(FdSc) Foundation Degree of Science
Nursing Associate
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Health and Social Care (School of)
Southend Campus & Apprenticeship Location
Foundation Degree
Full-time
FDSCB745OD
07/08/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
Recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the purpose of registration as a qualified nursing associate.
Admission criteria
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
Dr Victor Abu
Senior Lecturer
London South Bank University
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
The FdSc Nursing Associate Apprenticeship Programme aims to produce compassionate, competent and confident nursing associates apprentices at academic level 5, qualified to deliver a wide range of clinical care and engage in interpersonal skills underpinned by a systematic knowledge base in line with Nursing and Midwifery (NMC) standards. They will be able to practice in their role safely and effectively, demonstrating person-centred values and behaviours in a wide range of health and care settings.
1. Apprentices experience placements in each of the three health and care settings: hospital; at home; and close-to-home settings. While their primary training placement, (and employment), will be based in one setting, they must have at least one training placement in each of the other two settings. This is to ensure that the apprentice experiences a wide range of learning opportunities in contexts that deliver the required learning outcomes
2. All placements should support apprentices with learning activities designed to achieve the desired learning outcomes
3. A blended learning approach is used with teaching, learning and assessment activities aligned to the learning outcomes
4. The learning outcomes here are not the only possible outcomes. A creative and flexible approach is encouraged to recognise and promote unintended outcomes that support the overall aim of the programme in developing compassionate, competent and confident nursing associates and motivated, autonomous, lifelong learners.
5. Outcomes are not regarded as the threshold for obtaining a pass, but rather they are aimed at the typical apprentices to encourage the highest levels of achievement for all.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Identify and employ a range of study skills that promote independent learning and achievement in your academic study and workplace experiences.
A2: Examine the principles underpinning leadership, and team working relevant to the role of Nursing Associate
A3: Engage in effective communication and interprofessional skills that promote clarity, compassion, empathy, respect and trust.
A4: Define the concept of health and discuss how the principles of key bio-psycho-social theories influence societal understanding of wellness and illness.
A5: Identify and explore professional, ethical and legal values related to the scope of practice of a Nursing Associate
Learning methods
A1-A5 is achieved through keynote lectures, seminars, practical skills sessions, enquiry-based learning and blended learning approaches. Incorporating a range approaches enable learner preferences to be taken into account.
Keynote lectures will introduce theoretical and conceptual material associated with nursing associate practice
Seminars will enable apprentices to engage in group activities and discussion to explore and challenge practice and consider the application of concepts to practice
Practical sessions will enable apprentices to learn through doing, developing mastery and proficiency in a range of skills and behaviours
Enquiry-based learning will enable apprentices to learn through bringing a real research-orientated approach to learning
Blended learning will enable apprentices to learn via electronic and online media
Apprentices will be supported through tutorial support and tripartite sessions.
Assessment methods
A1-A5 is assessed by coursework, written and multiple-choice examination, portfolio, essay style assessment and practice placement assessment document.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Critically reflect on theory and practice related to the role of the Nursing Associate
B2: Demonstrate the importance of research and innovation in their role as a Nursing Associate
B3: Evaluate and appraise holistic approaches to care provision
B4: Enhance skills and behaviours that support their personal and professional development and the development of others.
Learning methods
B1-B4 are achieved through keynote lecturers, seminars, practical skills sessions, enquiry-based learning and blended learning approaches.
Keynote lectures will introduce theoretical and conceptual material associated with nursing associate practice
Seminars will enable apprentices to engage in group activities and discussion to explore and challenge practice and consider the application of concepts to practice
Practical sessions will enable apprentices to learn through doing, developing mastery and proficiency in a range of skills and behaviours
Enquiry-based learning will enable apprentices to learn through bringing a real research-orientated approach to learning
Blended learning will enable apprentices to learn via electronic and online media
Assessment methods
B1-B4 are assessed by coursework, written and multiple-choice examination, portfolio, essay style assessment and practice placement assessment document.
C: Practical skills
C1: Identify and discuss the indications for undertaking appropriate nursing associate interventions to maintain people's safety and promote well-being.
C2: Reflect on your practice learning and explore the impact of your communication skills, values and beliefs on the effectiveness of your practice and your developing professionalism.
C3: Contribute effectively to care of patients with acute and long-term needs, as part of a multidisciplinary teams; contributing to the planning, delivering and coordination of safe and effective care and the administration of medicines.
C4: Contribute effectively to the promotion of the role of the nursing associate in the education of service users and play an active role in supporting other learners in practice.
Learning methods
C1-C4 is achieved through enquiry-based learning approaches, practical skills classes, reflective learning, independent study, placement-based learning and the contribution of external health professionals and service users.
Assessment methods
C1-C4 are assessed in practice placement learning, via the Practice Assessment document and through assessed coursework, written and multiple-choice examination, portfolio, essay style assessment.
D: Key skills
D1: Employ and adapt advanced communication skills to effectively engage with a range of audiences across a variety of contexts.
D2: Effectively use appropriate e-resources to develop own practice in order to support and demonstrate own learning.
D3: Demonstrate an understanding of the meaning and interpretation of numerical data in evidence based practice
D4: Recognise and analyse problems emerging from theory and practice, using sound reasoning processes to identify appropriate outcomes.
D5: a) Develop effective working approaches and relationships in order to facilitate multidisciplinary collaboration and positive engagement with others. b) Respect the rights, needs and preferences of others. c) Respect diversity and acknowledge the richness that this can bring to the learning experience. d) Recognise and work within personal limitations
D6: a) Develop skills prioritisation and organisation in order to manage workloads. b) Demonstrate statutory and programme requirements for fitness to practise. c) Use critical reflection to identify, plan and engage in activities that will contribute to continuing professional development and future employment.
Learning methods
D1 – D6 are achieved through supported interactive approaches within group sessions, reflective learning, placement learning.
D2 are achieved through facilitated IT workshops to support apprentices to become fluent in software and systems used on the programme and in practice
Assessment methods
D1-D6 is assessed by coursework, essay, case study, literature review, practice placement learning, research, practice assessment document.