MSc Pre-registration Nursing (Child Health)

Children’s or paediatric nurses care for new-borns through to adolescents with acute or long-term illnesses. They are experts in interpreting children’s feelings, thoughts and behaviour to identify when a child’s health takes a turn for the worse. They support families and children during periods of great change and stress, by utilising scientific research to inform treatment.

Children’s nurses work with a wide range of conditions to help to improve a child’s health and their development into adulthood, where possible. These can be grouped into five main categories:

• Babies
  Children’s nurses work with new-borns that can be very poorly and need urgent medical assistance in a neonatal unit. Some babies may need short-term intervention or long-term care. You’ll also work with bereaved parents.
  
  
• Children with eating disorders
  You’ll work with children up to the age of 18 that may be suffering from an eating disorder or weight management issues.
  
  
• Minor ailments
  Children’s nurses treat children with a range of minor conditions such as cuts, broken bones, bruises and many more.
  
  
• Serious conditions 
  You work with children who may be suffering from cancer, congenital disorders, burns, infections, inherited diseases, organ failures, rare conditions and many more. You may see children that are in hospital for months at a time, or those that are admitted on a frequent basis. Children’s nurses work with children in intensive care, who have come out from surgery, and those requiring end of life care.
  
  
• Developmental conditions
  You’ll work with children that may have mental or physical developmental conditions that may impact their transition into adulthood. You may also work with children with learning difficulties or special needs.

Child nursing is a broad discipline, you could work with children up to the age of 18 such as:

•  children who are frightened or anxious
•  children who are separated from their parents
•  children that cannot communicate
•  children in pain
•  children with mental health conditions
•  parents or carers who might be distressed
•  children who might be under child protection.

Within the nursing profession there are a multitude of job opportunities across a variety of sectors:

•  NHS hospitals
•  Specialist departments such as neonatal, A&E, children’s and cancer wards
•  Public health and policy making
•  Communities
•  Patient’s homes
•  Clinics
•  Private practice
•  GP surgeries
•  School health education
•  Events
•  Education and academia
•  Research
•  Leadership roles
•  Voluntary roles

What can you do with a nursing degree?

• Access a range of child-specific placements across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset spanning the health, social and educational sector.

• Engage with a curriculum focusing on the acute and community care of children, young people and families.

• A 40-credit systematic review module prepares you to perform as a capable and autonomous practitioner, fit for registration in the child health field of nursing practice.

• From 2023, students in Plymouth can train and practice their professional healthcare skills in an inspiring purpose-built environment, InterCity Place.
  

• Once graduated you are eligible to apply for registration with the NMC as a 'Registered Nurse – Child Health'.

• Year 1

• The first three modules will equip you with a range of knowledge and skills designed to settle you into the role of the student nurse. Following these three modules your programme will be integrated with other pre-registration nursing students in their second year of study.  

  Core modules

  • Assessing Needs and Planning Care (NRS703)

    This module introduces students to assessing and planning nursing care. It explores different models of understanding health, ill health and the interconnection between physical and mental health.

  • Pharmacology and Medicines Optimisation (NRS704)

    This module will advance student knowledge of medication, pharmacology and support of complex care medication optimisation.

  • Developing Nursing Practice (NRS706)

    This module develops the students' values, knowledge and skills required for nursing practice in a range of settings.

  • Nursing Care in Context (NRS711)

    This module will introduce students to the nursing profession, specifically broad aspects of professionalism, communication, and the development of knowledge and skills in relation to public health and health promotion.

  • Human Biology and Pathophysiology (NRS712)

    This module will develop students' understanding of human development, key body systems, pathophysiological processes involved in commonly encountered health conditions and their relationship to nursing care.

• Final year

• Core modules

  • Care of the Highly Dependent Child (CHN701)

    This module will refine the knowledge and skills of students in the care of critically ill infants, children and young people and their families.

  • Care of the Child and Family in the Community (CHN702)

    This module will enable students to evaluate the skills and knowledge required to undertake holistic assessment and critically analyse the management and support and care of individuals and families in a variety of community settings. The challenges of multidisciplinary and multiagency agency working in a community environment will be critically examined.

  • Developing Competence in Child Health Nursing Practice (CHN704)

    This module will further develop the student's competence in a range of clinical, professional and transferable skills considered essential for safe practice and ensure that the NMC competencies are achieved.

  • Systematic Review (NRS708)

    This module focuses on the appraisal and synthesis of evidence from research literature and documentary sources. Students' develop an understanding of systematic review methodology and will produce a systematic review of studies relating to an area of interest.

  • Nursing Leadership, Management and Team Working (NRS710)

    This module critically explores the concepts of management, leadership and working in teams. It examines the role of the nurse to act as a change agent in response to professional practice challenges.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

MSc Pre registration Nursing Programme Specification 2022 23 6645

• Bachelor (honours) degree at 2:2 or above in any discipline.
• 750 relevant clinical practice hours gained within the last two years; for example, in hospitals, GP surgeries, nursing homes, hospices, and other community settings (subject to Recognition of Prior Learning regulations). Applicants should also usually have an A level or equivalent in a science or social science.
• 5 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above to include Mathematics, English, and Science. Consideration may be given to Functional Skills Level 2 in Mathematics. Please note we do not accept Functional Skills Level 2 in English, or Key Skills in Maths or English, or Adult Literacy/Numeracy.

We welcome applicants with international qualifications. If you are unsure whether you meet this criteria, or you have qualifications not listed here, please contact admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

Extended entry requirements

• In addition to the above, evidence of academic study within the last five years is required. Ideally this should be one of the qualifications listed here, but the admissions team will assess on a case-by-case basis.
• Meeting the academic minimum is the first stage of an application being considered. Applicants must also submit a strong personal statement in order to be considered further.
• We will require an academic reference and an employer reference as part of the application process.
• Attend an interview.
• You must pass disclosure and barring service and occupational health checks satisfactorily in order to be able to start this course.
• If English is not your first language and you do not have GCSE English grade C/4 or above you will have to achieve an IELTS (or equivalent qualification) at the grade of at least 7.0 (at least 6.5 in all elements sections). English language requirements.

Deferred entry

Unfortunately we cannot permit deferred entry. However, if you have a query please contact the admissions team who will be able to explain the application process in more detail at admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.