Access to Higher Education Diploma (Nursing)

Course Overview:

• 100% Online Learning: Study from anywhere, anytime.
• University Access Without A-Levels: No prior A-Levels required.
• Essential Nursing Knowledge: Gain foundational understanding for a future in Nursing.
• Equivalent to 3 A-Levels: A recognised qualification for university entry.
• Assessment Through Assignments: Evaluate your knowledge with end-of-unit tasks.

About the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Nursing)

Nurses are at the heart of healthcare, providing essential care and support to patients in need. They bring compassion, expertise, and dedication to their roles, making a significant impact on lives every day. If you have a passion for helping others and a desire to make a difference, nursing could be the perfect career path for you.

Prepare for a Nursing Degree

This diploma is designed for individuals who lack the traditional qualifications required to apply directly for a nursing degree. By completing this course, you’ll gain the foundational knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to excel in higher education and begin your journey toward becoming a Registered Nurse.

Develop Essential Nursing Skills

The course provides in-depth insights into the nursing profession, preparing you for both academic study and practical application. As a nurse, you’ll be responsible for various aspects of patient care, making it crucial to build expertise in these key areas:

• Human Biology & Health: Gain a deep understanding of the human body, including anatomy, growth, nutrition, and managing health conditions.
• Mental Health & Well-being: Learn about mental health disorders, coping strategies, and the importance of safeguarding.
• Healthcare Practices: Understand patient care, health promotion, and ethical standards in healthcare settings.

Getting Started

Once enrolled, you’ll gain instant access to all course materials, allowing you to begin your studies right away.

Flexible Learning to Suit Your Lifestyle

This diploma is entirely online, making it perfect for individuals with busy schedules. Whether you’re balancing a job or caring for a family, you can study whenever it suits you—morning, evening, or weekends.

Stay on Track with Personalised Support

Your studies will be guided by an Individual Learning Plan outlining assignment deadlines to help you stay organised.

• Completion Time: Most learners finish within 6-8 months.
• Alternative to A-Levels: Equivalent to 3 A-Levels, this qualification is a fantastic pathway for those without traditional qualifications.

Start your journey today and take the first step toward making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Modules Overview

Module 1: Academic Writing Skills

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Be able to structure a written response
• Be able to develop a structured response to a plan
• Be able to present the response appropriately for audience and purpose
• Understand how to apply academic writing principles to own work

Module 2: Reading and Note Making

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand a range of reading strategies
• Understand the use of language in terms of the purpose and context of a range of texts
• Be able to use methods for developing notes from a range of sources

Module 3: Healthcare Communication

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand the main methods of communication
• Understand the barriers to communication
• Understand the value of developing good communication skills within the context of the health service
• Understand the importance of confidentiality and record keeping

Module 4: Professional Behaviours: Nursing and Health Professionals

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand the characteristics required to be a health professional making reference to the relevant professional and regulatory body’s and the Professional Standards Authority standards for registration in relation to, patient-centred care and concepts of professionalism as they apply to conduct, performance and ethics of those on the relevant professional and regulatory body’s register
• Understand effective communication and teamworking skills
• Know how to manage risk and deal effectively with problems
• Reflect on own personal and professional practice and develop a personal and professional development plan

Module 5: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Healthcare Settings

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Know the key concepts related to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
• Understand key legislation and regulations related to EDI in healthcare
• Understand how EDI issues are managed in healthcare settings

Module 6: Nutrition and Digestion

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand the concept of a balanced diet
• Understand the structure and function of the human digestive system

Module 7: Professionalism and Multidisciplinary Teams

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand the impact of changes to the roles and responsibilities of a chosen health care professional
• Understand regulation as a chosen health care professional
• Understand the multidisciplinary team working in a chosen health care

Module 8: Numeracy in a Health Context

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand and use the four rules of number including in relation to units of measure
• Understand and use decimals, fractions and percentages, including in relation to units of measure
• Know how to use a calculator to solve problems and use appropriate tools to check their answers

Module 9: Perspectives in Psychology

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand different psychological perspectives
• Understand the differences between alternative psychological perspectives
• Understand the application of psychological perspectives to contemporary issues in psychology

Module 10: Endocrine System

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand terms hormone and endocrine gland
• Understand homeostasis and feedback mechanisms
• Understand the action of hormones

Module 11: Poverty in Contemporary Britain

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand definitions of poverty
• Understand the historical context of poverty in Britain
• Understand the different methods used to measure poverty
• Understand theoretical explanations of poverty
• Understand explanations about why certain social groups are more likely to experience poverty
• Understand recent policies for tackling poverty in Britain

Module 12: Human Musculoskeletal System

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand the human skeleton and how it relates to locomotion
• Know how muscles contract
• Understand the development of bone

Module 13: Mental Health and Coping Strategies

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand how society determines and responds to a range of behaviours experienced by individuals suffering from mental ill health
• Understand the influence of genetic, neurochemical and environmental factors in relation to mental health disorder
• Understand and evaluate different strategies for therapy and care of mental health disorders
• Understand the major sources and effects of psychological stress
• Understand a variety of coping strategies

Module 14: Infection and Immunity

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand the contributions of Snow, Semmelweiss, Pasteur, Jenner and Koch to the understanding of infectious disease
• Understand how the human body responds to infection
• Understand the cause and transmission of different pathogens
• Understand how infections can be prevented by vaccination
• Understand the mechanism of action of antibiotics

Module 15: Dementia

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand the causes and prevalence of dementia
• Understand the diagnosis of dementia
• Understand treatment and care of dementia patients

Module 16: The Cause and Control of Disease

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand categories and causes of human disease
• Understand the epidemiology of a named disease
• Understand measures for disease prevention

Module 17: Health Promotion

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand current models of health promotion
• Understand the role of current initiatives in promoting good health
• Understand the role of current agencies or organisations that contribute to improving public health

In addition to the qualification units, you will also be required to complete short introductory tasks at the start of your course to support the development of your academic study skills.

Entry Requirements

To enroll in an Access to HE Diploma, you must:

• Reside in the UK and have a valid UK postcode.
• Hold Level 2 qualifications in both English and Maths or be actively working towards achieving them alongside your Access to Higher Education Diploma.

University Entry Criteria

Each university sets its own admission requirements. It is essential to confirm directly with your chosen institution that your Access to HE Diploma and other qualifications meet their criteria. Common requirements may include:

• Achieving a specific number of credits at merit or distinction level.
• Attending a face-to-face interview with the university.
• Completing literacy and numeracy assessments provided by the university.
• Relevant work placements or course-related work experience.
• Holding GCSEs in Maths and English at Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent Level 2 qualifications such as Functional Skills or Key Skills).

Important: Ensuring your Access to HE Diploma is accepted for your intended degree program is your responsibility. learndirect will not be held accountable if completing this course does not secure admission to a higher education institution.

Minimum Age Restriction

Access to HE Diplomas are designed for students who have gained substantial life experience since completing compulsory education.

Average Completion Timeframe

Most learners complete the course within 9–12 months.

Assessment Requirements

The course includes a variety of assessment methods, such as:

• Academic reports and essays
• Case study analyses
• Illustrated mind maps and reports
• Worksheets and journal articles
• Portfolios
• Academic posters
• Video and audio presentations
• Revision guides and question-based tasks
• Academic writing skill assignments

Exams

No exams are required for this course.

Membership

No membership is required to enroll in this course.

Additional Requirements

• Learners must actively study for at least six months before results can be ratified, and certificates ordered.
• The six-month study period begins after passing Unit 2 of the course. Regular assignment submissions aligned with deadlines in your Individual Learning Plan are necessary to meet this requirement.
• Certificates will only be issued once all course fees are fully paid.

Certification Timeframe

Expect to receive your certificate within 12–16 weeks after your final assignment is graded, depending on the time of year. Regular updates will be provided throughout the process.

Course Fees

All fees, including those under payment plans (e.g., Premium Credit Limited), must be fully paid before certification.

Note: You will have access to the course for 24 months.

Assessment

The assessment process for our nursing course is structured as follows:

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.

In addition to the qualification units, you will also be required to complete short introductory tasks at the start of your course to support the development of your academic study skills.

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.

Online Learning

This 100% online course offers 24/7 access to materials, enabling you to complete assignments at your own pace. While you have up to two years to finish the diploma, each assignment will have specific deadlines to keep you on track.

Qualifications
Skills & Education Group Access

On successful completion of the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Nursing), (QAA aim code: 40014198), you will receive a Skills & Education Group Access, QAA recognised, Access to Higher Education Diploma at Level 3. As part of your programme, you will also receive help as well as guidance on your university application and the research you need to do to get the most out of your diploma.

An access validating agency with a strong social purpose to recognize achievement, particularly for those who have benefited least from their previous educational experiences, Skills and Education Group Access supports the needs of learners, providers, businesses and communities by enabling progression into higher education.

Career Pathways in Nursing

By completing an Access to Higher Education Diploma (Nursing) and pursuing a nursing degree, you’ll open the door to a wide range of career opportunities in the healthcare sector.

Nurses are in demand across various health services, offering a diverse range of specializations to suit your interests. Whether you’re passionate about working with children, the elderly, or in emergency care, there’s a nursing role to align with your aspirations.

Here are just a few of the many nursing specializations you could pursue:

• 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 Career Progression

Once qualified and registered as a nurse, you’ll need to maintain your registration through Continuing Professional Development (CPD), which includes training that enhances your nursing skills beyond your mandatory education.

CPD opportunities allow you to specialize further, and pursuing additional courses can open doors to advanced nursing roles. Examples of CPD courses include:

• Understanding Mental Health
• Clinical Nutrition
• Grief and Bereavement Counselling
• Eating Disorders
• Substance Misuse Counselling
• Caring for Older People
• Learning Disabilities Care
• Dementia Care
• End of Life Care

As you gain experience and knowledge, you may be able to take on more leadership roles in healthcare, such as:

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

For those interested in further career progression, completing a postgraduate qualification can lead to roles like:

• Advanced Nurse Practitioner
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Nurse Consultant
• Nurse Educator
• Healthcare Researcher

Your journey as a nurse can evolve in many directions, providing endless opportunities to specialize, lead, and make a lasting impact in healthcare.