Children's Nursing MSc

Why choose this course?

This course provides you with theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to register as a children's nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Children's nurses provide care for children and young people from birth to 18 years of age across settings, for example hospital, home and hospice. The role of the children's nurse includes promoting health and minimising illness in collaboration with families. When providing nursing care for children, working with the family and consideration of their needs is essential.

Children's nurses work collaboratively with a range of professionals to meet the specific needs of children, young people and their families wherever they are cared for.

Within our state-of-the-art simulation suites, our children's nursing students can further develop the skills required to care for children and families in a safe environment, which closely mimics a health care environment (hospital and home). Family role players are central to this learning experience.

You will have a diverse range of quality placements where you will develop your nursing skills under the supervision of supportive practitioners.

You will have the opportunity to take a national or international elective module at the end of your first year.

NHS Training Grant 

Nursing students on pre-registration courses from September 2020 will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year which they will not need to pay back, subject to eligibility criteria. For more information please visit the NHS Business Service Authority.

Please note: this course's next intake is planned for September 2023.

Apply for this course
UCAS code Mode Duration Attendance Start date
B733 Full time 2 years Classroom based and clinical placements September 2023

For 2023 entry please ensure your application is submitted before the UCAS January deadline 2023 as this course may not be in a position to consider applications submitted after this date.

Location Kingston Hill
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Reasons to choose Kingston University

  • Kingston is No.1 in London and No.6 in the UK overall for nursing and midwifery (Guardian league tables 2022).
  • Our award-winning simulation programme offers a wide range of simulated environments for child specific learning and teaching.
  • Our team includes Professor Jayne Price, lead editor of Palliative Care for Children and Families, and editor of Essentials of Nursing; Children and Young People.

What you will study

The first year is divided into two parts. In part one you will undertake a bridging module introducing you to the foundations of nursing and healthcare. In part two you will look at the context of nursing within a variety of client groups within your specific field of nursing. General nursing topics are studied alongside subjects tailored to children's nursing.

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. Those listed here may also be a mixture of core and optional modules.

Year 1 (parts one and two)

Year 2 (part 3)

Core modules

Foundations of life sciences for graduates

15 credits

This module is a core requirement for all students on the MSc Nursing course. It explores the foundations of human anatomy and physiology, including the body's systems, mechanisms for maintaining homeostasis, genomics and human development across the lifespan. Selected pathophysiology will be introduced in relation to commonly encountered health conditions and students will also begin to develop their knowledge of pharmacological concepts relating to nursing. This will provide students with key underpinning knowledge which will facilitate the exploration of person-centred assessment and care later in the programme.

Establishing the fundamentals of nursing care

30 credits

This module is a core requirement for all students on the MSc Nursing course. It introduces students to the fundamental principles of nursing and person-centred care, the determinants of health and well-being, compassionate communication and contemporary health policy. It enables the student to develop critical knowledge, skills and professional attitudes for the delivery of safe and effective person-centred care of individuals and their families or carers across a variety of settings. Students will begin to establish a sense of their nursing field identity but also that of other fields in order to promote effective interdisciplinary and integrated care.

Assessment and care process for acutely ill children

30 credits

This module enables students to assess, plan, implement and evaluate quality nursing care for children and young people with acute illness. The nursing care will be holistic in nature therefore covering physical aspects and addressing psychological, social and cultural needs of the child and family. Students will critically examine how care can be delivered in partnership with families and the interdisciplinary team. The care discussed will be based on best evidence and tailored to the individualised needs of the child and family.

Community and public health nursing for children

30 credits

This module explores local, national and global perspectives on contemporary and future public health issues related to caring for children and young people in community and other health, social care and education settings. Students develop their knowledge, skills and attitudes required to promote health and prevent ill health for children and young people in partnership with families and wider socio-political networks.

Introduction to professional practice

15 credits

This module will prepare the student for their role in practice. The focus is to introduce a range of nursing procedures to enable students to provide skilled, evidence-based, person-centred care to people at any stage of life who may have a range of physical, mental, cognitive or behavioural health conditions. It is a generic module where all fields of nursing are engaged with core nursing procedures as identified by the NMC Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses (NMC, 2018).

Developing professional practice

30 credits

This module will develop the skills taught and practised in the introduction to professional practice in Year 1. Students will be able to assess, plan and rationalise the nursing care they provide for people in health and social care and community settings. The emphasis will be on holistic person-centred care covering physical, psychological, social and cultural care. It will look at evidence-based, person-centred care being delivered inter- and intra-disciplinary.

Core modules

Safe and effective quality care in children's nursing

30 credits

This module will provide the children's nursing student with the theoretical knowledge and skills required for their future role as a qualified children's nurse when contributing to risk monitoring, quality care provision and optimised service improvements. The student will learn to manage and prioritise clinical actions, participate in clinical audit activities for quality and service improvements and learn to avoid compromising quality care using evidence-based knowledge and experience from practice. Regulations essential for maintaining safety at work and in different care environments will be covered. Students will learn about collaborative interdisciplinary working, whilst collectively developing effective improvement strategies. Some sessions will be shared across fields as they are core for all fields.

Coordinating the care of children with complex and palliative care needs

30 credits

This module will provide the student with the underpinning knowledge and skills required for their future leadership role in coordinating and managing the complex and palliative care needs of children in partnership with the family across a range of organisations and settings. Students will consider, where appropriate, the wishes of the child/families, their culture and the services available within the political landscape. The student will build on their knowledge of partnership and collaborative working and examine the cultural, political, psychosocial and technological influences on nursing care, resource management and finances.

Leadership in children's nursing

30 credits

Navigating the transition from student to a professional practitioner who is skilled at leading teams is critically important to the delivery of safe, effective and high quality health care. This module is designed to prepare the student for professional nursing practice by expanding their knowledge and skills to enable them to be an accountable and compassionate leader within the health and social care system. It focuses on leadership, team working, and performance management and enables the children's nurse to reflect on their transition to registered practice and build the evidence base for a career development portfolio. Some sessions will be shared across fields as they are core for all fields

Advancing professional practice

30 credits

This module advances the skills taught and practised in Year 1 in order to prepare students for their transition to working as a registered nurse. The module focuses on the assessment and management of patients with complex health care needs, working in partnership with other health care professionals. Students will integrate their clinical and communication skills with evidence based knowledge to become clinically proficient and confident nurses. It is a generic module where all fields of nursing learn with and from each other.

Please note

Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.

Entry requirements

Typical offer

  • A health- or science-related degree at 2.2 or above completed in the last five years. Health- and science-related degrees could include health studies, psychology, physiology, biology, social sciences, or related studies.  
  • A minimum of 650 hours of health- or social care-related experience undertaken in the 12 months prior to your application. Applicants will be asked to complete an RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) claim form to demonstrate this experience. This, along with a testimony, is a condition for entry to the programme.
  • You must have at least five GCSEs at grade 4 or above (or grade C or above for GCSEs taken before 2017), including English language and maths (and a science subject is preferred), or equivalent qualifications, together with evidence of academic study, ideally within the last five years.

UCAS personal statement

The UCAS personal statement must include:

  • how you have researched the profession of nursing;
  • examples of how you have worked with vulnerable people or worked in teams where you have developed skills which may be relevant to nursing;
  • how you have gained insight into the course e.g. open days, speaking to other people;
  • and your personal qualities which you feel are related to nursing.

International

Non-native speakers who do not have the equivalent of GCSE English at grade 4 (formerly grade C) or an equivalent (e.g. Functional Skills Level 2 Literacy) require an Academic IELTS score of 7.0 or equivalent overall and at least 6.5 in the writing section and at least 7 in the reading, listening and speaking sections.

Country-specific information

You will find more information on country specific entry requirements in the International section of our website.

Find your country:

Additional requirements

  • All suitable applicants are required to attend an online interview. This includes a series of short value-based questions, tasks or scenarios.
  • Admission is subject to occupational health screening and Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) enhanced check including checks against the Adult and Child Workforce Barring lists if you are offered and accept a place on the course.

Covid-19 vaccination requirement

UPDATE 3 March 2022:

The Covid vaccine mandate for NHS staff in England that was due to come into effect on 1st April has been revoked by the Government. [https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2022-03-01/hcws654] This means it is unlikely that vaccination will be a requirement to access placements on your course.

However, we are aware that some placement providers may still require their staff and students to be fully vaccinated for some clinical areas. It therefore remains our position to strongly recommend everyone eligible to be fully vaccinated for health and care courses.

You can book your vaccinations here.

You can read information about Coronavirus vaccines here.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Pharmaceutical Council and Social Work England strongly encourage everyone eligible to be fully vaccinated as quickly as possible to keep yourselves and your community safe.

We will continue to update this page if there are any further changes.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods include lectures, clinical skills sessions, seminars, tutorials, workshops, guided study, field trips and independent project work. Kingston University has well-equipped simulation suites where you can use clinical equipment and practise on mannequins and teaching models. In addition, simulated events related to children's nursing. Our academic staff and simulation and skills team have won both national and university awards for their innovative simulations.

This course is split into 50% theory and 50% clinical practice.

Guided independent study (self-managed time)

When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking and preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS – the online virtual learning platform.

Support for postgraduate students

As a student at Kingston University, we will make sure you have access to appropriate advice regarding your academic development. You will also be able to use the University's support services. 

Your workload

.

Year 1 (part one and two)

Year 2 (part three)

Year 1 (part one and two)
  • Scheduled learning and teaching: 207 hours
  • Guided independent study (self-managed time): 812 hours
  • Placement learning including skills: 875 hours
Year 2 (part three)
  • Scheduled learning and teaching: 160 hours
  • Guided independent study (self-managed time): 630 hours
  • Placement learning including skills: 796 hours

Year 1

  • 57 % of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity (including placement learning).

Year 2

  • 60% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity (including placement learning).

Contact hours may vary depending on your modules

How you will be assessed

Assessment methods include academic skills assessed by; essays, exams, posters and reports and clinical skills assessed in our simulation suites and by practice supervisors or assessors in practice placements.

The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows:

Year one (part one and two):

  • 40% coursework
  • 40% practical exam
  • 20% written exam

Year two (part three):

  • 75% coursework
  • 25% practical exam

Feedback summary

We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.

Who teaches this course?

Our academic team of highly skilled nurses, lecturers and researchers are known for innovation in teaching and learning. Our award-winning simulation suites provide you with unrivalled opportunities to develop your skills in caring for patients and service users through highly realistic simulations and role play. You will also have opportunities to learn with and from other health and social care students.

Our team includes Professor Jayne Price, lead editor of Palliative Care for Children and Families, and editor of Essentials of Nursing Children and Young People.

The Children's Nursing Team recently published the Clinical Pocket Reference: Nursing Care of Children and Young People.

Our lecturers receive national and international awards for their excellence in learning and teaching.

Miss Karen Elliott

Course Leader

Professor Jayne Price

Associate Professor and Team Leader

Mrs Lorna Ashbrooke

Ms Mary Brady

Mrs Zoe Clark

Mrs Elizabeth Crighton

Mrs Kamalpreet Dhindsa

Ms Claire Emery

Mr Kevin Hannigan

Mrs Francina Hyatt

Miss Jessica Inch

Mrs Sophie Newcombe

Mrs Sally Richardson

Course fees and funding

2023/24 fees for this course

Home 2023/24

  • MSc full time £9,250

International 2023/24

  • MSc full time £16,200

2022/23 fees for this course

Home 2022/23

  • MSc full time £9,250

International 2022/23

  • MSc full time £15,900

Funding

Full-time students qualify for the same fee loan and living costs support as undergraduate students starting full-time higher education courses by accessing loans from the Student Loans Company.

Visit our Fees and funding page to find out about the student funding options available to help you fund your postgraduate studies.

In addition, to support you while you are undertaking the clinical placement element of your studies, the government is providing non-repayable grants. The Learning Support Fund administered through the NHS Business Services Authority makes available: 

  • £1,000 Child Dependants' Allowance 

  • up to £3,000 for exceptional hardship 

  • reimbursement of additional travel and accommodation costs over normal daily travel to clinical placements. 

Information on NHS bursaries can be found on the NHS Business Services Authority website. 
 
Please note, you cannot apply for a pre-registration masters qualification in the same profession that you are already registered in, for example, if you hold a BSc Nursing in Adult Nursing, you are unable to complete an MSc Nursing in Mental Health. 

NHS Training Grant 

Nursing students on pre-registration courses from September 2020 will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year which they will not need to pay back, subject to eligibility criteria. For more information please visit the NHS Business Service Authority.

Discounts for Kingston University alumni

Kingston University is pleased to offer a 10% discount on full-time and part-time postgraduate degree course tuition fees (including PGCE courses) to our alumni. Visit our Alumni discount page to find out more.

International students

If you are an international student, find out more about scholarships and bursaries.

Additional costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.

Textbooks

Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. You may prefer to buy your own copy of key textbooks, this can cost between £50 and £250 per year.

Computer equipment

There are open-access networked computers available across the University, plus laptops available to loan. You may find it useful to have your own PC, laptop or tablet which you can use around campus and in halls of residence. Free WiFi is available on each of the campuses. You may wish to purchase your own computer, which can cost from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.

Photocopying and printing

In the majority of cases written coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing, binding and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees, this may cost up to £100 per year.

Uniform and equipment

We provide you with a uniform. You will need to purchase appropriate shoes (£20-£60) and a fob watch (£5-£20) for practice. If you want additional uniform items, they are available for purchase.

Travel

Travel costs are not included in your tuition fees but we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses, Surbiton train station, Kingston upon Thames train station, Norbiton train station and halls of residence.

Placements

Placement expenses for travel and accommodation may be reimbursed by NHS Bursaries where, for example, the requirement exceeds that of attending university; or requires additional accommodation to that of the usual term time location. These expenses may need to be covered initially by the student before any applicable reimbursement is received. Please note: EU and international students may not be eligible for support for travel and accommodation.

DBS check

The University pays for the processing of the application which is £51 but students are expected to pay a small fee (approximately £7) to the Post Office to get their ID documents verified and £13 per year for subscribing to the Update Service. This subscription allows universities and potential employers to view any changes to students' DBS.

Occupational health

You will need to fill out an Occupational Health Form. In some cases, we will require extra information and may ask you to get your GP to complete a routine screening form. All GPs have their own policies on charging fees for completion of these reports. The minimum fee recommended by the BMA is £30. Some GPs will not charge you for completion of the form but some GP surgeries are unable to make exceptions and will charge you the standard rate for their practice (in some cases this can be £50 or more). Neither the Faculty nor Occupational Health will be able to reimburse students for fees charged by their GP.

The majority of the required vaccinations should be free from your GP or via the NHS. Our Occupational Health Service will see you in the first two weeks of the course to ensure you have obtained the necessary vaccinations and will undertake any vaccinations/screening tests you have missed. Neither the Faculty nor Occupational Health will be able to reimburse students for any fees charged by their GP or other vaccination providers for vaccinations incurring a cost. If you are being charged for a vaccination we would suggest that you wait until you start the course where you will be able to obtain the vaccination at no cost to yourself.

Membership and professional fees

Professional body membership fees whilst on course are approximately £10. Nursing and Midwifery Council registration fees, once qualified, are currently £120 for the year.

Facilities

Kingston University's Kingston Hill campus offers you modern facilities and include well-equipped laboratories where you can practise within a safe environment.

Our nursing students are taught by the Simulated Learning and Clinical Skills team within clinical, community and practice health settings.

Our Nursing Simulated Learning and Clinical Skills Centre facilities include a simulated ward area with a medication room, clinical classrooms, one of which has an immersion suite for fully immersive simulated learning scenarios in different settings. The areas are set up with an audio-visual system so skills and simulations can be recorded for group debrief and self-assessment.

Within our facilities, students take part in award-winning innovative simulations with role players and full body manikins that provide unprecedented opportunities to acquire, develop and maintain the knowledge, skills, values and behaviours needed for safe and effective patient care.

After you graduate

This course enables you to join as a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Once qualified, you will have a range of employment opportunities in leading NHS and independent organisations. Staff development and continuing professional development programmes support and encourage life-long learning.

Continuing your professional development

Healthcare is constantly developing and advancing as the needs of the population change, more research evidence emerges and new technologies are created. Once you've qualified, it will be important to keep up to date with current healthcare knowledge and practice. This will be required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and encouraged by your employer.

Today's NHS is going through a period of unprecedented change. Nurses are learning new skills and taking on more responsibility. The number of nurse-led specialist services is growing and nurses are playing a more active role in managing people's health and wellbeing, both in hospital and the community.

Specialist skills

There are many opportunities for nurses to advance their careers by developing specialist skills. These include clinical skills such as suturing, venepuncture, cannulation and prescribing, as well as running specialist nurse-led services in areas like diabetes drug and alcohol misuse and nurse-led services for older people.

New roles, such as nurse practitioner and nurse consultant, demand more-advanced clinical and academic skills and provide further career development opportunities with salaries that reflect these specialist skills.

Teaching and mentoring

Qualified nurses play a major role in educating nursing students and training their own colleagues. Many find mentoring very rewarding and most will be involved in teaching and supervising students on practice placements. The lecturer practitioner role also enables nurses to combine an interest in teaching with hands-on practice.

Evidence-based practice

All modern nursing practice is evidence-based, applying clinical research findings to deliver the most suitable care to patients. Nurses are encouraged to reflect on their practice, undertake research, publish papers and speak at conferences and seminars. There are many examples of nurse-led research being used to change practice within clinical settings.

Management

Professional nurses today have management and leadership responsibilities and make a real contribution to changing the way services are organised and delivered.

Supporting your development

We offer a wide range of opportunities for continuing professional development and lifelong learning. These include events and seminars, study days, short courses and qualifications at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Accreditation

This degree confers both an academic award and a professional qualification in nursing. On successful completion of the programme, you will be recommended to the Nursing and Midwifery Council for professional registration.

Links with the health sector

You will undertake clinical practice in a variety of NHS and independent sector organisations so that you can experience the full range of nursing within your chosen branch programme. Clinical specialists lead a significant number of our theory sessions, with service users and carers providing extra input.

Academic staff also liaise closely with NHS and independent sector organisations over learning and teaching, assessment and research.

Our clinical partners include:

Current research in this subject

Current research in this subject

Many of our staff are research active, often in partnership with NHS trusts. This ensures they are in touch with the latest thinking and bring best practice to your studies.

Research themes and programmes include:

  • Integrated and collaborative working and learning;
  • Implementation and Improvement;
  • Emergency, cardiovascular and critical care;
  • Psychological and Cognitive Conditions;
  • Education

Heritage 2 Health programme

Through our Heritage 2 Health programme, you will have the opportunity to work with professionals in the creative industries, helping to promote the best care for service users at heritage sites.

Course changes and regulations

The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.

Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.

Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.