Due to high demand, applications for September 2021 entry are now closed for this course.
Northumbria University has an established reputation for excellence and innovation in nursing education. We are working closely with our NHS partners to deliver a pre-registration Nursing Science degreethat embodies the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s ‘FutureNurse’ standards, to equip you to lead your profession.
The BSc Nursing Science (Adult) course will allow you to build your experience in a caring role, and graduate with NMC Registration. Studying within the requirements of the new NMC standards means that you will have the ability to demonstrate critical thinking skills in relation to complex healthcare issues and the health and wellbeing of adult patients.
You will study partially at our Coach Lane Campus and partially on placement, with both strands running alongside each other to give you an integrated approach to theory and practice. You will study within the standard university semester system, allowing time during the Easter and summer breaks for additional projects and internships – or simply a well-earned rest.
This programme will equip you to be curious, creative and collaborative in your care. It will allow your compassion to thrive within an evidence-based approach, and it will enable you to make a genuine impact on the health and wellbeing of your clients and patients.
Northumbria University is ranked 9th in Nursing & Midwifery in the UK (Guardian University League Tables 2020)
Personal Statement Guidelines
Why is a personal statement important?
The Personal Statement in the application is about you (as the name suggests) and it is an opportunity to tell us why you want to study here and why you want to study the chosen field of nursing. The Nursing Midwifery Council require universities to conduct a face-to-face interview (including Skype) with all nursing candidates and the personal statement is key to you being asked to attend an interview. The personal statement is your chance to sell yourself to the person assessing your application.
What should you highlight in the Personal Statement?
Universities want to know what interests you about your chosen field of nursing and that you understand what it takes to be a nurse. You will need to include transferable skills gained at school, work or in your personal life. You will need to think about the skills and qualities that are required to be a nurse. Universities are interested in knowing what bearing your current studies have on your selection to the chosen field of nursing, and what experiences you have gained from your studies. It is recommended you look at the NHS Constitution and the six NHS Values and to include some of the values within the personal statement. We also want to know what bearing your current studies have on your selection to the chosen field of nursing, and what experiences you have gained from your studies. Alongside this, we want to additionally learn you, your extra-curricular activities, what you do in your spare time, any relevant work/volunteer experience, and any other achievements.
Through all this, you also have to pinpoint the skills and attributes you have gained from inside and outside of school/college. This is very important. For instance, if you have good powers of analysis and problem-solving ability then record this in the statement. If you are not sure where to start, write down a list of what you have done, and pick out the most relevant parts and link them to the field of nursing chosen.
What should I avoid doing?
Do not waffle. It is tempting to list everything you have done and let the selector 'pick out' the relevant bits - that does not happen. Think of it as a job application - keep it concise, keep it clear, and keep it logically organised. For everything you write, make sure it is relevant. For instance, do not say you just 'find something interesting' - that does not tell us much. We want to know why you find it interesting, and why that makes you a good candidate. Always remember that phrases such as 'for as long as I can remember' may sound good but they can sound cliched and at times simply are not true. Keep it honest - keep it meaningful.
What sort of experiences might be relevant?
You can talk about what you have learnt from team sports, part-time work or volunteer work. If you have health care experience then include this in the personal statement. You may might want to give examples of situations where you have demonstrated commitment, leadership and hard work. When have you adapted to new situations or managed a variety of commitments? Can you relate this to how you will cope with the demands of nursing? Have you had to deal with a difficult situation at work or at school or college? Whatever your experiences, tailor them to the chosen field of nursing.
Where can you get further tips?
There is a wealth of information available online and from careers advisers. Access nursing journals and health care websites too so that information in the personal statement is relevant to the chosen field of nursing.
For more information in relation to studying Nursing Science (Adult), contact Northumbria University today on 0191 406 0901 or register for Nursing Science (Adult) updates.
Year one
AA0406 -
Introduction to Evidence Based Practice in Health and Ill Health: Adult Nursing (20 Credits)
You will be introduced to the term Evidence Based Practice and learn how it underpins professional registered nursing care. You will spend time exploring the various types of evidence that nurses are required to i) find and ii) appraise and iii) use when they deliver care. You will learn to appreciate that the terms “health” and “ill health” are multi-faceted and need to be understood from a professional perspective as well as that of people of all ages, families and communities. This will help illustrate the range of clinical settings nurses work in.
You will discuss the role of the Adult Nurse in relation to optimising health at national, regional and local level. You will spend time identifying the rationale for anatomical, physiological and psycho-social assessments and the related support required by patients as part of a wider and more systematic approach to nursing care delivery. This will include links to pharmacological and non- pharmacological interventions.
AA0407 -
Applied Life and Social Sciences: Planning and Evaluating Care (20 Credits)
Nurses require an in-depth knowledge of anatomy, physiology and physical and mental health problems across the age spectrum and all fields of nursing. These are considered an essential basis for safe and effective practice. This module will enable you to apply biosciences to understand the determinants of health- social, psychological, behavioural, environmental and genomic factors and how they impact on health at a physical and psychological level. You will develop an understanding of the functioning of the body at different levels (cell, tissue, organ, system) and how this knowledge will assist you in delivering safe, holistic, compassionate nursing care.
You will enhance your understanding of the structure and function of the human body by exploring the complex relationship between health, anatomy, physiology and disease. This will be achieved through an exploration of diseases and conditions that arise from a malfunction of the systems of the body which will include an element of biochemistry and genomics. Pharmacology will be examined in relation to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. You will analyse and apply this information to help you examine the role of the nurse in anticipating the needs of patients, making care decisions and supporting an individual with illness.
During this module you will explore the following concepts:
• body systems, altered pathology and their relationship to disease and illness.
• assessment and anticipating changing health needs.
• understanding the fundamentals of safe and quality care provision.
NS0423 -
Practice Module 1: Becoming a Safe, Caring Professional (40 Credits)
This practice module will provide you with a unique opportunity to develop skills and knowledge directly relevant to your current practice placement experiences. The practice module will both support your learning while you are in practice and provide an environment, within university, to consolidate the skills and knowledge necessary to progress effectively. By using a concept curriculum approach, the nursing practice module will support you to learn how to become an accountable professional, lead and manage nursing care, and work in teams.
During the first year, you will learn the fundamental skills that are necessary for safe, effective and professional practice.
During the majority of your first year clinical placements you will return to university for two days a week to reflect on your experiences. You will learn together with your peers and examine theoretical concepts such as professionalism, interprofessional learning, medicines management and safeguarding that will enhance your practice. Seminars and workshops will focus on a range of subjects that will enhance your professional nursing practice.
You will learn how to develop your Ongoing Record of Achievement (ORA) and how to reflect on your personal and professional development. You will learn about the importance of patient centred and recovery focussed approaches and will be asked to reflect on feedback given by Experts By Experience (EBE). These skills are the start of your development as an evidence-based practitioner.
NS0424 -
Nursing Skills 1: Introduction to Nursing Assessment Skills (20 Credits)
The content of Nursing Skills 1 will be informed by the proficiency standards outlined in Annex A and B in ‘Future Nurse: standards of proficiency for registered nurse’ (NMC 2018).
The module will introduce the concept of safe nursing practice and the proficiencies nurses need when undertaking the physical assessment of people of all ages. You will learn how to observe and assess people of all ages in terms of symptoms and signs of physical ill health. You will learn how to take, record and interpret a patient’s vital sign and use communication tools to support verbal and written reports. An introduction to basic medicine calculation and management will also be part of your learning. These skills and proficiencies will be supported by opportunities to participate in simulated education utilising a range of specialist technology and taught by experts. These nursing skills are directly relevant to your practice learning and include nursing procedures that are necessary for safe and effective patient care. Before your first placement you will complete a number of mandatory requirements, which will enable you to practice with confidence and ensure patient safety. The learning opportunities in this module are designed to support you to develop knowledge, which will inform the attainment of communication and relationship management skills and nursing procedures as identified as Part 1 in your Ongoing Record of Achievement (ORA).
NS0425 -
Nursing Skills 2: Development of Communication Skills and Nursing Interventions (20 Credits)
Nursing Skills 2 will build on the concept of communication and safe and effective practice which you have been introduced to in the previous skills module. You will further develop your communication and clinical skills relevant to your practice placement experiences. You will continue to learn a range of skills, such as recognition of the deteriorating patient, that are necessary for safe, effective and professional practice. You will have the opportunity to participate in simulated education utilising a range of specialist technology, including human patient simulators, and taught by a specialist module team of lecturers in nursing, midwifery and health.
You will consider and develop your nursing skills, acting with integrity, applying the principles of The Code (NMC, 2018). You will demonstrate your ability to practise in a holistic, individualised, person centred, non-judgemental, caring and sensitive manner, acknowledging the diverse needs of a contemporary society. You will continue to develop your understanding of team working and its importance in nursing practice. You will learn about the importance of person centred care and effective communication skills. These learning opportunities will continue to help you gather evidence of your abilities and confidence and will inform your attainment of communication and safe and effective practice as identified as Part 1 in your Ongoing Record of Achievement (ORA).
Year two
AA0511 -
Principles of Innovative Person Centred Nursing Practice in Adult Nursing (20 Credits)
On this module you will be analysing what you have learned in practice placement and other modules. You will investigate contemporary nursing practice and recent innovations in health and social care. Your studies will include an overview of the effect of social networking and broadcast media on health literacy and the Adult Nurse’s role in information management. You will analyse the contribution made by technology and innovation to screening, diagnosis and treatment and the impact these processes have on patients of all ages, families and communities. You will compare varying styles of care management. In doing this you will come to recognise the enhanced functions of the Registered Nurse (Adult) in teaching, leadership, health economics and start to formulate your own sense of political awareness. You will link key concepts that underpin a systematic approach to nursing care and person-centeredness. You will examine context specific bio –psychosocial and spiritual dimensions of person-centred care, including end of life care. You will distinguish between traditional and contemporary approaches to research design, inquiry and evaluation. This will include analysis of the level of involvement of people of all ages, families and communities within these designs.
More informationAA0512 -
Perspectives of Complex Care in Adult Nursing (20 Credits)
Within this year 2 semester 2 module you will explore the nursing knowledge required to support and underpin the care of the acutely and chronically ill patient who are managed in a variety of care settings. You will expand your knowledge regarding the role of the nurse in providing safe and effective care to the patient with complex needs. You will learn to do this by analysing a range of nursing tools and frameworks and investigating the wider evidence base underpinning nursing interventions. In addition, you will examine the illness trajectory from acute presentation and diagnosis of a condition to living with a chronic illness and preparing for end of life across all age ranges. The module will support you to understand the relevance and importance of decision-making, problem solving and critical thinking to meet diverse patient needs.
On this module you will explore the following topic areas:
• Biological basis of illness and applied pharmacology to help you problem solve and anticipate the needs of the patient including managing the deteriorating patient and living with complex needs.
• Evidence based practice that will help you to understand and apply contemporary nursing interventions for this patient group.
• Management and governance issues related to providing safe, effective and ethically sound care in the acute and chronic periods of illness or accident recovery.
• Theoretical underpinnings of nursing care and patient management across a variety of settings.
NS0524 -
Practice Module 2: Developing Shared Decision Making (40 Credits)
This practice module will provide you with an opportunity to build upon and extend your portfolio of skills and knowledge relevant to your clinical practice. This module will both support your learning while you are in practice and provide an environment, within university, to consolidate the skills and knowledge necessary to progress effectively. By using a concept curriculum approach, the nursing practice module will support you to learn how to become an accountable professional, lead and manage nursing care, and work in teams.
During your module you will explore clinical decision making in practice through collaboration and partnership working. In your clinical placements you will return to university for two days a week to share your experiences with your peers and module tutors to help develop effective decision making. You will be provided with opportunities to critically reflect on your own role and professional responsibilities in making shared decisions for your continued development as a safe and effective student nurse. By using a developing concept curriculum approach, you will be able to practise safely and have an awareness of your own limitations, demonstrating increasing autonomy and independence when performing a range of practical skills. You will apply your developing knowledge of pharmacology, social and life sciences to nursing practice.
You will continue to develop your Ongoing Record of Achievement (ORA) and reflect on your personal and professional development as an evidence-based practitioner. You will reflect on the importance of patient and family centred approaches in addition to the effectiveness of patients and client feedback. Some of your learning will be online via online learning resources stored on BackBoard Ultra as we help you to facilitate, and organise your independent learning.
NS0525 -
Nursing Skills 3: Developing Evidence-Based Skills for Best Practice (20 Credits)
This module will build on the concepts from year one and introduce more complex skills linked to the proficiency standards outlined in Annex A and B ‘Future Nurse: Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurse’ (NMC, 2018). This will support your practice learning and help you further develop the knowledge and skills you have gained from your year one clinical placements. The module will help you develop greater confidence and autonomy, allowing you to contribute effectively to a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare providers. This skills module will support your learning while you are in practice and provide an environment, within university, to consolidate the skills and knowledge necessary to progress effectively While in university you will also be updating, consolidating and learning new communication and relationship management skills, nursing procedures and elements of patient safety to ensure safe and effective practice.
More informationNS0526 -
Nursing Skills 4: Enhancing Clinical Skills for Complex Care (20 Credits)
The content of Nursing Skills 4 will be informed by the proficiency standards outlined in Annex A and B in ‘Future Nurse: Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurse’ (NMC, 2018).
This module will build upon your knowledge of medicine administration whilst being exposed to the challenges of complex care needs. You will learn about nursing interventions associated with people of all ages with complex care needs exploring the principles, approaches and concepts of safe nursing practice and the delivery of holistic care. You will build your knowledge of safe ethical medicines management with an emphasis on the clinical application of these skills and understanding. There will be a particular focus on the challenges of medicines optimisation in people with complex care needs, which requires understanding of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Alongside this you will learn to develop professional accountability to ensure safe administration of medicines including competency in drug calculation. You will continue to develop your understanding of team working and its importance in nursing practice.
Year three
AA0613 -
Transition to an Accountable Practitioner in Adult Nursing (40 Credits)
You will be learning more about nursing and the legislative and policy drivers that shape care delivery; locally, nationally and globally. The module examines the tools used to ensure evidence-based practice is delivered, taught, managed, evaluated and adapted so as to fit the needs of people of all ages, families and communities. You will learn how to synthesise information and consolidate your knowledge, skills and abilities so that you can move into a more advanced stage of your professional development. You will learn about the accountability and responsibility of managing a team. You will design a practice-based project so you can learn about the necessity for scholarship. This will be captured in a project proposal focussing on a particular clinical topic; one embedded in the real world of nursing practice and service user/carer experience. Completing a project proposal will provide insight and experience of various stages of inquiry, project management, problem solving and decision-making and the need for emotional intelligence. The module will continue to support your engagement in a holistic and systematic approach to nursing care; with critical analysis of systems, models and cross boundary working used in health and social care. During this module, you will learn about the process of transitioning from student to an accountable practitioner; this will encompass your roles as a leader, practice developer, creative and independent thinker, and someone who can challenge peers and colleagues appropriately. The module will facilitate some key components of your employability.
More informationNS0621 -
Practice Module (3) Leadership, Quality and Team Work (40 Credits)
In this third year module which is based in practice, all of your learning will be online via BlackBoard Ultra, except for a single face to face seminar to explain expectations as we help you to facilitate greater independent learning as you transition to become a registered nurse. This module will provide you with the opportunity to advance your skills and knowledge directly relevant to your third year practice placement experiences and prepare you for working life as a registered nurse. It will specifically focus on leadership, quality and team work.
By using a concept curriculum approach, the nursing practice module will support you to become an accountable professional, working in teams to lead and manage quality nursing care. Within the context of your practice placements you will critically reflect and debate contemporary theories and explore service improvement models, which support sustainable service improvement. Applying your knowledge of team and Interprofessional working you will learn how to coordinate safe and effective high quality care. This will include a collaborative approach embedding the views of service users, lay carers and colleagues in the delivery and enhancement of care. You will be provided opportunities to critically reflect on your own personal and professional responsibility for your continued development as a manager and future leader of service improvement. You will learn how to manage uncertainty and put into practice the strategies that develop resilience in yourself and others.
Through dynamic learning opportunities in practice you will gather evidence to aid completion of your North East Electronic Practice Assessment Document (NEEPAD). Through critical reflection and self-assessment you will complete your Ongoing Record of Achievement (ORA) demonstrating your capability and readiness for independent practice. This demonstrates to a future employer that you are fit to practise as a registered nurse caring for people of all ages and across all care settings.
NS0622 -
Nursing Skills 5: Leading and Improving Safety and Care Quality (20 Credits)
Nursing Skills 5, will build on the concepts from years 1 and 2 and further enhance your skills. The module focuses on aspects of leadership to build your competence in the delivery of safe and effective person centred care. You will update and explore in greater depth skills you acquired in previous years, including mandatory skills and a range of more advanced techniques and procedures whilst preparing you for your role as a newly qualified nurse. In addition, you will build on your knowledge and experience of safe nursing practice, promotion of health and medicines management in relation to caring for people with acute, complex and advanced conditions. You will develop advanced communication and nursing procedure skills as appropriate to your field of nursing.
More informationNS0623 -
Nursing Skills 6: Advancing Nursing Skills (20 Credits)
This module will consolidate the concepts and nursing interventions from the previous skills modules and be delivered following Nursing Skills 5. Building on your existing knowledge and skills you will enhance your development and become an agile skilled practitioner in your relevant field of nursing. You will be learning to apply high level communication skills, previous knowledge and experience as well as your advanced knowledge of nursing procedures to prepare you for autonomous practice. History taking skills will be developed and used as a framework for enhanced assessment and care of people of all ages. A range of dynamic learning opportunities both in the simuated and real-life practice setting will help to to generate evidence, which will aid you in the completion of your Ongoing Record of Achievement, demonstrating that you are capable of a high standard of competent, safe and independent nursing practice.
More information