SCHOOL OF nursing & midwifery UNDERGRADUATE COURSE GUIDE 2013 THE PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY
Now the top modern University in Britain and shortlisted for the University of the year, a degree from Robert Gordon University is aS close to a guaranteed job as you can get. THE SUNDAY TIMES UNIVERSITY GUIDE 2012
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)1224 262728 or email ugoffice@rgu.ac.uk.
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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 patient-focused, capable and professional graduates. Our long established links with clinicians and managers in hospitals, community and industrial settings, ensure that our education provision at Robert Gordon University is contemporary, evidence-based and meets the needs of providers of healthcare in a modern context. Our vision is to provide nurses and midwives who are knowledgeable, skilled and ready to work within a rapidly changing healthcare environment. My academic team are all qualified practitioners, enabling you to benefit from their clinical and research knowledge and experience in a variety of settings. We aim to fully support you throughout your studies, so you develop to your full potential and are able to enter the workplace as a caring, confident, competent and skilled individual, whatever your chosen field. Professor Brian Webster, Head of School
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why nursing? Modern healthcare is constantly changing and with it the role of the nurse. Whether caring for adults and children with complex physical and mental health problems in hospital, working with the elderly in residential care or supporting people to lead independent lives at home, contemporary nursing requires exceptional skills, knowledge and abilities. 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 with a real interest in caring for people, you will find a role in nursing will open the door to a career that is diverse, interesting, challenging and rewarding 24/7.
Our Courses Bachelor of Nursing Adult
B741
Bachelor of Nursing Children and Young People’s
B731
Bachelor of Nursing Mental Health
B760
Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) Adult
B740
Bachelor of Midwifery
B720
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which field of nursing is for you?
Adult
Children and Young People
Mental Health
As an adult nurse you will work with people over 16 who are experiencing acute or long term illnesses; or in the improvement of health, in a variety of settings including hospitals, health centres and residential care environments. You will manage numerous responsibilities, in sometimes challenging situations, to deliver person-centred care.
There are some special challenges facing the children and young people’s nurse, the most obvious of which is that a small child cannot say what hurts or explain its fears and needs. As a children and young people’s nurse you will need to be very intuitive and extremely reassuring. Children and young people’s nurses deal with a wide range of situations, from babies born with heart complications to teenagers with broken limbs. Part of your role may be to support the child and their family through the stress of being admitted to hospital. Good non-verbal communication skills and the ability to engage sensitively with a child are vital. Equally, you will have to be confident at handling the distress of parents. It is possible that you’ll provide ongoing support to parents/carers to enable them to continue treatment at home.
As a mental health nurse you will work with people who are experiencing a wide range of mental health issues such as anxiety based disorders, depression and psychosis.
You will be at the centre of a multi-professional team that includes doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, radiographers, social workers and others. As an adult nurse you will need to demonstrate compassion, have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to put people at ease in a variety of circumstances. You will also have to show initiative, use analytical skills and have good observation skills in order to constantly assess the needs of your patient. Adult nursing is an exciting and varied career and one which can lead to career opportunities in many specialities all over the world.
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Children and young people’s nurses work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, day centres, clinics and in the home. They work as part of a team which includes doctors, hospital play staff, radiographers, newborn hearing screeners, psychologists and social workers.
You will work in a hospital or a community based setting with people of all ages, from children to older people and as part of a team that may include GPs, psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, occupational therapists and healthcare assistants. It is vital that you demonstrate excellent communication skills at all times in order to build up trust and form therapeutic relationships with your patient and their family. Choosing a career in this area of nursing and supporting a person back to mental health is highly rewarding and satisfying.
career opportunities for nurses Nurses work within a wide variety of settings including; hospitals, GP surgeries, clinics, nursing and residential homes, occupational health services, hospices, the pharmaceutical industry, the prison service, schools and for the armed forces. The balance of care is shifting from being hospital based to the community, with care being provided in a variety of settings (the home and the health centre) by nurses in community based roles, for example, practice nursing, community mental health nursing, school nursing, district nursing, health visiting and public health nursing.
After qualifying, and as your knowledge and expertise increases, you may 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 patients. Other career opportunities include research, teaching, practice development and management within the NHS and private sector where you can influence the shape of healthcare across a whole community. For further information about the career opportunities available for nurses, please visit
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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.
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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 and neonatal units. 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.
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nursing and midwifery at robert gordon university 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. Here, our first-class facilities include a stateof-the-art Clinical Skills Centre, where you will develop your skills before going out on clinical placement. It has 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 with all the equipment you will find in a ward or community setting. You will also be able to work with members of the public from our Faculty Volunteer Programme who come in and act as patients for your learning experiences.
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In the Clinical Skills Centre, you will practice a range of skills including moving and handling, administering medicines, taking and recording blood pressure and pulse rate. If you are a midwifery student, you will practice delivering a model baby and checking a placenta. You will also develop strong communication and team working skills. 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 reflects the kind of team working you will experience in a hospital workplace setting. We aim to produce well rounded, competent graduates who are ready to enter the workplace, having gained the clinical skills required and a deeper awareness and understanding of themselves and their abilities.
I’ve enjoyed meeting students from other healthcare professions and learning about their different roles. It has helped me to understand how good communication and respect is so important to patient outcome. Nursing student
It is about getting the qualification at the end of the day but it’s also about having fun along the way; making new friends, being a part of a team and taking part in the social aspect of university life. My placements have provided me with the opportunity to do all of these things. Jill Delday BN (Hons) Nursing student
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HOW YOU WILL LEARN Placements
Study Abroad
Whatever your choice of course, you will spend around 50% of your time out on placement during your time as a student. Clinical placements give you the opportunity to put into practice, under careful supervision, what you have studied in class and further develop your practical skills. You will be given a mentor – usually a registered nurse or registered midwife in the area to which you’ve been assigned - who is there to support you during your placement and carry out your clinical assessment.
During your third year of Nursing you will have the opportunity to apply for a three month European exchange with one of our partner institutions in Belgium, Finland, Norway, Spain or The Netherlands. This will enable you to experience first hand how different healthcare systems operate as well as providing a fantastic cultural experience. In addition, you can apply to take part in the Grampian Houston Exchange and spend two weeks experiencing how healthcare is delivered in Texas.
Our placement opportunities are diverse and allow you to experience a wide variety of care settings, including urban and rural, hospital and community based, NHS and private sector across Grampian, Orkney, Shetland, Highlands, Western Isles and Tayside. As part of the placement experience, you will need to fit in with the 24/7 nature of care which will include weekend and night duties. For more information about placements, please visit
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During your time with us you will be taught in a variety of settings including lectures, smaller tutor groups and clinical skills groups. Throughout your studies you’ll be supported by a personal tutor and an academic tutor within each module. Your lecturers will all be qualified practitioners who are able to provide support and advice drawn from their own nursing and midwifery experience. You’ll be assessed through a mix of essays, computer aided exams and other assignments. Clinical competency is assessed during each placement. Programme Hours As a student nurse or midwife, your typical timetable will normally cover 35 hours a week from Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm, although from time to time there may be some additional evening sessions. You are expected to attend all timetabled classes and to engage in some additional personal study as well. 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
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our courses Bachelor of Nursing, specialising in Adult, Children and Young People or Mental Health Nursing is changing, and as such there is an expectation that all nurses should be able to respond to the changing needs, developments, priorities and expectations in health and healthcare across the lifespan, to all individuals who require nursing input, regardless of age or healthcare need. The programme has significant generic learning at every stage and all students will be expected to meet both generic competencies as well as field specific competencies. The competencies fall within the four domains of: • Professional values • Communication and interpersonal skills • Nursing practice and decision making • Leadership, management and team working All of these courses have been developed to enable you to become a confident and capable nurse who is equipped to practise effectively within hospital and communitybased environments. Successful completion of the course (depending on the chosen field of practice you select when you apply) will lead to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Registered Nurse with a mark denoting your field of practice. All three courses have strong, well-established partnerships with clinicians and managers in hospital and community settings. With 50% of your study taking place in practice settings, you will learn how to reflect upon and apply relevant theoretical concepts within ‘real-life’ environments. The expertise and skills of clinical staff and the willingness of patients to support the learning of healthcare professionals are key resources for your learning. Interprofessional education experiences are embedded within the programme at each stage, enabling you to learn with a wide variety of other health and social care students.
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Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) Adult This four year full-time honours degree programme will enable you to further develop the knowledge and skills required to practice confidently and effectively within a variety of healthcare environments, both hospital and community based. The fourth and final year of this honours degree allows you to develop advanced nursing skills, consolidate your clinical practice and demonstrate effective management and leadership during a 12 week placement. This additional year will also equip you with the necessary leadership and management skills required for professional practice, develop your ability to work effectively within interdisciplinary health and social care teams and provide the basis for postgraduate study in the future, with the development and submission of an independent dissertation. This will enable the development of effective research and critical thinking skills. Successful completion of the course leads to registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council. 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.
I chose to do the honours degree in Nursing because it wasn’t an airy fairy degree; you come out of it qualified to do a job that is rewarding, challenging and vital. I was also impressed by the staff and the facilities available when I had a tour. I was especially impressed by the Clinical Skills Centre which allows you to practice and prepare for clinical placements. I was interested in going on placement in Aberdeen city and shire, Moray, Orkney, Shetland and Europe. Nursing student
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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
YEAR 2
In year 1 you will commence your studies in nursing by exploring the themes of: health; understanding health inequalities; health promotion; information literacy and effectiveness; person-centred practice; essential clinical nursing skills for delivering safe practice; and bio-psycho-social sciences, underpinning nursing practice across the lifespan.
You will continue to explore the themes studied in year 1. Again you will engage with both online and face-to-face modules and you will be exposed to bio-psychosocial sciences for field specific nursing and essential nursing skills for practice.
You will be responsible for managing your own learning and engaging with reflective learning and reflective practice as you learn to understand and develop your ethical and professional attitudes and behaviour. Your learning will be facilitated by both face-to-face and online modules. You will also undertake practice placements that amount to 18 weeks under the supervision of named mentors.
In year 2 you will undertake practice placements that amount to 24 weeks under the supervision of named mentors. You will also undertake an online learning module during your first clinical practice placement, enabling you to make the links between theory and practice. YEAR 3 In year 3 you will further develop your nursing knowledge and clinical nursing skills. You will undertake practice placements that amount to 30 weeks devoted to learning in an adult nursing/ children and young people’s/mental health environment. You will study the core themes of: research and quality improvement; management and leadership in practice; key generic and field specific clinical skills; complex and significant health issues across the lifespan; health services for the public and for the vulnerable individual and groups; and delivering person-centred safe and effective nursing care. You will also have the opportunity to undertake an international exchange placement in this year as well as choosing one module from a range of options.
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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Bachelor of Nursing, specialising in Adult, UCAS B741, Children and Young People’s UCAS B731, Mental Health UCAS B760 SQA HIGHER
English Language Qualification
CCC preferably to include English and
All applicants whose first language is not
a science subject. Maths, English and a
English are required to have an IELTS
science subject required at Standard Grade
(International English Language Testing
3 or above if not held at Higher.
System) score of 7.0 in all elements or an appropriate equivalent.
GCE A LEVEL CC preferably to include English and a
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
science subject. Maths, English and a
If your qualifications are not in the required
science subject required at GCSE
subject areas, ask about the Selection Plus
Grade C or above.
Strategy. If you have a first degree which is relevant to nursing, you may be eligible for
IRISH LEAVING CERTIFICATE HIGHER C1C1C1 preferably to include English and a science subject. Maths, English and a science are required at Ordinary Level C1 or above if not held at Higher. Alternative Qualifications for Bachelor of Nursing Access to Nursing course plus one subject at SQA Higher Grade C or above or an Access to Nursing course which is equivalent to 3 SQA Higher Grades C or above.
advanced entry. Interview 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. The selection process will provide candidates with the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to study at degree level. STUDY OPTIONS Full-time: 3 years (standard or ‘family
ADVANCED ENTRY
friendly’ route)
For Mental Health and Adult Nursing, entry to stage 2 may be possible with a NESapproved HNC in Health Care completed at a partner FE college.
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WHAT YOU WILL STUDY Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) Adult ucas B740 YEAR 1
YEAR 3
You will commence your studies in nursing by exploring the themes of: health; understanding health inequalities; health promotion; information literacy and effectiveness; person-centred practice; essential clinical nursing skills for delivering safe practice; and bio-psycho-social sciences, underpinning nursing practice across the lifespan. You will be responsible for managing your own learning and engaging with reflective learning and reflective practice as you learn to understand and develop your ethical and professional attitudes and behaviour. Your learning will be facilitated by both face-to-face and online modules. You will also undertake practice placements that amount to 18 weeks under the supervision of named mentors.
You will undertake practice placements that amount to 30 weeks devoted to learning in an adult nursing /children and young people’s/mental health environment dependent on the field of practice, under the supervision of named mentors. You will study: the core themes of research and quality improvement; management and leadership in practice; key generic and field specific clinical skills; complex and significant health issues across the lifespan; health services for the public and for the vulnerable individual and groups and delivering person-centred safe and effective nursing care. You will also have the opportunity to undertake an international exchange placement in this year as well as choosing one module from a range of options.
YEAR 4 YEAR 2 You will continue to explore the themes studied in year 1; again you will engage with both online and face-to-face modules and you will be exposed to bio-psychosocial sciences for field specific nursing and essential nursing skills for practice. In year 2 you will undertake practice placements that amount to 24 weeks under the supervision of named mentors. You will also undertake an online learning module during your first clinical practice placement, enabling you to make the links between theory and practice.
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For those students who are undertaking an Honours pathway through the programme, year 4 provides an opportunity to elect to specialise in either Immediate Care of Acute Emergencies/Unscheduled Care or Contemporary Health Care Needs in the Community/Principles in Public Health Nursing. This will include a 12-week practice placement experience related to the chosen major elective route. In year 4 you will therefore study 2 modules related to your specialist elective route, and an integrated health and social care module as well as undertaking a dissertation.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) Adult ucas B740 SQA HIGHER
IB DIPLOMA
BBBC including English. A science subject
27 to include Higher Level Chemistry and
is also recommended. Maths, English and
Biology at Grade 5. Maths and English required
a science subject are required at Standard
at Standard Level Grade 4.
Grade 3 or above if not held at Higher. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION GCE A LEVEL
If your qualifications are not in the required
BCC including English. A science subject is
subject areas, ask about the Selection Plus
also recommended. Maths, English and a
Strategy.
science subject are required at GCSE Grade C or above if not held at A Level.
INTERVIEW Applicants will be invited to attend a
IRISH LEAVING CERTIFICATE HIGHER
selection event. This will take the form of a
B2B2B2C1 including English. A science
tour of the facilities, an opportunity to meet
subject is also recommended. Ordinary
academics and practitioners and an interview.
Level Maths, English and a science subject required at Grade C1 or above if not held
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
at Higher Level.
Acceptance to all nursing and midwifery courses is subject to a health screening and
English Language Qualification
satisfactory PVG clearance (previously an
All applicants whose first language is not
enhanced disclosure).
English are required to have an IELTS
For more details about the PVG scheme
(International English Language Testing
please visit:
System) score of 7.0 in all elements or an appropriate equivalent.
STUDY OPTIONS Full-time: 4 years
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WHAT YOU WILL STUDY Bachelor of Midwifery ucas B720 YEAR 1
YEAR 3
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.
In your final year you will consolidate your knowledge, skills and attitudes to engage in midwifery care with confidence. You will be competent in using evidence-based practice and 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.
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.
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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Bachelor of Midwifery ucas B720 SQA HIGHER
INTERVIEW
BBC to include English and a science
Applicants will be invited to attend a
subject. Higher Biology or Human Biology is
selection event. This will take the form of a
recommended. Maths at Standard Grade 3
tour of the facilities, an opportunity
or above is essential.
to meet academics and practitioners and an interview.
GCE A LEVEL BC to include English and a science subject. A Level Biology or Human Biology is recommended. Maths at GCSE Grade
special requirements Acceptance to all nursing and midwifery courses is subject to a health screening and
C or above is essential.
satisfactory PVG clearance (previously an
IRISH LEAVING CERTIFICATE HIGHER
the PVG scheme please visit:
enhanced disclosure). For more details about
B2B2C1 to include English and a science subject. Higher Biology or Human Biology is recommended. Maths at Ordinary Level
STUDY OPTIONS
Grade C1 or above is essential.
Full-time: 3 years Provision is available for
English Language Qualification
course over a period of three years and 15
All applicants whose first language is not
weeks. Such students take five additional
English are required to have an IELTS
weeks of annual leave per year from
(International English Language Testing
clinical practice time to allow them to care
System) score of 7.0 in all elements or an
for dependants.
students with dependants to undertake the
appropriate equivalent.
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THE NEXT STEP IS TO TALK TO US
once you’ve applied
We can answer any questions you may have. Simply call us on 01224 262728 or email 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.
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.
Open Days
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
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: Summer School f 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 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:
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 01224 262982 or email
DISCLAIMER Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information given in this brochure, Robert Gordon University can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. The University reserves the right to amend or discontinue courses or amend entry requirements as part of continued improvement.
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CONTACT US
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T: +44 (0)1224 262728 E: visit
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