Nursing (Child) Cardiff University

Overview

Throughout the Nursing (Child) course from Cardiff University you will develop skills in family centred-patient care, effective health promotion, learn about the effects and management of acute and long-term childhood illnesses, assess pain and psychological responses to ill health and learn play and distraction techniques as well as many other techniques. This will enable you to deliver high quality child nursing care in a rapidly changing environment.  

You will be taught by motivated and knowledgeable lecturers in the field of child nursing who are influencing healthcare across Wales and beyond through engagement and research. You will be allocated both a personal tutor who will offer you pastoral support and an academic assessor who will support your professional development during the programme.

We have highly equipped skills laboratories in our Clinical Simulation Suite which enable you to learn in a realistic ward, community and emergency simulations. Lifelike simulations using a variety of technology mean you can safely practice and develop essential skills in a supportive learning environment before going out on to placement; empowering you to provide leadership in multi-disciplinary care where innovation and technology are rapidly evolving.

You will spend 50% of the programme undertaking practice learning with varied service providers in Wales, both in hospitals and in the community. You will benefit from placements supported by experienced practice staff to help support you in becoming the best children’s nurse you can be. We have a highly equipped clinical simulation suite which enables you to learn in realistic ward, community home and emergency simulations.  

Successful completion of this degree will lead to eligibility to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Children’s Nurse. On qualification, you can work in a range of healthcare settings, both in the United Kingdom and abroad. 

Career opportunities:

Children’s nursing is a challenging and rewarding career choice and on qualification, it is possible to work in a wide range of healthcare settings both in the United Kingdom and abroad.

The career options for child nurses are varied and plentiful.  Children’s nurses are usually part of multidisciplinary teams.

As a School of Healthcare Sciences we are proud that 95% of our child nursing graduates are in employment and/or further study six months after graduating (UNISTATS).

A child’s care can take place in a range of settings:

• hospitals

• day care centres

• child health clinics

• child’s home

• Hospice

Potential employers can include various health boards and NHS Trusts, international health services and higher education institutions.

Types of Jobs:

• Children’s nurse - providing support and care to children, adolescents and their families.

• Advanced nurse practitioner – a role for nurses who have done extra training and academic qualifications to be able to examine, assess, make diagnoses, treat, prescribe and make referrals for patients.

• Health visitor – nurses who have chosen to gain additional training and qualifications as specialist community public health nurses. The additional training in public health enables you to assess the health needs of individuals, families and the wider community.