Adult Nursing MSc

About the course

• The programme offers a myriad of exciting and rewarding experiences that will build on your current knowledge and life experiences and help you to make the most of the opportunities available to you as a student and eventually a registered adult nurse.
• As a student on this programme your learning will help you to make a difference not only to the individual service user and his/ her family but to the whole health care team and organisation.
• The programme offers students the chance to develop knowledge associated with altered anatomy and physiology as well as manage the complex challenges associated with the psychology and sociology of health and ill-health.
• This scientific understanding will be combined with opportunities to learn how to develop human relationships effectively with a diverse range of people, many of whom are vulnerable and need support that is unique to them.
• Students will develop critical thinking skills and will be able to appraise and apply complex evidence to their learning in order to make rational decisions relating to patient care and professional judgement.

Applying to the programme

It really is important that you can articulate why you want to be an Adult Nurse when you apply. You can find out more about adult nursing by reading professional journals such as Nursing Times or Nursing Standard. These can be purchased through High Street shops or on-line. You can also visit appropriate websites such as those listed below:

• NHS careers
• Department of Health
• Kings Fund, Nursing and Midwifery Council
• Royal College of Nursing.

It is always useful to gain some experience in a health setting whether in a voluntary or paid capacity as this will help you to determine whether adult nursing is for you however this is not obligatory.

Why choose this course?

• This 2 year full time programme is especially designed for people who already hold a first degree wishing to become registered nurses. At the end of the programme you will be ready to take a key role in delivering and leading high quality care for service users.  
• You will also help service users make well-informed decisions relating to their health care needs and preferences by focussing on communication, professional, team working and leadership skills.
• 50% of learning will occur at the university studying the theory or nursing and 50% of learning will occur in practice placements so that you can integrate what you have learned and are “fit for purpose” in today’s health care settings.
• Upon successful completion, students will be eligible to enter the Nursing and Midwifery Council Professional Register as an Adult Nurse and will be legally entitled to practice.

Study routes

• Full Time, 2 Years
• Full Time,

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Careers

Once you have completed the programme and registered with the NMC, most people get some experience as a staff nurse, usually within community or in-patient organisations operating within the NHS, voluntary and independent sectors of health. The opportunities are endless but some ‘typical’ career options are presented below.

• Some people are keen to remain working directly with service users in clinical areas and seek promotion to senior staff nurse or ward sister / manager roles where their expertise is used to lead care given by a team of nurses. Some adult nurses develop particular clinical skills and knowledge that will allow them to become specialist nurses in a given area of care (e.g. district nurse, clinical nurse specialist or nurse consultant).
• These clinical grades co-exist within a wider career framework incorporating management roles such as Modern Matron all the way through to very senior board level roles such as Director of Nursing in an NHS Primary Care or Acute Trust. These roles involve managing multi-million pound budgets and directly leading/ managing a large number of staff as well as strategically influencing how the NHS responds to new developments.
• Some nurses develop interest in research and education and opt to pursue educationally focussed careers within the NHS or in further and higher education institutions such as the University of Hertfordshire. They still retain their professional registration and unique identity as an Adult Nurse but are involved in advancing nursing knowledge and influence through research and education.

Wherever your career takes you, as an Adult Nurse you will never stop learning and will undertake a variety of training and education throughout your career. This might be formal education such as specialist clinical courses or PhD studies or essential skills training associated with professional practice.

Teaching methods

You will experience a wide variety of teaching methods throughout the programme including:

• Supervised practice experiences in clinical settings and simulation labs
• Interactive and ‘key-note’ lectures at University
• Seminars and workshops incorporating for example ,case/ care plan presentations, role play, scenario based learning and discussion groups covering a wide variety of topics
• Laboratory based practical work/ experiments
• Learning technologies for example video, podcasts, digital storyboards and other e-packages designed to enhance learning and teaching. These packages are supported by an extremely well stocked learning resource centre and via a virtual learning environment called StudyNet which enables you to access resources on line 24 hours and day, 7 days a week.
• Individual and group based tutorials will also feature in your learning experience.

Work Placement

You will experience a wide variety of clinical settings including for example:

• Acute Care settings such as general and specialist surgical wards, medical wards, accident and emergency departments etc
• Community based settings such as working with district nurses in service users own homes or in facilities such as GP practices, nursing homes or community hospitals.
• You may be placed in settings such as hospices and other private or voluntary organisations which care for a variety of medical conditions and illnesses and health care needs. 

Placements are organised in blocks of variable duration and will be located anywhere in North London. Whilst on placement, you will be supported by a mentor (a qualified nurse who has undertaken post qualifying learning in practice based education); a link lecturer (an academic from within the school who supports mentors in placement areas) and wealth of supportive services available on campus through the student union and student services.

Professional Accreditations

Upon successful completion of the programme, students will be eligible to enter the Nursing and Midwifery Council Professional Register as an Adult Nurse and will be legally entitled to practice

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

• Holistic Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult

  This 30 credit level 6 module will develop the students ability to use both pathophysiological and psychosocial theory to underpin a comprehensive and holistic assessment of acutely ill adults. There will be emphasis on pathophysiology of acute illness however to facilitate an holistic approach, students will also explore a wide range of psychosocial issues. A variety of approaches will be utilised to support student learning. Lectures and seminars will be used to deliver underpinning physiological theory. Simulation and laboratory teaching will be used to reinforce physiological theory. Discussion and interactive approaches will be used to explore psychosocial aspects of care. Current media issues will be employed to stimulate discussion. Students will be encouraged to reflect on their practice experiences and to use these experiences to illustrate application of new knowledge. This module forms part of the 2nd registration programme for nurses qualified in other fields

• Nursing Adults with Long Term Conditions

  This 30 credit level 7 module will develop the students' ability to use both pathophysiological and psychosocial theory to underpin a comprehensive and holistic assessment of the health needs of adults with long term health problems. There will be emphasis on psychosocial aspects of care, however in order to facilitate a holistic approach students will explore underpinning pathophysiology. A variety of approaches will be utilised to support student learning. Lectures and seminars will be used to deliver underpinning physiological theory. Simulation and laboratory teaching will be used to reinforce physiological theory. Discussion and interactive approaches will be used to explore psychosocial aspects of care. Current media issues will be employed to stimulate discussion. Students will be encouraged to reflect on their practice experiences and to use thse experiences to illustrate application of new knowledge

• Nursing in Context

  Using a range of flexible and blended approaches this module continues to develop the students knowledge and understanding of contemporarty nursing practice with an in depth examination of systematic approaches to care. The module aims to critically explore care delivery in a range of settings and across the fields of nursing. Students will continue to examine socio-political and economic factors (with particular reference to equality and the imapct of inequalities on health and illness). The delivery is supported by practice based experiences that will allow the students to directly apply and utilise their developing knowledge and skills. These practice experiences along with other enquiry based approaches will be used as a medium for reflection and analysis.

• Understanding Nursing Practice

  Using a range of flexible and blended approaches thi module is designed to introduce the student to contemporarty nursing practice with an examination of the underpinning knowledge bases that support such practice. The module aims to enhance the students' existing abilities associated with the understanding and utilization of evidence and research in realtion to nursing. A review of the socio-political context of health will enable students to analyse external factors that imapct on care delivery. The delivery is supported by practice based experiences that will allow the students to directly apply and utilise their developing knowledge and skills. These practice experiences along with other enquiry based approaches will be used as a medium for reflection and analysis.

Optional

Fees & funding

If you are a UK or EU full-time undergraduate student, the NHS will pay the tuition fee for this course. You will not have to pay for the course yourself.

UK Students may be entitled to an NHS bursary.

Please note that in the event that you have to retake failed module(s) from a previous year (unconnected with adverse circumstances) you may have to 'step-off' the course until you have passed the module(s). In the event this happens, any NHS bursary you have been receiving will cease until you are in a position to resume the full-time course. In addition, you will be required to pay student tuition fees for retaking the failed module(s).

Find out more information on financial support arrangements for pre-registration health programmes.

University of Hertfordshire bursaries are not available for this course.

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

View detailed information about tuition fees

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

How to apply