BSc (Hons) Nursing (Children's) Direct Entry

At Derby, you won’t just learn about children’s nursing — you’ll experience it first-hand. From your very first week, you’ll start developing the confidence, communication, and clinical skills that every children’s nurse needs. You’ll train in professional facilities that mirror real hospitals, work with cutting-edge simulation technology, and spend half of your time out on placement in real healthcare settings. Every step is designed to prepare you for the realities of caring for children, young people, and their families.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• Extensive clinical placements: Around 50% of your course will be spent in real healthcare environments — such as hospitals, community settings, and child health services — so you can apply your classroom learning directly to patient care.

• Clinical Skills Suite: You’ll practise everything from taking vital signs to responding to emergencies in Derby’s replica hospital wards and treatment rooms — it feels just like the real thing.

• Immersive Simulation Suite: This high-tech facility uses 360° projections, VR, sound effects, and life-like mannequins to recreate real scenarios. It’s a safe space to make mistakes, reflect, and build confidence before stepping into clinical practice.

• Digital learning tools: Alongside in-person practice, you’ll use online simulations and Derby’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to review procedures, watch demonstrations, and collaborate with your peers remotely.

• Inter-professional learning: You’ll train alongside students from other nursing fields and healthcare disciplines, helping you understand how to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams — just like in hospitals.

• Taught by practising professionals: Your lecturers are all registered nurses who bring real-world insight into every class, helping you connect theory with current NHS practice.

• Access to outstanding facilities: You’ll study at the Kedleston Road site — home to Derby’s main library, study areas, and all the clinical teaching spaces you’ll use throughout your degree.

Graduating from Derby’s Children’s Nursing programme sets you up for a rewarding career making a real difference in young people’s lives. You’ll leave ready to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and step straight into professional roles such as:

• Children’s Nurse in hospitals, paediatric wards, or neonatal units

• Community Child Health Nurse in schools or local health clinics

• Specialist practitioner in areas like safeguarding or specialist paediatric care

• Health Care Team Lead or Manager in children’s health services

Here’s how Derby supports your career and future success:

• Careers & Employability support: The university helps you with CV workshops, interview preparation, and job-hunting strategies tailored for nursing, ensuring you feel confident entering the workforce.

• Strong employment outcomes: Almost all graduates (nearly 100%) are in work or further study 15 months after finishing the course, with a median salary of around £25,500.

• Professional accreditation: This degree is approved by the NMC, meaning you’ll qualify to register as a children’s nurse — a qualification recognised across the UK and internationally.

• Real-world industry links: With 50% of your course spent on placements in hospitals and community settings, you gain hands-on experience and professional connections from day one.

Further Academic Progression:
Once you’ve completed your BSc, there are plenty of ways to continue learning and specialise:

• Pursue a Master’s degree in children’s nursing, child health leadership, or healthcare management.

• Explore doctoral research (PhD) in paediatric nursing, child health policy, or clinical simulation.

• Take post-registration CPD courses to become an advanced practitioner, specialist nurse, or nursing educator.