Do you want to become a registered nurse? If you already work in health care, The Open University’s NMC-approved Pre-registration nursing programme could be the answer. It enables you to stay in work while you study – provided you have the support of your employer, who sponsors you throughout.
“The Open University has taught me lots of things. It has shown me that education is a wonderful thing. It’s opened up new insights and I think differently now. And it’s made me think about my life. The Open University has taught me that I am worth something.”
Jackie Westlake, Nursing student (Mental Health Branch)
It usually takes about four years to study the programme, which is a balance of practical and theoretical learning. It’s designed to develop effective evidence-based practice and essential underpinning knowledge and understanding, in an inter-professional and interdisciplinary environment.
You study part-time at home to fit in with other commitments; through work-based learning; and in group tutorials. Your employer gives you protected time for practice learning. On successful completion of the programme, you gain the award of Diploma of Higher Education in Nursing in either adult or mental health nursing, and you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
This qualification is only offered in collaboration with employers, so they’ll need to agree to work in partnership with The Open University for you to take this qualification.
Useful links
Download a detailed leaflet about the programme (pdf), or follow these links:
• Programme aims
• Intended learning outcomes - adult nursing
• Intended learning outcomes - mental health nursing
• Structure
Onward and upward
Alison Gauld went from Healthcare Assistant to Nurse – gaining a Nursing Diploma and Honours Degree along the way