Nursing (Adult) with Foundation Year

Please check the Sheffield Hallam University website for the latest information.

Course summary

• Gain the knowledge, skills and values to provide competent nursing care.

• Develop a strong professional identity to prepare for future leadership roles.

• Broaden your knowledge alongside other health and social care professionals.

• Learn from enthusiastic academic staff who have a variety of clinical expertise.

• Benefit from real-world experience with placements and hands-on practicals.

This unique course offers you an exciting opportunity to become a fully qualified nurse, transforming the lives of individuals and communities. You’ll gain a wide range of skills and experience while considering the relationship between healthcare professionals and service users. You’ll graduate as a reflective and highly employable professional.

How you learn

On this course you’ll learn from academic staff who have a variety of clinical expertise and experience. You’ll apply your theoretical study directly to your practice setting, using the knowledge, skills and attributes you’ve gained. The course is a blend of theory and hands-on practical work, giving you the opportunity to practise what you learn in both simulated and real-world settings.

Nurses are an integral part of a multidisciplinary team. You’ll have the chance to learn and collaborate with students from other health and social care courses, helping you deliver person-centred care, with an understanding of how other professionals contribute to the person's journey through health and social care services.

Key themes

In the first year you’ll establish the fundamentals of nursing in your chosen field, further developing your knowledge, skills and attitudes through a variety of placement learning experiences.

In your second year you’ll build on these fundamental skills by exploring the complexity of care provided to adults and children who use services, as well as their carers.

In your final year you’ll consolidate your knowledge, attitudes and skills by leading nursing care in diverse settings.

Applied learning

Live projects

You’ll apply your learning in our specialist labs, practice facilities, simulation environments and workshops – as well as externally through field trips, educational visits and digital technologies. You’ll also have loan access to specialist equipment so you can work on or off-campus, and you’ll be supported by lecturers and technical experts.

You’ll practise your learning in a range of settings where nurses care for adults, children and young people. You’ll take part in all activities that contribute to your training and demonstrate the responsibilities involved.

Work placements

You’ll gain real-world experience through placements, projects, internships and voluntary activities. These take place in work settings, through online interfaces and within the university.

There’s also an optional placement where you can arrange an experience – nationally or internationally – to meet your personal professional development needs and support your employability.

You’lll be supervised and supported by practice supervisors, practice assessors, link lecturers and academic assessors – enabling you to learn and safely achieve proficiency and autonomy in your professional role.

Field trips

Previous field trips have included time in refugee camps in Greece, working with community projects in India, and learning clinical skills with nursing students from the US. Others include working with local schools and charity organisations to create a health promotion campaign as part of Simulated Practice Learning.