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Return to Practice

Module

Attendance mode
Part-time
Start date(s)
September, February
Duration
3 months
Location
City Campus

UK students can apply

Overview

Our “Return to Practice for Nursing Professionals” programme provides qualified nurses with lapsed registration an opportunity to update knowledge, skills, and competencies, enabling you to return to the part of the Nursing and Midwifery Council register that you were originally on.

We support nurses returning to:

  • learning disability nursing
  • adult nursing
  • mental health nursing
  • children’s nursing

There are two routes of entry to the Return to Practice for Nursing Professionals programme:

Route 1; Direct application to the University.

You apply directly to the University of Bradford via the “apply now” button on this webpage.

If you are shortlisted, we will invite you to an interview which will take place on Microsoft Teams.

If you are successful, we then oversee your DBS application, your occupational health assessment, your mandatory training and your online e-learning.

Once you successfully complete the programme and are re-registered, you can seek employment, as you would for any positions.

Students who apply via the University route receive a £1000 payment, which you do not pay back. You will receive £500 upon enrolment, and another £500 at the end of the taught content/timetabled sessions.

Route 2; Trust employer-led

Some local Trusts advertise for, and offer opportunities to nurses who wish to return to practice. Nurses are employed as healthcare support workers on a contract basis while completing the Return to Practice course at the University of Bradford.

The trust will interview you, undertake your DBS application, and arrange your mandatory training and e-learning.

You will also be an employee paid by that Trust.

Upon successful completion of the programme, the Trust will guarantee a Band 5 contract. If there is a particular trust that you are interested in you might like to contact them to enquire about this route of entry.

Key details

We aim to provide amazing support and guidance to you on your journey back to registration. We will do all we can to help you achieve and succeed.

You will be able to access IT support on campus. However, we strongly advise applicants to have a sound working knowledge and ability in using a computer. You can access platforms on your phones, but this is not always ideal as the screens are quite small.

There is lots of academic support available to help you revisit academic writing skills and we will be contactable for academic advice and support.

You will have a personal academic tutor to support you throughout your programme of study.

Most of the days are on campus, except for one afternoon identified for online working.

Irrespective of route of entry, once on the programme, you will be in the same group for the duration of the taught content on the timetable.

Each taught contact day will be 09.00 – 17.00.

For enquiries, please contact the programme leader Fi Croucher on [email protected] 

Attendance dates

February 2025 intake

Application closing date: 18 November 2024  
Interviews: 29 November 2024

  • 3 February 2025 - 7 February (inclusive)
  • Week commencing 10 February - breakaway for mental health or learning disability returning students
  • Tuesday 18 February
  • Tuesday 25 February
  • Tuesday 4 March
  • Tuesday 11 March
  • Tuesday 18 March
  • Tuesday 25 March
  • Tuesday 1 April

These dates are for classes on campus. Your course continues until you have completed all three assessments. We estimate the programme will take six months to complete. This may be due to you being out on placement or needing to request an extension, etc.

Entry requirements

Students should already have:

  • lapsed registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
  • evidence of GCSE grade C or above in English and Maths or Level 2 equivalent such as functional skills or O Levels
  • two satisfactory references, preferably from education and employment sources. References from friends and relatives are not acceptable
  • demonstration of academic ability/evidence of current knowledge
  • awareness of changes in the NHS since last practiced 

You will also need, which you will be supported to complete:

  • satisfactory occupational health clearance
  • DBS check 

Shortlisting criteria

  • applications are invited from “returners” within our Yorkshire & Humber region
  • genuine and thoughtful reasoning for wanting to return (assessed through personal statement)
  • good references
  • evidence of recent academic study (as recent as possible) 

What you will study

There will be timetabled sessions focusing on a wide range of topics which in some cases address care across the lifespan, irrespective of field of practice.

Here are some of the topics that will be covered:

  • Reflection
  • Research and evidence-based practice
  • Adult patient assessment
  • A – E assessment
  • Recognition of deterioration
  • Legal and ethical issues
  • Patient safety and medicines management (LEC)
  • Paediatric advanced warning scores (PAWS)
  • Assessing the baby or child
  • Recognition of deterioration
  • Intro to the library, information search and retrieval
  • Interprofessional learning and working
  • Safeguarding children and adults
  • Health promotion
  • Preparation for practice placement
  • Several clinical skills sessions
  • Communication
  • Academic skills
  • Caring for somebody with a learning disability
  • Experts by experience
  • Equality and diversity
  • Partnerships of care
  • Role of the NMC
  • Patient admission processes
  • Electronic records
  • End of life care
  • Complex care, transition and discharge
  • NHS structure & organisation
  • Mental health
  • Motivational interviewing
  • Relationship management

Learning and assessment

Learning

The programme is delivered over 9 weeks.

All the learning content will be available to students via an electronic platform called CANVAS. We will show you how to navigate this site when you start your programme. There will be lots of reading to do, and on some occasions, some preparation ahead of a session.

CANVAS is structured a week at a time, so each week is made available to you at least a week before the next day in university.

The theoretical component of the programme consists of:

  • lectures
  • seminars
  • clinical skills sessions
  • directed study
  • group and individual tutorials

Assessment

Practice placement

You will undertake and successfully complete a practice placement, consisting of a minimum of 150 hours.

The time it takes you to complete placement hours will vary for many reasons. We recognise that not everyone can work full-time hours. We would advise though that you work a minimum of 24 hours a week to develop some continuity and to become familiar with the placement and to feel part of the team.

The actual days and hours worked are negotiated with you and the placement area. If clinical competencies cannot be achieved in 150 hours then an extension of hours may be possible at the discretion of the placement provider, and the University of Bradford. We will identify placement areas for you, based on your geographical location and preferred trust. You are not required to source a placement yourself.

Students will start placements at different times, and this is dependent on availability of the placement along with other relevant points to be considered.

3000-word reflection

You will submit a 3000-word reflection related to a patient care scenario in your practice placement area. There is a timetabled session looking specifically at academic writing skills, and the lecturers are only a phonecall or email away.

Safemedicate exam

This is an electronic exam platform where you will undertake a drug calculation exam online. This is introduced to you within the first week, and you will receive your own ID and login details. You will be advised to practice as much as you can.

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee

There are no tuition fees payable by the student.

Additional costs

There may be additional costs that you may incur as a student. Though these are not essential to your programme of study you need to be aware of them as a student of the University. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Financial support

For funding queries please contact Paul Gibson (Return to Practice Coordinator for NHS England) on:

See our fees and financial support section.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Career prospects

Local Trusts offer opportunities for nurses who wish to return to practice to be employed as a healthcare support worker on a contract basis while completing the Return to Practice course at the University of Bradford.

On successful completion of the course the Trust will guarantee a band 5 contract usually in the area where the student has had their placement. The contact details for more information are below:

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

It is fantastic that you are considering returning to the nursing profession. At the University of Bradford, our programme is designed to meet the needs of a changing and diverse workforce, whilst also supporting you all the way. Fi Croucher, Programme Leader

Got a question?

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This is the current course information. Modules and course details may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures. The University reserves the right to alter or withdraw courses, services and facilities as described on our website without notice and to amend Ordinances, Regulations, fees and charges at any time. Students should enquire as to the up-to-date position when applying for their course of study.