Ranked 7th in the Complete University Guide 2020, the School of Nursing at Newcastle is partnered with NHS Trusts at the heart of one of the largest healthcare regions in the UK, providing you with excellent learning opportunities for your development as a nurse.
This innovative Masters of Nursing programme will supply you with the knowledge, skills and competencies required to become a registered nurse in adult, mental health or children’s nursing practice. Your development as a future leader in nursing will be enhanced through the development of clinical, research, leadership and quality improvement which are taken at Masters level. The School of Nursing has an active research programme and students undertaking the Master of Nursing will be aligned with one of our themes for the final year of the programme.
You will be able to develop, manage, evaluate and disseminate the findings of a clinical research or improvement project in conjunction with the clinical academic and nursing management team. Through your extended knowledge of physiology and physiological changes to the clinical assessment of patients you will be able to recommend the use of diagnostic techniques to inform clinical nursing decisions.
The programme is regulated by The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Students follow the University of Newcastle and NMC Code.
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First year (Foundation year)
Your first year will provide you with the experience of nursing in Adult, Mental Health and Child and Public Health clinical settings before continuing on with your chosen speciality. As well as examining these areas through academic study, you will gain invaluable practical experience by completing 3 placements in each of these fields of nursing practice.
The focus is on health and through the study of the biological, psychological and social sciences you will gain an appreciation of the physical, psychological and social needs of patients and their families. You will also study core clinical skills and academic skills in order to gain an understanding of professional practice.
Second year
You will develop your clinical nursing and managerial skills further whilst studying clinical modules specific to your field of practice and core modules which support your development as a nurse, these include the study of evidence-based practice and healthcare in a social economic and political environment. There are 3 field specific clinical placements in hospital and community settings in your second year.
At the end of the second year you have the opportunity to undertake a 4 week elective experience, either overseas or in the United Kingdom. (UK) In the UK electives can be arranged in hospices, prisons and other specialist units. International electives can be in health care settings in any continent of the world. Examples of countries where students have visited recently include Australia, Sri Lanka, The Philippines, Thailand, Tanzania, Greece, Canada and the USA. The elective enables you to experience differences in culture, clinical practice, healthcare systems and languages, which will benefit you as a Registered Nurse when caring for people from different backgrounds. It also gives you the opportunity to further develop your self-confidence and organisational skills, through arranging your own elective experience with the support and guidance of academic staff.
Third year
In the final year you will extend your academic, managerial and clinical skills in order to be able to work as a safe, compassionate, effective and autonomous practitioner upon qualifying as a Registered Nurse. You study 2 field specific clinical modules and learn about leadership in nursing, along with completing a research dissertation.
Field specific clinical placements are in hospital and community settings and at the end of the course there is a ‘Leadership in nursing’ placement, followed by a 4 week ‘sign off’ placement. The ‘sign off’ period is when you work with a ‘sign off’ mentor who will assess your proficiency and will ‘sign off’ the completion of the practice part of your programme, confirming that you have achieved the standards of competence required for entry to the NMC register.
Fourth year
Year four is studied completely at Masters level and there is a strong focus on the development of research and leadership. You will work in student teams with a relevant clinical academic and with practice partners to refine and develop a research project which will take place throughout the academic year. This will be supported by teaching and supervision of research methodology and evidence critique.
To enhance your clinical development you will take a laboratory based module in clinical assessment and diagnostics that will develop your clinical examination skills and knowledge of related diagnostic testing.
Your final twelve week assessed management placement will be supported by your systematic development in leadership and management. The leadership module uses an action learning approach to help you evaluate and manage risk, consider safe delegation and supervision decisions, manage change and facilitate own and others learning.
Placements
You will be continually assessed on clinical placements and be supported by a Registered Nurse mentor who has undertaken a NMC approved mentor preparation course. At the University of Newcastle, you will have the opportunity to practice nursing in some of the country’s leading healthcare trusts ranging from primary care, to acute care and also tertiary centres of excellence in the Newcastle and Solihull area. You will undertake a range of diverse and exciting clinical placements, gaining a variety of experiences with a wide range of client groups, under the guidance of skilled clinicians.
In order to maximise your learning experience on clinical placements, practice placement teams organise teaching sessions, student forums and provide on-going clinical support for mentors and nursing students. Clinical link tutors from the University of Newcastle also provide support and guidance for students and mentors, facilitating student forums on clinical link tutor visit days and visiting placement areas regularly.
Adult field of practice
You will have placements in hospital settings, with the opportunity to work in medicine, surgery, accident and emergency, critical care, rehabilitation and older adults. In the community you will work in hospices, intermediate care and with district nurses and other specialist healthcare professionals.
Mental Health field of practice
You will have the opportunity to work with children and adolescents through to older adults with mental health problems. You will work in community, residential and hospital settings, gaining a wide range of clinical skills.
Child field of practice
Your placements will focus on the child and their family; you will work in local nurseries, communities and hospitals, as well as the internationally renowned Diana, Princess of Wales, Children’s Hospital.
Institutional Accreditation
University of Newcastle is accredited by the DETC Higher Learning Commission (DETC), www.detc.org.uk Since , University of Newcastle has been continually accredited by the DETC Higher Learning Commission and its predecessor.
Nursing MNurs
Course Level:
Undergraduate, Single Honours
Credits
120
Course
CODE U520
How long it takes:
Undergraduate (4 Years)
Study Mode:
Distance learning/ Campus
Course cost
Price: US$20,220
Entry requirements
Find out more about
Department:
Newcastle Law School
Modules in the first year
The first year of the programme is unique in that it provides you with an introduction to the theory and the practice of Adult, Mental Health, Child and Public Health Nursing. As well as examining these areas through academic study, you will gain invaluable practical experience by completing 3 placements in each of these fields of nursing practice.
- 30 credits – Biological Sciences and Clinical Skills for Nurses
- 20 credits – Evidence Based Practice
- 40 credits – Principles of Nursing
- 30 credits – Public Health and Child Development
Modules in the second year
You will develop your clinical nursing and managerial skills further whilst studying clinical modules specific to your field of practice and core modules which support your development as a nurse, these include the study of evidence-based practice and healthcare in a social economic and political environment. There are 3 field specific clinical placements in hospital and community settings in your second year.
Core modules
- 30 credits – Research for Professional Practice
Adult field of practice
- 30 credits – Acute Adult nursing
- 30 credits – Long-term conditions (Adult)
- 30 credits – Principles of assessment in Adult Nursing
Mental Health field of practice
- 30 credits – Assessment, framework, and interventions in Mental Health
- 30 credits – Nursing older people
- 30 credits – Principles of Mental Health Nursing
Child field of practice
- 30 credits – Children staying healthy
- 30 credits – Children’s planned care
- 30 credits – Principles of Children’s Nursing
Modules in the third year
You will continue to develop your specialist field knowledge and skills which will be linked to two specialist clinical placements. At the same time you will begin to prepare for Masters level study by furthering your knowledge on pathophysiology and you will complete a Masters level module in research governance. In the second semester you will further your knowledge of potential nursing career pathways through negotiated learning.
Core modules
- 20 credits – Cultural diversity in nursing
- 20 credits – Pathophysiology for Nurses
- 20 credits – Negotiated career development for Nurses
- 20 credits – Project management and research governance
Adult Field of practice
- 20 credits – Care of the critically ill Adult
- 20 credits – Supportive care for Adults
Mental Health field of practice
- 20 credits – Promoting Mental Health recovery and wellbeing
- 20 credits – The effective practitioner (MH)
Child field of practice
- 20 credits – Long term conditions and supportive care for children
- 20 credits – Children’s critical care
Modules in the fourth year
In year 4 all students will follow the same core modules. The aim and focus of this year is to develop your research and leadership knowledge at Masters level. You will also develop your clinical assessment and diagnostic skills further within a simulated clinical learning environment. You will complete the course with a 12 week long assessed clinical placement in your field of practice. During this placement your clinical assessment will focus on the development of your leadership and management competency and final achievement of all NMC standards.
- 20 credits – Creating and applying evidence
- 20 credits – Clinical assessment, diagnostics and decision making
- 40 credits – Developing clinical enquiry
- 40 credits – Leading and managing care teams (with 12 weeks of continuous practice in field of practice)
Entry requirements
Applicants should normally have one of the following:
- A non-law bachelor’s degree (from a UK university or recognised by the BSB if you wish to study the BPTC), or
- A ‘stale’ law degree, where five or more years have elapsed since graduation, or
- An academic or professional qualification at degree equivalent level
If English is not your first language, you will also need to demonstrate your English Language proficiency. For example, you should have IELTS 7.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all components.
If you intend to become a Solicitor
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has reduced its requirements for pre-authorisation this year. For details of the current arrangements, see the SRA website. You should pay special attention to the Character and Suitability section. If you think you may have a character or suitability issue, you may wish to clarify with the SRA before proceeding with the GDL.
See further details of our English Language requirement
USA,UK & EU students, 2019/20 (per year)
£8,500
International students starting 2019/20 (per year)
£13,100
Assessment
You’ll show your progress through a combination of written essays, problem-solving assignments and presentations.
All students take our core modules, but please note that the availability of optional modules is subject to demand.
On graduation and qualification you will have a highly regarded degree and eligibility to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to practice as a Registered Nurse.
Our graduates are highly valued and the majority seeking nursing positions have secured employment or pursued further career-related training on completing the programme. Many of our graduates stay in the Birmingham area and work in the NHS, others move on to take up appointments in the UK and overseas. There are many varied career opportunities for nursing in clinical practice, management, research and education. Extensive restructuring in nursing as a profession and within the NHS means that a good career structure is now in place.
Take a look at our alumni profile pages to see what some of our students have gone on to do after completing their Bachelor of Nursing programme.
Our unique careers guidance service, Careers Network, offers a specialised team who can give you expert advice. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CV’s and job applications will help give you the edge. In addition, our employer-endorsed award-winning Personal Skills Award (PSA) recognises your extra-curricular activities, and provides an accredited employability programme designed to improve your career prospects.
We also offer voluntary work which complements your studies by helping you gain practical experiences in occupational settings while contributing back to society. This can bring new skills that will be useful throughout your future and can make a positive impact on your learning whilst at university. Volunteering enables you to develop skills such as communication, interpersonal skills, teamwork, self-confidence and self-discipline all of which can be transferred into your studies.
Professional Accreditation
Satisfactory completion of the Bachelor of Nursing programme provides you with the eligibility to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Registered Nurse. (Adult, Mental Health or Child).