Adult Nursing (BSc) (Hons)

Program Overview

The Adult Nursing (BSc) program from the University of Bedfordshire prepares students for registration as adult nurses. The program combines theoretical instruction with extensive hands-on experience in practical placements, equipping graduates with the skills and knowledge needed for a successful career in adult nursing. The program's focus on direct patient care and clinical practice management ensures that graduates are well-prepared to meet the challenges of the nursing profession.

Program Outline

Adult Nursing (BSc) - University of Bedfordshire

Degree Overview:

This program aims to equip students with the specialist knowledge and skills required to become registered adult nurses. The program emphasizes hands-on experience, with 50% of the learning time dedicated to practical placements in hospital and community settings.

Outline:

Program Content:

• Core Units: The program covers a wide range of topics, including:
• Introduction to Public Health
• Introduction to Nursing Interventions
• Care Across the Lifespan in Adult Nursing
• Assessment and Interventions in Adult Nursing Practice
• Law and Decision Making in Medicines Management
• Understanding Health
• Planning, Delivering and Coordinating Care for Adults
• Transforming Care
• Supporting Learning
• Advocacy, Empowerment and Protection
• Leading Complex Care in Adult Nursing
• Exploring Health and Primary Care Services in the Community
• Exploring Evidence
• Placement: Students spend 50% of their time in practice settings, gaining experience in various healthcare environments, including hospitals and community health settings.
• Simulation Suites: The program utilizes fully immersive simulation suites at both the Luton and Bedford campuses, providing students with opportunities to practice responding to and managing clinical situations and scenarios.
• Simulation Wards: Students have access to simulation wards equipped with medical-grade training mannequins, allowing them to tackle real-life scenarios in a safe and supported environment.

Program Structure:

• Duration: The program is typically a three-year full-time course.
• Foundation Year: A Foundation Year option is available for students who require additional support or did not meet the standard entry requirements.
This option extends the program to four years.
• Professional Practice Year: Students can choose to take the program over four years, including a year placement in industry.
This option provides practical experience and networking opportunities.

Course Schedule:

• Face-to-Face Teaching: The program primarily utilizes face-to-face teaching, allowing students to interact with tutors and other students.
• Placement Shifts: Students experience typical shift patterns for healthcare professionals, including early, late, and night shifts during their placements.

Individual Modules:

• Introduction to Public Health: This unit explores the fundamentals of health and public health promotion, examining current perspectives of health and the role of ethics in public health practice.
• Introduction to Nursing Interventions: Students learn to perform a range of basic nursing procedures and interventions, building confidence in their practical skills.
• Care Across the Lifespan in Adult Nursing: This unit focuses on developing awareness of adult nursing practice by providing direct holistic care to adults in practice learning environments.
• Assessment and Interventions in Adult Nursing Practice: Students learn to assess adult patients and develop targeted plans for nursing interventions, enabling them to intervene appropriately and work collaboratively in clinical environments.
• Law and Decision Making in Medicines Management: This unit covers the safe administration of medicines, emphasizing professional standards, legislation, safeguarding, consent, pharmacology, and medicines administration.
• Planning, Delivering and Coordinating Care for Adults: Students develop a deep understanding of diverse patient needs and learn to work closely with other professionals to plan, deliver, and coordinate care in various clinical settings.
• Transforming Care: This unit encourages critical reflection on service delivery and promotes the development of ideas for change.
• Supporting Learning: Students learn to support people in self-managing their conditions, developing teaching and supervision skills to support learning in clinical environments for patients, carers, and other students.
• Advocacy, Empowerment and Protection: This unit enhances awareness of safeguarding and emphasizes the nurse's responsibility to protect people through advocacy, empowerment, and care.
• Leading Complex Care in Adult Nursing: Students acquire skills for risk management within an adult nursing setting, gaining knowledge and skills for decision-making, planning, intervention, and evaluation of complex care needs.
• Exploring Health and Primary Care Services in the Community: This unit explores the health needs of the local population and supports learning in health service provision.
• Exploring Evidence: Students learn to draw conclusions from healthcare research and use this evidence to inform nursing practice and care.

Assessment:

• Assessment Methods: The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:
• Written assignments (reflective pieces, case studies, academic essays)
• Assessed practice within placements
• Practice Assessment Document (PAD)
• Self-reflections on progress
• Contributions from service users and carers
• Assessment Criteria: Assessments are designed to evidence achievement of unit learning outcomes at undergraduate level (Level 6) and demonstrate integration of learning in theory and practice.

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods: The program utilizes a combination of teaching methods, including:
• Face-to-face lectures
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Group discussions
• Practical skills sessions
• Simulation exercises
• Placements
• Faculty: Lecturers are experienced registered nurses with extensive knowledge and experience in their field.
They are also active researchers and publishers.
• Unique Approaches: The program emphasizes a learner-centered approach, drawing on expertise-by-experience and ensuring immediate professional relevance to safe and effective practice.

Careers:

• Career Paths: Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as adult nurses.
This opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities in various healthcare settings, including:
• Hospitals
• Community health settings
• Residential care facilities
• Opportunities: Graduates can pursue careers in:
• Direct patient care
• Clinical practice management
• Nursing education
• Outcomes: The program boasts high graduate employment rates, with 98% of graduates securing graduate-level employment.

Other:

• Accreditation: The program is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
• Industry Links: The program is developed in collaboration with regional healthcare providers and health authorities, ensuring that learning meets the benchmark set for care providers.
• Student Experience: The program offers a supportive learning environment with opportunities for students to meet and exchange ideas with other healthcare students.
• Clinical Specialists: Clinical specialists from partner trusts visit the campus to support student learning, ensuring that studies are underpinned by the latest research and practice.
• Aylesbury Campus: The Aylesbury campus is located at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, providing students with full immersion in the hospital environment.

The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £9,250 per year for UK/EU students and £15,500 per year for international students.