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BSc (Hons) - Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship

You’re passionate, caring and want to make a difference in the lives of others. Our course is designed to give you the professional and academic qualifications you need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and excel as a practising nurse.

This degree will enable you to hit the ground running to work as an adult nurse in a variety of settings including hospitals, GP surgeries, hospices, nursing homes, the armed forces and many more.



Accredited by:

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Nursing & Midwifery Council

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Course Overview

The Nursing Higher Level Apprenticeship is ideal for Healthcare Assistants, Clinical Support Workers, and other NHS support workers who want to become a registered nurse. All four fields of nursing are available; adult, child, mental health and learning disability.

Our primary goal is to see students become excellent registered nurses, who have a sound and current knowledge of issues and conditions affecting patients across a wide range of practice settings.

We support students closely throughout the apprenticeship meaning that on completion of the programme students step into a role as a registered nurse and can confidently make a difference to other people's lives when it matters.

We can also offer top up courses between 20 and 24 months for qualified Nursing Associates and Assistant Practitioners (dependent on qualification and experience). All four fields of nursing are available.

On this course you will...

  • Develop skills that allow you to practice as a confident and competent nurse and enjoy a rewarding career in the area of nursing that excites you.
  • Learn and work alongside all fields of nursing and recognise the contribution of each other's expertise.
  • Benefit from our friendly team with a wealth of collective experience to share with you and support you.
  • Utilise modern facilities to enhance your clinical skill development and acquisition.

Course Structure

What you will learn

Professional values
Communication and interpersonal skills
Nursing practice and decision-making
Leadership, management, and team working

Year one

You'll focus on the range of modules listed below while developing your clinical skills in University and practice. Placements are in the clinic, outpatients, hospital wards and community settings.

  • Applied Biological Sciences for Health
    Learn essential knowledge of the fundamental concepts of anatomy and physiology relating to human body systems and applied to clinical practice and decision making.
  • Professional Practice & Accountability
    Explore the legal, ethical and professional concepts which inform the complexities of decision making in health & social care practice.
  • Developing Evidence-Based Practice
    Develop skills in critical evaluation of the evidence base that informs practice.
  • Introduction to Communication & Interpersonal Skills
    Learn a variety of communication, interpersonal and self awareness skills required to provide culturally appropriate and compassionate nursing care.
  • Concepts of Health & Social Policy
    Explore perspectives of biological, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual and behavioural determinants of health and promote person centred wellbeing across the lifespan.
  • Introduction to Adult Nursing
    Gain knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles that inform Adult Nursing Practice.
Year two

You'll learn about acute care, trauma and managing complex patients. Placements are in hospital medical and surgical areas with short placements in theatres, recovery and high dependency areas such as ITU, CCU and A&E. There is the opportunity for you to organise your own enrichment placement for a unique experience.

  • Pharmacology & Medicines Therapeutics
    Learn to understand and apply the principles of pharmacology and medicine therapeutics in the management of care.
  • Living with Long Term Conditions across the Lifespan
    Develop an underpinning knowledge relating to the causes, presentation and management of long term conditions across the lifespan.
  • Learning From the “Lived Experience”
    An opportunity for the analysis and formulation of contextual knowledge through problem based learning and reflection using narratives of individuals accessing health and social care.
  • Communication and Relationship Management in a Therapeutic Context
    Learn to recognise, select and utilise appropriate communication strategies and therapeutic skills.
  • Primary Care & Community Practice
    Develop knowledge, skills and understanding of the holistic assessment and management of the adult in the context of primary and community care.
  • Secondary & Tertiary Care
    Develop knowledge, skills and understanding of the holistic assessment and management of the adult within secondary & tertiary care.
Year three

You'll learn about managing chronic conditions, palliative care and end of life care whilst refining your management and service improvement skills, helping you develop ready for a staff nurse role. Placements are generally in the community and the hospital.

  • Clinical Decision Making & Complex Care
    Consolidate professional competence in clinical decision making related to the management of complex care within contemporary health and social care.
  • Contemporary Issues and Change Management in Professional Practice
    Demonstrate your knowledge when promoting a synthesis of the evidence base to improve service quality within professional practice.
  • Public Health
    Learn to understand and evaluate the public health and social care agendas and their impact on individuals, groups and communities.
  • Leading and Managing Health & Social Care
    Prepare for working as a professional within an organisation.
  • Consolidation of Adult Nursing Practice
    Develop knowledge, skills, and confidence in the management of adult nursing practice in a variety of settings.

Attend an Open Day at Cumbria

An Open Day is your opportunity to explore one of 5 campuses, meet your lecturers, and find out how the University of Cumbria could become your new home.

Take the next step towards achieving your dreams.
A student stands in front of a wall splattered with paint.