Program Overview
This undergraduate program in partnership with Birmingham’s healthcare organizations empowers students to become Registered Nurses specializing in child nursing. The program emphasizes safe and comprehensive practice, developing nursing skills, research capabilities, and critical thinking. Students gain practical nursing experience through clinical simulations and diverse clinical placements under the guidance of skilled clinicians. Graduates are eligible for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as Registered Nurses (Child).
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
This program, delivered in partnership with renowned Birmingham healthcare organizations, prepares students for a career as a registered nurse in child nursing practice. The program focuses on developing safe and contemporary practice, encompassing biological, pharmacological, and social sciences, nursing theories, systems, processes, and a range of nursing skills. Students will learn to lead, manage, and deliver effective person-centered nursing practice, including medicines management and safe drug calculations. The program emphasizes empathy towards patients and caregivers, providing insight into the public experience of healthcare and how it is evaluated and continuously improved. It also focuses on developing research and independent study skills, critical thinking, and evidence-based reasoning. Students will gain practical experience through clinical practice in dedicated simulation suites and diverse clinical placements related to child nursing. These placements offer exposure to a wide range of client groups and health conditions under the guidance of skilled clinicians, facilitated through partnerships with Birmingham NHS Trust.
Outline:
The program is structured over three years (42 weeks per year) and includes a combination of academic learning and clinical placements.
Year 1:
- Essential Nursing Care: This module covers the principles of nursing practice and nursing skills, underpinned by relevant biological, pharmacological, psychological, and social sciences. It aims to develop an understanding of the health and social needs of people and their families.
- Health and Wellbeing: This module examines the health and social needs of people across the lifespan, including children, adults, and the elderly.
Year 2:
- Promoting Health and Self-Management: This module builds upon the knowledge gained in the first year, focusing on clinical nursing, communication, health promotion, and managerial skills.
- Clinical Decision Making: This module develops health communication and promotion skills, clinical decision-making, and the study of research, management, and evidence-based practice.
- Evaluating Nursing Care in Children: This module focuses on the specific field of practice, building upon the biological, pharmacological, and psychological and social sciences knowledge gained in the first year.
- Therapeutic Nursing in Children's Care: This module further develops clinical nursing, communication, health promotion, and managerial knowledge and skills specific to child nursing practice.
Year 3:
- Leading and Managing Nursing in Practice: This module prepares students for their transition to a registered nurse, focusing on leadership and management development.
- Evidence Based Nursing Practice: This module focuses on research and the use of evidence in nursing practice.
- Assessment, Diagnostics and Decision Making in Complex Nursing: This module integrates and builds upon prior learning, developing the ability to undertake in-depth assessment, diagnosis, and related clinical decision-making in child nursing for people requiring complex care. It also includes medicines management and future readiness for postgraduate prescribing programs.
Assessment:
Students are assessed through a variety of methods, including:
- Exams: Written examinations assess theoretical knowledge and understanding.
- Coursework Assignments: Written assignments, presentations, and projects demonstrate critical thinking, research, and communication skills.
- Placements: Clinical placements are assessed through observation, practical skills demonstrations, and reflective journals.
- Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs): OSCEs assess practical skills and clinical decision-making in simulated scenarios.
Teaching:
- Learning and Teaching Approaches: The program utilizes interactive, formative, and personalized approaches to learning, incorporating digital technology. It emphasizes enquiry-based and research-intensive learning and teaching strategies to develop reflection and confidence in future professional development.
- Teaching Staff: The teaching staff includes experts in their fields, with publications and experience in international institutions.
Careers:
Graduates of this program are eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Registered Nurse (Child). They are highly valued and have secured employment or pursued further career-related training upon completion. Career opportunities include:
- Clinical Practice: Working in hospitals, community settings, and other healthcare environments.
- Management: Leading and managing nursing teams.
- Research: Conducting research to advance nursing knowledge and practice.
- Education: Teaching and mentoring future nurses.
Other:
- Placement Locations: Students will have the opportunity to practice nursing in a variety of settings, including local nurseries, communities, hospitals, and the internationally renowned Diana, Princess of Wales, Children's Hospital. Lecturers from the University of Birmingham provide dedicated practice preparation and mid-placement sessions.
- University Careers Network: The University Careers Network offers specialized career guidance, exclusive work experience opportunities, mentoring, global internships, and placements. They also provide support with CVs and job applications.
- Voluntary Work: Students are encouraged to engage in voluntary work to gain practical experience and develop skills.
