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Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship

Brunel's Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship provides apprentices with the opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours, to become a Registered Nurse.

Registered nurses work in the public, independent and voluntary sector. Registered nurses are a statutorily regulated profession and the standards for proficiency are set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and successful completion of this apprenticeship will meet the education requirements to obtain registration with the NMC.

The aim of Brunel's Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship is to enable you to develop into a competent practitioner who meets the requirement for entry onto the NMC Register in your chosen field of practice and a higher education degree awarded by Brunel University London. The programme aims to provide the knowledge and skills for you to provide high quality, evidence-led, compassionate nursing care. The programme aspires to provide the specialised knowledge you need to develop future nursing practice and health care through confident proactive leadership, practice development aided by technology, a global perspective, and research. This dynamic and innovative programme uses a person-centered care approach as a focus to prepare you to obtain a BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult/Child Health/Mental Health) Degree Apprenticeship which will lead to eligibility to apply for Professional Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Course structure

The first year is a generic year and introduces the basics of nursing. It will aid the apprentice to develop key skills and knowledge to prepare for practice. The two external practice placements will give the apprentice the opportunity to experience working in different healthcare settings.

The second year will encourage the apprentice to make more contributions to assessing, planning and delivering safe and compassionate person-centred care. They will have an increased responsibility in practice, and will develop competence in core skills in both their home placements and two external placements, in hospital and community settings, public health and acute care. They will learn to critically analyse and interpret data then apply it to professional practice, enabling the apprentice to evaluate and deliver high quality care. Modules in year 2 and 3 are designated to be either field specific or generic. This enables apprentices undertaking a specific field to have a generic vision, skills and understanding of all fields of nursing, thereby ensuring they can identify holistic care needs for individuals within their chosen field of nursing practice.

In the third and final year learning, teaching and practice becomes more challenging, with opportunities for the apprentice to demonstrate their commitment to delivering a high standard of care. Their knowledge will be more specialised, demanding higher level skills of synthesis, analysis and evaluation. They will develop vital management and leadership skills and have the opportunity to play a proactive role in interdisciplinary teams. This final year home and a further two external placements will focus on the transition from apprentice to fitness for practice as a registered nurse in their chosen field of practice.

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Modules

Year 1

Compulsory modular block codes, titles and credits: 

  • Mandatory Training Year 1

All 3 pathways complete the below modules: 

  • Developing Skills for Practice 
  • Research Methods (1)
  • Health and wellbeing across the continuum
  • Nursing practice for year 1
  • Human Sciences

Year 2

Compulsory modular block codes, titles and credits: 

  • Mandatory Training Year 2

Nursing (Adult) pathway

  • Enhancing skills for adult nursing
  • Nursing practice for year 2 (Adult)
  • Nursing in society (Adult)

Nursing (Child Health) pathway

  • Enhancing skills for child nursing
  • Nursing practice for year 2 (Child)
  • Nursing in society (Child)

Nursing (Mental Health) pathway

  • Enhancing skills for mental health nursing
  • Nursing practice for year 2 (Mental Health)
  • Nursing in society (Mental Health)

All pathways

  • Research Methods (2)
  • Pharmacology and Prescribing Ready

Year 3

Compulsory modular block codes, titles and credits: 

  • Mandatory Training Year 3

Nursing (Adult) pathway

  • Skills for registration (Adult)
  • Nursing practice for year 3 (Adult)

Nursing (Child Health) pathway

  • Skills for registration (Child)
  • Nursing practice for year 3 (Child)

Nursing (Mental Health) pathway

  • Skills for registration (Mental Health)
  • Nursing practice for year 3 (Mental Health)

All pathways

  • Transition to registered nurse
  • Reviewing the literature to inform practice

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How is this programme delivered?

The Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship Programme is 360 credits. The full-time programme is three years in length (minimum 4,600 hours which is divided into 50% theory and 50% clinical practice). The programme is intended for the education and training of registered nurses in the fields of adult, child or mental health nursing and is a work-based educational programme based on a flexible blended learning approach. The apprentice will based as an employee in the workplace setting in a specific location (home base) during which time learning opportunities are co-ordinated and structured by the employer. The apprentice will also experience external (alternative) placement experiences planned by the employer and co-managed in conjunction with the Brunel University London Placement team. The programme consists of three parts (programme stages) and the apprentice will be expected to demonstrate achievement of set competencies and outcomes at the end of each stage to enable progression to the next programme stage or to complete the programme, in line with Brunel University London assessment regulation requirements.

Supernumerary time

Whilst learning in practice, the apprentices will be supported to learn without being counted as part of the staffing numbers that are required for safe and effective care. This includes external practice placements and those within the apprentices' home base. It does not apply when an apprentice is working in their substantive role. In total apprentices must achieve at least 2300 hours of supernumerary placement hours during the programme.

One day per week for 135 weeks is spent studying at university across the 3-year programme; this represents 810 contact hours of supernumerary learning time. The apprentice is also required to undertake self-directed study outside of the contact hours of the programme, equating to 1490 hours. Therefore, the hours apprentices are required to devote to theory is 2300 hours.

The external (alternative) placement is also supernumerary learning time and totals 1073 hours across the programme.

The apprentice is allocated time in the home base totalling 1228 hours across the programme and these hours are also supernumerary learning time for the duration of the programme.

The supernumerary learning hours in practice represent a minimum of 2300 hours across the programme.

The hours listed are based on a full-time trainee employed on a 37.5 hour contract of employment and therefore the hours that remain are spent in the delivery-focused role.

The Senior Practice Learning Partners (PLPs) personnel (practice partners) will sign a Commitment Statement confirming that the apprentices will be released for supernumerary learning time at the beginning of the apprenticeship. The apprentices will also keep a written record of the supernumerary learning time in placements via the e-pad record, the Practice Link Tutor will monitor this. Theory hours (which include time at University and self-directed learning and are all supernumerary) will be recorded on an electronic database named Cognisoft. Apprentices will be encouraged to discuss any concerns or issues regarding their supernumerary status with the Practice Supervisor and/or Practice Assessor and escalate to the Practice Link Tutor if the issue is not resolved.

Overall, the NMC requires the programme to be 50% theory (minimum 2300 hours) and 50% practice (minimum 2300 hours). The apprentice must attend 100% of the theory component of the programme. They must complete 100% of the practice hours and they will have supernumerary status when on placement.

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Who is this programme for?

The Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship is designed for individuals working in the healthcare sector who aspire to become Registered Adult, Child, or Mental Health Nurses. It is also ideal for Registered Nursing Associates looking to advance their careers and become Registered Nurses in these specialisations. Additionally, healthcare sector workers who meet the entry requirements are encouraged to apply.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL will only be considered if the apprentice applicant can demonstrate prior learning in line with the requirements of the programme, (mapped to the Future nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses, 2018, newly published March 2024) and programme outcomes, up to a maximum of 50% of the programme.

Apprentices who have completed their Nursing Associate programme will be able to enter this programme at the halfway point (18-month point of the programme) of year 2, after successfully completing a Recognition of Prior Learning claim.

Apprentice applicants with an existing registered nurse NMC registration can apply through RPL to be considered for entry that exceeds 50% of the programme, up to a maximum of 60% providing that their prior learning is capable of being mapped to the Future nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses (2018, newly published March 2024). Therefore, for registered nurses wishing to study a different field of nursing to the one they are registered with the NMC, apprentice applicants will only be allowed to submit an RPL claim for a maximum of 210 credits or 58.3% (120 credits at level 4 and 90 credits at level 5). All RPL applications will be individually mapped against the module learning outcomes. The process will be considered on an individual basis.

 

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Our partnership with you

Your Registered Nurse Degree Apprentice will have on-going support from an Academic Tutor and a Practice Link Tutor for the duration of the programme as well as receiving guidance and support from the Practice Assessors, Practice Supervisors and Academic Assessors during clinical placements. A named nursing academic and apprenticeship manager are able to guide you through the contractual process and will provide support and advice throughout the programme. A named academic nurse will meet with the apprentice nursing associate and practice staff every twelve weeks in order to review the trainee's progress. 

Entry requirements

  • Employed in a health care role (minimum 30 hours per week) and employer support to undertake the programme
  • Details of entry requirements are provided on the University’s and College website
  • If English is not the applicants' first language, they must demonstrate proficiency in the English Language (IELTS with at least 7.0 for reading, listening and speaking, and at least 6.5 for writing)
  • Applicants must also provide via the employer: Fitness to Work Health Check, Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check
  • Demonstrate specific values in accordance with the NMC Code 2018 (assessed at interview based on ‘Values Based Recruitment Framework’ Health Education England, 2014
  • Have the capability to learn behaviours in accordance with the NMC Code 2018 assessed at interview based on ‘Values Based Recruitment Framework’ Health Education England, 2014)
  • Have the capability to develop digital and technological literacy in order to meet the programme outcomes

Final degree award and professional recognition

    • BSc Nursing (Adult) and Registered Nurse Apprenticeship Certification
    • BSc Nursing (Child Health) and Registered Nurse Apprenticeship Certification
    • BSc Nursing (Mental Health) and Registered Nurse Apprenticeship Certification

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Benefits to your organisation

This apprenticeship standard has been developed in conjunction with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and a variety of NHS organisations to ensure the content and its assessment meet the needs of employers, both today and in the future.

The flexible programme has been designed to deliver real impact to organisations as it enables apprentices to put their newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice. 

The apprenticeship supports employers to:

  • Develop their existing support workforce and act to attract new talent
  • Increase staff retention by offering clear and structured career progression to valued healthcare support workers
  • Improve the experience of patients and service users
  • Maximise use of the apprenticeship levy
  • Support widening participation initiatives

Why choose Brunel 

Brunel University London is an OFSTED Outstanding apprenticeship provider. We understand some of the challenges in developing and retaining highly skilled employees, so we are delighted to be offering this Nursing & Midwifery Council approved degree. We focus on the skills and experience you as employers are looking for in order to meet the challenges of delivering a high-quality modern health service. We provide a comprehensive support programme through our Professional Development Centre, which include workshops, webinars, networking events and much more. By joining Team Brunel your apprentice will study and learn with academic experts who are at the top of their field and passionate about their subjects. The apprentice will develop the skills for evidence-based practice and will be able to adopt problem-solving approaches in the work place. We will introduce confidence in our apprentices to ensure that they are able to use their own clinical and professional judgement to influence the delivery of nursing care. 

Our London campus community provides everything the apprentices require to support their studies, with some of the best equipment with excellent facilities that mirror the world of work. We have more than 1,400 study spaces, 500 PCs, group study rooms and silent study areas across the campus, plus 24-hour access to our Library. We provide world-class facilities, a diverse Arts Centre Students Union, prayer facilities, all of this within easy reach of central London. Over 110 countries are represented on campus, creating a vibrant and diverse international community. 

Whilst studying at Brunel University London apprentices will be based in the College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences. The College specialises in professional programmes and courses that enable graduates to make a real difference in the world around them. We have a long and successful history of providing programmes for health and social care professionals. Brunel's pre-registration Physiotherapy programme is the largest in London and South East England. The Occupational Therapy Programme at Brunel is one of the largest, longest established and most highly regarded programmes in the world. In fact, we are the original 'London School of Occupational Therapy,' founded in 1934. 

Through Brunel's key strategic partnerships with local NHS Trusts, we aim to make Brunel a key contributer of health research in the UK. The Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship Programme offered at Brunel will produce Registered Nurses equipped with the knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and behaviours required to deliver and evaluate hands on care in a modern health care service. We aim to combine a thorough professional education with academic excellence and have a substantial record of research innovation and publication, which is reflected in the quality and relevance of our teaching. 

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Approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)