BSc (Hons) Nursing (Registered Nursing Associate to Registered Nurse) - Clifton Campus

18 Months On Campus Bachelors Program

Nottingham Trent University

Program Overview

This programme is perfect if you’re already a nursing associate and want to take the next step to become a fully registered nurse. You’ll build on your existing skills while gaining deeper clinical knowledge, hands-on experience, and professional training, so you graduate ready to take on full responsibilities as a registered nurse.

Curriculum Structure

Year Two (Entry Point for This Route)

Starting in the second-year stage, you’ll dive into modules like Biopsychosocial Approaches in Nursing Practice, Applied Nursing Practice in Complex Care, and Practice Based Learning 2. Here, you’ll learn how biological, psychological, and social factors combine to affect patients’ health while practising more complex care skills. Early clinical placements give you real-life experience with patients, helping you apply theory to practice confidently.

Final Year

In your final year, you’ll take modules such as Innovating and Improving Healthcare Practice, Leadership in Nursing, and Managing Applied Nursing Care, along with Practice Based Learning 3. This phase prepares you to become a confident, independent registered nurse, combining leadership skills, advanced clinical judgement, and hands-on experience to step seamlessly into your professional role.

Focus areas: patient-centred care, biopsychosocial health, complex care practice, leadership, healthcare improvement

Learning outcomes: deliver compassionate, evidence-based care; understand health holistically; manage complex care needs; apply leadership, critical thinking, and professional judgement in nursing practice

Professional alignment (accreditation): fully accredited and recognised, enabling you to qualify as a Registered Nurse upon graduation

Reputation (employability rankings): benefits from NTU’s strong nursing heritage, regulatory approval, and excellent employer links

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At NTU Clifton, learning to become a registered nurse is as hands-on as it gets. You’ll combine classroom study with practical experiences from the very start, building confidence and skills in realistic settings before stepping into real hospitals and care services. The programme ensures you get plenty of practice in safe, supportive environments so that by the time you graduate, you’re ready to care for patients independently and professionally.

Here’s how your learning comes to life:

Health and Allied Professions Centre (HAP Centre) – a purpose-built facility with mock hospital wards, consultation rooms, counselling suites, and immersive simulation spaces where you can practise real nursing skills.
Simulated practice and VR learning – practise everything from routine care to complex scenarios using high-fidelity mannequins, virtual reality, and recreated home-care or ward environments.
Clinical placements (50% of your programme) – gain first-hand experience in hospitals, community services, or other healthcare settings, working alongside experienced registered nurses.
Guided supervision – practice assessors and tutors support you during placements, helping you build competence and confidence safely.
Digital learning support – access online materials, discussion forums, and virtual learning environments to reflect on practice and review theory anytime.
Personal tutor support – a dedicated tutor guides you throughout the course, helping with placements, academic development, and professional readiness.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from NTU’s Registration to Registered Nurse programme means you’ll leave ready to start making a real difference in people’s lives. With a combination of hands-on placements, academic learning, and professional training, you’ll step confidently into your role as a fully registered nurse. Many of our graduates move straight into hospitals, community services, or private healthcare, putting their skills to work immediately.

Typical roles include: Registered Nurse, Staff Nurse (hospital or community), Community Care Nurse, or Private-sector Nurse.

Here’s how NTU helps you succeed after graduation:

NTU Employability Team & Employability Promise — personalised support for CVs, interviews, job searching, and connections to graduate-level healthcare opportunities.
Strong partnerships with NHS trusts and local healthcare providers — giving you placements and networks that make it easier to find work quickly after graduating.
Accreditation and registration readiness — the course is accredited so you can register as a nurse and have a qualification that’s recognised across the UK.
Good salary prospects — newly qualified registered nurses typically earn £27,000–£30,000, with potential to rise as experience grows.
Flexible employment settings — work in NHS hospitals, community health services, private clinics, or care homes depending on your interests.

Further Academic Progression:

If you want to take your career further, NTU offers postgraduate routes such as MSc-level programmes or specialisations, helping you move into senior clinical roles, leadership, education, or specialist nursing fields.