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Nursing Associate Higher Apprenticeship


Institution code	H36
School of study	School of Health and Social Work
Course length	Part Time, 2 Years
Location	University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Entry requirements
GCSE: English Language and Mathematics at grade 4/C or above, or a University of Hertfordshire accepted equivalent qualification.
The normal entry requirements for the programme are 48 UCAS points made up of at least two A-Level or equivalent Level 3 qualifications (e.g. BTEC National, NVQ) or an Access to HIgher Education qualification.
In the absence of formal academic qualification, applicants with more than one year's work experience as a health care support worker (or equivalent) will also be considered, who can demonstrate at interview an ability to study at this level.
All Offers will be subject to the applicants' demonstration of the NHS constitution's Values and Behaviours', satisfactory interviews, numeracy and literacy test, health screening and the Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) checks. You can view the full NHS Constitution for England on the government website.

Additional requirements
Applicants must be:
- In current employment as a healthcare support worker (Band 2, 3, or 4) and working under the supervision of a registered nurse/practitioner.
- Working currently in a healthcare environment in either the NHS or private, voluntary or independent sector for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
- Supported by their employer who must provide:
1. An employer's reference in support of the application;
2. Evidence from their employer confirming that the student can be released from work duties to attend place of study one day a week for scheduled classes;
3. Evidence confirming availability of a mentor (apprenticeship requirement)/Practice Assessor / Practice Supervisor support;
4. Evidence that satisfactory (i) occupational health clearance and (ii) the Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) clearance have been undertaken prior to the commencement of the programme;
5. Confirmation of content of mandatory training and date completed.
The recruitment process consists of short-listing followed by a selection day comprising an English and numeracy test and a values based interview. The interview panel will normally include a Trust and an Academic member of staff. Succesful applicants will demonstrate:
- The potential to manage work and study commitments;
- A commitment to the NHS constitution's 'Values and Behaviours';
- An ability to discuss current health care issues;
- An interest in broadening and building on prior experiences;
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
The programme is subject to the University's Principles, Policies and Regulations for the Admission of Students to Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes (in UPR SA03), along with associated procedures. These will take account of University policy and guidelines for assessing accredited prior certificated learning (APCL) and accredited prior experiential learning (APEL).

About the course

Apprenticeship Standard: Nursing Associate

Final Award: FdSc Health Care Practice

The Nursing Associate is a new nursing occupation, introduced into the health and care workforce to bridge the gap between health and care assistants and registered nurses. This programme functions as both a stand-alone, as well as a progression route into the Registered Nurse role.

Nursing Associate is a highly trained support role to deliver effective, safe and responsive nursing care in and across a wide range of health and care settings. Associates will work as part of the nursing team supporting registered nurses and delivering and monitoring care. They will have gained a breadth of knowledge and a flexible, portable skill set to enable them to serve local health populations covering pre-life to the end of life.

The nursing associate works within all aspects of the nursing process, taking account of the perspectives and pathways of individuals, their families and carers, providing holistic care and supporting the registered nurse in the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care.

Eligible applicants can attend an event to support their preparation

Why choose this course?

Nursing Associates will have the ability to provide quality patient care to people of all ages in a wide variety of health and social care settings
Students on our programme will benefit from a variety of placement experiences which will enhance their skills set.
Access to simulation facilities at the University as part of your learning will, enhance your real-world experience.

What will I study?

Nursing Associates are expected to attend University one day per week for 45 weeks of the year, and they also have three six-eight week placement blocks during the academic year.

We’ll teach you the skills and knowledge you’ll need to become a safe, accountable and proficient nursing associate. From technical skills like taking blood pressure and an ECG to learning how to effectively communicate with patients, families and carers. You’ll learn how to prioritise and manage your own case load to meet patient’s needs safely and effectively. Every step of the way, you’ll benefit from constructive professional feedback. By learning how to evaluate your own delivery of care, you’ll become an extremely knowledgeable, reflective and self-aware practitioner.

Together, we’ll explore theories and current research, which you’ll use to provide evidence-based care. We’ll teach you about all areas of care such as hygiene, nutrition and how to prevent infection. You’ll gain an understanding of how to deal effectively with safeguarding issues relating to vulnerable adults or children.

This programme is delivered part-time over a course of 24 months. We offer a blended learning approach, which includes lectures, seminars, workshops, group work and clinical placements. We’ll encourage you to undertake independent study to consolidate your learning. There’s a range of assessment methods too, including essay assignments, simulated practical assignments, scenario-based presentations and professional discussions. This inspired approach to teaching and assessment, gives you a stimulating learning environment to thrive in.

Level 4

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
An Introduction to Interprofessional Education and Team Working	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module is designed to give students an understanding of a range of professional roles and the responsibilities associated with the role. It will explore the concept of teams and successful team working. The rationale, benefits and challenges of inter professional and team working will be explored. Co-operative learning and working will be encouraged through the use of group work, seminars and tutorials. Students will be required to access and gather appropriate data from a range of sources and apply this to a range of practice based simulated scenarios and exercises.
Communication and Relationship Management Skills	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module seeks to enable students to actively learn how to build upon their existing communication skills and to explore theories around communication that are relevant to caring for patients, service users and their families in a wide variety of practice settings. Students will develop their skills in searching and evaluating the appropriate literature (including grey literature) to aid and underpin all aspects of their communication and develop their academic approaches to communication. The module will provide active learning opportunities for students to develop critical reading and writing skills so that students can formulate and communicate scholarly arguments and ideas. Issues including consent, equality and diversity, and confidentiality around communication will be addressed so students can apply this to person centred care. Students will be introduced to the idea of professional discussions within clinical settings.
Person Centred Care 1	30 Credits	Compulsory
The aim of this module, is to augment the student's practice learning experience in 1st year. The content will bolster practice placements and inform their practice assessments. This is an interactive and practical based module that has simulation and practical exercises and reflection which aim to explore students' knowledge and understanding of current best, evidence-based practice. This module also provides students with an opportunity to practice, challenge, question, refine and enhance their nursing associate skills in a safe environment. The module content is divided onto care concepts and takes as its focus the standards of proficiency as stated by the NMC (2018). Consideration of professional values required to deliver care is a part of this practice module. Students support and progression will be included within the module. Mandatory training requirements will be evaluated in this module. A series of workshops addressing care specific to each field of nursing and maternity care will be included.
Anatomy and Physiology for Health Care	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module aims to introduce students to fundamental bioscientific principles that underpin person centred, safe and effective care delivery. Human development from conception to death including the effects of aging and end of life care will be discussed.
Promoting Health and Wellbeing	15 Credits	Compulsory
The aim of this 15-credit, module, is to understand the principles of health promotion, protection and improvement. Consider the opportunities for prevention of illness when caring for people across the lifetime continuum. It will consider the role of the nursing associate in helping people make informed choices to improve their wellbeing. It will consider how health choices can affect physical, mental and behavioural wellbeing.
The Professional Role of the Nursing Associate	15 Credits	Compulsory
This 15-credit, level 4 module aims to introduce the students to the fundamental professional issues that underpin nursing practice. The module has a focus on the professional context of nursing practice.
Academic Study Skills for Nursing Associates	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module is designed to assist students in preparing for the programme and identifying their study skills strengths and needs. Methods of building on strengths will be addressed and strategies for improving areas of development will be adopted. Skills will be discussed in the context of their applicability to both the academic study and practice learning. Action planning for these will be introduced through Personal Developing Planning (PDP). Reflection and models of reflection will be introduced to enable students to enhance personal development through reflection on and in practice. Digital technology skills will be introduced, and the basics needed for information retrieval and evaluation. Data base searches and the ability to judge the quality of materials accessed will be included. Information will be provided on standard academic practices and assessment tools; for example, essays, note-taking, presentation skills, critical thinking, formulating an argument, finding and using sources of information, referencing and plagiarism.

Level 5

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Person Centred Care 2	30 Credits	Compulsory
The aim of this 30-credit, level 5 module, is to augment the student's practice learning experience in 2nd year. The taught content will bolster practice placements and inform their practice. This is an interactive and practical based module that has a strong emphasis on simulation, practical exercises and reflection which aims to explore students' knowledge and understanding of current best, evidence-based practice. This module also provides students with an opportunity to practice, challenge, question, refine and enhance their nursing skills in a safe environment. The module content is divided onto care concepts and takes as its focus the standards of proficiency as stated by the NMC (2018). Students support and progression will be included within the module. Students will be required to understand the effects of own lifestyle, fitness, emotional intelligence and resilience on ability to deliver care professionally
The Evidence Base for Care Delivery	30 Credits	Compulsory
This 30-credit module focuses on research and evidence related to nursing associate practice. Students will be introduced to research processes and a range of research methods. They will be able to differentiate between research and audit. Participation in this module will be via active engagement in interactive enquiry based research
Integrated Care for Nursing Associates	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module will develop the students' ability to use theory to consider the healthcare needs of people utilising the breadth of services. Students explore how underpinning theories of causation help explain variety of commonly occurring mental, physical, behavioural health conditions. The difference between acute illness and long-term conditions is explored and students will be expected to demonstrate the ability to identify and report acute deterioration and improvements in a person's condition. The increasing complexity of those receiving care will be explored and analysed. Be able to discuss the interrelationship between spiritual, sociological, psychological, physical, emotional and cultural aspects of care. Students will explore the variety of services that people may be seen by and how to support family and carers. Students will explore the safe and effective transition of people through the services in a variety of settings and across the lifespan. There will be an emphasis on the spiritual, psychosocial, cultural and emotional aspects of care, with students studying attitudes and beliefs, coping strategies and communication in relation to their provision of holistic person/relationship centred and seamless care. Students will be also encouraged to reflect on their practice experiences and to use these experiences to illustrate application of new knowledge.
Health and Wellbeing for Nursing Associates	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module will provide an opportunity for students to investigate a range of supporting theoretical and policy perspectives on the nature of health and wellbeing for patients and service users in a variety of healthcare delivery settings. Students will explore how contributions from psychology, sociology and philosophy inform our understanding of the various notions of health and wellbeing. Students will be encouraged to explore notions of stigma, exclusion and discrimination and its impact on health and wellbeing, and to their access to health resources.
Accountability and Preparing for Practice	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module is designed to help students prepare for their role as a Registered Nursing Associate on a professional register. Students will consider the social, political and economic factors that affect care delivery The module will augment the practice learning experience and academic study in preparation for the transition to newly qualified nursing associate. This is an interactive and practical module using examples from practice to identify strategies to deal with a variety of issues.
Nursing Associate Higher Apprenticeship: End Point Assessment	0 Credits	Compulsory
This module summarises the EPA achievement of the apprentice.

Professional Accreditations

The Nursing Associate role is a professional role regulated by the professional and regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Careers

On successful completion of the programme of study the Nursing Associate will be eligible to join the Nursing and Midwifery Council register and there is an opportunity for progress onto the BSc in Nursing degree and apply for any field.

Key staff

Ceri Baker
Programme Lead
Find out more about Ceri Baker
Melissa Wilton
Admissions Tutor / Apprenticeship Tutor
Find out more about Melissa Wilton

Course fact sheets
FdSc Health Care Practice (Higher Apprenticeship)	Download

Programme specifications
FdSc Health Care Practice (Higher Apprenticeship)	Download

Additional information
Sandwich placement or study abroad year	n/a
Applications open to international and EU students	No

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