This Distance Learning course is accredited by the Skills and Education Group (SEG).

The Access to Higher Education Diploma in Nursing is a Level 3 qualification designed to equip you with the credentials needed to progress to university-level study in Nursing. Equivalent to three A-Levels, it is tailored for individuals who left school without the necessary qualifications or those returning to education after an extended break.

Throughout the course, you will develop essential academic skills, including note-taking, essay writing, research techniques, time management, exam preparation, and oral presentation delivery, ensuring you are well-prepared for university-level study.

The program is structured to provide you with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to pursue further study in Nursing. It focuses on helping you develop a strong understanding of critical areas such as the causes and control of disease, the human musculoskeletal system, infection and immunity, the endocrine system, and nutrition and digestion.

You will explore key principles such as healthcare communication, the roles and responsibilities within the health service, and the essential legislation and regulations governing equality, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare.

By the end of the course, you will have a clear understanding of the expectations and challenges of working in the health service, along with insights into the areas of Nursing that interest you most. This will empower you to make an informed decision about your future degree and career path.

This Access to HE Diploma can be started at any point throughout the year, and takes approximately 9-12 months to complete; this means it does not necessarily follow the standard academic year. If you start the course later than September, it is unlikely you will meet the January UCAS deadline to start at university that September.

You will need:

• GCSE grade 4 or above for both English and maths
  or
• A relevant Level 2 qualification and Functional Skills in English and maths at Level 2*

You will also have an online assessment and interview with our course tutors before completing your enrolment, so we can ensure the course is right for you.

*Some universities do not accept Functional Skills and require GCSEs - please check the entry requirements of your chosen course and universities to ensure you will be eligible to apply.

The assessment process for this course is ongoing and designed to evaluate your progress throughout the year. It includes a combination of:

• Assignments
• Tests
• Exams

Each unit of the course is modular, promoting manageable, bite-sized learning. Every unit consists of smaller components called Assessment Criteria. At the end of each unit, you will complete an assignment, which is reviewed by your personal tutor. Your tutor will provide constructive feedback, highlighting strengths and offering guidance on areas for improvement to help you surpass your expectations.

All assessments are designed by your tutors and externally moderated by SEGA to maintain quality and fairness.

After completing your Access to HE course, you will be able to:

• Apply for a nursing-related degree at university*
• Progress directly into employment in the NHS or other health-related organisations

*Please check the entry requirements of your chosen course and universities to ensure you will be eligible to apply, as these can vary between institutions, even for similar courses.

Topics you will study include:

Academic Writing Skills:
- 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

Reading and Note Making:
- 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

Healthcare Communication:
- 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

Professional Behaviours: Nursing and Health Professionals 
- Understand the characteristics required to be a health professional making reference to the relevant professional and regulatory bodies 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 team working 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

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Healthcare Settings:
- 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

Nutrition and Digestion:
- Understand the concept of a balanced diet
- Understand the structure and function of the human digestive system

Professionalism and Multidisciplinary Teams:
- 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

Numeracy in a Health Context:
- 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

Perspectives in Psychology:
- Understand different psychological perspectives
- Understand the differences between alternative psychological perspectives
- Understand the application of psychological perspectives to contemporary issues in psychology

Endocrine System:
- Understand terms hormone and endocrine gland
- Understand homeostasis and feedback mechanisms
- Understand the action of hormones

Poverty in Contemporary Britain:
- 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

Human Musculoskeletal System:
- Understand the human skeleton and how it relates to locomotion
- Know how muscles contract
- Understand the development of bone

Mental Health and Coping Strategies:
- 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

Infection and Immunity:
- 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

Dementia:
- Understand the causes and prevalence of dementia
- Understand the diagnosis of dementia
- Understand treatment and care of dementia patients

The Cause and Control of Disease:
- Understand categories and causes of human disease
- Understand the epidemiology of a named disease
- Understand measures for disease prevention

Health Promotion:
- 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.