OVERVIEW

? Right from the start, you’ll receive a blend of theory?and practical experience. Half the course will be spent at the University. The other half?of your time,?you’ll gain real work skills in?a variety of clinical settings. You’ll learn?about ‘normal’?child development, and how to recognise?when a child’s development is not normal. You’ll learn how to intervene and manage atypical development. You’ll promote a healthy lifestyle in children, young people and their families and provide?real?patient?care?in hospital and community placements.

Why choose this course?

Children’s Nursing is a professional career caring for children and young people. You’ve probably arrived at this page because you have a passion for helping children and young people. We will ease you into the nursing world using our Children’s Nursing lab and our Simulation Centre. This way you can safely practice your nursing skills before you go out into the real world. During the course you can choose to study one of a few specialist modules. Whether you wish to care for children and young people with acute medical conditions or supporting neonates and their families in hospital or the community, let us help you get there.

our future career

This course entitles you to apply for registration as a children’s nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. It opens up a wide range of career options, typically within hospitals or community-based services which can take you in many different directions. For example, you may choose to work in a specialist area such as a neonatal unit or children’s accident and emergency department, or you may prefer to consider community-based settings such as hospice care or community children’s nursing.

100% of graduates are in work or doing further study 15 months after the course (Graduate Outcomes, 2019/2020).

What you'll study

You'll spend 50% of your time at the University. You’ll attend lectures,?building your knowledge on things like providing a holistic assessment care plan and considering a child's or young person’s mental, emotional and physical?wellbeing.?You can then?share your knowledge?in smaller groups during the seminars and workshops.?You?will be asked to look at case studies, either individually or in a small group. Plus, you can put what you have learnt into practise?by using your skills in our clinical simulation centres.

You’ll spend 50% of your time?in a hospital or community setting.?You could be working with?NHS Trusts in Hertfordshire or in London.?You'll partner with qualified, experienced nurses?who will act as your supervisor.

Practice placements are organised primarily within neighbouring NHS Trusts in Hertfordshire and North London, but also in Bedfordshire and Essex and in other settings including the private and voluntary sectors. There is the opportunity to learn with and from people in the community and in hospitals where nursing is experienced. The placements are wide and varied, emphasising the chosen field of practice - Children's Nursing. This may include caring for neonates through to adolescents: children and young people with learning disabilities or mental health problems and occasionally adults.

A number of NHS Trusts support student nurses in their practice by providing placements in local health service trusts, social services, local educational institutions, private health care facilities, and the voluntary sector. North London, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire provide this support in a varying capacity dependent on the programme undertaken and the chosen field of Nursing.

A student-led experience is offered at the end of the second year which gives you the opportunity to gain clinical experience elsewhere in the UK, e.g. closer to home or in specialised regional or national centre of excellence, your choice.

In your first year, we'll introduce you to the profession, giving you a solid foundation to build on. You'll look at how a child and young person grows and develops and the impact of illness. Remember you will be working with children, young people and their families. You will learn how to build trust and how to communicate with them.

In your second year, you'll build on what you learnt in first year. You'll explore an ill child’s journey from showing clinical signs through to diagnosis; you’ll look at ways of providing care and management until recovery or end of life care. You'll also choose to study one of our specialised modules.

In your third year, you’ll explore strategies to enhance service outcomes for children and young people. You’ll also be introduced to the work of leadership and management roles. You are now fully equipped to provide quality care to children and young people.