BNurs Children's Nursing / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course description

Our BNurs/MNurs Children's Nursing course will help you become a skilled and highly sought-after graduate nurse capable of meeting the physical and mental health needs of children and young people from birth right through adolescence and into young adulthood.

You will learn how to handle a complex role that involves supporting parents or carers, siblings and other family members in both hospital and community settings such as the home or school.

You will split your time equally between learning theory on campus and applying your knowledge to practice alongside other health professionals in a range of care settings .

You will receive support from both our staff and your fellow students throughout your time at Manchester, as well as from experienced colleagues while in practice.

As a graduate, you'll have the choice of practicing as a children's nurse, going into a specialist or a leadership role, or undertaking further study, research opportunities or teaching.

The BNurs award is for the three-year undergraduate course. Depending on your performance in Years 1 and 2, you will have the opportunity to apply to extend your studies by a year to undertake an integrated master's in nursing. This will also involve an additional year of tuition fees.

By choosing to complete the integrated master's, you are preparing for career progression within nursing by developing your leadership and research skills.

The integrated master's will deliver units at postgraduate level, developing your skills in critical engagement with issues at the forefront of your chosen field of nursing. You will learn how to critically examine, reflect and develop new insights, contributing to nursing research, education and clinical practice agenda through your research study.

Special features

Superb reputation

Manchester has been ranked 5th in the world and 2nd in the UK for Nursing (QS World University Rankings 2021).

Varied and high-quality practice learning environments

You will experience a range of practice learning  opportunities across a range of settings with support from experienced practitioners, including trusts offering specialist services. You may also choose take the opportunity to gain experience elsewhere in the UK or even overseas in one part of the course. All other practice learning experiences will take place in the Manchester region.

Student-focused course

You will learn how to apply theory to practice through our course's 50:50 split of on-campus learning and practical experience, ensuring you receive the tutor support you need while also consolidating your knowledge of nursing theory.

Family-friendly learning

Addressing the philosophy of Athena SWAN, we look to minimise early starts and late finishes and ensure - where possible - that public holidays are included in your annual leave entitlement.

Additional course information

You will spend 50% of your learning time in practice learning environments gaining an insight into what it is like to work within the modern health service, developing clinical knowledge, skills and confidence as a key member of the professional healthcare team.

We have excellent working relationships with local NHS Trusts in Greater Manchester and the north-west.

See the practice learning page for more information.

Teaching and learning

Our course is designed to include both theory and practice, linking the most current research-based knowledge with practice in a student-centred approach.

You will engage in problem-based learning, skills laboratories and computer-based learning, as well as the more traditional lecture and seminar-based formats. Lectures take place in a large group with small group teaching for seminars.

Dedicated student support

We offer dedicated student support to all of our students, helping you to handle the demands of both academic work and practice learning.

See the student support page for more information.

Coursework and assessment

Learning is divided into a number of units in each year. The content and assessments for each unit are planned and delivered by a small team of lecturers with the relevant expertise related to those topic areas.

Unit assessments vary and include written and multiple-choice exams, essays, case studies, poster presentations and online work.

Most units of learning also include the assessment of relevant skills in practice, which are carried out by the practice assessors and practice supervisors.

To complete the course, you are required to pass all theory and practice assessments.

Course content for year 1

The first year explores the core aspects of nursing knowledge through lectures, field-specific seminars, workshops, simulation, conferences and fieldwork. You will begin to develop a portfolio of learning and reflect on your knowledge, skills and practice experiences.

Practical skills will be developed through on-campus experiences and through two practice learning experiences in Greater Manchester. You will be allocated to a hub learning environment, which will also offer a range of spoke learning opportunities to support and extend your learning.

You will be supervised and assessed in accordance with the NMC (2019) standards.

Course units for year 1

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Public Health, Society and Nursing NURS10021 10 Mandatory
Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology for Nursing Practice NURS10030 20 Mandatory
Evidence Based Practice NURS10042 10 Mandatory
Collaborative Care Planning NURS10052 10 Mandatory
Essential Skills for Nursing Practice 1 NURS10061 20 Mandatory
Clinical Placement 2 (Year 1) NURS10072 20 Mandatory
Clinical Placement 3 (Year 1) NURS10082 20 Mandatory
Values Based Nursing NURS10091 10 Mandatory

Course content for year 2

The second year focuses on developing nursing knowledge and the continued application of biosciences to field-specific nursing practice.

You may also choose to personalise your learning by selecting two discovery units from a menu of choices (limits apply). Please see the list below for optional units.

You will continue developing your portfolio of learning this year, reflecting on how you can improve your skills.

There will be three placement learning experiences in Year 2 which involve caring for individuals from your field of practice in a variety of settings. 

In placement three you will also have the opportunity to state a preference for one practice learning environment type within Greater Manchester that is related to education, research, or leadership and management.

Alternatively, you can undertake a practice learning experience in this placement outside Greater Manchester, either in the UK or overseas.

Course units for year 2

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Applied Biosciences for Nursing Practice (Bioscience 2) NURS23100 20 Mandatory
Year 2 Clinical Placement 2 NURS23132 20 Mandatory
Year 2 Clinical Placement 1 NURS23141 20 Mandatory
Year 2 Clinical Placement 3 NURS23142 20 Mandatory
Developing Nursing Knowledge & Skills NURS23310 20 Mandatory
Mental Health and Mental Ill Health in Children and Young People NURS23102 10 Optional
Dementia: Empowering and Creative Practice NURS23111 10 Optional
Principles of Adult Critical and Intensive Care Nursing NURS23112 10 Optional
Delivering Harm Free Care in Infection prevention & Tissue Viability NURS23121 10 Optional
Palliative and End of Life Care NURS23122 10 Optional
Introduction to Neonatal Low Dependency Care NURS23131 10 Optional
Negotiated Study NURS23151 10 Optional
Negotiated Study Semester 2 NURS23312 10 Optional
Displaying 10 of 13 course units for year 2

Course content for year 3

Year 3 is about consolidating your knowledge and building confidence for practice. While studying on campus and undertaking three practice learning placements you will continue to reflect on your learning and practice through your portfolio.

In Year 3 all units are mandatory, with the exception of Advancing Care - The Social and Political Context of Health and Social Care. This unit is completed by students progressing to the MNurs in place of clinical placement 3.

Course units for year 3

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Nurse as a Facilitator of Learning NURS31301 20 Mandatory
Year 3 Clinical Placement 1 NURS31311 20 Mandatory
Year 3 Clinical Placement 2 NURS31312 20 Mandatory
Year 3 Clinical Placement 3 NURS31322 20 Mandatory
Nurse as an Inquirer of Clinical Evidence NURS31360 20 Mandatory
Nurse as a Leader, Manager and Coordinator of Care NURS31362 20 Mandatory
Year 3 Clinical Placement 3 NURS31322 20 Optional
Advancing Care - The Social and Political Context of Health and Social Care NURS31342 20 Optional

Course content for year 4

If you achieve grades equivalent to an Upper Second in your Year 2 assessments, you will be eligible to apply to undertake the integrated master's (Year 4) component of the course.

This is a 120-credit course that will involve studying a mixture of units at postgraduate level (following a bridging undergraduate theory unit in Year 3 that will prepare you for higher level study).

All units are mandatory for successful completion of the MNurs.

The taught components of the course allow you to develop your knowledge of the theoretical underpinnings of nursing, clinical practice, education, and improve your leadership skills.

Course units for year 4

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Research in Professional Practice (Major Project) NURS41000 45 Mandatory
Shaping Nurses Recognition and Response to Serious Illness NURS41002 15 Mandatory
Year 4 Clinical Practice and Portfolio NURS41010 30 Mandatory
Nurse Educator in Practice NURS41012 15 Mandatory
Leadership in Professional Practice NURS63332 15 Mandatory

What our students say

I enjoy practice learning in combination with theory because it increases my knowledge of nursing. Learning here has been very beneficial as the course incorporates both social sciences and science in general. I'd recommend this course because the support is amazing. My aim for the future is to specialise in emergency care for children.

Saira Imtiaz

Find out more about what it's like to study at Manchester on the  Biology, Medicine and Health Student Blog .

Facilities

We have extensive facilities in place to support you throughout your studies, including skills laboratories and workshops, as well as online resources and the vast wealth of information in the University's library.

See more information about our nursing learning facilities , or find out more about the University's facilities for all undergraduates.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Students are encouraged to contact the disability support office either before accepting an offer from the University of Manchester or as soon as possible thereafter in order to avoid delays in getting help and assistance.