Nursing Studies (Child) BSc (Hons)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Teesside University

Program Overview

The BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies (Child) at Teesside University prepares you to become a confident, compassionate children’s nurse, ready to support infants, children, and young people across hospitals, community settings, and specialist care environments. It’s ideal for students who want a hands-on, practical degree where you learn to care for children and their families while developing a deep understanding of child health, development, and family-centred nursing.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
In your first year, you’ll lay the foundations for a career in children’s nursing. Modules like Fundamentals of Nursing Practice, Professionalism, Relationships and Communication, and Understanding Health and Illness introduce you to core nursing skills, patient safety, and effective communication. You’ll also start early placements, giving you real-world experience and helping you understand how nursing fits into everyday healthcare.

Year 2:
Year 2 builds on your first-year skills, focusing specifically on child nursing. Modules such as Children’s Nursing Intervention 1, Children’s Nursing Decision-making and Evidence-based Practice 2, and Service Improvement teach you how to care for children with complex needs, make clinical decisions, and apply evidence-based practice. You’ll continue placements in hospitals, GP surgeries, and community settings, putting your learning into action.

Year 3:
In your final year, you’ll refine your clinical skills and gain confidence in leadership and decision-making. Through modules like Children’s Nursing Intervention 2, Children’s Nursing Decision-making and Evidence-based Practice 3, and a Dissertation Module, you’ll take greater responsibility in care, plan holistic interventions, and complete a research project that strengthens your professional judgement and readiness for registration.

Focus areas: children’s nursing practice, evidence-based decision-making, family-centred care, clinical leadership, child health and development.

Learning outcomes: develop child-centred clinical skills, assess and plan holistic care, apply evidence to practice, communicate effectively with families and healthcare teams, lead safe and compassionate nursing interventions.

Professional alignment (accreditation): fully approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) — upon graduation, you can register as a qualified children’s nurse.

Reputation (employability rankings): Teesside’s nursing programmes are recognised for strong NHS partnerships and hands-on simulation facilities, giving graduates excellent employment prospects in the healthcare sector.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Teesside, your Children’s Nursing degree is all about learning by doing. From day one, you’ll split your time between university learning and real-world placements, gaining hands-on experience in hospitals, community settings, hospices, GP surgeries, and care-at-home services. On campus, you’ll practise in specialist simulation suites and immersive labs, where everyday and emergency scenarios are recreated, helping you gain confidence before stepping into clinical placements. You’ll also use digital tools and virtual reality simulations to develop your decision-making skills in realistic child care situations:

What hands-on learning looks like on this program:
• NHS placements in a variety of child health settings — including children’s wards, community nursing, hospices, and GP practices, letting you apply your skills in real clinical environments.
• Simulation and immersive practice facilities — realistic hospital and home care scenarios on campus help you practise safely before working with real patients.
• Blended learning with interactive activities — lectures, small group workshops, skills labs, and service user-focused exercises build your practical competence alongside your knowledge.
• Service user and carer involvement — learning directly from patients and families gives you insight into their experiences and perspectives.
• Digital and virtual learning tools — simulation weeks and interactive resources enhance clinical reasoning and readiness for real-world practice.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from Teesside’s Children’s Nursing degree gives you the skills, confidence, and professional registration to start a truly rewarding career caring for infants, children, and young people in hospitals, community services, and specialist healthcare settings. Many graduates go on to roles such as Children’s Nurse, Community Child Health Nurse, School Nurse, Specialist Care Coordinator, Nurse Educator, and Clinical Team Leader:

• Support to launch your career: Teesside’s Careers and Employability team provides tailored guidance, including CV and interview workshops, NHS-focused career events, and placement networking opportunities, helping you step confidently into the healthcare workforce.
• Employment prospects & earnings: Most graduates find work within 15 months, with starting salaries around £25,000, and many quickly progress into senior or specialist positions.
• Strong industry connections: Your placements are arranged with local NHS Trusts, GP practices, community services, and hospices, giving you real-world experience and valuable professional contacts.
• Professional recognition: Fully approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), this degree lets you register as a qualified children’s nurse in the UK.
• Graduation outcomes: Alumni move into NHS roles, community health services, or specialist child nursing teams, often advancing into leadership, education, or advisory roles as their careers develop.

Further Academic Progression:
If you want to continue your studies, options include a Master’s in Advanced Clinical Practice or Child Health, specialist nursing leadership or education programs, or research degrees such as an MSc or PhD, opening doors to advanced clinical roles, teaching, policy, or consultancy positions.