations. It is hard work and challenging, and very rewarding.

Children's nurses take an holistic approach, and evidence-based practice coupled with an awareness of contemporary health issues facing children and young people.

In accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) you spend 50% of the course in theory settings and 50% in practice settings in child health settings such as children’s wards, health visiting, school nursing services and neonatal units where you develop proficiency and experience in skills required to be a child nurse.

Technology is an integral part of your learning with a dedicated children’s nursing lab on campus where you practice and develop required skills in a safe environment using simulation with the use of state of the art equipment.

You study a range of modules to develop relevant underpinning theory specific to the needs of children such as child development, family centred care and safeguarding. The teaching team are experienced child nurses who use a blended approach of face-to-face teaching in seminars and lectures, virtual and online learning.

Service users are involved in the development and delivery of the modules which ensures lived experiences of children and their families, exploration of contemporary issues facing children and young people and the impact on their physical, mental, social and emotional health are considered.

Top reasons to study this course:

  1. Placement opportunities: strong links with our practice placement areas ensures a smooth transition between theory and practice, enhancing your student experience.
  2. Industry-standard facilities: our facilities mirror aspects of clinical practice placements including a dedicated children’s ward lab where simulated mannequins are used to emulate real clinical situations.
  3. Experienced teaching team: our teaching team collectively have a wealth of experience as children’s nurses so you benefit from their practical experience and academic expertise.
  4. Graduate success: 95% of BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies (Child) graduates go on to work and/or study 15 months after the course (Graduate Outcomes survey 2020-21, tees.ac.uk/source).
  5. Financial support: study this course and you may be eligible for a £5,000 maintenance grant each year from the NHS Business Service Authority. Find out more.

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Supporting information for applicants

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Course details

In the new curriculum there is increased emphasis on mental health and cognitive issues impacting on health as well as shared learning across all four fields of practice. The module content reflect the changing and challenging nature of providing healthcare in the 21st century and the evolving and diverse role of the registered nurse. Leadership is embedded in all three years of the course, recognising the crucial role nurses play in moving practice forward. All modules adopt a blended approach to learning and teaching . We pride ourselves on the quality of our partnership working involving placement providers and service users. One of the modules in the first year has been co-produced with service users.

Course structure

Year 1 core modules

Bio-psychosocial Approaches to Nursing Care and Decision Making

This module involves shared learning and teaching across all fields of nursing, to develop an understanding of the holistic issues that may influence and impact on the care and experience of people within different health care settings. You develop a broad understanding of the theoretical frameworks underpinning the discipline of nursing and identify and explore patterns and determinants of health, wellbeing and illness at a local, national and global level.

You identify and explore the knowledge base required to meet the fundamental mental, physical, cognitive and behavioural needs of people within their care. Research-informed teaching and learning will introduce you to the concept and process of evidence-based practice, which will enable you to take a critical approach towards nursing care.

Bio-psychosocial Development Across the Lifespan

You develop an understanding of human systems and the patterns and determinants of health, wellbeing and illness. This will include consideration of the altered and normal human biopsychosocial development. You develop an awareness of genomics, sociological, psychological development and their impact upon physical health, mental health, and intellectual impairments across the lifespan.

You will have an awareness of routine investigations which will then contribute to the development of your knowledge of commonly encountered physical and behavioural health conditions. You will understand the principles of pathogenesis, immunology, and evidence base for immunisation, vaccination and herd immunity, and establish an understanding of the principles of infection prevention and control.

Experts by Experience the Person's Voice

You develop an understanding of the centrality of the person receiving care and valuing and promoting reciprocity in every interaction. You will explore the philosophical basis and key concepts underpinning approaches to working with different people and service user groups. The biopsychosocial experience and impact of altered health and wellbeing, physical illness, cognition and/or treatment upon the person and family will be examined from the service user perspective.

You explore the balance of power within health and social care provision and relationships, and empowerment and the concepts of therapeutic alliances will be examined. The concepts of meaning, empathy, compassion, trust, connectedness and hope will be analysed and applied to practice.

Foundations of Nursing Proficiency: the Professional Basis of Care and Caring

This module will facilitate the development of fundamental knowledge and skills that pre-registration nurses must demonstrate when caring for people of all ages across care settings. The module content is linked to the Nursing and Midwifery Council platforms and proficiency statements combining theory and practice elements.

The module combines theory, practical skills and placement experience and incorporates the four fields of nursing across three semesters with students in mixed theory groups.Technology-enhanced learning is a key feature. Understanding the foundations of nursing proficiency and professional nursing practice will be developed through pre-reading, seminars and supporting of direct care through simulated workshops including role play, clinical skills development, simulation and the use of scenarios.

Introduction to Personal and Professional Effectiveness in Nursing Practice

This module will provide the foundations from which students from all fields of nursing will examine the role of the nurse as a leader and champion of high-quality, person-centred nursing care, professional practice and innovation. It enables you to explore the knowledge, values and skills required to develop your personal effectiveness and reflective practice. This exploration will be used as a professional platform to inform their leadership development.

You will be introduced to the theoretical concepts underpinning leadership and personal effectiveness including self-awareness, resilience and self-management, as well as the core professional values of nursing.

 

Year 2 core modules

Collaborative and Interdependent Working to Promote Health and Well-being

You build upon and apply the leadership and personal effectiveness knowledge and skills they developed in Stage 1 of the course. It focuses upon the nurse's role in collaborative and interdependent working with others, to influence and motivate. You explore how they can use their personal qualities and skills to contribute to, and promote a culture of high-quality person-centred care and a positive working environment. You develop your ability to articulate a shared vision and purpose to inspire others, engage the team and lead with care.

Developing Personal and Professional Effectiveness in Nursing Practice

You further develop your understanding from the first year module across all fields of nursing of the role of the nurse as a leader and champion of high-quality, person-centred nursing care, professional practice and innovation. It enables you to explore and critique the knowledge, values and skills required to develop your personal effectiveness and reflective practice. This exploration will be used to advance knowledge to inform your leadership development.

You develop skills to explore theoretical concepts underpinning leadership and personal effectiveness including self-awareness, resilience and self-management, as well as the core professional values of nursing.

Nurse as Investigator and Leader of Change

You build on the knowledge and skills developed in Year 1 in relation to the role, nature and use of evidence to support health and social care practice and service improvement. You develop your ability to critically appraise a range of evidence. You will explore how evidence is used to underpin national guidelines, decision-making and high-quality nursing practice within a clinical governance framework. To facilitate evidence-based practice and influence the improvement agenda you will apply leadership and change management concepts covered in other modules.

Promoting Children's Nursing Proficiency: Developing Evidence-based Professional Care and Caring


This module builds upon Stage 1 and promotes your ability to assess and meet the fundamental and complex physical and mental health needs of children and their families in a diverse range of community and acute care settings. Knowledge of maternity care and care of the newborn will be enhanced within this module.

Therapeutic Nursing Practice in Children's Nursing

This module builds on your understanding of altered pathophysiology, cognition, health and wellbeing, illness prevention, promoting health and wellbeing, managing the care of children and young people during illness and related pharmacology and biopsychosocial therapeutics. You will develop the ability to formulate evidence-based, person-centred decisions within a biopsychosocial context. Case studies will be used to assess, plan, meet and evaluate the therapeutic nursing care needs of patients accessing primary, secondary and tertiary care. There will be a focus on care of children with medical, surgical and high dependency needs as well as an exploration of the complexity of contemporary health care practices.

 

Final-year core modules

Enhanced Person-centred Assessment and Decision Making Skills in Children's Nursing

You gain the knowledge, understanding and skills required to undertake enhanced holistic, comprehensive, evidence-based assessments of children / young people across the lifespan in primary, secondary and tertiary care environments. Parity of esteem within the decision-making process, supporting people to live healthy lives and access physical health care equal to the general population will be explored. You will develop skills in using and interpreting assessment data to formulate a plan of care using evidence-based practice

Enhanced Therapeutic Practice in Children's Nursing

You explore complex therapeutic person-centred, decision-making within children’s nursing practice ensuring that the individual's experience and promotion of best outcomes are central. The complexity of contemporary health and social care practice will be explored using a case study approach. Knowledge of altered pathophysiology, cognition, health and wellbeing, therapeutic nursing practice and interventions including applied pharmacology and biopsychosocial approaches to care will be considered.

Enhancing Children's Nursing Proficiency: Leading Evidence-based Professional and Caring Practice

You develop the ability to lead and manage care in diverse practice settings. Theories of leadership and management will be explored using a virtual ward. There will be a focus on skills such as delegation, time management and prioritisation. The teaching and supervision of others using approaches such as coaching will be considered.

Nursing Improvement and Entrepreneurship

You focuses on enhancing skills and attributes to enable you to explore systematic approaches to develop the quality improvement agenda and improve the safety, effectiveness and people’s experience of care. The role of the nurse in this context will be explored. You will develop and propose a service improvement initiative in the workplace utilising enhanced knowledge and understanding of the tools, techniques and models linked to successful improvement initiatives in health care practice.

 

Modules offered may vary.

 

How you learn

50% of the learning time is spent engaging in University or self-managed learning activities (theory) and 50% of the time is spent within placement allocations (practice).

The teaching week during theory/study blocks is Monday to Friday and may involve some evening sessions. During practice allocations you are required to complete the shift patterns allocated to you by your mentor or supervisor. These will include early starts (for example a shift may start at 7.00am and finish at 8.00pm), night duty and weekend shifts.

The structure and sequencing of University and placement-based learning means that holidays are fixed - it is not possible to take holidays outside of the set dates.

During University-based learning you engage in a range of both teacher-led and student-led activities. Such activities include lectures, discussions, group activities, seminar presentations, tutorials, skills workshops, experiential learning / simulations, service user-focused activities and e-learning. Digital competency and learning through digital based platforms is an important component of this course.

Practice placements are provided in a range of healthcare related environments including hospital and community settings. These include experiences with health visiting teams, school nurses, children’s wards, acute, immediate and urgent/complex care environments such as special care baby units and accident and emergency. This enables you to explore family centred care and the nursing and healthcare needs of children and young people. Throughout your placement allocations you have opportunities to gain experience with client groups from other fields of nursing (mental health, learning disabilities and adult nursing) to enable you to develop an understanding of the health and nursing needs of people across all fields of practice.

Travel to placements
The range of placements provide diverse and rewarding learning experiences. Placements may not be near to your home or within your local trust. You are expected to travel to different areas.

Both practice and theory learning experiences will enable you to explore the service user’s journey, developing knowledge and experience of nursing and healthcare needs within services across the age continuum.

How you are assessed

Assessments are varied and reflect module outcomes. They include written assignments, examinations, case studies and presentations. You are also assessed in practice each year through a Practice Assessment Document (PAD). Essential practice proficiencies contained within the PAD, linked to the NMC platforms, communication and relationship management skills and nursing procedure skill, must be met for this course. The platforms are:

  • Being an accountable professional
  • Promoting health and preventing ill health
  • Assessing needs and planning care
  • Providing and evaluating care
  • Leading and managing nursing care and working in teams
  • Improving safety and quality of care
  • Coordinating care.


Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services

Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs

 

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

You are expected to have:

  • a minimum of two GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above including English language and maths. Key Skills/Functional Skills Level 2 English or Maths in place of English and Maths GCSE. Please note these are not required if you are doing an Access course – however, you must have English and maths as listed below.*


Plus any of the following qualifications:

GCE and VCE Advanced Level
112 points from two or three A levels, or equivalent T levels.

AS Level
These are only acceptable combined with other qualifications. One AS level can be accepted when combined with two or three A Levels to meet the 112 points required.

Access course
112 UCAS points from a QAA-recognised Access course (any combination)
*We can accept level 2 Access units in communication and maths in place of English and maths GCSEs.

BTEC QCF Extended Diploma
112 points (DMM).

CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care
112 points (C) in health and social care.

Foundation degree
A pass in any subject.

Irish Leaving Certificate
112 points from four or five Highers/Honours subjects.

Open University
60 credits at Level 4 with the Open University or a CertHE pass in any subject.

Scottish Highers
112 points from four or five Highers.

Advanced Scottish Highers
112 points from three Advanced Highers.

For further detailed entry requirements for this course please visit www.ucas.com.

Shortlisting criteria
Your application will be measured against the following criteria:

  • your ability to complete all sections of the application form fully and correctly
  • the level of all qualifications and grades are specified
  • appropriate academic entry requirements achieved or working towards qualifications
  • personal statement supportive of chosen course and demonstrates an understanding of the uniqueness of the profession and the role of the professional
  • satisfactory appropriate supportive references (academic/employer/character).

If you are invited to interview and the date is not suitable we may not be able to offer you an alternative date due to the high volume of applications received for this course - but it is important that you contact the Admissions Office immediately.

Interview criteria
Applicants successful at shortlisting will be invited to an interview (which may be in person OR video call) where you will be measured against the NHS values, and the 6 C’s. You will be measured against the following criteria:

  • knowledge of chosen profession/career
  • an appreciation of the demands of the courseand chosen profession
  • enthusiasm for the course/profession
  • ability to communicate effectively both verbally and non verbally
  • a future plan for the specialism.

If you are successful in both shortlisting and interview you will receive a conditional offer which is subject to the following:

  1. evidence of achievement of the required academic qualifications
  2. a successful work-based risk assessment which will reflect the appropriate HEOPS recommendations. Find out more about all of the HEOPS standards
  3. an enhanced criminal history (DBS) check may be required for certain modules or placements which involve working with children and/or adults at risk. The DBS check is funded by the School of Health & Life Sciences so you do not need to pay for this process.
  4. satisfactory references.

Please note until 1 to 4 have been successfully completed the offer of a place on the course remains conditional. Advanced standing for a maximum of 50% of the course is available for suitable candidates, subject to them meeting the Recognition for Prior Learning criteria. This is only considered once a place has been offered and accepted,



International applicants
  • International applicants must have a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 or equivalent in line with the University English Language Policy that equates to overall IELTS 7 with a minimum of 6.5 in writing (or equivalent), before an unconditional offer is made.
  • If you are successful at shortlisting you will be invited to attend an interview (which may be in person OR video call) in one of our international offices in either India, Malaysia or China, or through a secure web link (which will be arranged by the University).
  • If you can not attend an interview as stated, you will be unable to proceed with your application.

For general information please see our overview of entry requirements

International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country


You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL

 

Employability

Career opportunities

A diverse range of career opportunities are available within the NHS and private sectors in the UK and overseas. This course provides a stepping stone from which you can develop your expertise in the fields of nursing practice, leadership, research, education and consultancy.

 

Information for international applicants

Qualifications

International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.

Select your country:

  
 

Useful information

Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.

Talk to us

Talk to an international student enrolment adviser

 
 

Professional accreditation

On successful completion of the course you will be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council on the nurses' part of the Professional Register (Children's Nursing).

During the pre-registration nursing course you will be expected to work to the spirit of the NMC Code (2015) at all times - The Code (2015) Professional Standards of Practice and Behaviour for Nurses and Midwives, Nursing and Midwifery Council London

Please note 100% attendance is expected during this programme.

Full-time

Entry to 2024/25 academic year

Fee for UK applicants
£9,250 a year

More details about our fees

Fee for international applicants
£17,000 a year

More details about our fees for international applicants


What is included in your tuition fee?

  • Length: 3 years
  • UCAS code: B701 BSc/NurC
  • Start date: September or January
  • Semester dates
  • Typical offer: 112 tariff points and interview

Apply online (full-time) through UCAS

 

Part-time

  • Not available part-time
 

Choose Teesside

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    Alisha Carter

    Alisha CarterBSc (Hons) Nursing Studies (Child)

    The academic staff are superb and are always there to support you. I have had some amazing placements from general paediatric medical wards to more critical settings such as neonatal intensive care and paediatric critical care.

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Service user and carer involvement

Service users and carers support all aspects of our students' lifecycle from recruitment to graduation.

Find out more

Get in touch

UK students

Email: shlsadmissions@tees.ac.uk

Telephone: 01642 738801


Online chat (general enquiries)

International students

Email: internationalenquiries@tees.ac.uk

Telephone: +44 (0) 1642 738900


More international contacts

 

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