Nursing is one of the few careers that is always in demand in the UK due to its importance in the healthcare industry. With the aging population, the need for care and nursing services is at an all-time high. However, before you can become a nurse, you will have to get a degree. If you want to work in the healthcare industry, you will have a few questions about nursing degrees in the UK, and finding their answers can help you make the right decision about your future. Doing your research on nursing degrees in the UK will also help you with finding the best school for your studies.
What are Nursing Degrees in the UK?
Nursing degrees help student nurses prepare for professional settings through higher education. A typical nursing degree programme in the UK comprises classroom lectures, tutorials, skill sessions, and placements in clinical settings. Nursing degrees in the UK are higher education certificates that are essential for anyone who wishes to work as a nurse.
During the course of a nursing degree, students learn essential skills related to their field. Different types of tests are conducted to measure the progress of student nurses including written exams, presentations, and practical assessments. The practical assessments, known as Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), are the best way for teachers to know how ready a student nurse is for professional settings.
What Topics Do Nursing Degrees Cover?
Syllabuses for nursing degrees are controlled by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which is why they cover similar topics regardless of the university you enroll in. If you wish to pursue a particular area of nursing studies, you will have to enroll in a specialist degree.
The topics most nursing programmes cover are:
- Clinical care
- Epidemiology
- Anatomy and physiology for health
- Complex care
- Basic life support
- Healthcare ethics
- Supporting and lifting patients safely
- Blood draws
A specialist degree will also include these topics along with additional modules.
What Types of Nursing Degrees Are There?
The undergraduate degree programmes for nurses are the following:
i. Adult Nursing Degrees in the UK:
In the UK, these courses train nurses to care for patients 18 years and up. Adult nursing is also known as general nursing.
ii. Children’s Nursing:
Pediatric nurses provide care to patients from newborn babies to adolescents. Children’s nursing courses teach nurses about the requirements of treating child patients.
iii. Mental Health Nursing:
These nursing degrees teach students how to recognise and intervene in cases of mental health crises. During these courses, students also learn about different medical conditions, their treatments, and medications.
iv. Learning Disability Nursing:
These nursing programmes teach students how to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities. A learning disability nursing degree also teaches students the importance of social inclusion.
How Long Does a Nursing Degree Take?
The undergraduate degrees for nurses take three to four years to complete. However, this timeline only works if you are a full-time student. If you are studying part-time, it will take you longer to complete a nursing degree.
According to the guidelines set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, student nurses must complete 2300 hours of clinical placement while undergoing training. When it comes to postgraduate degrees, full-time students can complete them in one to two years. On the other hand, part-time students will need three to four years to complete a postgraduate nursing degree.
What are Nursing Degree Entry Requirements?
Before you can start looking into courses, you should know the entry requirements. In the UK, students often sign up for a nursing degree after completing their A-levels. The minimum requirement from nursing colleges and universities is for students to have five GCSEs at grade C or above. Nursing students must also have either two A levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications.
If you are a foreign student who wishes to study at a nursing school in the UK, you must have an international baccalaureate to qualify. It is important to remember that the entry requirements will vary depending on the university you are applying to. Be sure to thoroughly check the entry requirements of a university before starting with your admission application.
If you have completed nursing school and are looking for employment opportunities, reach out to ESGO. We help nurses find jobs where they can put everything they have learnt in nursing school to good use.
