BSc (Hons) Nursing Apprenticeship

Introduction to the Apprenticeship

Nurses perform a vital role in 21st Century healthcare, in both primary and secondary care settings, restoring and promoting health, supporting patients and their families, and profiling healthcare needs of communities.

The University of Lincoln recognises the challenges facing current and future healthcare and nursing practice, offering three distinct nursing programmes specialising in adult, child, and mental health.

Our professionally-accredited programmes enable students to become registered nurses with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The programmes aim to prepare students to become fit for practice in accordance with the NMC’s Standards for Pre-registration Nursing Education and to be eligible to register as a qualified nurse. Students are encouraged to become confident, critically analytical advocates of excellence in nursing practice within their respective specialisms.

The School of Health and Social Care works with employers to provide employees with the opportunity to study for an undergraduate BSc (Hons) Nursing degree through an apprenticeship route, funded by the Government and your employer.

Benefits to Employers

The programme is suitable for new and existing healthcare staff who are responsible for delivering care and who have the potential to take on greater challenges and responsibility as a Registered Nurse.

 The programme aims to enable employers to:

• Select, train and develop their workforce according to an employer-defined standard
• Work in partnership with an educational provider with extensive experience in working with employers to deliver a flexible, practice-based qualifying social work degree
• Increase staff retention by offering career progression
• Maximise the apprenticeship levy and embed apprenticeships in workforce planning and service transformation.

How You Study

3 year programme (Full time)

Our nursing courses are offered over three academic years, consisting of 45 weeks of study per year. They utilise a range of teaching and learning styles. Students spend half of their time studying at the University and the other half gaining practical experience in nursing.

The theoretical and clinical elements of the course are centred on the NHS values of working together for patients; respect and dignity; commitment to quality care; compassion; improving lives; and everyone counts.

As a full time nursing apprenticeship student you will remain 100% supernumerary during both the theoretical and practical parts of the programme. You will remain employed by your organisation for the period of the programme and spend around 25% of the programme working within your organisation on clinical placement as a Nursing Apprenticeship Student. The remaining time will be spent in completing theory at University or gaining exposure to the four fields of nursing on clinical placement within our placements allocation in and around Lincolnshire.

First-year modules aim to provide the core foundation skills for adult, child, or mental health nursing, with a focus on the acquisition of knowledge and understanding of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and social sciences. This is built upon in the second year, where students can develop professional skills and apply ethical principles to rational decision-making.

During the final year of the degree, students are able to explore the theory behind leading and managing complex nursing care, and consider the theory and practice of innovative and transformational change in preparation for their final project.

18 month programme (Full time)

If you are already a registered nursing associate and would like to complete a conversion to become a registered nurse (adult, mental health or child), our 18 month pathway provides this option.

Placements

Work placements are designed to prepare students to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing clinical environment, whether this be a hospital, GP surgery or community healthcare setting.

The programme operates a home/away model. You will complete two placement blocks per year. One placement per year will be with your employer and the second will be allocated by the University to gain the four fields exposure as per NMC requirements.

Programme Leader

These programmes are led by Caroline Dobson, Senior Lecturer.

Fees and Funding

Employees:

If you wish to undertake either of the programmes, you will need an employer who can support your application as the course can be funded through government co-funding or the apprenticeship levy.

Employers:

Entry Requirements

18 Month Pathway - Apply Online

If you are interested in applying for the 18 month top-up route, you can apply using the relevant links below.

BSc (Hons) Nursing (Registered Nurse - Adult)

BSc (Hons) Nursing (Registered Nurse - Child)

BSc (Hons) Nursing (Registered Nurse - Mental Health)