This programme is available for people who wish to return to Nursing or Midwifery. We offer provision for all four fields of nursing: Adult, Learning Disability, Mental Health and Child. If you are a previous Enrolled Nurse (and have been on the NMC Register) please contact the programme lead by email.
Please note that if you have completed 750 hours in Nursing or Midwifery practice over the past five years or have completed 450 hours in the past three years, you do not need to complete this course You should contact the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to find out about staying on the register.
Many health professionals have a break in their career for a period of time, for a range of reasons such as parental leave, extended travel, through illness or taking on caring responsibilities. This programme supports nurses and midwives who wish to return to professional practice after such a break or those who do not meet the NMC requirements for revalidation.
The Return to Practice (RTP) Programme is studied at level 6. It offers you the opportunity to develop academically and in practice so that you are in a position to seek re-entry to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). This programme is blended learning with all theory sessions delivered online by programme tutors. The clinical skills element will involve one day at the Clinical Skills labs at Fusehill Street Campus, Carlisle.
The taught elements of the programme run concurrently with the practice element. It is expected that you undertake a minimum of 2 whole shifts per week when you start practice. This will be discussed further at interview.
Nursing students will be required to undertake a minimum of 150 practice hours up to a maximum of 450 hours. Midwifery students will be expected to undertake a minimum of 250 hours in practice. Your hours will be dependent on the number of years that you have been out of practice alongside the number of years that you were in practice.
Due to COVID 19 the interviews and theory sessions (apart from the clinical skills) may be held virtually. Attendance is still expected on the timetabled days.
- Interviews for the January cohort are held in October.
- Interviews for the June cohort are held in April.
You will be interviewed by a member of the Return to Practice Team, a member from Practice and/or a Service User. Midwifery students will be interviewed by a midwifery lecturer and another person as mentioned above.
Should you miss these interview times, please contact the postgraduate admissions team who will put you in touch with the programme Lead.
The Programme Lead is Kim Hanson
Graduate destinations
Once you have successfully completed the RTP programme, the University will notify the NMC. You will need to complete the necessary documentation in order to enable reactivation of your NMC registration.
We have a range of opportunities to continue your studies at Diploma, Degree or Masters level. Please talk to your tutor prior to completion of this module.
