Adult Nursing - September Intake (BN)

What is adult nursing?

The adult patient population is one of great diversity, requiring nurses skilled in caring for adults with long and short-term health problems, at all stages of their lives and from all cultural backgrounds and walks of life.

As well as providing skilled, professional care to meet the physical needs of their patients, adult nurses are also required to manage numerous priorities and to use caring, counselling, managing, teaching and all aspects of interpersonal skills to improve the quality of people's lives, often in challenging situations. Key professional attributes of the adult nurse include being a problem-solver, decision-maker and effectively managing change within dynamic healthcare environments. Using critical, analytical and clinical skills to provide high-quality evidence-based care are an essential part of this.

Adult nursing is an exciting, challenging and rewarding career choice which requires intellect and commitment, good people skills, compassion, a sense of humour, and lots of patience and understanding. It offers the opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives which has an intrinsic value that few other professions can offer. On qualification, it is possible to work in a wide range of healthcare settings both in the United Kingdom and abroad.

Adult nursing at Cardiff University

We believe that adult nurses make a very real and positive contribution to individuals who are facing some of the most challenging experiences of their lives. The Cardiff nursing programme is designed to develop practitioners with the skills and knowledge to work in a dynamic health care environment. During your time as a student at Cardiff you will learn about promoting health, preventing illness and delivering high quality care that is based on sound evidence.

The adult nursing field focuses on patient-centred care which encompasses physical, social, psychological and spiritual needs.

Essential skills

As well as being taught the fundamental nursing skills required for holistic, dignified patient care (including nutrition, mobility, hygiene and so on), your degree will include the study and application of the clinical sciences (anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology and medicines management) to adult nursing practice. As well as assessing pain, taking clinical histories, and assessing physical needs, you will develop the skills to assess psychological responses to ill-health, and how to place the individual within the context of their family, home life and carers. You will learn about the effects and management of acute and long-term conditions, wherever these may present along an individual's life span.

Communication

You will develop essential communication skills and strategies, as well as an understanding of issues surrounding empowerment and advocacy - crucial to delivering patient centred care. You will study modules that aim to develop your awareness of ethical issues, placed within the context of current legislation, and your ability to identify the way in which policy influences service provision. Your degree will develop your awareness of equality and diversity issues and broaden your understanding of health promotion, investigating strategies for health education and behaviour change.

The role of the nurse

Understanding the development of the nurse's role will be crucial to your degree. Learning to reflect critically on practice, analysing evidence, and evaluating care delivery will be a key element of your development. We will develop your ability to work effectively in the inter-disciplinary teams required to provide effective health care, based on partnership with patients and carers and other health care professionals, including doctors, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

In your final year, you will be encouraged to develop an in-depth understanding of the organisation and culture of modern health care systems. You will develop crucial insights into the management of resources, time and information and work to develop your negotiation and leadership skills.

Cardiff University offers clinical placements in The University Hospital of Wales - a well established hospital which would provide me with valuable experience and open doors for me in the future.

Kayleigh Griffiths, Adult Nursing Year one

Core modulesModule titleModule codeCreditsDeveloping effective professional relationships through communication and team workingNR101320 creditsIntroduction to Public Health, Health Promotion and Behaviour ChangeNR101230 creditsProfessional values and evidence-based practiceNR101130 creditsSafe Practice in Essential and Field Specific CareNR101440 creditsCore modulesModule titleModule codeCreditsSafe Practice in Essential and Field Specific CareNR101440 creditsProfessional values and evidence-based practiceNR101130 creditsIntroduction to Public Health, Health Promotion and Behaviour ChangeNR101230 creditsDeveloping effective professional relationships through communication and team workingNR101320 creditsYear two

Core modulesModule titleModule codeCreditsPlanning, intervention and review of careNR211530 creditsUsing evidence to inform nursing practiceNR211220 creditsHolistic assessment and recognition of health and social care needsNR211420 creditsUsing evidence to inform nursing practiceNR211220 creditsDevelopment of Professional PracticeNR211320 creditsPartnership working within complex careNR211630 creditsPlanning, intervention and review of careNR211530 creditsHolistic assessment and recognition of health and social care needsNR211420 creditsPartnership working within complex careNR211630 creditsDevelopment of Professional PracticeNR211320 creditsCore modulesModule titleModule codeCreditsPlanning, intervention and review of careNR211530 creditsHolistic assessment and recognition of health and social care needsNR211420 creditsDevelopment of Professional PracticeNR211320 creditsUsing evidence to inform nursing practiceNR211220 creditsPartnership working within complex careNR211630 creditsYear three

Core modulesModule titleModule codeCreditsManagement of Complex Care - Adult field specificNR319240 creditsProfessional, legal and ethical challenges of complex careNR318720 creditsLeadership and Management in Health OrganisationsNR318920 creditsEvaluation of CareNR318840 creditsLeadership and Management in Health OrganisationsNR318920 creditsManagement of Complex Care - Adult field specificNR319240 creditsProfessional, legal and ethical challenges of complex careNR318720 creditsEvaluation of CareNR318840 creditsCore modulesModule titleModule codeCreditsProfessional, legal and ethical challenges of complex careNR318720 creditsLeadership and Management in Health OrganisationsNR318920 creditsManagement of Complex Care - Adult field specificNR319240 creditsEvaluation of CareNR318840 credits The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.