Overview
Adult nursing is a challenging and uniquely rewarding career. At UCS our programme ensures that nurses are prepared to provide exemplary care in the 21st century. Nursing has moved from its traditional roots while remaining true to its core values of providing knowledgeable, informed care and prioritising patient dignity.
Contemporary nursing practice is based upon sound theoretical foundations in the life sciences, knowledge of interpersonal working, problem solving and ethical reasoning. In collaboration with students and practice partners, UCS nurses are informed, enthusiastic, motivated and competent registered nurses.
BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing enables students to gain an Honours degree and a professional qualification with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Students will be encouraged to develop the skills of independent learning, critical analysis, leadership, management and decision making.
Why study this course?
This course offers students the opportunity to focus on the specific health needs of service users and their family/carer(s).
The nature of nursing means that students will be involved in working with the variety of people who access the services provided by the health care system. Patients may have short term acute or long term health needs and adult nurses will be prepared to care for the physical, emotional and mental health care needs of all. The philosophy underpinning the course and the skills students develop are centred around person-centred care and working in partnership with people and their family/carer(s).
UCS offers students the opportunity to study as a member of both small and large groups in which we will offer a supportive environment to explore the many sensitive and emotional issues that arise within the caring professions. The state-of-the-art Clinical Skills Centre in the James Hehir Building offers an exceptional opportunity to learn clinical skills in a safe environment.
The video below is of one of our recent graduate nurses, speaking at the Nursing and Midwifery Graduation Ceremony about her experience of studying at UCS:
Fees and Bursaries
Course fees are paid by the Strategic Health Authority for British/EU students. In addition a small non-means tested and means tested bursary may be available.
Further information is available on the NHS Business Services Authority website|.
Learning and Teaching Strategy
The course delivers a blended approach to teaching and learning which includes lectures, seminars and discussions at both the Ipswich Campus and at local base sites. Other approaches to learning include clinical skills teaching, use of a virtual learning environment, private study, in addition to working in clinical practice supported by a mentor. Over the three year programme, time will be equally divided between theory and practice.
Base Site Locations and Clinical Placements
Base sites are used for clinical practice placements and some theoretical sessions. Clinical placements offer the opportunity to gain practice throughout the programme, typically offering the following areas/specialities:
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Community Nursing
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A number of wards in a field specific acute NHS Trust
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Specialist care areas
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Out patient departments
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Health Visitor
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Voluntary and private sector
Practice Hours
While in practice you will be allocated a mentor and, as the course is full-time, this equates to 37.5 hours per week including early, late and night shifts around the 24 hour period, with some weekends.
Assessment Strategy
Throughout the three year programme there is assessment of both theory and practice. Assessment takes many forms and includes;
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Project work
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Presentation
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Examination (written and practical)
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Practice portfolios
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Essays
Career Opportunities
Upon successful completion of your programme you will have the opportunity to work in a variety of places including community and hospital settings, education and research. With the increasing emphasis on nursing people in the community, the opportunities are continuing to grow and we are seeing high levels (97%) of graduate recruitment within the East of England.
Content and Modules
Courses commencing February 2013 are listed below. For courses commencing after that date, further details to follow.
Year 1
This year establishes the fundamentals of caring from both a theoretical and practical aspect. All students enrolled on a nursing programme study together in year one.
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Name of Module
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Level
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Credits
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Semester
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Description
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Nursing Practice 1
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4
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40
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1 and 2
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Skill development allowing the student to contribute to the plan of care with generic and field specific skills.
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Introduction to Professional Studies
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4
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0
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Induction to higher education three weeks at the start of Semester 1
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Life Sciences
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4
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20
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1 and 2
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An examination of the foundations of physiology, related anatomy and psychology that are essential for care
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Fundamentals of Care
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4
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20
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1
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An exploration of the organisation of care and the essential cognitive skills required to engage in caring both in the student’s own field of care and in those of the other parts of the register.
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Contexts of Care.
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4
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20
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2
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A consideration of the current and anticipated range of care environments, including ethical, regulatory, scientific and technological and cultural influences.
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Interprofessional Learning (IPL): The Professional Person.
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4
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20
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1 and 2
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An examination of the person within the professional and intra/inter-personal processes required to engage with the self and others in a caring and compassionate way.
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Year 2 and 3 includes Adult care specific learning to manage and lead the care firstly of individual patients and their family/carer(s) and then of small groups in a range of settings.
BSc(Hons) In Adult Nursing - Year 2
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Name of Module
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Level
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Credits
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Semester
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Description
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Nursing Practice 2.
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5
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40
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1 and 2
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Development of the skills and knowledge required to engage in the assessment, planning and implementation of care for individuals.
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Evidence Based Practice: Adult Nursing
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5
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20
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1
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An exploration of the scope and nature of knowledge, its construction and application to the field of practice.
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Service User and the Professional Partnership
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5
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20
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1
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A care focussed, field of practice, service user orientated module designed to assist the student to develop the capacities required to be person and solution focussed in planning nursing interventions.
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Ongoing Health and Social Care Needs.
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5
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20
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2
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An exploration of the specific theoretical, heuristic and experiential knowledge required within the field of practice.
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Research 4 Practice
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5
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20
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2
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An exploration of the social and cognitive constructions of research as applied to care practice. The module intends to arm the student with the knowledge and skills required to be properly research minded.
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Interprofessional Learning (IPL): The Service User
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5
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Notional Practice Credits
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1 and 2
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Credits notionally related to those awarded for practice. The student will use critical reflection, analysis of the service user journey and promotion of multi-agency working across health and social care teams to enhance the care that they provide to service users. The students will be able to reflect on appropriate and profession specific scenarios where interprofessional working is advocated.
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BSc(Hons) in Adult Nursing - Year 3
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Name of Module
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Level
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Credits
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Semester
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Description
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Nursing Practice 3.
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6
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40
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1 and 2
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Development of the skills and knowledge required to manage, lead and innovate in the delivery of care of small numbers of persons in specific settings.
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Enhancing Care through Service Improvement: Adult Nursing
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6
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20
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1 and 2
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A critical examination of the theoretical underpinning of practice in a variety of settings supported with the development of those cognitive and operational skills required to be an innovator of care.
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Dissertation
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6
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40
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1 and 2
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A module supporting the production of a piece of work designed to present a critical appreciation of advanced care.
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Interprofessional Learning (IPL): The Organisation
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6
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20
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1 and 2
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The module promotes multi-agency working across health and social care teams. Students will be encouraged to work as flexible practitioners and critical thinkers. Management of self is key to evaluating their role and the role of others within the interprofessional team.
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Further Information
Student testimonial:
“I was looking for a career that would be genuinely rewarding, would mean every day was different and was concerned with people. Nobody in my family has ever been a nurse, so I had little idea, but a friend’s brother, a charge nurse, advised me. There is only one way to describe this course and that is it is a privilege. A privilege to be given the opportunity to learn to work with people who are often very emotional, experiencing things that will change their lives. They are not always grateful but rather too often too much so. Practice does intrude into my private life, working some weekends and often late in the day and occasionally nights. Study is hard work but fun and being close to others on the course makes the difficult bits easier. Have I thought of giving up? Yes, after a difficult placement in cancer care, but now I want to specialise in that area after I qualify.”
Amy is in the third year of the programme.
Related Links:
What is included in your tuition fees
At UCS your tuition fees provide access to all the usual teaching and learning facilities that you would expect. However, there may be additional costs associated with your course that you will need to budget for.
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Read full details of the included and additional costs for Adult Nursing.
Please note, UCS reserves the right to change this information as and when required.