Children's Nursing - 2013 entry
BSc (Hons)
- single
Typical A-level offer: BBC or equivalent, with at least 1 science subject
Overview
The Children's Hospital, Oxford
The Children's Hospital, Oxford
Using one of the simulation facilities
This course is run by the Department of Clinical Health Care
Children's nursing is a challenging and highly rewarding career choice. The focus of contemporary children's nursing is working in partnership with parents to promote the health and wellbeing of the infant, child or young person, and when necessary providing direct care interventions. The care of children is a multidisciplinary activity and children's nurses work closely with many other professionals.
The Children's Nursing course at Oxford Brookes is very popular, partly because significant investment has been made locally in children's services. The Oxford University Hospitals Trust has a dedicated children's hospital which provides an exceptional clinical environment in which to learn. Oxfordshire also offers care for children and their families in a range of other general and specialist settings.
During your studies you will work in primary, acute and community care settings with infants, children and young people who have many different health care needs. The teaching team are all expert practitioners and maintain very close links with the clinical and community placement settings in which you will gain your practice experience.
Both the BSc and an MSc in Children’s Nursing are offered for entrants seeking initial registration and also for post-qualification applicants who wish to gain an additional registration as a children's nurse. To apply for the MSc, you must already have a relevant bachelor's degree.
Why Brookes?
- A modern university with a very friendly and supportive environment in which to learn.
- Excellent teaching facilities, including state-of-the-art classrooms and a lecture theatre, dedicated clinical skills suites which are equipped with a family of computerised simulation manikins and resources similar to those found in the clinical environment.
- Fully networked computer rooms and excellent library resources, accessible both online and through local facilities on university and NHS sites.
- A wide variety of practice learning opportunities throughout Oxfordshire including the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust's hospital dedicated to children's treatment and care.
- Experienced lecturers who maintain excellent links with practice areas locally and across the region. A number of our lecturers also have extensive national and international links.
- A broad range of student support schemes to facilitate learning and development.
- The opportunity to share your learning with students from other health and social care professions.
- Excellent track record of high levels of student satisfaction, low student attrition rates and high employability.
- Career opportunities such as clinical practice, management, nurse education or research.
Teaching, learning and assessment
In health and social care, no professional group works in isolation. Oxford Brookes offers a very wide range of other pre-qualification and foundation courses, including health and social care, nursing (adult and mental health), midwifery, occupational therapy, osteopathy, operating department practice, paramedic emergency care, physiotherapy and social work. You will share your learning with these other health and social care students. This is a key component of the course as it is essential in developing your teamwork skills and your understanding of the roles of others with whom you will work in practice.
All our courses adopt a student-centred approach to teaching and learning and are strongly focused on encouraging you to attain your full potential as a lifelong learner. Information technology plays an increasingly important role in health care courses and a very extensive range of learning resources can be accessed through ‘Brookes Virtual', an online repository of lectures, handouts, information and learning exercises.
Half of the course is based in practice settings; therefore much of the teaching and learning involves individual work with experienced children's nurses (known as mentors). All of the modules involve practice learning, either directly in practice modules, or in practice-focused modules where you will learn about, engage in and critically consider practice. Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials, seminars and simulated skills workshops. Most modules are assessed by coursework.
Learning outcomes
When you have successfully completed the course, you will have:
- a familiarity with the normal growth and development across the lifespan , and the theoretical basis of contemporary children's nursing and health care
- an understanding of those areas of biological and social sciences that are of relevance to clinical practice and health maintenance
- the ability to apply knowledge and skills specific to health care practice and to build competence in practice through experience and by reflection on personal and professional development
- a proactive and responsive approach to changes in health care, and sensitivity to the needs of children, young people and their families
- the ability to present information and arguments logically and coherently through discussion, debate and negotiation
- an appreciation of the functions of other health care professionals and how to collaborate with them in practice.
In detail
Department of Clinical Health Care Facebook page
Faculty of Health and Life Science Twitter feedCourse content
The emphasis throughout your course is on practice-based learning and skills development, underpinned by relevant and contemporary knowledge. As a children's nurse you will be involved in caring for children and families in a variety of ways, such as:
- promoting children's health and development
- nursing sick children in partnership with families through periods of acute or chronic illness
- helping to meet the needs of families where a child has a disability, complex needs or life-limiting illness.
In Year 1 core modules introduce you to the fundamentals of nursing across the lifespan, with a focus on the nursing care of the child and family in community and hospital settings. In addition to developing core practice skills, they also provide a grounding in biological sciences, social sciences and evidence-based practice.
Years 2 and 3 build on this foundation and focus on nursing care and promoting the health of children with acute and chronic health needs, mental health needs and those with a disability. You will learn under the expert guidance of lecturers and clinicians working in partnership, while working with children and their families. We encourage you to apply the understanding gained from theory to your practice, promoting evidence-based care delivery. You will help develop an understanding of management theory and begin to develop your skills in leading and managing others.
For most of each academic year (taught semesters), you will combine theoretical learning with practical work, with block periods of practice to consolidate your learning.
You can also pursue a personal interest through an optional acceptable module, for example on the following topics:
- Caring for Sick Neonates
- Paediatric Emergency Care
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Health Care Elective (which can involve experience abroad)
- Complementary Therapies.
During your final year, honours-level study will help you further develop your skills in critical analysis and evaluation of theory and practice, forming the foundation for possible postgraduate study. Individual programme planning is carried out for post-experience students holding an initial nursing registration, and can incorporate high-dependency pathways (NICU / PICU).
Courses are regularly reviewed, so the module list you are offered may vary from that shown here. Some modules (the three partnerships modules), will be taught alongside students on other health and social care courses to enable you to develop your understanding of multiprofessional working. Note that although there is some scope for flexibility in module choice, this is restricted in pre-qualification courses owing to the demands of the professional requirements for registration.
If you are a qualified nurse (other than in children's nursing) and you wish to undertake a course leading to a second nursing registration, you will be asked to submit evidence of prior learning (theoretical and practical) in order to identify a suitable selection of modules and practice to meet your needs for professional development and the award.
Year 1
Diverse topics relevant to children's nursing are explored in this course. Examples of modules include:
- Introduction to Person-centred Care (double)
- Family Nursing
- Partnerships I: An Introduction to using Evidence in Professional Practice
- Development of the Human Body and Mind
- Life Sciences for Health Care Professionals
- Developing Professional Practice (double)
- Professional Practice Experience I
Years 2 and 3
- Care of the Child with Acute Health Care Needs (double)
- Child and Family Mental Health
- Promoting Health and Development with Children and Families (double)
- Partnerships II: Developing Effective Working Practices
- Partnerships III: Managing Collaboration
- Nursing Children with Complex Care Needs: Enquiry and Evidence (triple)
- Effectiveness in Children’s Nursing Management (double)
- Research Awareness and Critical Appraisal, or Research Methods and Analysis
- Dissertation (double)
- Professional Practice Experience II
- Professional Practice Experience III
- Professional Practice Experience IV
- Professional Practice Experience V
Work placements
We enjoy an excellent working partnership with our local health trusts, collaborating closely with our clinical colleagues to plan and deliver the programme of learning. The Oxford Children’s Hospital offers every student the opportunity for diverse experience in a modern and supportive clinical learning environment.
We have a dedicated Practice Education Unit (PEU) that provides administrative and academic support for placement learning/practice education for all pre-qualifying courses.
Study abroad
As part of the optional health and social care elective module, students may spend part of the summer of their second year abroad, making up part of the requirements for a module credit.
Free language courses for students - the Open Module
Free language courses are available to all full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students who are studying any course on our Headington (including Marston Road), Harcourt Hill or Wheatley Campuses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
Key facts
Department
Department of Clinical Health Care
Professional accreditation
The course meets the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards for Pre-registration Nursing Education (2010) and the requirements for the professional award.
Course length
Full-time: 3 years; previously qualified, post-experience nurses (except children's nurses) may complete in 1 year depending on entry credit
Part-time: 7 years maximum (limited part-time places available)
Teaching location
Headington Campus, Marston Road
Start date
September 2013
UCAS code
B704 BSc/NJ
Fees / funding
Funding and scholarships
You can read our financial help leaflet here.
For general sources of financial support, see funding for Undergraduate students from the UK and EU.
Apply / Entry reqs
Typical offers
A-level: BBC or equivalent, with at least 1 science subject
Advanced Diploma: Grade B, including GCSE Science at grade B and A-level at grade C
Post-experience: registration as a first-level nurse (excepting Children's Nursing).
Screening
All applicants will be screened for fitness for practice and a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check will be made.
Specific entry requirements
GCSE: 5 GCSE passes at A-C or equivalent, including Science, Mathematics and English at Grade B
GCSE: 5 GCSE passes at A-C or equivalent, including Science, Mathematics and English at Grade B
Learning to become a children’s nurse is very rewarding but it can also be a demanding academic and professional pathway, as you need to meet both the university requirements for an award and the requirements for professional registration. Your course will involve longer periods of study and practice than are required for some other awards. Caring for vulnerable children and their families is very fulfilling but it is important to recognise that it can be emotionally challenging too. We find that students enjoy their course and are more successful if they have carefully considered these factors and reflected on their personal readiness to embark upon a children's nursing career prior to starting the course. We are happy to talk through any individual concerns or queries you may have.
BSc (Hons) entry requirements:
- 5 GCSE passes at A-C or equivalent, including Science, Mathematics and English at grade B; or
- Advanced Diploma at grade B, including GCSE Science at grade B and A-level at grade C; or
- Access to Higher Education with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, including 12 with merit and 24 with distinction. Of the merit and distinction grades, 12 Level 3 credits must be in Biology. Also, 15 credits are required at Level 2 (to include 12 Level 2 credits in Maths if a GCSE/O-Level at grade C or above has not previously been achieved).
Please also see the university's general entry requirements
Please also see the university's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
Please see the university's standard English language requirements.
Full-time students should apply for this course through UCAS.
Part-time students should apply direct to the university.
Note: This is a very popular course and is regularly oversubscribed. Therefore an early application is advised.
Post-experience: September entry through UCAS. January entry direct to the university.
This course is not available to non-EEA students unless you have an immigration status which allows you to study part-time in the UK.
Conditions of acceptance
When you accept our offer you agree to the conditions of acceptance. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Credit transfer
Oxford Brookes operates the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). All undergraduate single modules are equivalent to 7.5 ECTS credits and double modules to 15 ECTS credits. More about ECTS credits.
Student experience
Why Oxford is a great place to study Children's Nursing
Why Oxford is a great place to study Children's Nursing
Many of the clinical and community settings you will be learning in have national and international reputations for excellence, and will give you access to up-to-the-minute practice in patient care and support. The Oxford Children's Hospital, part of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, has the resources of a large teaching hospital and facilities which have been designed specifically for the welfare of children and teenagers. Children are treated here for a range of conditions including heart disease, chest disease, childhood cancer, neurological disorders and those requiring general or specialist surgery.
One of the world's great academic cities, Oxford is a key centre of debate, with conferences, seminars and forums taking place across education, science, the arts and many other subjects. It is a vibrant city with plenty of attractions for its large student population, from theatres and cinemas to museums, art galleries and music venues. Bustling and cosmopolitan, Oxford has excellent shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs. It offers students a clean and safe environment less than an hour from London and international airports.
Specialist facilities
We offer a very friendly and supportive environment in which to learn and we consistently receive very high satisfaction ratings for student support and learning resources in student surveys. We have excellent teaching facilities including:
- a 280-seat lecture theatre
- dedicated clinical skills suites and simulation resources, which include a very well-equipped movement laboratory, a family of computerised simulation manikins, including a sim-man, sim-babies (newborn and an older baby under six months old) and birthing mother
- an extensive range of anatomy models
- fully-networked computer rooms
- excellent library resources, accessible through both the web and a range of locally-based facilities on university and NHS sites.
Support for students studying Children's Nursing
A range of people offer support to our students. These include
- academic advisers, who facilitate students’ academic development
- student support co-ordinators, who provide a drop-in service for questions about any aspect of student life, covering both academic and personal welfare.
The university’s support services include Upgrade, which provides advice on study skills, such as planning and writing essays, assignments and dissertations, research, and preparing for exams.
There is a dedicated Student Disability and Dyslexia Service, which provides support for students with disabilities including sensory and mobility impairments, dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties, mental health problems and medical conditions. The service's staff offer advice and support on a range of issues, including physical access, funding, alternative assessment arrangements and liaison with teaching staff to ensure that they are aware of your requirements.
General support services
Personal support services
We want your time at Brookes to be as enjoyable and successful as possible. That's why we provide all the facilities you need to be relaxed, happy and healthy throughout your studies.
Accommodation
At Brookes we understand that when you live away from home, it's important to be somewhere that you feel comfortable and safe. Nursing students can choose from three halls of residence which are open outside the university teaching weeks, during which time students are often on placement. These halls have easy and safe transport links to placements in Oxford.
General support services
Supporting your learning
From academic advisers and support co-ordinators to specialist subject librarians and other learning support staff, we want to ensure that you get the best out of your studies.
Personal support services
We want your time at Brookes to be as enjoyable and successful as possible. That's why we provide all the facilities you need to be relaxed, happy and healthy throughout your studies.
Accommodation
At Brookes we understand that when you live away from home it's important to be somewhere that you feel comfortable and safe.
After graduation
Professional accreditation
The course meets the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards for Pre-registration Nursing Education (2010) and the requirements for the professional award.
Career prospects
We have an excellent track record for high levels of student satisfaction, low student attrition rates and high employability. The majority of our students obtain a post, usually in their area of first choice within children's health care, shortly after graduation.
With a professional qualification as a Registered Nurse (Child), you will be well prepared for employment and will have the ability to work as a staff nurse in a range of settings. It is usual for newly qualified nurses to be offered staff nurse positions of greater responsibility within 12 to 18 months. As you progress, you will have a wide range of options open to you, whether you choose to pursue a career in clinical practice, management, nurse education or research.
Many students who take the Children’s Nursing course to gain a second registration are seconded from their employer, and after completing the course, either return to their posts or pursue new options with their children's nursing qualification. Further information about nursing careers is available here:
Graduate profile
BSc/BSc (Hons) (pdf - 73Kb)
Further study
A wide range of courses are available at Oxford Brookes for continued professional development (CPD).
