This exciting course is aimed at students who wish to explore the healthcare needs of children in a variety of environments. We start by exploring the needs of healthy children and adolescents before moving on to look at those needs in sick children. Mental health issues, learning disabilities and acute illnesses are all covered in the course.
As a nursing student in the Department of Health Sciences you will experience the benefits of a large, multidisciplinary department offering a broad range of taught and research courses, combined with extensive practice experience in the health and social care field.
With a combination of tutor support, mentor guidance in placements and excellent teaching facilities we can help you get the very best out of your time in York, ensuring you develop your knowledge and skills as well as confidence in your role as a children’s nurse.
Our innovative course uses various teaching methods from lectures and group work, to presentation and simulation-based education. We use the latest technology in our state-of-the-art Clinical Simulation Unit. This is a series of rooms which replicate a number of areas where you could work including a fully-equipped four bed ward complete with a range of equipment for you to practice on, to community bedrooms and living rooms. These allow you to develop your nursing skills in a safe environment.
In Year 1 you will spend a total of 24 weeks in practice and will be based in a wide variety of settings throughout the region. This may include residential and nursing homes, acute and critical care, primary care and community health.
Modules of study you will undertake will include:
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module. This covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
In Year 2 you will begin to focus your work around child nursing. You will start to develop a deeper, more critical understanding of nursing and of your role as a partner in relation to others. You will be encouraged to consider your role within the context of different healthcare settings and alongside other health and social care disciplines.
In Year 2 you will undertake five generic modules and three field specific ones.
Working within child nursing, you will concentrate on gaining specialist knowledge and skills. You will focus on your professional development as an accountable practitioner and leader and you will be introduced to increasingly complex and challenging problems. Practice in your final year will provide an opportunity to prepare you for your role as a registered nurse. During this year you will also have the chance to undertake a short elective placement which may be elsewhere in the UK or overseas.
Our focus is on making your learning relevant to your nursing practice.
Teaching staff will help and support you to develop your skills. You will learn via lectures, seminars and working groups. Cooperative learning groups (CLGs) are used as a way of integrating you into the nursing community by developing your professional identity. You will stay in the same CLG for the whole of your course.
You will undertake a variety of practice experiences that will help to build and shape your knowledge and skills. These experiences could be anywhere within the region. You will work with a diverse range of people from different cultures who live in a variety of environments.
You will be attached to an experienced mentor who will help to guide and assess your practice and knowledge and who will also be a source of support and reassurance. You will also have a link lecturer from the University to ensure you receive continuous support.
Practice experience will be gained over the full 24 hours; you will be required to work a complete pattern of shifts, including nights and weekends, early and late shifts.
You will be assessed throughout the course in both theory and practice elements. You will have to successfully complete all areas to be able to progress.
A variety of assessment methods, including presentations, essays, reports, simulated scenarios and examinations will be used. You will be given individual written assessment feedback for every piece of assessed work with the exception of closed examinations. You may also be given verbal feedback either on a one-to-one basis with an academic member of staff or as part of a group exercise.
Your practice experience will be assessed by your designated mentor who will be able to observe you develop confidence and skills throughout your placement experience.
Students from the Department of Health Sciences have an excellent record in achieving immediate employment after completion of their course. Most go into careers with NHS trusts in the region and in other areas of Northern England as well as other NHS organisations in the UK.
Typical first posts are as band 5 staff nurses in the NHS, although some do go into employment in social care and independent sector organisations.
The minimum entry requirements for our degree course are:
, 307kb).For other equivalent qualifications, please see entry criteria (PDF , 211kb). If you do not have the necessary entry requirements, but are passionate about following a career in nursing, then visit our different routes into nursing page.
A levels
BBB
Please note we do not accept General Studies or Critical Thinking as a subject choice. Two A levels are preferred from:
GCSEs
You must already hold GCSE English Language, Maths and Science (at Grade C or above) or equivalent qualification at the point of application. Applicants undertaking GCSE resits or commencing an equivalent qualification after application will not be considered. You must hold these qualifications at the time of applying unless they are incorporated within your programme of study. Students studying GCSEs alongside other qualifications will not be considered until the GCSEs are complete and awarded. See – GCSE and Equivalent Qualifications (PDF , 307kb).
Scottish Highers
BTEC National Diploma
QCF BTEC Extended Diploma
Cambridge Pre-U
Access to HE diploma
European Baccalaureate
International Baccalaureate
Irish leaving certificate
