Course Catalogue

This programme aims to develop Nursing Associates who are proficient, safe and accountable practitioners, who can deliver holistic person-centred, evidence based and effective care across the lifespan whilst working as part of a team in an ever-changing and complex healthcare environment.  The programme will meet the requirements of a  Foundation Degree award and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards for Pre-registration Nursing Associate programmes.

This programme primarily aims to develop Nursing Associates who on qualification have the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to care for people safely, with integrity, expertise, respect and compassion.

On completion of the programme the student will have achieved the following programme learning outcomes:

The programme utilises a variety of teaching and learning approaches that are designed to engage and inspire students. These include lectures, seminars, group work activities, simulation and tutorials. LJMU’s Learning and Teaching Strategy 2023-2030 has guided the programme delivery to ensure that students develop and utilise progressively higher order thinking skills through the modules, as well as subject specific knowledge and skills as they become inquiring and confident learners.

The NMC Standards for Pre-registration Nursing Associate Programmes (NMC 2023) is also reflected in the teaching learning and assessment to ensure all students receive the appropriate breadth of knowledge and experience for a Nursing Associate programme. 

In addition to theoretical teaching, learning and assessment, students also experience learning within practice environments.  A range of learning and teaching strategies support practice learning, supported by supernumerary status to protect learning. 

A model of teaching and learning will be applied across the programme that fosters independence in the acquisition of knowledge and the facilitation of the application of theoretical knowledge to nursing practice; students will therefore:

• Be enabled in acquiring knowledge through supported independent learning. This will include being directed to scholarly activities that will prepare them for scheduled teaching activity that is provided directly by members of staff in real time, either face-to-face or synchronous online. This may take the form of lectures, seminars, tutorials and webcasts.
• Be supported in engaging in online asynchronous activity. Examples include asynchronous tutorial discussions, tutor-facilitated discussion boards, and tutor-facilitated collaborative or individual projects such as wikis, padlets, blogs and e-portfolios. Academic staff actively, iteratively and directly engage with students to facilitate and guide learning, and are visible, engaged and active in the virtual learning environment.
• Consolidate theoretical learning in the practice learning environment whilst being supported and assessed by practice supervisors and assessors and academic assessors.

Formative assessment is diagnostic in nature and is concerned with the development of the student, in identifying strengths and areas for development in addition to providing the students with feedback on their progress during the learning process

Formative assessment will take place both within the theoretical and practice learning environment. To prepare for theoretical assessment students will be given the opportunity to practice the appropriate skills that relate to the variety of assessment methods that are utilised throughout the programme. This will enable them to adequately prepare for written, verbal, practical and examination forms of assessment in each year of study.

Simulated learning will also be incorporated into the teaching and learning approach. Simulation is an educational method which support students to achieve their programme outcomes and be confirmed as capable of safe and effective practice through the ‘development of their knowledge, behaviours and skills, with the opportunity for repetition, feedback, evaluation and reflection’ (NMC 2023).  The NMC Guidance and Supporting Information: Simulated Practice Learning (2023) states that simulated practice learning can be included proportionately on direct entry Nursing Associate programmes to replace practice placement hours. Simulated practice learning will be included in both years of the programme.

In each academic year students will have to undertake five theoretical assessments: one for each theoretical module. Assessment methods will be authentic to nursing to demonstrate knowledge and competency, in preparation of ‘real-world’ tasks that students are expected to experience in their professional careers.

Students on the Nursing Associate programme will spend 50% of their programme hours within a practice learning environment. They will be supported by Practice Supervisors and Assessors to achieve the NMC Standards of Proficiency for Nursing Associates.All student Nursing Associates will be allocated an appropriate and suitable prepared practice assessor, practice supervisor and academic assessor who will support their learning and assessment in practice and confirm their progression. This is a requirement of the NMC (2023) Standards for Supervision and Assessment.  In addition, all practice areas will ensure that there is a nominated person to actively support students and address student concerns. (NMC 2023). Students will be assessed in practice using the Nursing Associate Practice Assessment Document. Students will experience a range of placements which will enable them to care for individuals across the lifespan and physical and psychological health. All practice learning placements are subject to annual educational audits.