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Undergraduate study
adult nursing degree, adult nursing course, adult nursing bsc

Nursing Studies (Adult) BSc (Hons)

Designed to prepare you for the realities of modern nursing, health, and social care. You gain the knowledge, skills and experience to deliver high-quality, person-centred care in both community and hospital settings as an adult nurse.

 
 

Clearing 2024

Apply now for 2024 entry. Call us on 01642 738400

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 logo awarded as Overall, Student Experience and Student Outcomes gold rating

Course overview

Accredited

Working in healthcare

Hear from a range of health professionals, including Teesside University graduates, working at James Cook Hospital. Discover the variety of health professions and learn about their roles, why they chose a healthcare career and why its so rewarding.

Gain specialisation in adult nursing. Explore the changing and challenging nature of providing healthcare in the 21st-century, and the evolving, diverse role of the adult nurse. Leadership is embedded throughout the course, recognising the crucial role nurses play in moving practice forward. Benefit from shared learning across all four fields of practice (adult, child, mental health and learning disabilities nursing).

Become part of a course that educates and develops you while playing a crucial role in retaining and reforming the future nursing workforce.

The start of the course prepares you for placement experiences and assessments, so you can link theory with practice. In your first year, you focus on core elements across nursing before moving into field-specific elements in theory and practice. You gain practical experience early, ensuring you are well-prepared for your future career.

This course meets the NMC (2023) requirements of 4,600 hours of learning (a minimum of 2,300 hours of theory and 2,300 hours of practice). It also aligns with the latest NHS Workforce Plan, ensuring you're at the cutting edge of healthcare education and practice. Theoretical knowledge is balanced with practical experience, meeting the latest standards and requirements in the healthcare industry.

Top reasons to study this course:

  1. Experienced teaching team: benefit from the practical and academic expertise of our teaching team, who have a collective wealth of experience as adult nurses. Receive fully supported learning both in University and in clinical practice.
  2. Placement opportunities: our excellent partnerships with local NHS trusts and independent sector partners offer you a wide variety of placement types including hospital, community, GP and potentially prison. With strong connections at local, national, and global levels, you benefit from a rich, diverse learning environment.
  3. Industry-standard facilities: our state-of-the-art simulation facilities support your practical skills.
  4. Service user/carer involvement: gain the opportunity to work with and learn from service users in University and in clinical practice.
  5. Financial support: study this course and you may be eligible for a £5,000 maintenance grant each year from the NHS Business Service Authority. Find out more. You can also apply for our Placement Support Fund if you are experiencing financial difficulties attending your placement. Find out more.

Download pdf Order prospectus

Where you study

You study at our Middlesbrough campus and attend a variety of clinical placements.

 

Supporting information for applicants

Our School feedback policy (word - 278kb)
Our School reference policy (word - 276kb)

 

Course details

Course structure

Year 1 core modules

Fundamentals of Nursing Practice

You develop fundamental knowledge and skills that pre-registration nurses must demonstrate when caring for people of all ages and care settings. Content is linked to the NMC platforms and proficiency statements, combining theory and practice elements. You take part in theory, practical skills and placement experience, incorporating the four fields of nursing across three semesters, in mixed field theory groups. You attend a skills rehearsal week, then practice placements start with two days in role socialisation (into the healthcare environment), followed by four weeks in practice in your hub placement.

This is a 40-credit module.

Nursing Decision-making and Evidence-based Practice

Build your knowledge and skills in the role, nature and use of evidence to support decision-making, health and social care practice and service improvement. You develop your ability to critically appraise and explore how evidence is used to underpin national guidelines, decision-making, and high-quality nursing practice. Decision-making theory is explored and applied to contemporary nursing practice, and how using evidence is vital to ensure high-quality and safe person-centred care.

This is a 40-credit module.

Professionalism, Relationships and Communication

With content linked to the NMC Code (2018), you develop professionalism, relationship building and communication skills that pre-registration nurses must demonstrate when caring for people across all care settings. Professionalism is promoted through understanding the role of the nurse, professional behaviours and attitudes, working within interprofessional teams and ensuring effective communication delivery. You are expected to reflect and develop strategies in emotional intelligence, resilience and stresses, and understand fundamental leadership skills.

This is a 20-credit module.

Understanding Health and Illness

You develop your understanding of health and illness across the lifespan, exploring factors contributing to human development from conception to death. You develop an awareness of the multi-factorial considerations associated with optimum health and wellbeing by exploring anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology along with contemporary psychology and sociology theory across the lifespan.

This is a 20-credit module.

 

Year 2 core modules

Adult Nursing Decision-making and Evidence-based Practice 2

You explore person-centred, evidence-based decision-making within adult nursing practice. You develop the knowledge required to actively manage the healthcare needs of people accessing adult nursing services within primary, secondary and tertiary care settings. You explore the knowledge and skills required to promote evidence-based decision-making and nursing care within a multidisciplinary and multi-agency integrated team.

This is a 40-credit module.

Adult Nursing Intervention 1

You focus on nursing actions, procedures or treatments that promote positive expected outcomes for patients and their families. You build on your knowledge and understanding of altered pathophysiology, physical, cognitive, emotional, and developmental needs across the lifespan. You aim to improve, maintain health or prevent ill-health, prioritising family and person-centred care. Service user/carer involvement, the lived experience and case scenarios from across all fields, enhance your knowledge by exploring the patient journey using problem-based learning.

This is a 20-credit module.

Fundamentals of Adult Nursing Practice 2

You combine theory and practice elements, building on the earlier module. Promote your ability to assess and meet fundamental, complex physical and mental health needs of service users and their families in a diverse variety of locations, including community and acute care settings. You must complete a planned skills week before going into practice.

This is a 40-credit module.

Service Improvement

You explore the quality improvement agenda and use a systematic approach to improve the safety, effectiveness and people’s experience of care. You further develop your knowledge and understanding of the nursing role and evidence in the context of service improvement. You gain the opportunity to consolidate, enhance and apply your skills and attributes to develop and carry out service improvement recommendations in the workplace.

This is a 20-credit module.

 

Final-year core modules

Adult Nursing Decision-making and Evidence-based Practice 3

You are equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding to make evidence-based decisions to support the delivery of high-quality patient-centred holistic care. You collaborate with people who access adult nursing services, their families, and carers across a range of primary, secondary and tertiary care environments. You develop your ability to complete a comprehensive and holistic assessment and create a person-centred, evidence-based plan of care.

This is a 40-credit module.

Adult Nursing Intervention 2

You explore a biopsychosocial perspective in relation to patient care. The nursing process is used and applied to a chosen service user for a case study. You focus on the holistic care of a service user to prevent ill health and promote health in line with the NMC Code. You further build on your knowledge and experience of the complexities of patient care. You gain knowledge in collaboration, health promotion, emotional intelligence and self-awareness, communication and advocacy, recognition of deterioration from a biopsychosocial perspective, inclusivity and an awareness of health deterioration. Application of this knowledge and skills is linked to the nursing process, leadership and fundamentals of care to inform holistic care of the chosen service user.

This is a 20-credit module.

Dissertation Module

You develop and build on your ability to take on analytical enquiry relating to a professional point of view. You complete a robust and evidence-based literature review on an area of professional nursing practice of your choice. You are allocated an academic supervisor who supports you with your choice of topic and the development of your work.

This is a 40-credit module.

Fundamentals of Adult Nursing Practice 3

You build on your nursing skills from year one and two to support you in the co-ordination, delivery, and evaluation of nursing care for individuals and groups across the lifespan. You lead and manage the nursing assessment. You plan, implement, and evaluate care for a caseload of patients based on evidence-based practice, demonstrating your ability to make complex, dynamic decisions in diverse practice settings.

This is a 40-credit module.

 

Modules offered may vary.

 

How you learn

Learning Structure
You spend 50% of your time learning theory in the classroom or independently and 50% of your time on placement. Theory sessions are held Monday to Friday and may include some evening classes. Placements may require early starts, night duties, and weekend shifts, and may not be near your home or within your local trust. You are expected to travel to different areas. Due to the structured sequencing of University and placement-based learning, taking holidays outside the set dates is not possible. This ensures you get the most out of your theoretical and practical learning experiences.

Blended Learning Approach
All modules adopt a blended approach to learning and teaching. Theory is delivered through teacher and student-led activities, including lectures, discussions, group activities, seminar presentations, tutorials, skills workshops, experiential learning or simulations, service user-focused activities, and e-learning. Learning through digital platforms is an essential component, providing a flexible and interactive way to engage with course materials.

Diverse Placement Experiences
You engage in practice placements in a range of healthcare environments, including hospital and community settings. This includes nursing closer to home, preventative, acute, and long-term healthcare provisions, allowing you to explore the adult service users' journey comprehensively. You also gain experience with client groups from other nursing fields, giving you a broad understanding of the health and nursing needs across all areas of practice, which intersect with adult nursing services.

Comprehensive Service User Journey
The combination of theory and practice allows you to explore the service user’s journey and develop a deep knowledge and experience of nursing and healthcare needs. Each year, a module involves active participation from service users, ensuring you gain first-hand insight into their experiences and needs, enriching your learning and professional development.

How you are assessed

You are assessed through written assignments, reflections, case studies, exams, poster presentations, and projects. Theory modules are closely integrated with practical experiences, with content directly linked to practice proficiencies. This provides a realistic and relevant evaluation of your understanding and skills. To ensure assessments reflect real-world practice, some scenarios and case studies are developed in collaboration with practitioners and service users. This helps you develop a comprehensive and practical skill set, preparing you for a successful career in nursing.

Each year, you are assessed in practice through an electronic Practice Assessment Document (ePAD). The ePAD outlines essential practice proficiencies you must meet, aligned with the NMC standards. They are categorised into key platforms:
• being an accountable professional
• promoting health and preventing ill health
• assessing needs and planning care
• providing and evaluating care
• leading and managing nursing care and working in teams
• improving safety and quality of care
• coordinating care.


Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services

Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs

 

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Call us on 01642 738400 about our entry requirements

For general information please see our overview of entry requirements

International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country


You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL

 

Employability

Work placement

You are allocated a home trust, which may be (but not always) the closest NHS Trust to your home, and are introduced with two days experience in your theory block.

A hub and spoke practice allocation model is used within the practice setting to aid your placement journey of learning and achievement. A practice hub is your main allocation in each year of the course and is located where service users access adult nursing services.

A range of hub placements are used within the adult field. These include medical and surgical wards and care closer to home areas, such as hospices, GP practices, community hospitals, nursing homes, critical care areas and community nursing services caring for people in their own home.

Spoke placements enable you to achieve the practice proficiencies for the year. They develop your knowledge, experience, proficiency and understanding of service user journeys, and allow you to spend time working with service users from all four fields of nursing practice.

Career opportunities

On graduation you are eligible for registration with the regulator of NMC as an adult nurse. This can lead to a range of exciting and rewarding career opportunities within the NHS and private sectors, in the UK and overseas.

This course is designed to prepare you for the challenges and demands of contemporary and future nursing, health, and social care practice. It provides a stepping-stone so you can further develop your expertise in the fields of nursing practice, leadership, research, education and consultancy.

 

Information for international applicants

Qualifications

International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.

Select your country:

  
 

Useful information

Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.

Talk to us

Talk to an international student enrolment adviser

 
 

Professional accreditation

On successful completion of the course you will be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council on the nurses' part of the Professional Register (Adult Nursing).

During the pre-registration nursing course you will be expected to work to the spirit of the NMC Code (2018) at all times - The Code (2018) Professional Standards of Practice and Behaviour for Nurses and Midwives, Nursing and Midwifery Council London

Please note 100% attendance is expected during this course.

Full-time

Entry to 2024/25 academic year

Fee for UK applicants
£9,250 a year

More details about our fees

Fee for international applicants
£17,000 a year

More details about our fees for international applicants


What is included in your tuition fee?

  • Length: 3 years
  • UCAS code: B700 BSc/NurA
  • Start date: September or January
  • Semester dates
  • Typical offer: Call us on 01642 738400 about our entry requirements

Apply now (full-time)

Apply now

Please choose the relevant option below:

2024 entry

UK applicants

Complete this enquiry form only if you have already obtained your qualifications and achieved grades. If you do not have these at this time, we will be unable to progress your enquiry - please re-visit and complete the form after you have received your results.

Apply now (UK applicant)

International applicants

Our undergraduate courses are available through Clearing to international applicants. Please only complete this application form if you have already obtained your qualifications and achieved your grades. You must upload all requested documents including a copy of your passport, academic qualifications and English language qualification, and copies of any sponsor letters or maintenance documents to meet the requirements. If you have previously applied through UCAS for 2024-25 entry, please include your UCAS personal ID number in the course details box.

Apply now (International applicant)

2025 entry

Apply online (full-time) through UCAS

 

Part-time

  • Not available part-time
 

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Service user and carer involvement

Service users and carers support all aspects of our students' lifecycle from recruitment to graduation.

Find out more

Get in touch

International students

Email: internationalenquiries@tees.ac.uk

Telephone: +44 (0) 1642 738900


More international contacts

 
 
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