BN Hons Children's Nursing (with Foundation Year)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Chester

Program Overview

If you’re passionate about making a real difference in the lives of children and their families, the Children’s Nursing (including Foundation Year) BN (Hons) at the University of Chester is the perfect place to start. This four‑year program is designed for caring, motivated students from a variety of backgrounds, giving you the confidence, knowledge, and hands-on experience you need to become a skilled children’s nurse, whether you’re joining from the UK or abroad.

Curriculum Structure

Foundation Year:
Your foundation year is all about giving you a strong start. You’ll take modules like Exploring Professional Practice, The Human Body, Health and Disease, and Psychology, Wellbeing and Society, where you’ll explore how healthcare works, understand the social and psychological factors affecting health, and get introduced to key professional standards. This year helps you build confidence, develop communication skills, and lay the groundwork for success in degree-level study.

Year 1:
In the first year of the nursing degree, you’ll dive into the core science and practice of nursing. Modules like Applied Anatomy, Physiology and Integrated Pharmacology, Introduction to Person‑Centred Care, and Practice Learning 1 combine classroom learning with early clinical experiences, helping you learn basic nursing skills and how to care for children in real-world settings.

Year 2:
Your second year builds on your knowledge with more hands-on experience. Through modules such as Practice Learning 2a and 2b (Children’s Nurse) and Interprofessional Research & Innovation, you’ll spend more time in clinical placements, learn to make evidence-informed decisions, and see how teamwork and reflective practice shape excellent nursing care.

Year 3:
In your final year, you’ll focus on preparing to enter the profession as a confident, competent children’s nurse. You’ll integrate everything you’ve learned through advanced placements and modules that refine your leadership, critical thinking, and clinical skills, ensuring you can provide safe, compassionate, and high-quality care from day one.

Focus Areas

Child‑centred care, clinical skills development, professional practice, evidence‑based nursing, inter-professional collaboration, health sciences fundamentals

Learning Outcomes

Deliver safe and effective care for children and families, apply scientific knowledge and clinical skills, communicate and collaborate confidently with healthcare teams, uphold professional and ethical standards, and continually reflect on and improve your practice.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Fully accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), so once you graduate, you can register as a qualified Children’s Nurse in the UK and pursue professional practice internationally.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Chester’s children’s nursing graduates enjoy excellent career prospects, with most entering the NHS or private healthcare sectors soon after graduation. The program is recognized for its high-quality clinical placements, supportive teaching, and strong alignment with real-world nursing practice.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

When you study Children’s Nursing at the University of Chester, learning goes far beyond the classroom. You’ll gain hands-on experience from the very start, practising your skills in real clinical settings while being supported by experienced nurses and tutors. The course also uses state-of-the-art simulation suites and skills labs, where you can try out procedures, practise patient communication, and build confidence in a safe, realistic environment. This combination of practical placements, collaborative learning, and digital tools ensures you graduate ready to make a real difference in the lives of children and their families:

Clinical placements: Work in hospitals, community settings, and primary care, giving you real-life experience caring for children and young people under professional supervision.
Simulation and skills labs: Practice essential procedures, assessments, and communication skills in fully equipped, realistic clinical environments before stepping into patient care.
Interprofessional learning: Collaborate with peers from other health and social care programs to reflect how real healthcare teams work together.
Digital and e-learning tools: Access online resources, guided independent study, and digital clinical tools that prepare you for evidence-based practice.
Library and study support: Enjoy specialist health resources, quiet study areas, and IT facilities that help you succeed academically and professionally.

This mix of hands-on practice, simulation, and teamwork means you’ll not only understand what good nursing care looks like — you’ll be able to deliver it confidently from day one.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from the Children’s Nursing programme at the University of Chester sets you up for a meaningful and rewarding career caring for children, young people, and their families. Many students move straight into frontline roles where they can make a real difference, supported throughout by the university’s expert Careers and Employability team:

Typical career paths: Registered Children’s Nurse, Community Paediatric Nurse, Specialist Clinical Practitioner in paediatrics, Health Educator.
University support for employment: Chester’s Careers and Employability team offers personalised guidance, CV and application help, interview preparation, workshops, and access to CareerHub — the university’s platform with job listings, internships, and employer events.
Graduate outcomes & salary: Around 85% of nursing graduates move into work or further study within 15 months, with starting salaries averaging about £28,000, giving you a strong launch into a career in healthcare.
Industry partnerships: Clinical placements are offered in collaboration with NHS Trusts and other healthcare providers, giving you invaluable real-world experience and professional contacts that often lead directly to job opportunities.
Accreditation & professional value: Completing the course qualifies you to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Children’s Nurse — a credential recognised across the UK and internationally.
Strong employability: Graduates are well-prepared for roles across hospitals, community health teams, paediatric departments, and specialist children’s services.

Further Academic Progression:
Once you’re a registered nurse, you can take your career further with postgraduate study. Options include MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice, specialisms in Paediatric Nursing, or research-led pathways that open doors to teaching, clinical leadership, or health policy roles. Postgraduate study allows you to specialise, take on more responsibility, and make an even bigger impact on children’s healthcare.