Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship

Programme structure

The programme is designed around a spiral curriculum which establishes and reinforces the core knowledge, skills and values required for nursing practice, allowing apprentices to recognise the context of their knowledge in the wider organisation of health and social care services.

Apprentices will also attend a range of placements in community and hospital settings as well as three weeks per year of the course in on-the-job training when they will return to their workplace.

In the first year the curriculum is based on the development of self; this expands to the development of self within relationships with service users in the second year; and in the third year apprentices explore the development of self and leadership within multi-professional teams and organisations.  

With support from the employer, apprentices are required to spend a minimum of 20% of paid working hours on studies and be able to evidence this (off-the-job learning). This is a statutory requirement for apprenticeships and the funding is conditional on this being met. Off-the-job learning includes activities which have not previously been a part of the role and furthers apprentice development into new areas.

As a student on this course you’ll also get to participate in Schwartz Rounds - hour-long sessions where students come together to listen to stories and share reflections in a supportive and confidential environment. The sessions offer the opportunity to reflect on the emotional aspects of clinical practice and are designed to support students and recent graduates working in complex settings.

Adult Nursing

Year 1

• Nursing Assessment in Partnership with People
• Planning Nursing Care in Partnership with People
• Human Biology for Nursing
• Practice Learning for Nursing Year 1

Year 2

• Nursing to Promote Health and Prevent Illness
• Approaches to Nursing Adults with Long-term Health Conditions
• Nursing Assessment and Management of Clinical Deterioration in an Adult 
• Practice Learning for Adult Nursing Year 2

Options*

• Quality Improvement Using Evidence-based Nursing Practice
• Collaborative Working for Quality Improvement

Year 3

• Contemporary and Future Nursing Practice
• Leading and Managing Nursing Care and Effective Teams
• Enhanced Nursing Assessment and Clinical Decision Making
• Palliative and End of Life Care Using an Integrative Nursing Approach
• Practice Learning for Adult Nursing 3

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Upon completion of the programme, apprentices will be equipped to:

• practice according to The Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses and midwives (Nursing Midwifery Council 2018)
• relate the principles of sustainability to adult nursing practise
• practice effective communication with service users who experience a range of mental, physical, cognitive, behavioural, social and spiritual challenges
• conduct comprehensive and holistic nursing assessments
• critically apply the principles of pharmacology and medicine management to ensure safe and effective medicines administration
• critically apply the principles of risk assessment and quality improvement
• work collaboratively in interprofessional and multi-agency partnerships.

Child Nursing

Year 1

• Nursing Assessment in Partnership with People
• Planning Nursing Care in Partnership with People
• Human Biology for Nursing
• Practice Learning for Nursing Year 1

Year 2

• Nursing to Promote Health and Prevent Illness
• Child Development and Transitions 
• Assessing and Planning Complex Care in Children's Nursing 
• Practice Learning for Children's Nursing Year 2

Options*

• Quality Improvement Using Evidence-based Nursing Practice
• Collaborative Working for Quality Improvement

Year 3

• Contemporary and Future Nursing Practice
• Leading and Managing Nursing Care and Effective Teams
• Children's Nursing in Context
• Enhanced Physical Assessment of the Child
• Practice Learning for Children's Nursing Year 3

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Upon completion of the programme, apprentices will be equipped to:

• perform comprehensive nursing assessments of children and young people
•  detect maltreatment and safeguard children and young people, working with relevant agencies and professionals, and know when and how to identify and refer those at risk
• work effectively with young people who have continuing health needs, their families and other agencies to manage a smooth and effective transition from children's services to adult services
• recognise the parent's or carer's primary role in achieving and maintaining the child's or young person's health and wellbeing, and offer advice and support on parenting in health and illness.

Mental Health Nursing

Year 1

• Nursing Assessment in Partnership with People
• Planning Nursing Care in Partnership with People
• Human Biology for Nursing
• Practice Learning for Nursing Year 1

Year 2

• Nursing to Promote Health and Prevent Illness
• Approaches to Nursing Adults with Long-term Health Conditions
• Key Theories and Concepts Underpinning Mental Health Nursing 
• Practice Learning for Mental Health Nursing Year 2

Options*

• Quality Improvement Using Evidence-based Nursing Practice
• Collaborative Working for Quality Improvement

Year 3

• Contemporary and Future Nursing Practice
• Leading and Managing Nursing Care and Effective Teams
• Therapeutic Approaches in Mental Health Nursing
• Enhanced Practice in Mental Health Nursing
• Practice Learning for Mental Health Nursing 3

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Upon completion of the programme, apprentices will be equipped to:

• practice according to The Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses and midwives (Nursing Midwifery Council 2018)
• practice based on the therapeutic use of self to engage people with mental distress in a recovery-focused way
• apply principles of sustainability to be a responsible and critically resilient nurse
• recognise and respond to factors that contribute to crisis and relapse using skills to work in partnership with service users and their families
• support self-management in early intervention, crisis resolution and relapse prevention whilst promoting safety, security and recovery
• demonstrate therapeutic relationships and support of people at all stages of life.

Teaching and assessment

The programme learning and teaching strategy is designed to facilitate independent learning and make use of apprentices existing study skills, prior knowledge and experiences. 

Learning is enhanced by expert knowledge shared by a wide range of practice colleagues and service users. Interprofessional education is supported through collaborative working with students and apprentices on other health and social care courses, meaning apprentices will further benefit from peer learning.

Over the three year period apprentices will learn through:

• lectures
• seminars
• workshops
• practical assignments
• e-learning portal.

Assessments on the programme have been designed to be clinically relevant and reflect nursing practice such as assessment of care needs, care planning, health promotion, physical assessment skills and reflection.

Apprentices will benefit from dedicated study and assessment weeks to avoid completion of assessment tasks during placements and are provided with a choice of assessment tasks in each year to support inclusive learning practices. Tasks may include:

• essays
• care plans
• presentations
• case studies
• online tests
• picture essays
• seen examinations
• business or research proposals. 

Apprentices on all programmes will need to complete an End Point Assessment (EPA) to meet the apprenticeship standard alongside university assessments.

Facilities

Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite

Clinical skills and simulation rooms on both our Brighton: Falmer and Eastbourne campuses provide an invaluable tool for assessment and monitoring apprentices' progress throughout the course.

Apprentices benefit from practising skills in an environment that simulates real-life professional experiences. Learning by simulation with state-of-the-art mannequins enables apprentices to practice in a safe environment under supervision, so they can apply their knowledge and skills in professional practice with confidence.

Flexible Learning Environment

The Flexible Learning Environment is an adapted home environment in a residential location where apprentices are able to practise skills and learn from others while taking part in realistic training scenarios.

Every room is fitted with cameras and microphones, so that apprentices can be directed and monitored from the control room while the observation room provides the opportunity to review, playback and debrief.

Employer and apprentice commitments

In order to deliver the programme, the employer undertakes to:

• conduct a workplace induction and set out a contract of employment
• provide an appropriately qualified workplace mentor to support the apprentice
• attend apprentice's progress review (twice a year) 
• ensure that an Occupational Health Screening and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check has been undertaken by the employer
• release apprentice for scheduled off-the-job learning
• have an Apprenticeship Agreement in place from the start of the programme.

Throughout the programme, apprentices will:

• attend the workplace for the agreed pattern as set out in the employment contract 
• record all training sessions and off-the-job learning 
• attend scheduled university learning sessions and complete all assessments as required by the university and End Point Assessment Organisation
• behave in a safe and responsible manner at the workplace and university
• engage with regular progress reviews 
• complete, throughout the apprenticeship, a professional development portfolio.

Fees and funding information for apprentices

Course fees

As an apprentice the cost of your learning programme is covered by your employer through their Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) account.

Student finance

Higher and degree level apprentices are not eligible for any element of student finance. This is because they receive a salary instead of the student loan package. However, if you are experiencing any financial difficulties, please contact the Student Advice Service on 01273 642 888.

Learning support

Apprentices studying at Higher and degree level may be able to access funding in relation to additional support but this is available through the university and not Disabled Students Allowance. Apprentices may also be able to apply for Access to Work funding for work-based equipment and software. Please contact the Disability and Dyslexia team on 01273 643 799.