Nursing Studies

Children's nursing is one of the four fields of nursing in the UK, alongside adult, mental health, and learning disability nursing, and it is distinguished by its focus on the care of children and young people from infancy through to late adolescence. Children's nurses work with patients who are not only physically different from adults but who experience illness, hospitalisation, and treatment differently, requiring practitioners who are skilled in family-centred care, in communicating with children of different ages and developmental stages, and in supporting parents and carers through some of the most anxious times of their lives.

At Teesside University, this three-year full-time pre-registration programme prepares you for NMC registration as a children's nurse. You will develop fundamental nursing knowledge and skills that apply across all ages and care settings, with the NMC platforms and proficiency standards providing the framework for both your theory and your practice. The programme uses a mixed-field approach in theory groups, giving you exposure to all four fields of nursing, which builds your broader professional understanding while ensuring you develop specialist competency in children's nursing.

Practice placements begin early in the programme, starting with an orientation period before moving into four-week placements in hub settings, giving you sustained and progressive clinical experience under supervision.

Completing this programme and gaining NMC registration qualifies you to practise as a registered children's nurse. Children's nurses work in NHS hospitals, paediatric intensive care, community children's services, neonatal units, schools, and a range of specialist paediatric settings. The profession offers strong employment prospects and opportunities to develop specialist expertise in areas such as paediatric oncology, neonatology, or community nursing.

Postgraduate study and continuing professional development support career progression throughout.