Nursing Associate, FdSc (Higher Apprenticeship)

Overview

Nursing associates work with healthcare support workers and registered nurses to deliver care to adult, children, mental health and learning disability patients in the NHS and in other health and social care settings.

It is a new role and ideal if you are looking to start your career in healthcare or if you are already employed in a relevant role and aspire to become a fully qualified, registered nurse.

The course is delivered as a Higher Apprenticeship, meaning you will study at UCW for one day per week during term-time and develop your skills in your workplace the rest of the time.

For employers, this course provides a fantastic opportunity to upskill staff and aid their development in becoming effective Level 5 practitioners, with plenty of support available throughout the process.

Course length:

Full-time: 2 years (1 day a week)

Start date:

13th September 2021

Location:

Knightstone Campus & Health and Active Living Skills Centre

Course codes:

Institution: W47
Course: L510
Campus: -

Awarding institution:

UWE Bristol

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Course detail

The Nursing Associate Higher Apprenticeship at UCW builds upon our proven track record in delivering Foundation Degrees in Health and Social Care and Integrated Mental Health and Social Care in partnership with UWE Bristol.

Our students and graduates are employed in a range of settings, from NHS trusts to smaller health and social care providers, and our brilliant lecturing team are all experienced in teaching students who work in demanding roles alongside their studies.

Our healthcare students and apprentices are taught at the modern University Centre in our Winter Gardens building on Weston seafront, meaning they have access to great new facilities and a dedicated higher education library, with practical studies sometimes taking place at our multimillion-pound Health and Active Living Skills Centre.

The facility, which is the first of its kind in the region and was opened in 2019 at our Loxton Campus, includes a fully-equipped simulation ward with high-tech patient mannequins, a therapy room and brilliant indoor and outdoor sport and exercise facilities.

Nursing Associate apprentices combine their studies with work-based learning in areas including clinical practice, clinical observations and supporting patients and their loved ones.

The classroom-based elements of the course cover key knowledge and skills in areas including safety and quality, anatomy and physiology, communication, medicines management, integrated care, clinical practice, teamwork and promoting good health.

Apprentices are just like any other students at UCW - meaning they have access to all of the support and guidance we offer at no additional expense.

Please contact our Apprenticeships Team on 01934 411 594 or apprenticeships@weston.ac.uk to find out more.

Higher Apprentices are taught via lectures and seminars in the classroom, e-learning and real-world, on-the-job training. UCW’s Higher Education Library Plus (HE.LP) team also deliver a series of sessions on degree-level research and academic writing to all first-year students.

Degree Apprentices are also expected to learn through independent self-study, which involves working on individual and group projects, and undertaking research in preparation for coursework and exams.

All of the modules on this course are compulsory and successful completion will lead to the award of the Level 5 Nursing Associate FdSc Foundation Degree.

Year 1:

Accountable Professional Clinical Practice 1 (30 credits)
Applied Anatomy and Physiology (30 credits)
Communication and Relationship Management Skills (15 credits)
Improving Safety and Quality of Care (15 credits)
Provide and Monitor Care (30 credits)

Year 2:

Accountable Professional Clinical Practice 2 (30 credits)
Contributing to Integrated Care (15 credits)
Pharmacology and Medicines Management (30 credits)
Promoting and Preventing Ill Health (30 credits)
Working in Teams (15 credits)

Please click on the course handbook button to find out more.

This course is taught via a combination of lectures, seminars, skills practice, presentations, case studies, group workshops and work-based practice. UCW’s Higher Education Library Plus (HE.LP) team also deliver a series of sessions on degree-level research and academic writing to all first-year students. When not in scheduled lecturers and seminars, students are expected to continue learning through independent self-study. This involves reading relevant literature, working on individual and group projects, and undertaking research in preparation for coursework and exams.

This course has an average of 7.5 hours of scheduled teaching per week.

Assessment is via a combination of written exams, practical exams and coursework. The assessment breakdown is 25% written exams, 30% practical exams and 45% coursework.

Assessment

Written Exams

25%

Coursework

45%

Practical Exams

30%

A related Level 3 qualification such as A Levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma or an Access to Higher Education Diploma, or equivalent. Applicants will also need Level 2 qualifications in English and Maths at grade C/4 or above, and are required to attend an interview.

Applicants must be employed in a suitable health or social care setting where they can be supported and assessed by a work-based mentor and compile a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate the achievement of workplace competencies. Please read the workplace suitability guidance to find out more.

Quick Stats

This Foundation Degree is balanced between theory and practice and taught by an experienced team with backgrounds in nursing, social work and residential and community care.

Find out more

Quick Stats

This Foundation Degree is balanced between theory and practice and taught by an experienced team with backgrounds in nursing, social work and residential and community care.

Find out more