BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies / Registered Nurse (Adult) Apprenticeship Programme

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Course overview
  • Course BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies / Registered Nurse (Adult) Apprenticeship Programme
  • Duration 18 months
  • Start Date Autumn 2023

The Health Academy at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are working in partnership with Northumbria University to deliver a full time nursing degree. This is delivered using an 18 month route, leading to a BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies / Registered Nurse (Adult) Apprenticeship Programme that has been validated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). This programme currently is only open to staff wishing to work in the field of Adult Nursing.
The course is full time and is a mix of clinical and academic study. Your time will be split between academic study and clinical placements.

As a student you will have your entire placement opportunities provided at a local NHS Trust. You will benefit from professional mentorship, excellent multidisciplinary resources and broad learning opportunities that are well established within the Trust. You will learn in a number of sites across the Trust including community and hospital. You must be able to travel independently to these sites.
Clinical placement time will be in the region of 22.5 – 37.5 hours per week and you will be required to work a range of shifts as a student nurse, these shifts include weekends, evenings, nights and some bank holidays.
Adult Nursing delivered in partnership with Northumbria University
Caring for and supporting adults is immensely rewarding and this Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship Programme will equip you with the nursing knowledge, clinical skills and professional values you will need to work with adults of all ages and conditions.
Northumbria’s Pre-registration nursing programmes are approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). On this Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship Programme your time will be split between clinical practice hours, theoretical study hours and self-directed hours. You will receive personalised support from your Personal Tutor and Academic Assessor. You will also receive coaching with the other students in your group, further supporting your transition from student to qualified nurse. As a result you will graduate as a skilled, knowledgeable and compassionate nurse, able to respond appropriately to healthcare needs and accept professional responsibility.
In line with the principles and values which underpin the NHS constitution, the University expects all students undertaking programmes which lead to registration as a health professional to demonstrate the NHS values.

The programme is designed to ensure that students complete the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requirements of 4,600 learning hours (2,300 in practice and 2,300 in theory which are minimum requirements).
Students on this 18 month route are given accreditation for relevant prior experience and relevant accredited University level academic study via a robust Recognition of Prior Learning process which facilitates access to the 3 year programme at the midpoint of year 2. Students are required to pass all of the remaining modules and the associated practice competencies to be awarded the Degree and give them eligibility for NMC registration as an adult nurse.

English Language and Mathematics at GCSE or Functional Skills, Maths and English at level 2. PLUS a Foundation Degree in a healthcare related subject, evidence of learning through healthcare practice experience equivalent to 50% of the three year programme AND confirmation of programme eligibility via their employer.

Theory teaching will take place at The Health Academy at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals (LTH). The Trust boasts 4 Education and Training centres with a collection of theory rooms, clinical skills labs and simulation rooms which will be available to use throughout the programme. LTH has 2 libraries accessible 24 hours a day 7 days a week and supportive staff available to help with any queries.

You will have support at your own Trusts and in placement from your Practice Education Facilitators that will support you in being placed in areas you can meet your competencies in. You will have support on placement from Assessors and Supervisors in practice, assigned to you to help you to achieve your competencies and access many learning experiences.
You will be assigned a personal tutor for the whole of your programme to support you along with module leaders for each module and academic assessors who ensure you are achieving your outcomes in both theory and practice throughout the programme.
Wider support services are available through Northumbria University electronically such as study support, library services, health and wellbeing.
LTH has additional support services in place such as learner support which provides confidential advice for all learners, library services, and support groups for health and wellbeing and dyslexia support.
Should you require any additional support for a learning need the programme team will support you in putting into place any reasonable adjustments necessary.

As this is an apprenticeship your course fees will be paid in full which enables you to qualify without any student debt. During the programme you will be receiving a full student experience being supernumerary to the staff numbers and completing various placements over the 18 months. You will be paid an apprentice salary for the first 12 months and minimum wage for your final 6 months on programme. Once you complete this programme and receive your NMC pin number you will be able to commence in a band 5 position.
You are still able to pay into your NHS pension although your contributions will be reduced. If you wish to seek advice on the effects of this please contact your Trust pension’s service.
Throughout the programme you will need to take the holiday entitlement at set times in the course, this information will be sent out to you before commencement of the programme. In order for you not to lose any additional annual leave you have from long service we will discuss with you before commencing the course how much may need to be taken.
There are some considerations you may need to make if you have salary sacrifice electricals or car through a scheme, please speak to the team based at your Trust for more information if this applies to you.
As your salary is reduced you may be eligible for additional benefits such as working family tax credits, council payment reductions and free or a contribution to childcare costs. This entitlement differs for every household so please access the www.gov.uk website for information on whether or not you would be eligible for these benefits.

Advertisement for applications for the Nursing Apprenticeship will be on NHS jobs periodically throughout the year. Once you have applied please check your emails regularly and look out for an email from the university to welcome you for an interview. The interview will most likely take place over Microsoft Teams and will include members of the programme team at LTH and Northumbria University.
If you are successful in gaining a place on the programme you will be given a Recognition of Prior Learning document to complete. This is used to map your previous knowledge and experience to the first 18 months of the 3 year Nursing Degree enabling you to complete this final 18 month programme. Support will be given by the programme leads for you to complete this document before the start date of the programme.
If you have any more queries about the programme please contact the named person you will need to send your application to or alternatively please contact:
Programme Co-ordinator Lancashire Teaching Hospitals – Jo Scarborough joanne.scarborough@lthtr.nhs.uk
Programme Leader Northumbria University – Karen Corder Karen.Corder@northumbria.ac.uk

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