Nursing: Child (MSc)

About this course

Provide evidenced based nursing care to neonates, children, adolescents and their families. Work across a range of healthcare settings on this master’s degree in child nursing. Learn to make complex decisions, evaluate practice, coordinate care and advocate for your patients' needs.

You'll join a knowledgeable community with a global ranking for nursing and midwifery: 9th in the world and 3rd among UK universities (QS World Rankings by Subject 2021).

This 2 year children's nursing degree is designed for ambitious graduates and career changers who want to become a registered nurse. It's also ideal if you’re already a high achieving qualified nurse and want a second field of registration.

The course prepares you to pursue senior healthcare roles. It also provides a solid foundation for higher level academic study.

You'll carry out a mix of theoretical learning and practice hours which meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requirements for registration as a nurse. Practice learning takes the form of placements in a range of healthcare settings.

You’ll gain essential practical experience during the placements to help you develop into the role of a nursing professional.

Your taught theoretical modules cover:

• professional nursing practice
• fundamental aspects of care
• global and public health
• person centred nursing care
• managing acute changes in health status
• coordinating long-term care
• influencing innovation and change
• research methods / research project

Developing critical thinking, reasoning and analytical skills are a big focus of the course. You'll improve your leadership skills so that you can supervise, delegate and challenge practice in the future.

When you complete the degree you’ll be eligible to register with the NMC as a Registered Nurse (Child). You must apply to register within 5 years of completing your course.

Careers

You’ll be actively supported to identify where you may wish to work for your first post as a registered nurse.

We have a dedicated School Lead for Employability. As well as timetabled careers activities, we’ll invite you to attend the School's annual Health Sciences Careers Fair. You’ll meet potential employers and gain invaluable early careers advice about your options.

As a child nursing graduate from the University of Southampton, you’ll have the ideal platform to move into more senior positions. For example consultant nurse, leading a team or working in advanced clinical practice.

You could also opt to work in education to train and inspire future generations of nurses. Fast track opportunities for doctoral courses may be available, and you may also have the option to combine practice and research, or research and education. These are known in the profession as clinical academic careers.

You’ll need a 2.1 degree as well as GCSE English language, mathematics and science, grades 4 to 9 or A* to C. To be considered for the master’s degree you must submit: 325 hours of relevant theoretical learning from your first degree or employment; 675 hours of practice worked in a healthcare environment under the supervision of a registered healthcare professional.