Course summary

Children's nurses care for children and young people from birth to 18 years old in hospital and in the community. Children and young people can present with a range of conditions, from birth defects, accidents and injuries, to life-limiting or critical illnesses or which can result in the death of a child. Children's nurses work in partnership with the child/young person, their parents and carers, involving them in the planning and delivery of their child's care and treatment. Children's nurses, in collaboration with other professionals, strive to promote health in children and young people to ensure they enter into adulthood in good health. This innovative and intensive two-year course aimed at students with an existing degree (2:2 or above) will equip you with the knowledge and skills to assess and manage the nursing care needs of children and families, including those with acute and long-term conditions. The course will also develop your abilities to consider the wider aspects influencing children's health needs, preparing you for future leadership in a changing and challenging health care system. You'll experience a variety of clinical settings such as NHS acute Trusts, community placements, independent sector and voluntary sector organisations. Practice experience is gained in several world-renowned central and outer London hospitals including: Barts Health NHS Trust Evelina London Children's Hospital Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust Variety Children's Hospital at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust You will be allocated one of these hospitals as your host Trust during the course. Success on this course makes you eligible to register as a children's nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Top-up to MSc By completing a dissertation (an extended and independent piece of written research) following graduation as a registered nurse you'll be able to gain a masters. Students who successfully complete the PgDip RN course have up to four years to complete the dissertation module via part time study. Professional links Children's nurses work in a child-centred and multi-professional team, which is reflected in the variety of people who contribute to the course. Expert speakers include service users, such as parents and charitable organisations, expert practitioners and other lead professionals in child health and children's nursing. Time spent on placement During the course you will spend 50% of your time involved in academic study and 50% in clinical practice within a broad variety of healthcare settings. A clinical practice placement allows you to put theory into practice by working with a range of health professionals in clinical situations to develop the skills, knowledge and experience required to become a competent nurse. Although sometimes initially challenging, practice learning is one of the most interesting and exciting aspects of learning to be a nurse.