Access to Higher Education Diploma (Nursing)

Modules

Unit 1: Academic Writing Skills

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to write with relevance in responding to an academic task
• Know how to interpret and discuss ideas and issues in responding to a set, academic writing task
• Be able to summarise for academic purposes, selecting key points, information or central ideas

Unit 2: Preparing a Written Assignment

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand how to use key information sources
• Understand why sources are acknowledged and referenced
• Understand a range of reading strategies
• Understand note-making methods
• Understand how to plan draft and produce a written assignment

Unit 3: Health and Well-being

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the relationship between resilience and mental well-being
• Understand the expression of feelings and emotions and how these could be managed
• Understand how mental well-being can be supported and managed

Unit 4: Cell Biology

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the structure and organisation of cells
• Understand cellular metabolism
• Understand how cells grow and divide

Unit 5: The History of the National Health Service

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the background to and the founding principles of the National Health Service
• Understand how political reforms have shaped the National Health Service

Unit 6: Human Nutrition & The Digestive System

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the structure and functions of the organs of the digestive system
• Understand nutrients and their sources
• Understand the components of a healthy diet and the consequences of an unhealthy diet

Unit 7: The Roles & Responsibilities of the Registered Nurse

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the changes to the roles and responsibilities of the nurse
• Understand the role of the Nursing and Midwifery Council
• Understand the multidisciplinary approach to healthcare

Unit 8: Introduction to Psychology

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the importance of research in psychology
• Understand the main approaches in psychology
• Understand ethical issues in psychological research

Unit 9: The Human Endocrine & Nervous System

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the anatomy, organisation and function of the nervous system
• Understand how the endocrine system co-ordinates body functions
• Understand the role of the nervous and endocrine systems homeostasis

Unit 10: Social Factors in Health and Social Care

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand sociological factors influencing the relationships between patients and health professionals
• Understand the role of social motivational factors in health and ill health
• Understand the significance of social support networks in healthcare and maintenance

Unit 11: Understanding Dementia

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand dementia
• Understand types of dementia
• Understand the medical and social models of dementia
• Understand an individual’s experience of dementia

Unit 12: The Human Muscular and Skeletal System

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the anatomy, organisation, and function of the muscular system
• Understand the anatomy, organisation, and function of the skeletal system
• Understand how the muscular system and skeletal system interact in locomotion

Unit 13: Classification and Use of Social Drugs and Medicines

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand why different types of social drugs are used
• Understand the classification of medicines and controlled drugs
• Understand the impact of the use of social drugs and medicines on the individual and society

Unit 14: Mental Health and Illness

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the difficulties in defining normality and abnormality
• Understand a psychological disorder
• Understand treatments used to treat people with psychological disorders

Unit 15: Human Immunity

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand non-specific defences against disease
• Understand specific immunity
• Understand the biology of vaccination

Unit 16: Understanding Poverty

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand definitions of poverty
• Understand ways of measuring poverty
• Understand the extent of poverty in contemporary Britain
• Understand explanations of poverty

Unit 17: Health Promotion

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand individual societal health promotion
• Organise and plan a health promotion activity

Unit 18: Human Disease & Prevention

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the categories and causes of disease
• Understand the epidemiology of diseases
• Understand preventative measures for a chosen disease or condition

Unit 19: Equality and Diversity within Healthcare

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand equality and diversity within healthcare
• Understand the rights of the individual in a healthcare setting
• Understand the impact of equality and diversity legislation on healthcare provision

Entry Requirements

You must hold Level 2 qualifications in both English and Maths, or be working towards them alongside studying your Access to Higher Education Diploma.

University Entry Criteria

It must be reiterated that each university will set its own admission criteria. So, you must check with your desired institution if your Access to HE Diploma and other qualifications will be accepted. In many cases, to get started on healthcare courses at university, you will need: - A certain number of credits passed with a merit or a distinction grade - A face-to-face interview at the university - Literacy and numeracy assessments provided by the university - Course-related work placements or work experience - GCSE Grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent Level 2 such as Functional Skills/Key Skills, etc.) It is your responsibility to check that your Access to HE Diploma will be accepted as part of these entry requirements for your chosen degree. learndirect will not be held accountable if completing this Access to Higher Education Diploma doesn’t secure you a position with a higher education institution.

Minimum age restriction

This course is ideally suited to those who have completed full-time education but have not achieved the grades required to get into university.

Average completion timeframe

The average time it takes our learners to complete the course is 9-12 months.

Assessment requirements

A range of assessment methodologies are used, including: academic report, essay, case study analysis, illustrated report, journal article, portfolio, academic poster, presentation (video and audio recording), developing promotional activity, series of questions, academic writing skills tasks

Exams required

There are no exams included in the assessment of the course.

Is Membership Required?

No membership is required to enrol on this course.

Additional requirements

Learners must be actively studying for a minimum of six months before results can be ratified and certificates ordered. The six month period does not start until you have passed unit 2 of your course and you must be submitting assignments regularly (in line with the deadlines in your Individual Learning Plan) to meet this six month requirement. Certificates can only be issued once your course is paid for in full.

Certification Timeframe

You can expect to receive your certificate 12-16 weeks from your final assignment being marked and graded, depending on the time of year. You will be provided with regular updates throughout the certification process so that you are fully informed of your individual timeframes.

Course Fees

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

Assessment

The assessment process of our nursing course consists of the following:

Assignments

The assignments for this course aim to prepare you for your next step in higher education, while providing the number of credits necessary to achieve your qualification.

At the end of each unit of study, you will need to complete an assignment which your tutor will then mark and provide you with feedback and a grade to help you to progress.

Credits

To successfully achieve this Access to Higher Education Diploma you will need 60 credits in total. The credits are split into the following two categories:

• Graded – 45 credits come from graded units, which focus on the academic subject
• Ungraded – 15 credits come from ungraded units, such as writing and study skills

As part of this nursing diploma, UK learners will also receive help as well as guidance with their university application and the research they need to do to get the most out of their diploma.

Qualifications

Open College Network West Midlands

On successful completion of the Open College Network West Midlands Access to Higher Education Diploma (Nursing) you will receive a QAA recognised Access to HE Diploma at level 3 (QAA ref: 40012542). This course has also been assigned 60 credits.

Open College Network West Midlands are a national Awarding Organisation, regulated by Ofqual, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and Qualifications Wales, to develop and award nationally recognised qualifications.

Open College Network West Midlands work in partnership with employers, training providers, colleges, universities, schools and voluntary and community organisations to offer vocational credit-based qualifications, Access to Higher Education Diplomas and quality assured Customised Accreditation that enables learners gain employment or to progress into further learning and Higher Education. They also Quality Endorse organisations internal training and skills delivery.

Career

By completing an Access to Higher Education Diploma (Nursing) and a subsequent nursing degree, you will open yourself up to an array of career prospects.

With Nurses being required to facilitate treatments in almost every health service, there is almost no end to the type of Nurse you can become. If you’re passionate about caring for children, working with the elderly, or helping people requiring emergency care, you can find a specialism to suit your interest.

Just some of the many nursing roles you can pursue are:

• Paediatric Nurse
• Neonatal Nurse
• Adult Nurse
• Geriatric Nurse
• Nursing Home Nurse
• Community Nurse
• Theatre Nurse
• ICU Nurse
• Critical Care Nurse
• Cardiology Nurse
• Respiratory Nurse
• Mental Health Nurse
• Special Educational Needs Disability Nurse

Further Qualifications and Prospects

Once qualified and registered as a Nurse, you will need to maintain your registration through Continuing Professional Development (CPD). This is any form of training and education that adds directly to your skillset as a Nurse but falls outside of your mandatory and statutory training.

Gaining CPD and taking further training within healthcare facilities can also help you move into your desired specialism. Aligning yourself with the type of nursing work that means the most to you.

What types of courses for nursing CPD exists?

You could study courses like:

• Understanding Mental Health
• Clinical Nutrition
• Grief and Bereavement Counselling 
• Eating Disorders
• Drug, Solvent and Alcohol Misuse Counselling 
• Caring for Older People
• Caring for People with Learning Disabilities 
• Understanding the Principles of Dementia Care
• End of Life Care

There will also be opportunities to take on additional responsibilities and move into direct health management roles like:

• Ward Manager
• Team Leader
• Matron
• Director of Nursing

Should you choose to complete a postgraduate qualification, you could assume the direct health role of an advanced Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist or Nurse Consultant. If it appeals to you, you could also become a Teacher of future Nurses or go into research.

Find out more about nursing courses and careers in our blog.

Frequently Asked Questions