Faculty of Health & Social Sciences School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Education Begin@Beds
NURSING ASSOCIATE PRACTITIONER COURSE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE
STUDYING
2 CONTENTS Welcome to Nursing Associate Practitioner Course 3 What to expect in induction week 4 What you will be studying in your first year 5 Professional Courses and Placement Experience 6 Assessment 7 Preparation for your first week 8 Indicative Teaching timetable 9 Frequently asked questions 10 Final Thoughts 11
WELCOME
TO
NURSING ASSOCIATE PRACTITIONER COURSE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE
Our team are here to support you every step of the way on a journey that begins right now, in this booklet. Here you will find information to guide your first few days, until we meet on campus. You’ll also have a personal tutor who is there to support you. They will have weekly office hours so you can always book an appointment if you need to chat to them.
The Nursing Associate community at the University of Bedfordshire is a bright, dynamic and connected community of professionals from a variety of backgrounds, coming together to learn and grow into the future workforce. We look forward to meeting you very soon!
Alka Saju Course Coordinator
ESSENTIAL CONTACTS
Course Coordinator
Alka Saju alka.saju@beds.ac.uk
Your personal academic tutor is Email
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Student Information Desk (SiD)
beds.ac.uk/sid sid@beds.ac.uk
Treehouse Community & Faith Centre
Mental Health Services
beds.ac.uk/student-support/mentalwell mentalhealth@beds.ac.uk
BedsSU (student union) help@bedssu.co.uk
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WHAT TO EXPECT IN INDUCTION WEEK
TIMETABLE FOR WELCOME WEEK
The following is a typical Welcome Week schedule:
Day 1 am Course Welcome and Meet the Team. Student support services, student union and library services. Ice breaker and social integration.
pm Meet the course team and campus tour.
am A day in the life – what to expect and getting the most from BREO.
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
pm First personal academic tutor (PAT) meeting and uniform ordering.
am Course plan and timetable.
pm Q&A with course coordinator/sample lecture.
am NHS Partner visit.
pm Occupational health and ID and document check appointments.
Day 5 Occupational health and ID and document check appointments.
ESSENTIAL LINKS
For more information on joining your course, visit Begin Foundation Degree Nursing Associate (Direct entry/ Apprenticeship)@Beds where you will find updated info, tips and dates of your course induction week etc.
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WHAT YOU WILL BE STUDYING IN YOUR FIRST YEAR
YEAR 1 STUDENTS WILL BE STUDYING
Academic Skills for Nursing Associates
Introduction to nursing associate interventions
Understanding health for health care practitioners (includes anatomy and physiology)
Exploring health and primary care services in the community
Application of nursing associate theory and practice
ESSENTIAL LINKS
How to find your Timetable
Information about your learning with BREO
Study Hub is the Library academic support service, a one-stop-shop for any academic, resourcing or general IT assistance to create the best assignments you can.
Visit the Library
Begin@Beds Start your student journey
Thrive@Beds My Beds Life
Succeed@Beds Careers and Employability Service
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PROFESSIONAL COURSES AND PLACEMENT EXPERIENCE
As you enrol on your professional course you will need to complete an enhanced DBS along with ID checks and an occupational health assessment. You will also be asked to read and sign your professional studies contract which is in line with the NMC Standards of Conduct, performance and ethics which will guide you through your 2 year Nursing Associate degree course.
Your clinical placement will be based with one of our practice partners and you will also be given opportunities to experience different areas of practice throughout your journey to becoming a registered Nursing Associate Practitioner.
PLACEMENT EXPERIENCE
You will have placements in a variety of settings with our NHS partners including hospitals, Community and Mental Health Trusts. These placement areas are in and around the Bedfordshire county. You will have to travel to these placement areas.
During each of your placement allocations you will have a nominated Practice Assessor in accordance with the NMC Standards for student supervision and assessment. They conduct assessments to confirm that you have achieved the NMC proficiencies and course outcomes for your workplace learning.
You will also have a nominated Academic Assessor who is responsible for confirming your achievement of the NMC proficiencies and course outcomes in the academic environment for each year of the course.
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ASSESSMENT
The course assessment strategy is closely aligned to the teaching and learning strategy which is designed to:
• have an immediate relevance to practice;
• draw on expertise-by-experience;
• foster active learning and be learner-centred in approach.
The choice of assessments is determined by their fitness for purpose i.e. to evidence achievement of unit learning outcomes at undergraduate level (Level 5).
RANGE OF ASSESSMENTS
There are a number of different types of assessments which are used throughout the course:
Essays
Reflections
Case Studies
Reports
Digital Narratives
Posters
Video assignments
In-class tests
Practice assessment documents (PAD) (for practice-based learning)
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PREPARATION FOR YOUR FIRST WEEK
SOMETHING TO READ
• Role of nursing associate
• How to apply
SOMETHING TO EAT
• Eating and drinking on-campus – University of Bedfordshire
ABOUT THE CAMPUS
• Luton campus
The Luton Campus Centre holds a wide range of facilities including the main reception, careers centre, the campus gallery space & Café Neo on the ground floor. There’s a large central lecture theatre as well as a range of study rooms and breakout spaces on the upper floors.
It’s also the place to build your social life with our modern Students’ Union in the Metro Bar & Kitchen; home to tasty food & drink and hosting regular live music, DJ nights and student events.
• Bedford campus
In the Campus Centre you can find both of the campus Theatres as well as the main campus Café while in the surrounding buildings you can find our Physical Education and Sport Science Centre which was used to train athletes in the 2012 Olympics, Teacher Education Centre, four dance studios, campus gym, our four-storey campus library and a newly refurbished Students’ Union social space that holds a variety of student events such as pub quizzes, live music and various themed club nights.
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INDICATIVE TEACHING TIMETABLE
EXPECTATIONS FOR TEACHING AND PLACEMENT
The course consists of a 37.5 hour week and includes working mornings, afternoons and evenings, including night-time and some weekends. This enables you to maximise your learning opportunities whilst meeting the course aims and objectives. There are short periods of both full-time practice and full-time theory but for most of the course, you attend both theory and practice each week.
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Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri 9am Selfdirected theory University Placement Placement Selfdirected theory 10am 11am 12pm 1pm 2pm 3pm 4pm 5pm Sample timetable – Semester 1 Nursing Associate Practitioner
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What happens if I miss class due to being unwell or having difficulties with childcare or travel?
We understand that everyone will face some difficulties now and again and we aim to be flexible. You are encouraged to discuss ongoing issues with your Personal Academic Tutor or Unit Lead.
Is there someone who can help me with my assessments?
The lecturing team are always available to guide you with the theory based content and you might want to book a 1:1 tutorial with your Unit Lead.
If you need more time to complete an assignment, please contact Student Engagement and Mitigation (SEAM) who deal with extensions for assessments. Their email is mitigation@beds.ac.uk
Is there somewhere for me to get support if I have a learning difference such as Dyslexia?
Yes! There is plenty of help available and students may be eligible for a Learning and Teaching Agreement, stating any reasonable adjustments needed for classroom learning and examinations. There is also help available for practice based learning.
What are the student support services available?
The university provides various services to support students such as:
• Student Engagement
• Mitigation Team
• Student Engagement Monitors (SEMs)
• Disability
• Counselling Service
• Mental Well-being
• Community & Faith
• Student Money Advice
• Student Health
• Student Safeguarding
Are there clubs and activities I can get involved with?
Yes! The Student Union will provide lots of information about the sporting clubs, activities and events available for all students at UoB. For more information visit bedssu.co.uk
ESSENTIAL LINKS
Simulation suite beds.ac.uk/simulation
Learning Difference support information beds.ac.uk/student-support/disabilities2
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FINAL THOUGHTS
There is a lot to take in when you begin studying on a professional course like this one. The teaching team have been working as nurses for many years and here are some of our key reasons to ‘love this job’!
You will one day be the ‘teacher’ and the mentor responsible for helping a new student on their first day. You will be with patients in their most vulnerable moments. This is a true privilege.
You will experience things you never thought possible.
9 REASONS WE LOVE BEING NURSING ASSOCIATE PRACTITIONERS
Everyone is helpful and wants you to do well.
TOP TIPS
• Try to be organised – it does help to note down all essential dates for assessments and key training.
You are given the opportunity to be a part of a unique experience every day. The satisfaction you get from knowing you helped make a real difference to a patient is amazing. You can keep studying after you qualify and there is no limit to the knowledge you can gain.
No two days are the same.
You will always be employable as Nursing Associate Practitioners are always in demand.
• Ask your PAT if you have a query about something and you are not sure who you should ask.
• Make use of the library and Study Hub – they are there to help you succeed in your studies.
• Seek help sooner rather than later. We are always willing to help yoU.
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