Programme structure & progression

The programme is two years duration, consists of 2400 programme hours and contains an equal balance of theory and practice in accordance with the NMC Standards for Pre-Registration Nursing Associate Programmes (2018).

There are 1200 practice hours and 1200 theory hours allocated to the programme. You are required to undertake 720 hours of protected learning time within your clinical base placement and 480 hours of protected learning time in a range of external placements over 2 years.

Stages

Your programme of study is divided into a specified number of stages. Your programme consists of Stage 1 and Stage 2. You must satisfy the requirements for one stage of your programme before being able to progress to the next stage.

There are three terms in each stage. Each term is made up of eleven weeks and there are six terms in total. Theoretical sessions during each 11-week term are on Tuesday if you are in Cohort 4.

Each stage is made up of modules which you will take. You will undertake two theoretical modules during each term (as shown on the course plan). Each of the modules you undertake will have a credit value (e.g. 10 credits or 60 credits) For your programme, each theoretical module is 10 credits. You will achieve the credit for a module by passing the module assessments.

The majority of face-to-face taught sessions will take place at the University, though some may be delivered on Trust premises. These will be shown in advance on your published timetable.

In order to consolidate theoretical learning you will undertake a professional placement based in a broad range of practice settings. Within each stage, you  have a practice-based module which runs throughout the entire year and alongside theoretical teaching. Each practice-based module is 60 credits The practice placement element will run the entirety of the programme and comprises of both formative and summative assessments at set points throughout the year, using the practice documentation (NAPAD1, NAPAD2 and the ongoing achievement record (OAR)) to evidence that learning outcomes have been successfully achieved. For those on an apprenticeship route, your normal place of work will act as your main ‘base’ placement. Learners on the direct entry route will be allocated placements within organisations.  Learners on both routes are required to undertake four specialist external placements to ensure they have a breadth of experience within different settings and across the lifespan.

Throughout the programme, links are made between theory and practice learning through the assessments undertaken by the learner. The criteria the learner must achieve within practice links to the theoretical content of the modules. Both NAPADs incorporate the range of NMC (2018) Standards of proficiency for Nursing Associates, which link to the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the Trainee Nursing Associate Apprenticeship Standards. NAPAD1 equates to Level 4 (Year 1) and NAPAD2 equates to Level 5 (Year 2). There is flexibility within your NAPAD if you achieve skills or proficiencies earlier to log these in NAPAD 1.

For those on an  apprenticeship route, your annual leave is determined by your employer and the Department of Health Sciences and is not open to negotiation except during the summer period (as shown on the course plan and within the assessment schedule). At the end of Stage 2, learners are not permitted to take annual leave in weeks 96 – 99, as this period is required if you are placed on an action plan in practice. For those on a direct entry route, you will not be permitted to take annual leave when in theoretical modules as designated on the direct entry course plan. 

End-point assessment

For those on an apprenticeship route, your programme will incorporate a fully integrated end-point assessment. The end-point assessment (EPA) assesses whether apprentices have also passed the apprenticeship, and is based on the same professional knowledge, skills and behaviours as the occupational standard. There is no actual assessment to be undertaken by the learner as the endpoint assessment is integrated and so incorporates all the progression points that you will make throughout the programme to ensure adequate completion.

The EPA period starts, and the EPA is arranged, once the employer and university is satisfied that the apprentice is consistently working at or above the level set out in the occupational standard and all of the pre-requisite gateway requirements for EPA have been met. It is expected that the EPA gateway will be reached on completion of the final qualification module and before the Stage 2 examination board. The EPA period is expected to last a maximum of 1 month beginning when the apprentice has passed the EPA gateway. The EPA will determine the overall apprenticeship standard and grades of pass or fail. At the end-point assessment gateway it must be confirmed that the apprentice has met the required criteria outlining in the EPA gateway module assessment guideline. The EPA starts with the examination board and finishes when the University makes the required declarations to the NMC. For further information see the End-point assessment plan for Nursing Associate fully integrated apprenticeship standard. 

Stage 1 modules

Stage 2 modules

If you successfully complete 100% of the requirements for the Foundation Degree in Science in Health and Social Care: Nursing Associate you may be able to use that credit for entry to further study subject to recognition of prior learning (RPL) processes within the University of York or another university.

Successful completion of the Foundation Degree in Science in Health and Social Care: Nursing Associate would enable you to directly enter the University of York BSc Nursing programme at the start of Stage 2. 

Modules

Each stage is made up of modules which you will take. Each of the modules you undertake will have a credit value (e.g. 10 credits or 60 credits) and a ‘level’ which indicates the module’s level of difficulty. You will achieve the credit for a module by passing the module assessment(s). Modules are assessed by a range of methods which will normally result in a numerical module mark out of 100. Some modules are marked on a pass/fail basis so will not receive a numerical mark.

If you fail a module you might be able to still pass your year and progress to the next level using reassessment. Reassessment is explained in more detail in the Assessment, Progression and Award Section of the Handbook.

Modules and stages are also subject to credit-weighting. More information on this can be found in the ‘Credit-weighting’ section.

Each module has its own Module Descriptor which includes module learning outcomes and module specific information. The Module Catalogue provides you with information about the modules running in a year of study.

Each module has its own Assessment Guideline that provides information regarding the nature of the module’s assessment. Assessment Guidelines can be found on the Student Intranet.

All modules are compulsory within this programme.