Child Nursing Canterbury Christ Church University

Overview

The Child Nursing course from Canterbury Christ Church University will develop your theoretical and practical knowledge and skills from day one, so that you have the experience and confidence to become a competent, compassionate and sustainable practitioner. You'll be immersed in nursing practice right through the course and supported by academics and professionals with vast experience. 

From developing your practical skills in our simulation suites to working in real healthcare environments, you'll be exposed to many different situations and will care for children with varying needs.

The experience you gain will help to ensure that you are fit for practice in evolving and dynamic health care services within the public, charitable or private sectors.

What you'll study

Throughout the course, you'll gain skills to assess and care for children and young people who have a wide variety of healthcare needs and you'll learn about the importance of family centred care. You'll also develop the skills and knowledge you need to become a leader in the child nursing profession and to contribute to service improvement.

You'll explore areas including:

• health promotion
• clinical skills
• person-centred care
• evidence-based practice
• interprofessional working.

You'll have the opportunity to learn from children/young people and their families who either come into the University as part of the teaching, or who you'll meet during your practice placements.

Real life scenarios will be used within some sessions so you can discuss and share your thoughts and learning within a safe and confidential environment.

All the lecturers who facilitate your learning are children’s nurses from a variety of different specialist backgrounds within children’s nursing.

You'll experience a wide range of practice placements and will work within a children’s ward, children’s assessment unit or children’s A&E department.

You'll also have the opportunity to work interprofessionally with departments that also care for children and families, such as theatres, outpatients and special care baby units.

During your community-based placements you'll experience the wide range of services available to children and their families.

By the end of the course, you'll have developed a strong understanding of a wide range of health issues that children and young people may face and how to deal with them effectively, to intervene quickly or early enough to reduce the chances of future health problems. 

Your future career

The course offers a good foundation to enter a career in children’s nursing in a variety of settings. Our students find jobs locally and nationally on children’s wards, children’s hospitals, Neonatal Intensive Care Units, short breaks and hospice services, community services and research. Further study could lead to opportunities in management and leadership roles.

Additionally, on successful completion of the course there are opportunities within the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing to progress onto postgraduate study, such as Specialist Community and Public Health Nursing and MSc or PhD studies.