Programme learning outcomes
This programme is a two-year work-based apprenticeship programme. It is intended to prepare students for Nursing Associate roles within the NHS and wider health and social care settings. The role is a higher level than the current healthcare assistant or healthcare support worker and carries greater responsibility and autonomy.
As an apprentice, you will combine working with studying and you will be expected to actively engage in all aspects of your education, maximising opportunities to further your knowledge and skills and share that learning to facilitate the development of peers. On completion of the programme within the new Nursing Associate role, you will work alongside the registered nurse, but will not require direct supervision, delivering care independently, in line with local employer policy and NMC Standards of Proficiency for Nursing Associates (NMC, 2018) and The Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates (NMC, 2018). As a nursing associate you will be able to apply the knowledge, skills and behaviours developed during your education and practice experience to a broad range of clinical and care situations within health and social care settings. Your role will include working in teams and with other agencies to provide preventative care, management of long term physical and mental health conditions and disability, across the lifespan.
Programme learning outcomes
On successful completion of the programme, graduates will be able to:
Consider all aspects of their professional practice within the Nursing Associate role with accountability and responsibility.
Promote health and wellbeing, the maintenance of it, and the prevention of ill-health.
Assess and monitor an individual’s care and identify and escalate concerns where necessary.
Communicate effectively within teams, to support the delivery of high-quality care for all individuals.
Identify and respond to risk, as to inform improvements in the quality and safety of person-centred care and compassionate practice.
Collaborate in partnership with stakeholders across a range of organisations, settings and fields of practice to deliver integrated individual care.
Teaching and learning strategy on the programme
All students attend theory sessions one day per week across each of 3 terms over the 2 years of the programme. This will be Tuesdays for Cohort 4.
A structured approach, which combines key reading to support seminars and activities based upon problem-based learning, simulated practice, and clinical case studies, will enhance the development of the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to meet the needs of patients and client groups across the life span and settings. Students/learners are expected to undertake self-directed study within each module and take a proactive approach and use the teaching and learning opportunities provided to develop and progress their own literacy, numeracy, and digital and technological skills development over the course of the programme.
Assessment strategy for the programme
The assessment strategy for the programme reflects the York Pedagogy in which assessments are:
effective in supporting and measuring learners progress toward the achievement of programme learning outcomes;
ambitious enough to challenge and stretch our learners to the highest standards at every stage;
efficient in terms of workload for both learners and staff.
Assessment within this programme has specifically been structured to build from one level to the next to support progression both in theory and practice, to balance formative and summative work effectively, to offer an appropriate range and choice of assessments. Each module has theoretical outcomes to be achieved and is assessed through either a summative essay, presentation, professional discussion or exam depending upon the module. Each module builds skills in essay and report writing, presentation or examinations progressively from Year 1 to Year 2 and builds progressively upon requisite skills over the 2 years. There is clear process of support and feedback from the module team lead and a robust moderation process.
Practice will be assessed both formatively and summatively within NAPAD 1 & 2 throughout the year with both formative and summative points of submission which are detailed on the assessment schedule. The criteria the learners must achieve in practice links to theoretical module content.
Stage 1 module assessments
Essential Skills for NA Practice
Formative
500 word draft, plan or outline
Summative
1500 word reflective essay
Requisite learning skills
Assessment literacy
Digital literacy & safety
Reading & comprehension
Reflection
Literature searching
Reading academic sources
Academic writing skills
Fundamental Concepts of Health
Formative
Presentation practice
Summative
10 minute pre-recorded PowerPoint presentation
Requisite learning skills
Reading & comprehension
Literature searching
Data interpretation & analysis
Oral presentation skills
Digital presentation & design & delivery
Biosciences underpinning NA Practice
Formative
Practice MCQs and short answer questions
Summative
Open examination of limited duration
Requisite learning skills
Reading & comprehension Numeracy (formula & conversions)
Data interpretation & analysis
Revision & exam technique
Language & terminology
Evidenced Based Practice and Quality Improvement
Formative
500 word draft, plan or outline
Summative
2000 word report
Requisite learning skills
Literature searching
Discrimination, prioritisation & decision-making
Reading & comprehension
Report writing
Data interpretation & application
Meeting Care Needs
Formative
500 word draft, plan or outline
Summative
2000 word case study
Requisite learning skills
Critical reading
Literature searching
Academic writing
Interpreting guidelines
Language & terminology
Professional Values
Formative
500 word draft, plan or outline
Summative
2000 word essay
Requisite learning skills
Reflection
Critical reading
Literature searching
Discrimination, prioritisation & decision-making
Academic writing
Language & terminology
Digital safety
Stage 2 module assessments
Medicines Optimisation
Formative
500 word draft, plan or outline
Calculation tests within the online Safe-Medicate platform
Summative
2000 word essay
Open book numeracy exam
Requisite learning skills
Calculation, formula & data interpretation
Literature searching
Organisation, prioritisation & decision making
Critical reading & analysis
Academic writing
Interpreting guidelines
Language & terminology
Revision & exam technique
Assessing Safety and Risk
Formative
500 word draft, plan or outline
Summative
2000 word essay
Requisite learning skills
Critical reading & analysis
Literature searching
Organisation, discrimination, prioritisation & decision-making
Data interpretation
Academic writing
Interpreting guidelines
Negotiation
Working in Inclusive Partnerships
Formative
500 word draft, plan or outline
Summative
2000 word essay
Requisite learning skills
Critical reading & analysis
Literature searching
Organisation, discrimination, prioritisation & decision-making
Data interpretation
Academic writing
Negotiation
R-reflection
Public Health and Health Promotion
Formative
Outline plan of poster
Presentation skills practice
Summative
10 minute Poster Presentation
Requisite learning skills
Critical reading & analysis
Literature searching
Organisation, discrimination, prioritisation & decision-making
Data interpretation
Oral presentation skills
Digital poster presentation & design & delivery
Supporting Integrated Care
Formative
10 minute formative professional discussion
Summative
20 minute professional discussion
Requisite learning skills
Critical reading & analysis
Organisation, discrimination, prioritisation and decision-making
Interpreting questions
Oral discussion
Revision & exam technique
Supporting, supervising and collaborating with others
Formative
500 word draft, plan or outline
Summative
2000 word essay
Requisite learning skills
Critical reading, appraisal & analysis
Literature searching
Organisation, discrimination, prioritisation & decision-making
Digital skills
Academic writing
Reflection
Negotiation & teamwork