Foundation Degree (FdSc) Nursing Associate

Become a knowledgeable and skilled member of the nursing team, supporting registered nurses to provide high-quality, safe, person-centred care. On successful completion of this course, you are eligible to apply for registration as a Nursing Associate with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Professional Registration with the NMC

Upon successful completion of the programme, students will be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Nursing Associate in England.

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Entry requirements

72-120 UCAS Tariff points total from A-levels, BTEC or equivalent Level 3 qualifications

BTEC - BTEC National Diploma/QCF Extended Diploma - DDM - MMP

Pass an Access to HE Diploma with at least 30 credits at merit

Or T level P (C+)

GCSE Maths & English Grade 4 / C or above

See full entry requirements

UCAS points UCAS tariff 72 - 120 points

UCAS code FNA1

UCAS institution code P63

Duration 2 years full time, up to 4 years part time

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Course Summary

Nursing associates work with healthcare support workers and support registered nurses across the four fields of nursing to provide high-quality, safe, person-centred care in a wide range of health and care settings across the lifespan.

This two-year foundation degree is mapped to the NMC (2018) Standards of proficiency for nursing associates and includes both academic and practice-based learning. Successful completion of the programme leads to eligibility to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in England.

The programme is delivered within a supportive learning environment and includes classroom and simulated learning within our trailblazing clinical simulation suite and is taught by experienced registered nurse academics and other professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds.

The programme includes 2300 hours in total with a minimum of 1150 hours required in clinical practice placements. Learners are supported in clinical practice by registered nurses, nursing associates, assistant practitioners, and other members of the wider interprofessional team. Learners are both continuously and formally assessed by Practice Supervisors and Practice Assessors who have completed additional training to support learners.

On successful completion of this course, you are eligible to apply for registration as a Nursing Associate with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Any questions?

Contact Charley Lumley, our Applicant Support Coordinator, if you have any questions. Email applicantsupport@marjon.ac.uk and Charley will get back to you.

Contact Charley

Why this course at Marjon?

Taught by committed and experienced registered nurse academics and other registered professionals from a wide-range of clinical backgrounds.

Accelerated learning through combining academic theory with clinical simulation in our new state of the art suite. Learners will understand why their new knowledge and skills are relevant and how to apply these in their clinical practice, contributing to high-quality, safe care.

Close working relationships with professional colleagues in clinical practice, ensuring our programme is responsive and relevant to local need and helping learners to robustly prepare for their future role as accountable registrants.

High-quality placements in clinical practice, working with local healthcare providers in acute and community care settings, with guided learning to help students develop knowledge and skills specific to the area of clinical practice.

Focus on supporting learners to become safe, accountable professionals through developing robust critical thinking and complex problem-solving and teamwork skills, empowering learners to contribute to nursing teams through effective self-management and ability to positively respond to challenges

Modules for this course

1st Year

Developing Nursing Associate Practice

This all-year clinical practice-based module will enable learners to develop the professional knowledge, skills and behaviours required for delivery of high-quality, safe, person-centred care. Learners will develop core proficiencies within their scope of professional nursing associate practice in the context of evidence-based practice, local policy and legal and ethical frameworks under the direction or supervision of a registered practitioner. Placements in clinical practice will provide opportunities for learners to meet the Standards of proficiency for nursing associates (NMC, 2018) across the lifespan and in a variety of settings, gaining a breadth of experience across the different fields of nursing. Whilst in clinical placements, learners will be continuously assessed and undertake two formal assessments including an Episode of Care and Medicines Management. Formal assessments will be completed by a designated Practice Assessor.

Foundations of Nursing Associate Practice

Students will contextualise their health and social care knowledge and understanding by exploring its origins, philosophy and priorities including the introduction of the nursing associate role within contemporary healthcare teams. Students will learn about the NMC Code (2018) in-depth and the professional standards of practice and behaviour expected of nurses, midwives and nursing associates, developing an understanding of the importance of values-based practice and delivering compassionate, person-centred care within a range of health and social care environments.

Communication and Relationship Management Skill in Nursing Associate Practice

This module supports learners to contribute to holistic, high-quality person-centred care through effective, sensitive, and compassionate communication through developing interpersonal skills which are respectful, therapeutic, and ethical. Learners will develop their knowledge and understanding of a range of communication skills to support individuals, families, and carers, demonstrating cultural awareness and valuing their needs, priorities, and preferences. Learners will learn how to make reasonable adjustments where required to ensure equal access to quality care by sharing appropriate and accessible information in a way that promotes good health and health outcomes. Learners will also develop their communication skills to ensure high-quality person-centred care by communicating effectively within interprofessional and integrated care teams.

Applied Anatomy, Physiology and Procedural Skills for Nursing Associates

This module helps students to develop their knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of key human body systems across the lifespan in order to support robust holistic assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care in nursing associate practice. In addition to formal teaching and learning, students will apply their learning in the Clinical Simulation Suite using a range of clinical scenarios and case studies and will be introduced to various assessment tools used in contemporary nursing practice. Students will learn how to assess, identify, interpret and document essential clinical data, identifying normal ranges and deviations and will learn how to escalate to other members of the interprofessional team in a timely manner when required, using the SBAR Tool (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation) to ensure effective and clear communication and to promote patient safety at all times.

Assessing, Monitoring and Contributing to Integrated Care for Nursing Associates

This module will introduce students to the theory of nursing practice and the importance of history-taking and robust holistic assessment using a bio-psycho-social approach and accurate documentation of assessment data and information. Students will develop their understanding of the first stage of assessment, interpreting clinical data to establish a baseline from which they will be able to prioritise, demonstrating an understanding of context and its impact on immediate care planning, implementation, and evaluation of care. Students will learn about the importance of developing therapeutic relationships and using contemporary evidence to support clinical decision-making. Students will also develop their knowledge and skills and learn how to assess risk in clinical practice to promote safety and reduce harm, recognising when escalation to the wider interprofessional team is required.

2nd Year

Developing Nursing Associate Practice 2

This all-year practice-based module builds on learning in Year 1 and will enable students to transfer and consolidate their knowledge, skills and professional behaviours as part of the team in clinical practice. Students will work towards practising independently with minimal supervision to provide and monitor high-quality, safe, person-centred care, demonstrating increasing knowledge, skills and confidence. Students will work towards achieving the Standards of proficiency for nursing associates (NMC, 2018) across their lifespan and in different settings and fields of nursing. Whilst in clinical placements, learners will be continuously assessed and undertake three formal assessments including (1) Episode of Care 1 (2) Episode of Care 2 and (3) Medicines Management as required in their Year 2 Practice Assessment Document (PAD). All formal assessments will be completed by a designated Practice Assessor.

Professional and Personal Development for Nursing Associates

This module will help students to develop their skills and ability to reflect on their own personal, professional, and academic development and explore issues relating to quality healthcare service delivery. Students will explore the demands of professional practice and learn how to recognise signs of vulnerability in themselves, or their colleagues and the actions required to minimise risks to personal health. This will include helping students to develop strategies to build resilience, including when and how to seek support to help deal with uncertain situations. Students will also critically reflect on their own practice and feedback received to evaluate their own and the service user's experience, meeting the requirements of the NMC.

Promoting Health and Preventing Ill Health

In this module, students will explore sociological factors which impact health status and examine concepts of health and illness and their social context from a life-course perspective, exploring health inequalities and evaluating factors that contribute to a community network. Students will also learn about the theories, principles and concepts that underpin public health practice and its intended impact across sectors to address health inequalities and improve health. Students will examine trends and patterns in population health, including epidemiology and health statistics and work towards adopting a systematic approach to developing health improvement interventions. Students will also learn about health promotion, exploring the methods in which interventions can be planned, managed, and evaluated, to develop the maximum impact and benefit for society

Medicines Management

This module will help students to develop their knowledge, skills and professional behaviours to ensure safe administration of medicines via various routes within the context of the NMC (2018) Standards of proficiency for nursing associates, with a specific focus on Annex B Procedural Skills, Section 10: Procedural competencies required for administering medicines safely. Students will develop their knowledge of accountability and working within ethico-legal and policy frameworks, as well as the underpinning principles of pharmacology and the relevance of indications and use of medicines and their contra-indications, cautions, interactions and side-effects and how to recognise and safely manage adverse reactions. Students will also learn about assessing mental capacity and how to make reasonable adjustments where required.

Improving Patient Safety through Research

The final module of the programme focuses on developing the student’s awareness of current patient safety issues and understanding the importance of applying valid research-based evidence to nursing associate practice to understand and reduce risk and prevent harm. Students will learn about risk factors which contribute to patient safety incidents in an increasingly complex healthcare system and the importance of adhering to local policy guidelines. Students will learn about different types of research used in nursing including qualitative and quantitative research and will understand the importance of using research to develop their own professional practice with a focus on continuous improvement and influencing teams.

Download course details

Perfect if you're curious about

Developing a career in modern healthcare

Making a positive difference to people’s lives everyday

Becoming part of a nursing team and contributing to high-quality, safe care

How the human body works and what to do when things go wrong

How research improves professional practice and patient safety

Developing a career as a Registered Nurse across any of the 4 fields of nursing including Child Health; Mental Health; Learning Disability and Adult nursing.

How you’ll be taught and assessed?

How will you be taught?

This programme is delivered on our Plymouth Campus and includes both academic theory and clinical practice, which are delivered side-by-side. Students will attend a weekly Study Day which will include lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, clinical simulation, group discussions, debates, peer support, study skills and more. Students will also have an Independent Study Day each week to focus on researching for assignments with allocated ‘reading weeks’ throughout the academic year. Students will spend the equivalent of 22.5 hours per week in clinical practice, applying their academic learning to patient care under guidance and supervision. Students will be allocated 2 placements in Year 1 and 2 placements in Year 2, each over a period of 26 weeks, in order to complete the required 1150 hours in clinical practice by the end of the programme.

How will you be assessed?

The programme specifically prepares students for professional practice as nursing associates, and all assessments are there to ensure understanding and application of the knowledge skills and professional behaviours required. Academic assessments include essays, case studies, In-Class Tests, practical assessments in the clinical skills lab, academic poster presentations and literature reviews. Students maintain a Practice Assessment Document (PAD) and Professional Practice Portfolio (PPP) which records continuous and formal assessments in clinical practice including Episodes of Care and Medicines Management, to evidence achievement of the NMC (2018) Standards of proficiency for nursing associates and Professional Values (The NMC Code, 2018).

Sandy Knowles

Course leader

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Sandy is a registered nurse, midwife, specialist public health nurse and experienced nurse academic and programme leader.

Fees and funding

Fees UK students: £9,250

Fees for International students: £14,500

Our Student Funding Advisors offer confidential and impartial advice about your funding options

Additional costs:

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced check (Annual Update Service or dated within 6 months of the start of the course)
Evidence that an occupational health declaration has been completed prior to starting the programme
Evidence of all required vaccinations being up-to-date
Travel to and from placement
Accommodation and general living costs
Textbooks
Stationary
Printing/Photocopying
Membership of a Union (Optional but advised)
NMC registration on completion of the programme.
There may be some discretionary trips and other activities to support your studies

Funding available for this course

Student funding advice

Frequently asked questions

Q1 Can I specialise in a specific area as a Nursing Associate?

Upon entry to the NMC Register, Nursing Associates are knowledgeable and will have developed generic skills to support registered nurses in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care. These skills can be applied to all fields and specialities of nursing. Thus, once qualified, it may be possible to specialise in a specific clinical area but will depend on local Trust and healthcare provider workforce plans.

Q2 Do I have to attend multiple placements away from my home?

Students will have 2 placements in Year 1 and 2 placements in Year 2. All placements will be between 12 – 14 weeks and students will spend 22.5 hours per week in clinical practice in acute and community care settings. Students will follow a range of shift patterns to learn how to contextualise and provide 24/7 care and will be given guidance on how to maximise their learning whilst in placement. This will include visits to supporting departments and following patient pathways and obtaining experience across the four fields of nursing. Where possible, students will be placed with local healthcare providers although there may be times when students are required to travel further afield.

Q3 Do Nursing Associates administer medication?

Yes – the administration of medicines is included in the NMC (2018) Standards of proficiency for nursing associates, Annex B procedural skills Section 10. Students will be introduced to the safe administration of medicines in Year 1 and will prepare to complete formal assessments as part of clinical practice modules, TNAC01 and TNAD01. When administering medications in clinical practice, students must be supervised at all times by a qualified member of the team throughout the duration of the programme. In Year 2, students will complete a Medicines Management module to prepare for this role, learning about the underpinning principles of pharmacology as well as working within current legislation and local policy frameworks to ensure patient safety.

Q4 Do I have to be interviewed for a place on the programme?

Yes, nursing associate applicants are invited to attend an interview day which will include a tour of the campus, as well as activities and mini interviews aligned to values-based practice and the NHS Constitution. Interviewers will include members from the university programme team, colleagues from clinical practice in local Trusts and Healthcare providers, as well as patient representatives from our ‘People who use services’ group.

Q5 Are the team looking for anything specific in my personal statement?

Yes. We want to know why you are interested in the programme and the personal qualities you feel you will bring to it and the nursing associate profession. Your personal statement will need to show that you have an understanding of the NHS Constitution and share its values. There are workshops available, supported by the programme team to help guide you with writing a successful personal statement.

More information

Whilst the Nursing Associate is a new and valued role within the nursing team, it also provides a platform from which to develop further. Students may wish to qualify as registered nurses and because of the generic nature of the role, can apply for BSc (Hons) Nursing across the four fields of nursing, including Child Health, Mental Health, Learning Disability and Adult. Students will be able to apply for up to 50% (maximum allowed) ‘Recognition for Prior Learning’ (RPL) on NMC-approved nursing programmes and complete their studies within 18 months – 2 years. Alternatively, they could progress onto a non-professional BSc (Hons) award.

Find out more about studying Foundation Degree (FdSc) Nursing Associate at Marjon

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