GET AHEAD. In NURSING & MIDWIFERY. top UK university FOR graduate EMPLOYMENT* *HESA DESTINATION OF UK LEAVERS SURVEY (DLHE) 2013/14

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1 GET AHEAD In NURSING & MIDWIFERY top UK university FOR graduate EMPLOYMENT* *HESA DESTINATION OF UK LEAVERS SURVEY (DLHE) 2013/14 PUBLISHED BY HESA, August 2015 SCHOOL OF NURSING & MIDWIFERY UNDERGRADUATE COURSE GUIDE 2016

2 Top UNIVERSITY for graduate employment 97.2% of students graduating from RGU with their first degree in 2013/2014 were in employment or undertaking further study within 6 months. HESA Destination of UK Leavers Survey (DLHE) 2013/14 (Published by HESA, August 2015)

3 CONTENTS MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE 4 NURSING AND MIDWIFERY AT RGU 5 WHY NURSING? 6 WHICH FIELD OF NURSING IS FOR YOU? 7 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR NURSES 9 WHY BECOME A MIDWIFE? 10 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR MIDWIVES 10 HOW YOU WILL BE TAUGHT 12 OUR COURSES 14 BACHELOR OF NURSING 16 Specialising in Adult, Children and Young People s, Mental Health BACHELOR OF NURSING (Hons) ADULT 18 MIDWIFERY 20 TALK TO US 23 ONCE YOU VE APPLIED 24 Robert Gordon University is committed to the accessibility of its publications. An alternative, electronic format of this course guide is available. If you have any questions or additional requirements please contact our Admissions Team on +44 (0) or ugoffice@rgu.ac.uk. THE PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 1

4 making the right choice Welcome to the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Robert Gordon University. As the main provider of nursing and midwifery education in the north east of Scotland, we have a strong reputation for producing person-centred, capable and professional graduates. Our long established links with clinicians and managers in hospitals and community settings and our developing collaboration 2 GET AHEAD

5 with service users and carers ensures that our education provision at Robert Gordon University is contemporary, evidence-based and meets the needs of providers and users of health and social care services in a modern context. Our vision is to educate our students to become nurses and midwives who are knowledgeable, influential, skilled, compassionate and ready to work within a rapidly changing health and social care environment. My academic team are all qualified practitioners, enabling you to benefit from their vast and varied clinical expertise and research knowledge. We aim to fully support you throughout your studies, so you develop to your full potential as a graduate and enter your chosen field of practice as a caring, confident, competent and skilled Registered Nurse or Midwife. Professor Valerie Maehle, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Care Our Courses Bachelor of Nursing Adult Bachelor of Nursing Children and Young People s Bachelor of Nursing Mental Health Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) Adult Bachelor of Midwifery B741 B731 B760 B740 B720 THE PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 3

6 Nursing and Midwifery at Robert Gordon U Clinical Skills Centre The Clinical Skills Centre is comprised of two ward areas with six beds in each, a high dependency unit, a children s room and a home setting, providing a realistic and safe learning environment. At times, you will be working with members of our Faculty Volunteer Programme who are members of the public who act as patients, to enhance your learning experiences. Interdisciplinary Learning An important focus of all our courses is the opportunity to learn alongside students from other health professions including physiotherapy, social work, radiography and occupational therapy. This inter-professional education is designed to facilitate learning about other professions and the exploration of team-working within health and social care. Facilities The School of Nursing and Midwifery is based in the multi-million pound purposebuilt Faculty of Health and Social Care at our riverside Garthdee campus. Amongst other facilities the campus includes a stateof-the-art Clinical Skills Centre, where you will be introduced to and get to practise clinical nursing skills such as therapeutic communication, moving and handling, administration of medicines, taking and recording vital signs such as blood pressure and pulse, in a safe environment. If you are a midwifery student, you will practise delivering a model baby and checking a placenta. 4 GET AHEAD

7 niversity Placements Whatever field of nursing practice you select to study, you will spend 50% of your programme in practice learning. Practice learning is usually undertaken in clinical placements that reflect the field of practice you are aiming to become a registered nurse in. It is because of our strong partnerships with healthcare providers such as NHS Grampian, NHS Orkney, NHS Shetland, independent and 3rd sector providers that we are able to offer students a diverse range of high quality practice learning experiences. Study Abroad Third year student nurses have an opportunity to apply for a three month European Exchange with one of the School s European Partners in Belgium, Finland, Norway or Spain. We also run a Grampian - Houston Student Nurse Exchange Programme which involves a reciprocal two-week exchange between RGU and the Houston Baptist Uinversity (HBU), Texas. During the visits, students experience a variety of clinical placements, as well as spending time in the host university attending classes and getting to know the local students. I have had so many amazing opportunities and experiences as a student on the course and wholeheartedly encourage anyone to seize the opportunity and do the same. Placements have been fantastic for consolidating the theory we have learned in classes. They are highly varied and I have even been as far as Finland. Mairi-Claire Macleod THE PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 5

8 why nursing? Modern health and social care is constantly changing and becoming more integrated. As a registered nurse of the future you will play a key role in ensuring nursing within integrated health and social care services is effective, efficient and person-centred. Not only will you treat, support and care for individuals, families and communities but you will also have an active role in promoting health and preventing ill health. As a registered nurse you will be part of stimulating and collegial uni- and multiprofessional teams. You will work in partnership with the people who need your care, reaching joint decisions about care in an informed and supportive manner. In addition, you will work with the families, friends and significant others of service users to enable their recovery or the achievement of independent, purposeful and positive lives. To deliver exceptional nursing care as a registered nurse, you need to be open-minded, accept constructive feedback and be willing to embrace the values and attitudes expected of a higher education student and a professional. You will also acquire, maintain and develop in-depth knowledge and technical practice skills. The commitment, challenges and responsibilities are considerable, but with this comes the opportunity to make a real difference to people s lives on a daily basis. If you are a compassionate individual, academically able and motivated to study, with a real interest in understanding and caring for people, you will find nursing will open the door to a career that is diverse, interesting, challenging and rewarding 24/7. 6 GET AHEAD

9 which field of nursing is for you? Contemporary undergraduate pre-registration nursing programmes must prepare all students to provide essential care to all people across the life span who require it, whether they have a learning disability, physical disability, mental health or physical health problem, injury or issue associated with normal human development and aging. Therefore, you must realise that your learning will not be exclusively in one field of practice. Around 50% of your learning will be the same regardless of the field you wish to eventually practice in. That said, you will have field-specific learning within the University and most of the practice learning placements, which comprise 50% of the programme, will be fieldspecific. This preparation means that once you are a qualified nurse, you will be able to work more flexibly in a wider variety of settings. ADULT As an adult nurse you will work with people over 16 who experience acute or long term illnesses or injury, as well as individuals, families, groups or communities to improve their health and wellbeing. Demographic trends indicate that the population is growing older so as an adult nurse you must expect to work with older people, who may be vulnerable, on a regular basis. Adult nurses manage numerous responsibilities in circumstances that can be challenging and are expected to deliver and ensure others deliver high quality, professional personcentred care. You will need to be a good leader who knows how to plan and evaluate nursing care, demonstrates astute observational and assessment skills and be able to make sound, evidence-based decisions that will result in a positive patient experience. You will be at the centre of a multi-professional team that will include specialist nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, radiographers and social workers. As an adult nurse you will demonstrate compassion, excellent interpersonal skills and be able to put people at ease in difficult circumstances. Adult nursing is an exciting and varied career which can lead to career opportunities all over the world. As an adult nurse you can work in emergency and unplanned care services, general or specialist services and outpatient, community and occupational health settings. In addition, you might work in peoples own homes, health centres, residential care homes, workplaces or hospitals. THE PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 7

10 CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE There are some particular challenges facing you as a children and young people s nurse, for example, their vulnerability linked to the range of developmental stages children and young people go through. As a children and young people s nurse you will need to work effectively with children and young people across the age range as well as their families and/or other relevant people involved with them. Good verbal and non-verbal communication skills, the ability to engage with them sensitively and minimise distress for all concerned, are vital interpersonal skills. Children and young people s nurses deal with individuals who have a diverse range of actual or potential health and social problems, for example, long term conditions or complex needs which might involve physical, congenital or genetic problems and public health issues relating to children and young people such as immunisation, trauma, and mental health problems. An important part of your role will be to care for and support the child or young person, their family and/or other relevant people, with their disability and through illness or injury. As a children and young people s nurse you will work in a variety of settings such as schools, day centres, GP surgeries, their own homes, out-patient clinics and hospitals. You will have a key role in co-ordinating care along with other members of a team that may include teachers, play therapists, psychologists, doctors, specialist nurses, social workers and health visitors. Children and young people s nurses are in demand throughout the UK and abroad. MENTAL HEALTH As a mental health nurse you will work in partnership with people when they experience mental health problems or illnesses or when they are at risk of them developing or recurring. You will work with people across the life span from young children to older adults as individuals, as family units or in therapeutic groups. Most people who have mental health problems live in their own homes and only spend brief periods of time in hospital, if at all. As a mental health nurse you will treat, care for, support, advocate for, protect and motivate individuals and groups during their recovery journey. Increasingly you will work to promote mental health and wellbeing and prevent or reduce the incidence of mental health problems and illnesses. Demographic trends indicate people with dementia and substance misuse problems, are on the rise and suicide rates, particularly amongst young men, are unacceptably high. People with enduring and anxiety-based mental illnesses, e.g. bipolar mood disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, post traumatic stress disorder and panic disorder, still experience stigma and many more are dealing with a complex mix of mental health and social problems, e.g. clinical depression and substance misuse, alongside relationship problems, criminal activity, homelessness and the like. As a mental health nurse you will be expected to possess the knowledge, skills and ethical values and beliefs necessary to minimise stigma and promote acceptance. You will develop person-centred, therapeutic relationships that promote health, recovery and self-management. As a mental health nurse you will develop specialist knowledge and skills that are in demand all over the world. Mental health nursing is a fascinating, challenging and rewarding profession. 8 GET AHEAD

11 career opportunities for nurses Generally health care is shifting toward being health-focused and community-based rather than illness-focused and hospital-based. You will be part of nursing, the largest healthcare provider workforce and are therefore ideally placed to promote this agenda because you will be a key member of health and social care teams working in a range of diverse environments; hospitals, GP surgeries, clinics, nursing and care homes, occupational health services, hospices, oil rigs and cruise ships, the prison service, schools, with charities in developed and in developing countries and for the armed forces. Many nurses are able to find employment that allows them to balance work and home life even taking into account the 24/7 nature of nursing. After qualifying, and as your knowledge and expertise increases, you may move into more senior practitioner roles, for example, you can become a team or unit leader, a specialist or advanced practitioner or a clinical academic with the possibility of becoming a nurse consultant who holds a Masters or PhD degree. Other career opportunities include research, education, practice development or management. For further information about the career opportunities available for nurses, please visit THE PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 9

12 WHY BECOME A MIDWIFE? The midwife s role goes much further than supporting women during the birth of their baby in fact for many midwives, this is only one small aspect of their work. The midwife is involved in antenatal and postnatal care, in counselling, in offering support and education and in helping mothers and their partners prepare for parenthood. After the birth, the midwife supports the mother in a wide variety of ways, promoting breastfeeding, establishing feeding routines, bonding with their babies, checking the woman s body is returning to its pre-pregnancy state and discussing contraceptive choices. To be an effective midwife you will need excellent interpersonal skills as you will be supporting a diverse range of people, some from vulnerable families, during some emotionally intense situations.you will be the most frequent point of contact for parents-to-be and will be expected to share advice, answer their questions and give confident reassurance. You will need to be capable of working on your own as well as part of a team, liaising with GPs, health visitors and social workers and, importantly, have a genuine passion for the job. career opportunities for midwives An increasing number of midwives now work in the community, providing services in the home, local clinics and GP surgeries. There is, of course, the option to be hospital-based, where there are plenty of opportunities for midwives to work on antenatal, labour and postnatal wards. After qualifying, and as your knowledge and expertise increases, you could move into more senior practitioner roles, becoming a team or unit manager. This will enable you to combine responsibility for managing other staff with ongoing hands-on involvement with clients. Some midwives also choose to work as independent practitioners outside the NHS. You may choose to specialise in a particular area of perinatal care and study for further qualifications. If you stay in practice, you could consider the role of consultant midwife, providing clinical leadership for midwives and others across maternity services. Other career opportunities include research, teaching, practice development and management within the NHS, where you could influence the shape of healthcare across a whole community. You may also choose to move into neonatal nursing or health visiting. 10 GET AHEAD

13 I have felt so supported by the mentors in my clinical placements which has been great. The mentors I have worked with are keen to teach and are supportive as you learn new skills. The course is very challenging but I wouldn t change my experience for anything. I can t wait to be qualified and put everything I have learned into practice. Laura Goss Bachelor of Midwifery student THE PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 11

14 How You Will Be Taught PLACEMENTS Whatever field of nursing practice you select to study, you will spend 50% of your programme in practice learning. Practice learning is usually undertaken in clinical placements that reflect the field of practice you are aiming to become a registered nurse in. It is because of our strong partnerships with healthcare providers such as NHS Grampian, NHS Orkney, NHS Shetland, independent and 3rd sector providers that we are able to offer students a diverse range of high quality practice learning experiences. As well as placement opportunities located throughout in Aberdeen, they are throughout Grampian, Shetland and Orkney (nursing and midwifery) and Highlands, Western Isles and Tayside (midwifery). Therefore you can expect to experience urban, rural and remote hospital, residential and community nursing or midwifery. The Nursing and Midwifery Council requires all students to have experience of the 24 hour 7 day a week nature of nursing and midwifery. Throughout the whole programme, if you are at least 18 years old, you will be required to undertake practice learning according to the shift patterns of your placement areas. This will include 12 hour shifts, early and late shifts, weekend shifts and night shifts. During university time, face to face learning experiences will be delivered in a variety of ways, e.g. lectures, workshops, tutorials and skills practise. In addition you are required to engage in directed and online learning, which may be reading articles, reports and other types of literature, or working in small groups on a project or participating in online discussion forums via Campus Moodle. You will be supported by a named personal tutor for the duration of the programme. Your personal tutor will provide general academic guidance and pastoral support. When you are undertaking each module, you will have a named academic tutor who will provide specific support in relation to the learning and assessment process for the specific module. The content of your programme is organised into modules. Each module is assessed and the method of assessment will depend upon the module content, learning outcomes expected and the way the module is delivered. You must pass all assessments in a nursing or midwifery programme. During each practice placement, your learning will be supported and assessed by a named mentor, who will be a registered nurse. In addition, all other members of the clinical team will contribute to your learning, support and assessment. For more information about placements visit 12 GET AHEAD

15 PROGRAMME HOURS The Nursing and Midwifery Council have specific attendance requirements which nursing and midwifery students must meet. Therefore programme attendance is very closely monitored. As a nursing or midwifery student we aim to provide a timetable for your academic learning in the University between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. However this is not guaranteed. You may find there are classes commencing at 8am or extending into the evening. We work with all other programmes and courses within the University to achieve a fair approach to timetables in terms of student friendly guidelines and the need to share equally access to all the University s resources. FINANCIAL SUPPORT Nursing and Midwifery students are entitled to a non income-assessed bursary which is administered through the Student Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS). For more information about funding, please visit THE PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 13

16 our courses BACHELOR OF NURSING (BN), SPECIALISING IN ADULT, CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE OR MENTAL HEALTH NURSING The BN is underpinned by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards for pre-registration nursing education. Students spend 50% of the BN in university studying a range of subjects and 50% of their learning in practice placements in all stages in a breadth of healthcare settings across a range of geographical locations. Successful completion of the BN enables you to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. As a registered nurse on completing the BN you will be able to: respond to the predicted and known changes in health and healthcare improve the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, communities and populations drive up the standard and quality of nursing and healthcare work in a range of roles to deliver essential care for all, as well as provide complex care in your chosen field of practice The Nursing and Midwifery Council identify generic and field specific competencies in their Standards for pre-registration nursing education. Generic competencies are those which all students will learn regardless of their chosen field of practice. Field specific competencies are those which are specific only to the students chosen field of practice. As required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the BN has significant generic, shared learning at every stage and all students will be expected to meet generic competencies as well as field specific competencies. Reflecting the contemporary nature of nursing as well as health and social care policy, the BN curriculum is organised into five key subject strands that are revisited at each stage in the programme: Health Sciences Person and Family Centred Care Skills for Safe Practice Practice Learning The BN is developed to inspire all students to reach their maximum potential through a supportive environment and one in which innovation in teaching and learning are embedded in all stages. The BN aims to enable all students to become confident and capable nurses and with strong underpinning partnerships with practice providers highly sought after graduates. BACHELOR OF NURSING (HONOURS) (BN HONS) ADULT The BN Hons shares the same first three years as the BN however with a longer summer vacation in certain stages. The BN Hons is four years in length and stage 4 focuses on further development of your leadership, management and research capabilities. In addition to this, you will undertake a practice placement and extend your clinical skills. BN Hons students elect to take one of two elective routes in stage 4. One elective route focuses upon unscheduled care and the management of acute emergencies. The second route focuses upon contemporary community nursing. Dependant upon the elective route chosen, you will undertake an extended study dissertation on a topic of your interest as well as a theory module in which you will study a range of subject areas related to the area of practice within your elective and a range of extended nursing skills. You will also study alongside students from the School of Applied Social studies at RGU in relation to health and integrated social care. The BN Hons develops your research, critical writing and critical thinking skills which provide an excellent platform on which to base post-graduate studies. The BN Hons will prepare you for leadership, management, research and clinical research roles in the future. BACHELOR OF MIDWIFERY This very popular three year course aims to equip you to become a motivated, professional practitioner and leads to a dual award. Completion of the three year course enables you to be registered as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and you are awarded a Bachelor of Midwifery degree. The wide ranging practice settings you will experience prepare you to work as a safe, confident and competent midwife and be able to demonstrate leadership and management skills. The course aims to develop your awareness of the need for continuing professional development and further study throughout your career. There are many future career opportunities open to you such as ward manager, lactation consultant, consultant midwife, researcher or lecturer. 14 GET AHEAD

17 Placements taught me so much, not just on how to achieve the learning outcomes outlined in the course but also skills to deal with everyday life situations. Being on placement is a chance to really put into practice the skills you learn in the classroom and to learn many more new ones. Adult Nursing student THE PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 15

18 WHAT YOU WILL STUDy Bachelor of Nursing, specialising in Adult, UCAS B741, Children and Young People s UCAS B731, Mental Health UCAS B760 YEAR 1 In year 1 you will commence your studies in nursing by undertaking modules that reflect the five key subject strands. You will study and be assessed in the key concepts relating to health and well-being as experienced by a diverse range of individuals, communities and cultures in society and their relationship to nursing; life and psychosocial sciences that underpin nursing, including genetics, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, growth and development; essential concepts in nursing relevant to your chosen field of practice including, therapeutic practice, contemporary policies, planning and delivering care; values-based professional and compassionate person and family-centred care and what that means for you as an individual and essential nursing skills that are required to deliver safe nursing care including risk assessment, infection prevention and control, nutrition and fluid balance, administration of medicines and drug calculations and therapeutic communication. Emphasis is placed on you understanding and meeting the Nursing and Midwifery Council s Good Health and Good Character standards which will include you being responsible for managing your own behaviour within and outwith your course, your learning and engagement with the theory and practice elements of the course, maintaining confidentiality when expected, and you demonstrating a respectful, professional and ethical attitude towards others, be they other students, lecturers, mentors or service users and their families and friends. YEAR 2 You will continue to explore the five subject strands studied in year 1. Within year 2 you will build upon the knowledge acquired in year 1 and will develop the ability to apply your on-going learning related to theories, principles, research and other types of evidence to practice. In year 2 you will explore current public health priorities while learning a range of models and approaches to health and well-being improvement within nursing practice. You will also consider the role of the nurse in addressing health inequalities. You will continue to study life and psychosocial sciences related to your chosen field of practice while exploring common health problems and related therapeutic nursing interventions using best evidence. In addition to this you will continue to learn a range of essential nursing skills related to therapeutic communication, patient assessment and observations, nutrition and fluid balance, administration of medicines and drug calculations. You will also learn a range of clinical skills specific to your field of practice. In year 2, learning also focuses upon safe, effective person and family-centred approaches to care and the impact upon healthcare experiences and outcomes. As you progress through year 2 you will be expected to demonstrate you are taking more responsibility for your own learning. Modules will provide directed study and online learning activities. There will also be periods within the year where you are expected to reflect upon your practice learning experiences and identify personal learning needs. YEAR 3 In year 3 learning becomes more integrated and focused on developing the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to be accountable for your own decisions and practice and achieve the Nursing and Midwifery competencies in practice. You will learn about multi-agency working, teaching and learning theories and risk assessment in relation to health and primary care for individuals, families, carers and communities as well as the use of technology in healthcare. You will develop knowledge of sciences to advance nursing while critically applying relevant theoretical concepts and frameworks to meet essential and complex physical and mental health needs of individuals. You will develop your knowledge and skills in order to work more autonomously and to enhance a culture of excellence in practice through person and family-centred approaches to care utilising effective leadership and management skills. You will also have the opportunity to apply for an Erasmus Exchange placement through a partner European institution or a place on our Grampian Houston Exchange. 16 GET AHEAD

19 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS ADULT NURSING B741 CHILDREN S & YOUNG PEOPLE S NURSING B731 MENTAL HEALTH NURSING B760 SQA HIGHER CCC preferably to include English and a science subject. English, Maths and a science subject required at National 5 level Grade C or above if not held at Higher. GCE A LEVEL CC preferably to include English and a science subject. English, Maths and a science subject required at GCSE Grade C or above. IRISH LEAVING CERTIFICATE HIGHER C1C1C1 preferably to include English and a science subject. English, Maths and a science are required at Ordinary Level C1 or above if not held at Higher. ALTERNATIVE QUALIFICATIONS FOR BACHELOR OF NURSING An appropriate Access to Nursing course that is equivalent to 3 SQA Highers at Grade C or above. APPLICANTS FROM PARTNER COLLEGES For Mental Health and Adult Nursing entry to year 2 may be possible following completion of HNC Care and Administrative Practice from one of our partner FE colleges. ENGLISH LANGUAGE QUALIFICATION All applicants whose first language is not English are required to have an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 7.0 in all elements or an appropriate equivalent. SELECTION VISIT Applicants will be invited to attend a selection event. This will take the form of a tour of the facilities, an opportunity to meet academics and practitioners, and an interview. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Acceptance to all nursing and midwifery courses is subject to a health and immunisation screening and satisfactory PVG clearance (previously an enhanced disclosure). For more details about the PVG scheme please visit ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Applicants who do not have the required level of Maths may be eligible for the Applied Number Skills course subject to availability. STUDY OPTIONS Full-time: 3 years THE PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 17

20 WHAT YOU WILL STUDy Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) Adult ucas B740 YEAR 1 In year 1 you will commence your studies in nursing by undertaking modules that reflect the five key subject strands. You will study and be assessed in the key concepts relating to health and well-being as experienced by a diverse range of individuals, communities and cultures in society and their relationship to nursing; life and psychosocial sciences that underpin nursing, including genetics, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, growth and development; essential concepts in nursing relevant to your chosen field of practice including, therapeutic practice, contemporary policies, planning and delivering care; values-based professional and compassionate person and family-centred care and what that means for you as an individual and essential nursing skills that are required to deliver safe nursing care including risk assessment, infection prevention and control, nutrition and fluid balance, administration of medicines and drug calculations and therapeutic communication. Emphasis is placed on you understanding and meeting the Nursing and Midwifery Council s Good Health and Good Character standards which will include you being responsible for managing your own behaviour within and out with your course, your learning and engagement with the theory and practice elements of the course, maintaining confidentiality when expected and demonstrating a respectful, professional and ethical attitude towards others, be they other students, lecturers, mentors or service users and their families and friends. YEAR 2 You will continue to explore the five subject strands studied in year 1. Within year 2 you will build upon the knowledge acquired in year 1 and will develop the ability to apply your on-going learning related to theories, principles, research and other types of evidence to practice. In year 2 you will explore current public health priorities while learning a range of models and approaches to health and well-being improvement within nursing practice. You will also consider the role of the nurse in addressing health inequalities. You will continue to study life and psychosocial sciences related to your chosen field of practice while exploring common health problems and related therapeutic nursing interventions using best evidence. In addition to this you will continue to learn a range of essential nursing skills related to therapeutic communication, patient assessment and observations, nutrition and fluid balance, administration of medicines and drug calculations. You will also learn a range of clinical skills specific to your field of practice. In year 2, learning also focuses upon safe, effective person and family-centred approaches to care and the impact upon healthcare experiences and outcomes. As you progress you will be expected to demonstrate that you are taking more responsibility for your own learning and development with increased engagement in directed and online learning. You will be expected to reflect upon and analyse your practice experiences in order to inform your self-development and study plans. In practice you will be expected to show you are progressing towards more independent practice whilst under the supervision of your mentor. YEAR 3 In year 3 learning becomes more integrated and focused on developing the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to be accountable for your own decisions and practice and achieve the Nursing and Midwifery competencies in practice. You will learn about multi-agency working, teaching and learning theories and risk assessment in relation to health and primary care for individuals, families, carers and communities as well as the use of technology in healthcare. You will develop knowledge of sciences to advance nursing while critically applying relevant theoretical concepts and frameworks to meet essential and complex physical and mental health needs of individuals. You will develop your knowledge and skills in order to work more autonomously and to enhance a culture of excellence in practice through person and family -centred approaches to care utilising effective leadership and management skills. In addition, you will have the opportunity to select an option module to study an area of interest to enhance your personal, professional development. 18 GET AHEAD

21 You will also have the opportunity to apply for an Erasmus Exchange placement through a partner European institution or a place on our Grampian Houston Exchange. YEAR 4 In year 4 as a BN (Hons) student you will select an option route which will comprise a theory module and a practice module. The option routes reflect contemporary and future service design; either health care in the community, including public health or unscheduled care and management of emergencies. Both will provide learning across the life span and consider physical and mental health perspectives as well as the social context within which health care roles are operating and care is provided. A major component of year 4 is the dissertation which you will undertake with support from a named supervisor. This is an independent extended study which will reflect the option route you have selected. In year 4, health and social care integration is also studied through examining inter-agency and inter-professional systems and processes and how they help or hinder the care service users experience. On successful completion of year 4 BN (Hons) students will be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) Adult ucas B740 SQA HIGHER BBBC including English. A science subject is also recommended. Maths and a science subject are required at National 5 level Grade C or above if not held at Higher. GCE A LEVEL BCC including English. A science subject is also recommended. Maths and a science subject are required at GCSE Grade C or above if not held at A Level. IRISH LEAVING CERTIFICATE HIGHER B2B2B2C1 including English. A science subject is also recommended. Ordinary Level Maths and a science subject required at Grade C1 or above if not held at Higher Level. ENGLISH LANGUAGE QUALIFICATION All applicants whose first language is not English are required to have an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 7.0 in all elements or an appropriate equivalent. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Applicants who do not have the required level of Maths may be eligible for the Applied Number Skills course subject to availability. SELECTION VISIT Applicants will be invited to attend a selection event. This will take the form of a tour of the facilities, an opportunity to meet academics and practitioners and an interview. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Acceptance to all nursing and midwifery courses is subject to a health and immunisation screening and satisfactory PVG clearance (previously an enhanced disclosure). For more details about the PVG scheme please visit STUDY OPTIONS Full-time: 4 years THE PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 19

22 WHAT YOU WILL STUDy Bachelor of Midwifery UCAS B720 YEAR 1 You will be introduced to three dynamic academic themes: effective midwifery care, midwifery for health and the midwife within society. You will also learn introductory clinical midwifery skills in a simulated environment prior to experience in a range of practice placements. YEAR 2 You will build upon your professional knowledge and experience from year 1 to develop your skills and confidence. The three academic themes of effective midwifery care, midwifery for health and the midwife within society will be explored in greater breadth and depth. This knowledge will be enhanced through your learning in clinical practice. You will grow in independence as an effective professional learner. You will gain further insight into the role of the midwife by working in partnership with women and families from our diverse society. This will be strengthened by your understanding of the importance of effective midwifery practice within maternity care teams. YEAR 3 In your final year you will consolidate your knowledge, skills and attitudes to engage in midwifery care with confidence. You will be proficient in midwifery skills for low risk pregnant women and their families and you will be an effective member of maternity care teams. You will meet the professional outcomes set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the academic outcomes established for the BMidwifery course. This will enable you to embark on a career as a midwife. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Bachelor of Midwifery UCAS B720 SQA HIGHER BBBC to include English and a science subject. Higher Biology or Human Biology is recommended. Maths at National 5 level Grade C or above is essential. GCE A LEVEL BCC to include English and a science subject. A Level Biology or Human Biology is recommended. Maths at GCSE Grade C or above is essential. IRISH LEAVING CERTIFICATE HIGHER B2B2B2C1 to include English and a science subject. Higher Biology or Human Biology is recommended. Maths at Ordinary Level Grade C1 or above is essential. ENGLISH LANGUAGE QUALIFICATION All applicants whose first language is not English are required to have an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 7.0 in all elements or an appropriate equivalent. SELECTION VISIT Applicants will be invited to attend a selection event. This will take the form of a tour of the facilities, an opportunity to meet academics and practitioners and an interview. Special Requirements Acceptance to all nursing and midwifery courses is subject to a health and immunisation screening and satisfactory PVG clearance (previously an enhanced disclosure). For more details about the PVG scheme please visit STUDY OPTIONS Full-time: 3 years Provision is available for students with dependants to undertake the course over a period of three years and 15 weeks. Such students take five additional weeks of annual leave per year from clinical practice time to allow caring for dependants. 20 GET AHEAD

23 It s a real privilege to be involved in people s lives at such an important time. Bachelor of Midwifery student THE PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 21

24 Placements differ throughout the nursing curriculum so you get a varied experience such as on wards within the acute setting and out within the community. You get the option to choose which wards you may like to have a placement within. So if you have a certain area you think you may want to work in, you can try to get a placement within that ward. I plan to get a job within the acute sector, maybe within accident and emergency or intensive care. Amy Johnston BN (Hons) Nursing 22 GET AHEAD

25 THE NEXT STEP IS TO TALK TO US We can answer any questions you may have. Simply call us on or We also offer a range of opportunities to visit us, giving you and your family the opportunity to see for yourselves what the University is like and, more importantly, whether it meets your expectations and needs. OPEN DAYS For full information and to register, please go to VISIT AFTERNOONS If you are unable to attend an Open Day, come along to one of our monthly Visit Afternoons. To register go to: Have you seen our current prospectus? This gives valuable additional information about student life in Aberdeen and the wider University. Request a prospectus or download it at: DISCLAIMER This publication is intended as a guide for applicants for courses delivered by Robert Gordon University. In compiling it, the University has taken every care to be as accurate as possible, and the information in this brochure is correct at the time of going to print.to ensure the continued currency of its courses and, where appropriate, address the requirements of external advisors and associated professional, statutory or regulatory bodies, the University regularly reviews its courses, and implements changes to course content and/or structure.the University makes reasonable endeavours to inform applicants and students at the earliest opportunity of any significant changes to, or suspension/ cessation of, a course, particularly when this occurs between the offer of admission and enrolment. Significant changes may include (but are not limited to) changes to: an existing course title or named exit awards; the course curriculum/modules (e.g. replacement of core and/or optional modules); the course structure (e.g. addition of a placement year, changes in clinical hours, changes related to professional, statutory or regulatory body accreditation); additions/changes to mode(s) of delivery; methods of assessment; suspension or cessation of a course. Reasonable efforts will be made to assist applicants find an alternative RGU course if the original is no longer suitable. MODULE LISTING DISCLAIMER The modules quoted in this description are currently available for study. However, as we review the curriculum on a regular basis, the exact selection may change over time. THE PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 23

26 once you ve applied To be a nurse or midwife, it is vital that you meet the academic requirements and also have the right personal qualities too such as a caring nature and a genuine interest in people. Without these personal attributes you will find the course challenging and it is essential that qualified practitioners display these qualities. As part of our selection process, you will be invited to attend a morning or afternoon selection visit. This typically involves an opportunity to tour the facilities, meet with staff and a short interview. We want you to see this as a two way process giving you the opportunity to ask us any questions you might still have about the course. It also enables us to assess whether you are ideally suited to nursing or midwifery as a career. For more information, visit SUMMER SCHOOL If you are a secondary school pupil and would like to gain a better understanding of what a career in nursing or midwifery is about, then why not register for our week long summer school event? You will have the opportunity to participate in a taster programme for each of the fields of nursing we offer to see which branch interests you the most. For details of the summer school and how to apply, go to Once you have been offered a place with us, you will be invited to one of our Relationship Building events in August or September. The event will enable you to familiarise yourself more fully with the School and our staff, prior to commencing your studies with us. It is only after you are offered and firmly accept a place on one of our courses that the health screening and Disclosure checks, required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, are carried out. For further information on Health Screening and Disclosure, contact Susan Cumming on or s.cumming@rgu.ac.uk 24 GET AHEAD

27 THE PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 25

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