Students joining the BN (Hons) Adult Nursing course at Wrexham Glyndwr University in North Wales will have the opportunity to take-up placements with some of the UK’s most respected health boards and community trusts, including Shrewsbury and Telford, Shropshire, the Countess of Chester, Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and RJAH Orthopaedic NHS Foundation Trust.
The institution has also united with Wrexham’s Pendine Park care organisation, Nightingale House Hospice, Spire Yale Hospital, Derwen College and Ellesmere Community Nursing Home.
The degree – along with the University’s new BA (Hons) Policing – will be launched at an event on the main campus from 10am-2pm on May 10.
Wrexham Glyndwr was ranked second in the UK for student satisfaction in Nursing in the latest Complete University Guide, and the last Adult Nursing cohort (2014/15) had a 100% employability rate.
“The course offers fantastic career prospects and the opportunity to work with some of the best health organisations in the country,” said programme leader, Chris O’Grady.
“We will be offering placements with these trusts and hospitals, as well as third sector and private care bodies, so it’s a very hands-on degree that will that will prepare students to become registered adult nurses – they won’t just be sat in a lecture theatre reading about it as the content of the course is 50% practice and 50% theoretical study.”
She added: “We are thrilled to have these partners on board and would like to thank them for joining with us to bring nurse education to a new level.
“The launch event on May 10 will be followed by an opportunity to meet with staff from clinical practice, the course tutors, tour the campus and accommodation, be provided with an overview of the course and an opportunity to see simulation of care skills. At the University’s open day on June 10, people can meet members of the team and get a feel for what’s involved and how the pre-registration nursing programme could benefit them.
“There is demand in the sector for more nurses, so it’s a career that should certainly interest prospective students.”
Chris, from Oswestry, and colleague Alison Williams were formally honoured with the title of Queen’s Nurse at a ceremony in November.
The duo – who both joined the university in 2003 and represent the School of Social and Life Sciences – travelled to London for the event, hosted by the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI).
Chris has more than 35 years’ experience in the sector and was “incredibly proud” to receive the title.
“I’m still as passionate about nursing, training and quality as I was at the beginning of my career,” she said.
“It is a privilege to go and visit people in their own homes and care and support them, which is what we train students to do.”
She added: “The Adult Nursing degree is all about giving the best possible care; the University offers a variety of clinical practice placements in acute and community settings, and we will try to place students in the nearest available place to where they live.
“As well as training to be nurses we are also focused on making sure they have the best experience possible and enjoying their time here in Wrexham. Student satisfaction is key to that, and one of our top priorities.”
For more information, visit wgu.ac.uk/adultnursing
