Content taught in level 1 focuses on the foundations of health and social care, whereas level 2 and 3 modules will develop generic and field-specific nursing content, allowing opportunities for you to explore your field of practice through use of an enquiry-based learning (EBL) approach. You will be introduced to the broad principles that underpin nursing practice in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Standards of proficiency for registered nurses (NMC 2018) and use case scenarios and vignettes to discover a range of caring interventions.

Whilst undertaking your theory modules in Levels 2 and 3 you will work in groups of no more than 10 students and will attend field specific online tutorials for 2.5 hours every two weeks to share and advance your learning and that of your peers.  It is a mandatory requirement for students to attend and participate in these tutorials.  The dates and times for all of the EBL tutorials are agreed at the beginning of the module in order for you to negotiate your attendance at the tutorials with your line manager. KYN210 and KYN325 will be delivered by EBL and more information will be available in your programme handbook and on the module websites. 

Students will follow a pathway for each Part of the programme. This information is available to you on your module website K104, KYN211 and KYN326,7,8. (see example for Part 1 Oct 2021 cohort outlined in the diagram over a period of 16 months).

Diagram

You will be allocated placements in a range of practice learning environments relating to your field of practice.  These placements are arranged in consultation with Edinburgh Napier placement team.

You will be given an OU student uniform at the start of the programme. 

On placement you should normally work the shift patterns of each placement area in order to gain the full range of experiences across the working day.  If you have reasonable adjustments agreed these will be supported in placement (see section 1.6 in your PAD). During placements you must complete a minimum of three night shifts per Part of the programme and a Saturday or Sunday during each placement, where the area/team provides weekend services. 
 
All proficiencies are to be assessed in the context of nursing practice not healthcare assistant/health care support worker practice. 

The placement allocation teams will confirm all 3 PLPs for the stage of the programme you are currently undertaking via your OUCU email address. You should therefore check your OUCU email address at least once every week before you are due to start your first placement. If there are any changes to your placements, you will also be notified of these via your OUCU email address. You will also be given access to an online system called QMPLE [Quality Management of the Practice Learning Environment] where you should be able to access your PLP details.  In each placement you are expected to undertake pre-placement activities in your PAD, and you will find the relevant information about each of your placements on QMPLE to help you do this.

A least 1 week prior to commencing your placement you should contact the placement area to get your shifts and to discuss with them any specific Covid requirements. 

At the end of every supernumerary practice shift that you work, you must enter this on the record provided for this purpose in your Practice Assessment Document (PAD).  Your attendance must be verified on that day by a registered professional with whom you have worked: this will normally be your Practice Supervisor.  You will be required to submit your record of completed hours, sickness and absence to your AA/PT. Your employer may also require a copy (see section 1.7 in your PAD).

At the OU we do not allocate you annual leave during the nursing programme. However, you do need to plan your annual leave carefully around the requirements of the nursing programme, particularly placements. Annual leave should not be taken while you are on placement unless this has been planned and agreed prior to the allocation of placements.