Nursing Associate FdSc

Course Content

• Course Details

  This course has been designed to contribute towards achieving the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: SDG3 of Good Health and Wellbeing and SDG5 Gender Equality.

  Our aim is to help you to develop into a safe and effective Nursing Associate who is caring and compassionate and able to deliver high quality care to people of all ages and in a range of settings.

  The programme is a 50/50 split of theory and practice to enable you to develop your knowledge and apply this in clinical practice. You will have a range of practice placements allowing you to develop your competence in caring for people of different ages and in different settings.

  By studying this FdSc you will:

  • Learn to work in teams
  • Develop your professional self
  • Develop excellence in caring for people
  • Work in partnership with other members of the healthcare team
  • Develop competence in evidence-based care.

  This programme also runs as an employer sponsored apprenticeship. You can find further details on our Apprenticeships webpage.

  List of modules:

  • Stage 1
    • Interprofessional Education (IPE)
      Module code: FHS_IPE20

      Status: Compulsory
    • Discovering My Identity as a Nursing Associate (20 Credits)
      Module code: NPR1032

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to develop nursing associate students self awareness personal and professional resilience and professional identity within nursing. An understanding of how health science social and political knowledge behaviour vocabulary and skills form their nursing identity. Additionally the module will develop communication skills and understanding of how constructive feedback can be used to evaluate self and effect positive change.
    • Professionalism and Public Protection for Nursing Associates (20 Credits)
      Module code: NPR1033

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to provide nursing associate students with underpinning theoretical knowledge. Students will consider the scientific legal professional and personal context of nursing in order to participate in practice safely ethically and lawfully within a range of clinical practice settings.
    • Exploring the Evidence Base for Nursing Associates (20 Credits)
      Module code: NPR1034

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to equip nursing associate students with the theoretical foundation skills and evidenced based knowledge to fully participate in person-centred decision making influence positive lifestyle choices and beginning the students? own professional development within the context of nursing.
    • Developing Competence in Safe, Effective Administration and Optimisation of Medicines for Nursing Associates
      Module code: NPR1035

      Status: Compulsory
    • Foundations of Practice for Nursing Associates (60 Credits)
      Module code: NPR1036P

      Status: Compulsory
      This is a work-based module which enables students to develop the appropriate attitudes behaviours values and skills and underpinning knowledge to work competently within health and social care as student Nursing Associates. The module is based on requirements from the NMC Proficiencies for Nursing Associates (2018).
  • Stage 2
    • Developing My Nursing Associate Identity Towards Becoming a Registrant (20 Credits)
      Module code: NPR2075

      Status: Compulsory
      This module will further develop nursing associate students communication skills resilience and professional identity. Students will respond to constructive feedback through reflection to effect positive change and develop self awareness. Student?s will apply their knowledge of health science social and political knowledge and behaviour enabling them to problem solve.
    • Applying Understanding of Nursing Professionalism and Protection of the Public in Nursing (20 Credits)
      Module code: NPR2076

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to further develop nursing associate students theoretical knowledge advancing their understanding and application of science the law and professionalism. This will enable them to initiate safe practice that is ethical and lawful within a range of clinical practice settings.
    • Interpreting the Evidence Base Influencing Nursing Associate Practice (20 Credits)
      Module code: NPR2077

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to further develop nursing associate students professional development theory skills and evidenced based knowledge to initiate person centred care. This will be used to influence positive lifestyle choices improve health outcomes and understand the appropriateness of quality of care to effect service improvement.
    • Demonstrating Competence in the Safe, Effective Administration and Optimisation of Medicines for Nursing Associates
      Module code: NPR2078

      Status: Compulsory
    • Advanced Work Based Learning for Nursing Associates (60 Credits)
      Module code: NPR2079P

      Status: Compulsory
      This is a work-based module which enables students to develop the appropriate attitudes behaviours values and skills and underpinning knowledge to work competently within health and social care as student Nursing Associates. The module is based on requirements from the NMC Proficiencies for Nursing Associates (2018).

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• Entry Requirements

  The following are entry requirements for the Nursing Associate programmes:

  • Level 2 qualification – Maths and English Language Grade C or equivalent
  • Level 3 qualification – pass grade
  • Access Course – Pass grade
  • BTEC Extended Diploma – PPP
  • BTEC Diploma – MM
  • 1 A level – Grade E

  Please note that we may consider other qualifications not listed above on an individual basis, please contact our Admissions team to discuss these in further detail.

  All offers of a place on the programme are subject to:

  • successful Occupational Health Screening,
  • evidence of COVID vaccinations*,
  • satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) report, and
  • successful interview by the University.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • IELTS overall score of 7, with at least 6.5 in writing, and at least 7 in reading, listening and speaking sections.

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

  * From 1 April 2022, in accordance with the UK Government legislation it will be a requirement that all students enrolling on this course will be required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. All those working in NHS settings and other health care settings including students that have to undertake a placement as part of your course, will need to be fully vaccinated.

  This means that we will require you to demonstrate proof of full Covid-19 vaccination to enable you to enrol on your course. Our Occupational Health providers will be undertaking this check on our behalf. Please be ready to provide this proof of full vaccination or medical exemption as part of your Occupational Health appointment.

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• Fees and Funding

  2022/23 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 22/23 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Full Time: £9,250
  • International – Full Time: £14,000

  2021/22 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 21/22 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Full Time: £9,250
  • International – Full Time: £13,000

  Additional Costs

  • Travel costs to and from placements, and extra costs associated with placements, may be incurred throughout your studies depending on where you are based.
  • optional membership of Union
  • optional two week European placement (flights, accommodation, living expenses)
  • first set of clinical uniform is free but additional uniforms have to be purchased by the student
    black leather shoes, black socks.

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• Professional Body

  FdSc Nursing Associate has been approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). This means you can be confident that this programme meets the standards of education, training, conduct and performance required for nurses in the UK.

  After successful completion of this programme, you’ll be awarded a FdSc and can apply to register as a Nursing Associate with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). This will allow you to practice in accordance with the NHS Constitution which is underpinned by the core NHS values.

  

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• Further Study Opportunities

  Graduates may wish to access further study in BSc Nursing. After a successful completion of FdSc Nursing Associate, you can apply for one of our BSc Nursing programmes, and subject to a successful interview, can complete a further 18 months study on one of the programmes to gain BSc award:

  • BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing 
  • BSc (Hons) Children and Young People’s Nursing
  • BSc (Hons) Learning Disability Nursing
  • BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing 

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• Student Perks

  At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

  If you join this full time foundation degree at Northampton you will receive a laptop when your course begins. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

  To check out the full list of perks visit our Student Perks page.

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• Placements

  The programme is a 50/50 split of theory and practice to enable you to develop your knowledge and apply this in clinical practice.

  You will have a range of practice placements allowing you to develop your competence in caring for people of different ages and in different settings.

  Please view the Entry Requirements for information regarding Covid-19 vaccinations and placement.

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• Interview Information

  After applying via UCAS and meeting the entry requirements, you will be invited to an online interview and will be interviewed individually by a member of the nursing associate team and a service user representative.

  Our FdSc Nursing Associate offers two start dates: September and January.

  You will be asked during your interview to state your preference for start date as part of the interview process and will be allocated to one start date in the academic year 2022/23. You will then be notified of your start date by the University after your interview. The start date is subject to change and subject to final confirmation upon successful interview.

  Your interview will be held online using an online platform. You will receive further information and the interview joining in instructions from a member of the nursing associate team by email before your interview.

  You will receive further information and the interview preparation instructions from us by email before your interview. If you have any questions, please email us at: interviews2022@northampton.ac.uk

  As part of your interview preparation, consider the role of the nursing associate and what qualities and skills you have to fulfil this role. We also recommend you keep up to date with current health care and nursing issues by visiting the following sites:

  • NMC website
  • NHS Constitution
  • BBC Health
  • NHS England
  • Department of Health
  • Nursing Standard
  • Nursing Times

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• FAQs

  How will I be taught?

  You will be taught by high quality and experienced lecturers who will share their knowledge and passion of nursing with you.  They will also enable you to develop your study skills.  You will have a range of learning activities that will vary from face to face sessions, tutorials, online blended learning, simulation and virtual reality in our state of the art simulation suit and placement learning. You will also be able to access our wellbeing activities that will range from study skills, sports and mindfulness sessions.

  How will I be assessed?

  Assessment on this programme is by a variety of methods including written assignments, presentations, scenario assessments and assessment in clinical practice.

  What is our recruitment approach?

  Values Based Recruitment is an approach with attracts and selects students on the basis that their individual values and behaviours align with the NHS constitution. The purpose of this is to ensure that the future and current workforce is selected with the right values and skills to support the delivery of excellent patient care.

  Through application and interview applicants are selected based on their ability to show they have the values of the 6Cs.

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Careers and Employability

On successful completion of this programme you will be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Registered Nursing Associate.

Graduates can apply to one of our BSc Nursing programmes, and subject to successful interview, can complete a further 18 months of study. This will enable you to gain BSc (Hons) in Nursing and apply for a registration with the NMC as a Registered Nurse.