BSc (Hons) Nursing (Child) - Top Up

18 Months On Campus Bachelors Program

Liverpool John Moores University

Program Overview

The BSc (Hons) Nursing (Child) Top-Up programme at Liverpool John Moores University is designed for students who want to qualify as a Registered Child Nurse in just 18 months, building on your previous nursing experience. It’s perfect if you’re passionate about working with children and young people, offering a focused mix of hands-on clinical placements and expert teaching to prepare you for a confident and rewarding nursing career.

Curriculum structure

Building core nursing practice
In the first part of the programme, you’ll strengthen your understanding of what it takes to be a children’s nurse and start connecting theory with practice. Modules like Assessment in Children’s Nursing teach you how to monitor, assess, and plan care tailored to children’s needs, while Complexities in Children’s Nursing Care challenges you to think critically when caring for patients in more complex situations. Developing Practice Learning helps you embed essential professional skills while gaining practical experience in clinical settings.

Advanced practice, leadership, and decision-making
Later in the programme, you’ll focus on advanced clinical skills, leadership, and making informed decisions in real healthcare environments. Person Centred Care Planning in Children’s Nursing guides you in creating individualised care plans, while Leadership and Quality Enhancement equips you to support and manage care within teams. Modules like Health Economics and Health Policy, Managing Risk in Children’s Nursing, and Nursing Interventions and Prescriber Readiness prepare you to deliver safe, effective, and professional care as a registered nurse.

Focus areas: children’s nursing assessment, care planning, leadership in healthcare, health policy, risk management.
Learning outcomes: provide compassionate, evidence-based care, lead improvements in practice, make informed clinical decisions, and meet NMC proficiency standards.
Professional alignment (accreditation): approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and aligned with registered nurse professional standards.
Reputation (employability rankings): LJMU’s School of Nursing is award-winning, recognised for Nurse Education Provider of the Year (pre‑registration) and Best Student Experience, with 95 % of nursing students praising academic support.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At LJMU, the Child Nursing Top-Up programme is all about learning by doing. From the very beginning, you’ll be gaining hands-on experience in real clinical settings while also benefiting from on-campus teaching. You’ll practice skills in modern simulation suites, use digital tools that reflect professional healthcare environments, and work closely with peers and experienced professionals, helping you gain confidence and competence as a children’s nurse:

Clinical simulation suites – practice nursing tasks and child-focused scenarios in realistic, professional-standard environments before going on placement.
Practice learning placements – work in hospitals, community clinics, treatment rooms, and home-care settings to apply your skills under supervision and gain real-world experience.
Blended and digital learning tools – use online platforms, e-portfolios, blogs, and discussion boards to reflect on your learning, collaborate with peers, and track your progress.
Group work and seminars – interactive sessions help you develop teamwork, communication, and clinical reasoning skills, essential for professional nursing practice.
Campus resources – learn in the Tithebarn Building and access the City Campus Library, which offers books, journals, digital resources, IT suites, and study spaces to support your academic and practical learning.
Professional supervision and support – academic tutors work closely with your practice supervisors to ensure you’re guided as you translate theory into safe, effective care.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from LJMU’s Child Nursing Top-Up programme means you’ll leave ready to make a real difference in children’s healthcare, fully qualified to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). You’ll be prepared to step confidently into roles such as Registered Child Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Pediatric Healthcare Team Leader, Community Child Health Nurse, School Health Practitioner, or Nurse Educator, giving you a range of career options from hands-on clinical practice to leadership and teaching:

Careers support services – LJMU’s Student Futures team provides tailored guidance, workshops, and online tools like Careers Zone 24/7 to help you explore opportunities, prepare applications, and plan your career path.
Employment stats – around 95% of children’s nursing graduates move into employment or further study within 15 months of finishing, reflecting the strong preparation this programme offers.
Salary prospects – early-career registered nurses typically earn £27,000–£28,500, with potential to increase as you specialise and gain experience.
University–industry partnerships – the apprenticeship model connects you with NHS employers, such as MerseyCare NHS Trust, so your learning is directly linked to real clinical practice.
Accreditation and long-term value – approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), this degree is recognised across the UK healthcare sector.
Graduation outcomes – many graduates pursue specialist roles, leadership positions, research, or teaching, building on the solid professional foundation this programme provides.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this programme, you can continue your studies to further specialise or take on leadership roles. Options include MSc Advanced Clinical Practice, Master’s degrees in Child Health Nursing or Healthcare Leadership, or specialist postgraduate certificates. These pathways can open doors to senior clinical, academic, or management roles, allowing you to grow your impact in children’s healthcare.