Nursing

Children's nursing is a clinical specialism that demands both the full range of nursing skills and the particular qualities needed to care for patients who are at a different developmental stage from adults. Children's responses to illness, their ability to communicate symptoms, and their need for family-centred care all differ fundamentally from adults, and the registered children's nurse must understand those differences in order to provide safe, compassionate, and effective care across a broad range of settings and conditions.

The three-year full-time Nursing (Children's) programme at the University of Derby is available with a foundation year, providing additional support for students who need it before entering the main degree. The programme is described as a holistic learning experience, enabling students to become emotionally resilient and transformational registered nurses of the future. You will complete a range of modules to develop the fundamental knowledge and skills for safe and effective nursing practice, with the interests of children and families placed at the centre throughout.

Clinical placements are a core component of the degree, giving you experience across the range of paediatric settings that children's nurses work in, from wards and outpatient departments to community teams and specialist services.

The programme is studied in line with NMC requirements and leads to registration as a Registered Nurse (Children). With a typical entry tariff of 152 points, the programme attracts students who bring both scientific aptitude and the qualities of compassion, resilience, and communication that children's nursing demands.

Graduates register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and work in NHS trusts, children's hospitals, community settings, and independent healthcare providers. Many specialise further in areas such as oncology, critical care, neonatal nursing, or community children's nursing, and some progress to advanced practice or leadership roles.