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FdSc - Nursing Associate

Would you like to become a nursing associate? Our course provides specialist training and support for you to become a nursing associate registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in two years.

As a nursing associate, you'll play a vital role in the nursing team working across all four areas of nursing: adult, children's, learning disabilities, and mental health nursing. Working closely with healthcare assistants and registered nurses, you'll care for people across the lifespan in a range of settings, from the home to community and inpatient settings.

At the end of this course, you'll be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and practise as a nursing associate. You'll also be able to complete further training through a top-up course or degree apprenticeship to qualify as a nurse.

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Carlisle - Fusehill Street Lancaster All

Accredited by:

Nursing & Midwifery Council

Course Overview

The programme is studied over 2 years, and you will attend study and placements during the weeks specified on the programme planner. This will be made available to you on commencement of the course.

Equal value is placed on theory and practice for the duration of the FdSc Nursing Associate programme, so 50% of your time on this course will be spent on placement covering all areas of nursing practice (adult, children's, mental health and learning disability) in the NHS and private, voluntary and independent sectors. Placement settings will include hospitals, nursing homes, GP surgeries, clinics, and more.

Throughout the length of the course, you will be introduced to essential knowledge that a nursing associate is required to understand to enable the delivery of effective person-centred care, including the ability to research and study independently and work with student colleagues.

The University of Cumbria has excellent clinical skills and simulation facilities including simulated ward areas, high dependency care areas, home spaces and a dedicated ‘immersive simulation room’ enabling experience of ‘real life’ scenarios.

On this course you will...

Spend 50% of the programme on clinical placement being supervised and assessed by practice staff.
Learn and work alongside all fields of nursing and the multi-disciplinary team whilst on placement, and recognise the contribution of different health professionals' roles and expertise.
Develop skills through a range of nursing placements that will be a mixture of hospital and community settings, and through skills teaching and simulated practice.
Prepare to deliver a wide range of clinical, care and interpersonal skills underpinned by a systematic knowledge base.
Develop and accomplish the knowledge and skills you need to practise and provide evidenced-based and compassionate care as a registered nursing associate.

Apply

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Carlisle - Fusehill Street Lancaster All

Key Details

Recruiting toUK / RoI / Settled in UK
EU / EEA / International
Course LocationCarlisle - Fusehill Street
Lancaster
Institute Institute of Health
UCAS CodeB750
Delivery StyleHybrid
Course DurationFull-time: 2 Years
Course Start PointMarch
September
AwardFdSc
More informationProgramme Specification
Prospectus
Open DaysCarlisle - Fusehill Street
Lancaster
All

Minimum entry requirements

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent portfolio of evidence; GCSE English (Language) and Maths at grades 4-9 or Functional Skills Level 2 or equivalent

Tuition fees

£9,535

UK | Year

£14,900

International | Year

Tuition Fees Policy

What our students and graduates say

My tutors are amazing! They take time to get to know all their students personally, take an interest in us and then support us with our own ambitions. They are so invested in us and so supportive, it would be hard not to form a strong bond with them.

Catherine Hind, Mental Health Nursing

Nominated for the RCNi Andrew Parker award for Student Nurse of the year, as well as the Student Nursing Times Awards 'Most Inspirational Student Nurse of the Year', Catherine proved to everyone what an extraordinary person she is.

Read Catherine's Story

Course Structure

What you will learn

You will spend 50% of the programme on clinical placement being supervised and assessed by practice staff. The theoretical input is delivered by expert teaching staff and is based on the latest evidence and research, using a variety of teaching and learning approaches.

The programme will equip you to deliver safe and effective care to the highest standards and ensure you practice with compassion and confidence. You will be taught to deliver a wide range of clinical, care and interpersonal skills underpinned by a systematic knowledge base in diverse settings and with different patient groups.

Year one

The first year of the FdSc Nursing Associate is designed to introduce you to the concepts that underpin nursing associate practice. There are 6 academic modules this year in total, of equal academic weighting of 20 credits. The aim is to introduce you to the concept of holistic healthcare and the importance of effective communication skills, professional and ethical practice, introduction to evidence led care and health and social care policy. The biological sciences module will be supported with practical clinical skills sessions in the simulated ward environment. You will also study principles of nursing practice applied to Nursing Associates. There are two Placement allocations in year one and these are assessed against the NMC proficiencies, and it is mandatory that both these placements are achieved.

Applied Biological Sciences for Health
Learn essential knowledge of the fundamental concepts of anatomy and physiology relating to human body systems and applied to clinical practice and decision making.
Professional Practice & Accountability
Explore the legal, ethical and professional concepts which inform the complexities of decision making in health & social care practice.
Developing Evidence-Based Practice
Develop skills in critical evaluation of the evidence base that informs practice.
Introduction to Communication & Interpersonal Skills
Learn a variety of communication, interpersonal and self-awareness skills required to provide culturally appropriate and compassionate nursing care.
Concepts of Health & Social Policy
Explore perspectives of biological, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual and behavioural determinants of health and promote person centred wellbeing across the lifespan.
Introduction to Nursing Associate Practice
Gain knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles that inform Nursing Associate Practice.

Year two

The second year of the programme has 6 academic modules of 20 credits each with 2 practice placements. Year two is designed to support your development of knowledge and skills that were delivered in year one. Within this year of study, you will examine principles of pharmacology and medicine management, care of people with long term conditions and chronic health care needs, understanding care needs and the nursing associate as leader. Development of communication skills are threaded throughout the curriculum and the year 2 module introduces the utilisation of therapeutic communication. Empathy towards patients and families is essential and the ‘lived experience module’ provides an insight into how individuals and families experience illness and healthcare.

Pharmacology and Medicine Therapeutics
Learn to understand and apply the principles of pharmacology and medicine therapeutics in the management of care.
Living with Long Term Conditions Across the Lifespan
Develop an underpinning knowledge relating to the causes, presentation and management of long-term conditions across the lifespan.
Learning from the Lived Experience
An opportunity for the analysis and formulation of contextual knowledge through problem-based learning and reflection using narratives of individuals accessing health and social care.
Communication and Relationship Management in a Therapeutic Context
Learn to recognise, select and utilise appropriate communication strategies and therapeutic skills.
Understanding Care Needs
Develop knowledge, skills and understanding of the holistic assessment and management of the patient.
The Nursing Associate as Leader
Develop knowledge, skills and understanding of managing others and leading teams.

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

A variety of teaching and learning methods are utilised on the FdSc Nursing Associate Programme. The methods of learning will vary from module to module and session to session. Learning and teaching is designed to support your academic and professional development and we encourage self-study and independent learning. The different approaches that you will experience will take place in a range of settings from lectures, seminars, smaller classroom discussions, student colleague group work such as preparing for group presentations, e learning activities and interactive approaches and through the use of simulation, examination of case studies and problem solving activities.

You will be taught and supported by an experienced academic team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules. The team includes senior lecturers, lecturers and service user guests (patients and relatives). All of the academic team involved in delivering your programme are registered nurses who maintain their NMC registration.

How you will be assessed

The FdSc Nursing Associate Programme utilises a variety of assessment methods. Each module assessment is required to be achieved and the method may be different with each module that you take. You will be assessed through written examinations, coursework assignments and essays, portfolios, oral presentations, and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs).

At the start of each module, you will be given information on the method of assessment and the date for submission. Assignment support and guidance will be given for each module.

NMC Standards for Proficiency in Clinical Practice

Our learning and teaching strategies are based on the philosophy that nurses and nursing associates occupy a privileged position within society.

There are two allocated placements each year, both of which are summatively assessed.

You will be given the opportunity to recoup failed placements, however, a second failure will result in withdrawal from the programme. Your acquisition of skills and achievements in NMC proficiencies in clinical practice will determine your registration as a NMC Registered Nursing Associate. Professionalism, attitude, values, and character will also determine success.

The majority of theoretical work is linked to practice and assessors will explore your underpinning knowledge.

Overview

Offers are tailored to the individual applicant and their circumstances and can be across the tariff range. Applicants who meet our contextual information criteria will be offered at the bottom of the range.

FITNESS TO PRACTISE

All offers of a place are subject to satisfactory health screening. Further information will be provided following acceptance of an offer (and no earlier than three months before the course start date).
Please note that Professional Bodies, such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), have certain requirements regarding the health and good character status of applicants and students. Please read the NMC and HCPC information to find out more.
For more information about core competencies and medical fitness to train please click here.

In some instances, an applicant may be invited to attend a professional practice panel to discuss any recommended reasonable adjustments, and whether or not core professional competencies are achievable.

For information about Medical Clearance and vaccination requirements  click here.

DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE CHECK

If you accept an offer of a place we require you to comply with an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) background clearance check. Details on the policy can be found here.

If you think you have a criminal conviction You will need to submit a Criminal Record Self Disclosure Form as part of the process For more information on this and the form itself, please refer to Self-disclosure of criminal record.

Qualifications

Entry Requirements

GCSEs: GCSE English (Language) and Maths at grades 4-9 or Functional Skills Level 2 or equivalent

Other experience: NVQ Level 3 or equivalent portfolio of evidence (as determined by the programme leader). Please refer to the applicant information pages of the university website for more information.

Fair Admissions

When you apply, our Admissions specialists will review your whole application. We are looking for your potential to succeed so will assess your qualifications, any relevant work experience, your personal statement, and references.

At interview we will assess your suitability to train for the profession you have applied for. All professional course interviews are scored. Any offers made will be based on your whole application and your interview score.

Where you have received a conditional offer subject to achieving particular grades/UCAS tariff scores, and do not quite meet these scores, please try not to worry, where vacancies exist our Admissions specialists will review your whole application again and take account of any mitigating circumstances and reassess your suitability for the course.

Selection Criteria

As part of the application and selection process, we are looking for your commitment to Nursing Associate.

If you are invited to attend interview then we strongly recommend you review the NHS Values and Behaviours of;
• Working together for Patients
• Respect and Dignity
• Commitment to Quality of Care
• Compassion
• Improving Lives
• Everyone Counts

Following interview if you are offered a place it will be subject to satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service clearance (DBS), medical fitness to practice and proof of qualifications.

Contextual Admissions

Going to higher education can transform a person’s life. We use contextual admissions to make sure that we are accessible to everyone who has the potential to succeed. Qualifications and grades are important, but they are considered alongside other information that helps universities to identify potential and widen access to university level study. For some individuals, the disadvantages they have experienced in their life mean that they have not been able to demonstrate their full academic potential. Where a person lives and their personal circumstances can all affect their educational attainment.

We take this context into account and look for an applicant’s potential when making admission decisions. The University of Cumbria will make offers at the bottom of any UCAS Tariff range to applicants that live in postal code regions with the lowest participation in Higher Education (Polar 4 quintile 1 – you can check your postcode here), applicants that are estranged from their parents, are care leavers or have caring responsibilities or are in receipt of or received free school meals during their secondary education. Attendance at our Masterclasses and Summer Schools will also allow applicants to receive an offer lower within the tariff range. (T&Cs apply) 

Contact ugadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk for more information.

Returning to Education

If you are over 21 and returning to study after being in relevant employment for a minimum of 3 years and do not meet the published entry requirements for Year 1 of our degree courses, please do not assume you are not qualified to join us. Our experienced Admissions and Academic staff will review your prior qualifications and professional experience to support your application.  

Language requirements

Please follow the link to check language requirements for this programme here.

Experience Cumbria

A nursing student in our simulation lab with a simulation doll

Mental Health Nursing students taking part in our festival of mental health

Mental health nursing students fundraising for the festival of mental health

A nursing student being shown equipment in one of our simulation labs

Controls for the spotlight carousel

Location
Carlisle - Fusehill Street Campus
The Fusehill Street campus has been the setting of life-saving treatments since World War I. Now, it's home to world changers, life-savers, crime fighters, and entrepreneurs with access to high-quality facilities and innovative thinking.
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Location
Lancaster Campus
Lancaster is the Red Rose heartland, a student haven full of history and culture. With iconic stone architecture, parkland, and a caring community, this is the place to get involved. The campus houses top-quality facilities tailored to the needs of life-savers, world changers, and future leaders.
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FdSc - Nursing Associate