Nursing Associate (Direct Entry Route) Level 5 FdSc

Overview

The Nursing Associate is a highly trained support role, whose purpose is to deliver effective, safe and responsive nursing care in and across a broad range of health and care settings. The role will bridge the gap between a support worker and a Registered Nurse, providing a workforce for future healthcare. Over two years, the programme leads to a Nursing Associate Foundation Degree.

Nursing Associates will work both independently and as part of the healthcare team, delivering care across a variety of primary, secondary, community and social care settings. In this role, you will provide hands on care, concentrating on making sure that patients continue to receive the compassionate care they deserve.

You will work alongside qualified practice assessors and supervisors in practice learning areas, where you will experience a wide variety of care giving settings. You will be expected to follow the same shift patterns as your practice supervisor (including weekends and night duty), and you will need to be able to travel to and from clinical placements.

Half of your time will be spent at the University, and the other half working in hospital and community settings, within the NHS and independent sector. These practice learning opportunities will be spread across the Greater Manchester area.

What You’ll Learn

You will:

• Develop high quality, compassionate care under the direction of a Registered Nurse, Registered Nursing Associate (or other registered health and social care professionals)
• Be involved in working as part of a designated team, delivering care that focuses on the direct needs of the individual
• Learn in the University’s purpose built, state of the art simulation suite facilities

In your first year, the modules will allow you to develop your professionalism and interpersonal skills, and to find out more about human anatomy, person centred care, safeguarding, public health and health promotion.

In your second year, the modules will develop your knowledge of long term conditions, medication management, coaching, service improvement and nursing interventions.

Assessment

Across the programme, you will be assessed both in clinical placements and at the University.

Assessment will be carried out through a range of methods, including practice assessments, essays, objective structured clinical exams (OSCE), presentations and viva examinations.

Progression

Once you have completed this course, you will be prepared with the practice experience and knowledge needed to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a nursing associate.

You will gain the experience and knowledge to work in all four fields of nursing (adult, children and young people, mental health and learning disability) and across the lifespan. You will also be able to work in a range of community, acute care, social and primary care settings within the NHS, public, private and voluntary sectors.

Entry Requirements

• You will need GCSE Maths and English Language at grade C / grade 4 or above, or equivalent Functional Skills level 2, and to demonstrate the academic aptitude to undertake the programme
• To be considered, the GCSE entry requirements must be fulfilled
• It is preferred that you already hold grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics GCSE, or an approved alternative qualification, before you apply
• You may also be considered if you are in the process of completing your GCSE English Language and Mathematics, or level 2 equivalents
• Without GCSE Mathematics at grade C/4 or above, the following qualifications may be considered: Level 2 Functional Skills in Mathematics or a Higher Maths Equivalency Test with a minimum mark of 65%
• Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) is applied in line with the University’s Admissions and Retention Policy. It allows the University to consider students who may not have the traditional entry criteria, but do have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully. Assessment may consider employer references, previous coursework/examinations or a portfolio of your work
• To be considered for APL, GCSE Maths and English at Grade C/4 (or equivalent) must either have been achieved already or be in progress
• If you are made an offer, you will be notified about what you need to do next to proceed with the APL route
• Whilst on the programme, you need to be able to demonstrate an ability to study at diploma level, with a commitment to complete a foundation degree programme
• You need to be able to demonstrate that you have the capability to learn professional, personal, digital and technology behaviours, skills and attributes in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code
• Previous experience as a healthcare assistant/clinical support worker is desirable but not essential, though you will need to demonstrate the commitment to undertake the challenge of a career in healthcare
• As part of the application process, you will be invited to an interview, and you may be invited to complete an assessment / attend an online activity. If this is the case, you will be contacted with further details

Study Options

This is a full time programme over two years, with placement, at the Frederick Road campus. It is 50% clinical practice and 50% theory, delivered on a mix of block theory and block practice, and you will typically attend three to five theory days during theory blocks. To complete the programme successfully, evidence of 2,300 programme hours is required.

There is no long holiday break, and the course has fixed non-negotiable annual leave weeks. Considerable travelling may be required for both hospital and community placements.