What Courses Do I Need to Become a Registered Nurse?.

If you’ve ever considered a nursing career, whether you’re weighing up your options coming out of school or college, or you’re debating a career switch, you’ll be pleased to know it’s a career path that’s becoming more accessible.

Traditionally, the academic path you would take to become a registered nurse was quite strict. You would need to have a combination of GCSEs and A Levels, and previously the only way of getting them was going back into a classroom.

For many reasons, classroom education isn’t something everyone can do. Many would-be nurses would be put off pursuing their ideal career because it wasn’t possible to juggle their studies with other life commitments.

Now, no matter if you have a full-time job or a family to look after, you can still work your way to a nursing career. We will explain how below.

What Courses Do I Need to Become a Nurse?

If you want to become a registered nurse, you need to study a degree in nursing that is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The reason for this is to ensure you and the rest of the nurses in the profession work in line with regulated standards, and meet set requirements for health and character.

Approved nursing degrees can be completed in the following ways:

• Full-time University Course – Complete a standard undergraduate nursing course at university
• Apprenticeship Nursing Degree – Learn on the job and complete your degree while working
• Post Graduate Diploma – A shortened degree in nursing that acts as a nursing conversion course. This is only available to those with a degree in a similar subject

There is also the option to study your degree part-time, which will take longer but could make gaining your nursing qualification more accessible. If you’re wondering ‘what are the requirements for nursing courses?’ don’t panic, you can meet the requirements for a nursing degree, no matter what qualifications you currently have.

You can meet nursing degree course entry requirements with:

• GCSEs – At least 5 at grades 9-4 or C and above. These must include Maths and English, and some universities will want you to have Biology
• Functional Skills – If you don’t have English and Maths GCSEs, you can take Functional Skills courses that will give you an equivalent qualification
• A Levels – At least 2 A Levels in subjects relevant to nursing
• Access to Higher Education Diplomas – If you don’t have A Levels, an Access to HE Diploma (Nursing) can give you the equivalent of three separate A Level qualifications and are accepted by most universities
• Foundation Degree – Like an Access to HE Diploma (Nursing) this is a vocation specific course that allows you to meet university entry requirements, though they are a much more expensive alternative

Each university sets its own entry requirements, so it’s up to you to make sure the qualifications you have will allow you to study nursing at your chosen institution.

How Long is a Nursing Course Exactly?

The length of your nursing course will depend on the one you are studying and how you decide to learn.

If you’re studying nursing at a college or university, this will typically take longer because classes are run to a set timetable. Therefore, each student will start their course and receive their qualification at the same time.

If you study nursing online, there is much more freedom in the way you learn. As the materials are accessible at any time via the internet, you can complete the coursework as and when you see fit. This makes it possible to finish the course quickly if you’re able to and reduce the time it takes to qualify as a registered nurse.

Nursing course durations:

• Full-time University Degree – 3-4 years when studied full-time, often with the option of adding a year on to gain a master’s of nursing
• Part-time University Degree – 5-6 years
• Apprenticeship Nursing Degree – 4 years when completed in a full-time capacity
• Post Graduate Nursing Diploma – 2 years

Entry requirement course durations:

• GCSEs – Traditionally studied over 2 years full-time, however, online versions of GCSEs can be completed in as little as 6 months
• Functional Skills – Can be completed in a short number of weeks
• A Levels – Typically studied in college over 2 years when completing multiple A Levels. Online A Levels can be completed over 2 years but can be finished in just 6 months
• Access to HE Diplomas – Can be studied over 2 years or in as little as 6 months. Most students are finished within 9-12 months
• Foundation Degree – 1-2 years

Enrolled Nursing Course Costs

Nursing course costs also depend on the course you are taking. Nursing short courses will be cheaper as they aim to equip you with new skills or knowledge in a new area over a short space of time. Alternatively, nursing courses that help you get qualified are more expensive as the outcome is greater.

When you study your nursing degree, you can expect to pay £9,250 a year. Level 3 nursing qualification costs will vary depending on the institution, as will the cost of shorter nursing courses.

You can view the cost of Stonebridge Associated Colleges Access to HE Diploma (Nursing) on the course page.

As one of the leading UK distance learning providers, Stonebridge provides online courses that are designed with the help of industry experts. So you can be assured that you will gain desirable knowledge and skills that will help you secure employment in your desired field.

How to Survive Your Nursing or Midwifery Course?

It’s no wonder aspiring nurses have to study so much when you think of the number of medical procedures and processes they have to understand. This can make the workload of nursing courses seem like too much of a mountain to climb.

As a result, many new students think ‘what happens if you fail a nursing course?’. Rather than focussing on the negative and worrying about failing, simply planning ahead can put you in a great position to pass your nursing course.

Pass your nursing course with Stonebridge’s study tips:

• Lock in Your Study Sessions – Organisation is key. When you gain access to your course, sit yourself down with a calendar and assess what commitments you already have. Put these in the calendar so you can see the available space you have to study. Then, split your course load over the available periods, making sure you give yourself enough time to relax in between
• Keep Motivated – Longer courses especially make it hard to stay focused. Take some time out to reflect on your progress so you can see how far you’ve come. This way, you’ll be spurred on by seeing how your hard work is paying off
• Set Achievable Goals – Short term achievable goals can help you see the progress you’re making and make your workload seem more manageable. Rather than feeling accomplished only when the course is finished, smaller goals like finishing a section of your book or completing an essay can make your progress more evident
• Remove Distractions – Make sure you study in a clean and clear environment. Clutter can be distracting as can having your phone nearby or a TV on in the room. Stay focused by removing these from wherever your learning space is
• Have Regular Breaks – While you might think success only comes on the back of all night study sessions, regular breaks are highly beneficial. If you take 10-20 minutes every now and again to clear your head, you’ll feel rejuvenated and more likely to take in new information

How Many Types of Nursing Courses Are There?

No matter if you’re an aspiring nurse or looking to progress in your existing nursing career, there’s a course to suit your needs.

When studying a nursing degree, you will have the choice of taking a course in one of the four main areas of nursing:

• Adult Nursing
• Child Nursing (Paediatrics)
• Learning Disability Nursing
• Mental Health Nursing

With a qualification in one of these areas, you will be able to apply for registration, which will allow you to gain employment as a nurse. Then, no matter where your interests lie you can complete workplace training or additional courses to move into a role in that area of nursing.

Registered nurses are required in almost every aspect of healthcare provision, from A&E to cosmetic surgery and specialist treatment units. So, if you’re interested in a particular area of healthcare, you can work your way to a nursing role within it.

What Courses After Nursing?

Your learning journey isn’t over once you reach registered nursing status. To maintain your registration, you need to complete Continuing Professional Development (CPD), which is in addition to your mandatory and statutory training.

This is because healthcare processes and procedures are constantly changing as technology and treatments evolve. As a nurse, you need to be up to speed with these to provide effective treatment and care. Luckily, one of the many ways to gain CPD around your busy schedule is through online courses that can be studied whenever you have time.

Any course that directly adds to your skillset as a nurse will count towards your CPD. This frees you up to study subjects of interest, in addition to courses about the latest medical advances.

In addition to meeting your CPD requirements, these courses can help you move into specialist areas. For instance, if you discover you have an interest in mental health support but didn’t opt for a mental health nursing degree, you can take courses focusing mental health.

Otherwise, you could specialise in caring for people with special educational needs, by studying courses focused on caring for people with learning disabilities. You could also focus on care that caters to the needs of the elderly or gain skills that specifically help people at the end of their lives.

If you’d prefer to move into a management position instead, there are nursing leadership and management courses you could take. They will equip you with desirable leadership styles and qualities that can help you bag a senior nurse role.

Outside of this, you could choose to go back to university to study post graduate nursing courses. These among many things would help you become a specialist nurse and advanced practitioner.

Get Started Today!

If you’re ready to take the next step in your nursing education, Stonebridge Associated Colleges can help you find your path. From nursing skills courses to an Access to HE Diploma (Nursing) that will help you access a nursing degree, our courses enable you to reach any nursing goal.

Discuss your nursing future today with our Course Executives and find the course that’s right for you. Call them on 0121 392 8288 or contact them for more information online.