BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult)

UCAS code: B770

Start date: September and February

Course length: full time: three years

Campus: Derby Campus, Kedleston Road or Chesterfield Campus

This is a three year full time course, and you will qualify with a BSc (Hons) Nursing - Adult Nursing

The course acts as preparation for registration as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Is adult nursing for you?

As an adult nurse, you will work with a range of adults with diverse, acute and chronic conditions. Using the skills you'll develop during this course, you'll improve the quality of your patients' lives in a number of environments. Throughout the course you'll gain experience in a wide variety of placements across Derbyshire, including hospitals, acute settings, community and voluntary organisations and the independent sector. As part of your preparation for registration as a nurse, you will take part in 24 hour care that will involve shift patterns. You will experience various learning environments on your placements including hospitals, community settings and voluntary organisations. You will also experience 24-hour nursing.

You'll study the following core themes throughout the course:

• Biological sciences
• Evidence based practice and research
• Leadership and management
• Professional, legal and ethical studies
• Pharmacology studies
• Sociological aspects of health care
• Integrated practice, incorporating essential skills clusters.

Stage one

You'll study these modules:

• Integrated Adult Nursing Practice 1    
• Foundations for Nursing    
• Applied Health Sciences 1
• Evidence Base for Practice

Stage two

You'll study these modules:

• Integrated Adult Nursing Practice 2    
• Public Health    
• Applied Health Sciences 2
• Research Methods for Practice

Stage three

You'll study these modules:

• Integrated Adult Nursing Practice 3    
• Improving Health and Social Care Services   
• Applied Health Sciences 3    
• Teamworking, Leadership and Management

You'll need a minimum overall of 240 UCAS tariff points at least 200 of which can come from:

• two or three A2 levels
• BTEC National Certificate
• BTEC National Diploma
• Advanced Diploma (14-19)

and a maximum of 40 from AS levels.

You must also have five GCSE passes at grade C or above including maths, English language and single science. We don't accept any other level two qualifications except as part of an Access course.

We'll also accept the following:

• Access to Higher Education Diploma (60 credits) with a minimum 24 level three credits at Merit plus level two maths and English (either GCSE or when taken as part of the Access course). Please note: If your Access course doesn't have substantial level three science content you'll also need a level two qualification in science (either at GCSE or when taken as part of the Access course).
• NVQ3 in a health related subject plus five GCSE passes at grade C or above including maths, English language and single science. We don't accept any other level two qualifications except as part of an Access course.

When you apply for this course you should make sure that you consider the following areas in your application:

• Give evidence that you meet the academic entry criteria above or are expected to
• Show you meet the criteria to apply for NHS financial support
• Provide examples of using your communication skills with the public
• Give examples of working as part of a team
• Demonstrate you can write clearly and concisely, showing a good level of spelling and punctuation
• Show that you're motivated to become a nurse
• Provide a reference
• Show that you've studied formally at some point over the last five years
• Demonstrate how you've gained insight into caring for others

We'll then use this information to shortlist candidates for our selection day. If you're shortlisted for a selection day, the day will include:

1. A literacy exercise where you will be required to demonstrate your literacy skills.
2. A numeracy exercise (calculators permitted) where you will be required to answer 15 numerical questions. Two examples include a) 1.5 litres is equivalent to how many millilitres? b) a patient is prescribed 10mg of a medicine and each tablet contains 5mg. How many tablets do they require?
3. A short individual presentation and interview.
4. A group activity.

You will also have the opportunity to talk to current nursing students.

You'll need to make sure that you're prepared for the selection day as we'll make decisions on who we offer places to based on meeting you on the day.

All BSc (Hons) Nursing degree offers are subject to:

• A successful selection process
• Satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau and Occupational Health checks
• Meeting the criteria for NHS financial support
• A satisfactory reference

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is required at the point of accepting a place at the University. The Disclosure and Barring Service was established when the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) merged in 2012 and will now provide the criminal records checking service for this programme.

All students on university courses in nursing (leading to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council) will be eligible for some financial help from the NHS while studying.

Eligible students who are accepted onto this course will usually have their tuition fees paid in full and may receive financial support in the form of a bursary.

All eligible students will receive a £1,000 grant each year. They will also be eligible to apply for an additional means-tested bursary of up to £4,395 per year.

NHS Student Bursaries provides financial support to eligible students taking approved (NHS funded) courses in nursing. Please visit the NHS Student Bursaries' website at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students for more information including:

• eligibility requirements
• the financial support available
• an online bursary calculator
• how the process of applying for financial support works
• frequently asked questions
• the latest rates
• details of the adoption award
• details of the maternity support award

This course is delivered at both our Derby Campus and Chesterfield Campus. Take a tour of our Chesterfield Campus. Teaching takes place in our purpose built Clinical Skills Suite, which replicates hospital settings and incorporates a hospital ward, counselling rooms and an x-ray suite. It also includes a wide range of clinical equipment, from high technology simulation mannequins to moving and handling equipment that is used in practice settings. This will help you to put your skills into practice and prepare for working in a clinical environment. The course has strong links with local healthcare facilities across Derbyshire.

You'll go on placements for half the duration of this course which are fundamental to developing you as a registered nurse. These will take place in various clinical learning environments including hospitals, accident and emergency departments and within community and voluntary organisations.

How you're assessed

So that you're ready for your career in nursing we want to ensure that your skills and knowledge match current working practices in health and social care. Assessment approaches include problembased learning, assignments, online activities and exams. In practice, a qualified mentor will assess your knowledge and skills.

Nursing is a highly valued profession and when you become a registered nurse you'll be able to find opportunities in a wide range of specialities immediately after qualifying. We work closely with employers in the health and social care sector to make sure this course is relevant to their workforce, so you can be sure that you'll develop the skills you'll need to keep moving forward in your career. Our students have a good record of employability locally, nationally and internationally. In 2012 100% of our students were working within six months of graduating. You could also continue studying at postgraduate level in a range of health and social care courses.

Graduates from this course have gone into hospital based posts on a variety of wards, intensive care units, coronary care units, theatres and in A&E. Others have gained posts within community teams, private hospitals, nursing homes, health and social care settings and independent voluntary sectors. And some of our graduates have gone on to work in posts overseas.

Ruth Harrison, Graduate

"The University of Derby is not only friendly, but the staff are all very supportive. I would recommend anyone wanting to undertake nursing to consider coming here.

Rhodri, one of our BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing students, tells us how Derby's healthcare courses lead the way with support, direction and facilities.