Nursing degree apprenticeship
Key programme information including duration, intakes and accreditation.
Programme description
Programme lead: Judith Sephton
Award: BMedsci Nursing (Adult)
Intake: March
This degree apprenticeship will provide you with the clinical skills, knowledge and confidence you need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and deliver exceptional care to patients as an adult nurse.
Our nurse apprentices are empowered and supported to become resilient, caring, reflective and lifelong learners, who are capable of working - and thriving - within a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
You will RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) out the first three units of our three-year adult nursing degree. Throughout the remaining 18-months you will split your time between theoretical study blocks and supernumerary placements in a variety of settings, including hospitals, other health institutions and in the community.
It’s during these placements that you’ll develop your skills in leadership, problem-solving, communication and resilience – all crucial to becoming a capable and compassionate nurse. This experience will ensure you meet both the NMC proficiencies and programme learning outcomes, and are capable of demonstrating the professional behaviours of the NMC Code.
We embed the latest research and policy into our curriculum, and will teach you to critically evaluate this research, so you can apply this to your clinical practice.
Throughout the course you’ll be supported, supervised and assessed by both university and practice staff – both in the classroom and out on placement – who will support you to become the very best nurse you can be.
Accreditation
This programme is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). It will give you the clinical skills and knowledge you need for entry into the NMC professional register as an adult nurse.
It also meets the registered nurse integrated degree standard defined by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.
About the integrated degree standard
Duration
18 months (37.5 hours a week supernumerary)
Teaching
The course is split into study blocks and blocks of supernumerary practice. Throughout the degree apprenticeship you will complete 1,150 hours of theoretical learning and 1,150 hours of supernumerary practice learning.
The 18-month programme is divided into two parts (Level 5 Part 2 and Level 6 Part 3) and three units: one unit in Part 2 and two units in Part 3.
- Unit 4 (Part 2): Developing Nursing Practice: Caring for People with Long Term and Complex Needs (60 credits)
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This Unit is designed to enable students to further develop their nursing skills and professional values whilst focussing on those with long-term and complex needs. They will seek to understand the unique needs and experiences of adults and their families living with long-term conditions, and the significance of multi-agency collaboration across the health and social care sectors. This will be achieved by drawing the students’ attention to current policy, practice and research. In addition, psychological, physiological and sociological perspectives are explored. The unit will develop an understanding of the importance of user/ carer expertise in health care decision-making.
Learning outcomes
1. Analyse the nurse’s role in caring for adults with long-term and complex conditions, including the prioritisation of patient needs.
2. Discuss the role of the nurse in multi-agency partnership and collaboration across all relevant health and social care sectors.
3. Demonstrate understanding of the importance of user/ carer expertise in healthcare decision-making and the personalisation of healthcare.
4. Discuss best practice approaches to communication for managing complex and long-term care needs.
5. Achieve the clinical practice standard required for this module.Assessment
- A 3,000-word written assignment.
- A 1,000-word reflection based on an alternative field of nursing.
- A practice assessment document. - Unit 5 (Part 3): Transitions to Professional Nursing Practice 1 (60 credits)
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In this unit, you will be introduced to professional concepts and theories to enable you to become an Autonomous Registered Adult Nurse. This unit will include opportunities for you to study and critically appraise the evidence base for nursing practice. This will enable you to practice with confidence once you register as an adult nurse.
Engaging with this module will introduce you to key concepts in healthcare and support you in developing the clinical skills to make decisions based on your professional knowledge. The module also aims to introduce you to aspects of research, which are vital when working in a dynamic healthcare setting.
During your practice placement in Unit Five, you will be placed within an established team of practitioners and will start to work more independently whilst still under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or other registered healthcare professional.
During this practice learning experience, you will be required to help support patients/family/significant others on their journey across health providers and examine key aspects of the patients' engagement within the multi-agency and multi-professional services.
Learning outcomes
1. Critically analyse the research and evidence-based principles which underpin nursing practice.
2. Demonstrate proficiency and accuracy when calculating dosages of prescribed medicines.
3. Analyse the effective use of the diverse range of communication skills and demonstrate skills of teaching.
4. Demonstrate the role of the nurse as an ambassador, coach, supervisor and professional role model.
5. Achieve the clinical practice standard required for this module.Assessment
- A 5,000-word evidence-based practice literature review.
- A teaching session on an aspect of communication.
- A health numeracy exam.
- A practice assessment document. - Unit 6 (Part 3): Transitions to Professional Nursing Practice 2 (60 credits)
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This final unit is undertaken prior to admission to the NMC register upon successful completion. This practice-focused unit will consolidate learning of all NMC standards and facilitate students to seek out, critically analyse, make judgements upon and implement best-evidenced practices which underpin safe and professional nursing interventions as they transition into autonomous and accountable nurse practitioners. It offers a critical examination of the knowledge, skills and attitudes required of the professional nurse.
Students will be enabled to understand and practice effective management and leadership skills as they transition into autonomous nurses in the context of effective multidisciplinary, multi-agency and integrated care practice.
Learning outcomes
1. Critically analyse and demonstrate the impact of effective leadership and management in professional teams on the delivery of quality, safe patient care.
2. Critically analyse how essential nursing care is planned, organised, delivered and evaluated within the wider context of the healthcare system
3. Accurately process and interpret information to identify impacts on the delivery and coordination of care and suggest proactive measures.
4. Critically analyse concepts and practices of patient safety and personal safety.
5. Achieve the clinical practice standard required for this unitAssessment
- A 5,000-word assignment on "Developing Clinical Practice to Support Service Development".
- A poster presentation.
- A practice assessment document.
Annual leave blocks are set throughout the programme.
Assessment
Each unit includes multiple assessments. You will need to successfully achieve a range of assessment tasks and a practice assessment in each unit to successfully complete the learning outcomes of the programme.
The End Point Assessment (EPA) is integrated throughout the programme. Passing this allows you to qualify and practise as a registered adult nurse, covering all fields of practice.
Our facilities
As an apprentice at Sheffield, you’ll benefit from an excellent study environment across both our main campus and our Clinical Skills Centre.
Our Clinical Skills Centre is based at the Northern General Hospital, a large teaching hospital and Major Trauma Centre. The centre contains mock clinical wards, resuscitation suites, simulated theatres and teaching rooms – perfect for training the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Find out more about our Clinical Skills Centre
Entry requirements
- Employment within a partner organisation that will support your apprenticeship.
- A foundation-level degree or equivalent that meets our RPL requirements
- Certified evidence of English Language GCSE grade C/4 or above, Functional Skills Level 2 or a university-accepted equivalent.
- Certified evidence of Maths GCSE grade C/4 or above, Functional Skills Level 2 or a university-accepted equivalent.
- International qualifications: evidence from UK ENIC of equivalent English/Maths (A*-C) must be provided for international qualifications.
Other requirements
You must
- Be working in an adult field of practice
- Have at least two years of health and social care experience
- Show a demonstration of values in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Code of Professional Conduct (2018)
- Have at least one reference from a line manager, plus an academic reference
Disclose and Barring Service (DBS)
You will be required to have a DBS enhanced (including children) within the last 3 years.
Digital learning technologies
Apprentices are required to demonstrate the ability to use digital technology prior to commencing the RNDA programme. Once you are appointed you will be given a link to a free digital learning and testing site where you will complete the "basic computer skills" package and submit the certificate as evidence.
Interviews
Recruitment, shortlisting and interviews will be organised by the employing partnership with support from the University and service users.
Apply
This programme is advertised locally in partnership organisations and application is via their recruitment processes, such as NHS jobs. The University does not recruit directly for the course.
Candidates need to have completed a foundation degree which meets our RPL requirements. All applicants will be reviewed on an individual basis. This can include experienced Assistant Practitioners.
Your employer can submit an expression of interest for this apprenticeship by contacting ahpnm-apprenticeships-admissions@sheffield.ac.uk for a copy of our Expression of Interest form.