Course Overview
Caring for the most important person in someone's life, their child, is a big responsibility, yet it is a very fulfilling job. Children and young people need nurses who understand their particular needs and can work in partnership with them and their families.
Nursing children can take you from the intensive care of a new-born baby with breathing problems, to looking after a six foot tall adolescent whose leg has been broken. It will cover a range of settings from the hospital to the child's own home.
BSc (Hons) Nursing (Children's) scored 94% overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2018.
More than just a degree
Once you graduate, you'll be able to register as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and you will be able to practice in the UK.
Opportunities for children's nurses are continually expanding. You may be working in a busy hospital ward or department, as a nurse specialist running your own clinic, or in one of the expanding community areas such as a large health centre. What makes children nursing such a challenge is the sheer diversity of situations you will have to respond to, no two days are ever the same.
Nursing involves more than practice. You will understand the theory and facts behind diagnosis that can help you to make crucial decisions when looking after a patient. You will be able to lead changes in practice, improving the quality of delivery of care.
You can choose to study in September or February.
More placements, more choices
Bucks is a Placement Plus university. So, whatever degree you do, you can be sure there’ll be plenty of industry-relevant opportunities on offer, to help you get into your chosen field.
We’ll also prepare you for work beforehand, with special Skills for Work training, further boosting your CV, and building skills employers will value. In recognition of the value we place on these skills we have incorporated this experience into your study time.
Placements Plus is all about helping you get some valuable experience under your belt while you’re a student. To increase your choices later, and help you get the graduate-level job you want.
Course Details
UCAS CODE: B731
We believe in giving you the best chance for employment when you graduate. Our nursing programme is no different. During your time on the programme, you will be working alongside experienced health care professionals and we will help you become a caring, confident and practice-ready children's nurse.
You will benefit from an excellent standard of teaching provided by staff from the University and practice, in partnership with our NHS Trust partners.
You will be taught by lecturers who have a wide expertise in the field. Our lecturers also maintain close links with practice, ensuring that the programme is up-to-date with modern practice.
We have simulation facilities to enable you to practise your skills in a realistic and safe environment. We offer continuous support throughout the programme, both in the University and in practice.
You will receive personal tutoring and benefit from a high level of research within the teaching team. You will also benefit from our annual one day inter-professional conference, focused on safeguarding.
Gain experience with the NHS or private care trusts
Our nursing programmes are split 50/50, one half is spent at the University studying and the other half is spent on practice placement at one of our local NHS Trusts or independent care partners.
We offer a variety of clinical experiences in a range of settings.
The main NHS Trusts we are currently working with include:
- Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
- Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
- West Midlands NHS Trusts
We also work with Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and community services.
Clinical experience opportunities may include:
- accident and emergency
- community nursing - with health visitors and paediatric nursing teams
- general paediatric wards
- learning disability units
- neonatal intensive care
- operating theatres
- outpatient departments
- private healthcare placement experiences
- an elective placement of your choice in your third year
We're renowned for the support we offer you while you are on placement. Members of the teaching staff from Bucks are assigned to each clinical area and will visit you whilst you are out in practice.
The children's nursing team represents all clinical specialities within community and hospital services.
Learn from the professionals both lectures and the wards
We make sure that you'll have the knowledge and the confidence to work as a nurse before sending you out into clinical practice.
Our team of experienced and dedicated lecturers have a collective wealth of knowledge from working in a number of areas, including:
- children's accident and emergency (including resuscitation and trauma)
- community nursing
- general paediatrics
- learning disabilities
- neonatal and paediatric intensive care
- operating theatres
- outpatients
- paediatric oncology
- safeguarding
- school nursing.
Our enthusiastic and dedicated nursing team have a passion for what they do and will support you throughout the programme.
Read more about our department.
What are the course entry requirements?
For this course, you'll need at least two A-levels and a GCSE Maths and English at grade C. Our offers usually require a minimum of 112 UCAS points.
For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.
Course Modules
Module Map
This module map provides a list of the modules that make up your course.
Each module is worth a specified number of credits (typically either 15 or 30 credits for undergraduate courses). Compulsory (or ‘core’) modules cover key subject knowledge, while ‘option’ modules enable you to develop your own interests. For a full-time course you must take modules worth a total of 120 credits at each level of the course. The number of option modules you can take depends on the number of compulsory modules at each level. You can find more information about how your course is structured via the Academic Advice pages.
Our teaching is informed by research and employer requirements, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the subject area. In addition, where we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an option module, this may not be offered. If an option module does not run, we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
The modules available on this course are as follows:
Year 1 Modules
- Foundation Skills for Children's Nursing
- Foundation of Children's Nursing Practice
- Health Wellbeing and Disability: Implications for Children's Nursing
- Professional and Academic Skills for Nursing
Year 2 Modules
- Broadening Perspectives on Practice
- Children's Community Nursing: Public Health in Action
- Intermediate Children's Nursing Practice
- Intermediate Skills for Children's Nursing
- Research Methods for Nursing
Year 3 Modules
- Children's Nursing Skills Underpinning Complex Care
- Leadership and Collaborative Interprofessional Practice
- Research in Nursing
- Towards Autonomy in Children's Nursing Practice
Fees
How much does it cost
Full Time Home and EU, February 2019: £9,250 per year
Full Time International, February 2019: £11,000 per year
Full Time Home and EU, September 2019: £9,250 per year
Full Time International, September 2019: £12,000 per year
Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.
You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.
Questions about fees?
Contact our Enquiries Team:
0330 123 2023
advice@bucks.ac.uk
How do I apply?
For application details please visit bucks.ac.uk/applynow
