Children's Nursing
Children's nursing is a specialist field of nursing dedicated to the care of infants, children, and young people from birth through to young adulthood. The specialisation exists because children are not simply small adults: their physiological, psychological, and developmental needs differ significantly at each stage of childhood, their conditions and presentations are often distinct from adult medicine, and effective care must engage with families and carers in ways that nursing adults often does not require to the same extent. Children's nurses work across inpatient wards, outpatient clinics, community settings, schools, and hospices, providing both acute care and long-term support for children with complex or life-limiting conditions.
At the University of Chester, this three-year, full-time programme leads to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the field of children's nursing. The programme includes a foundation year, designed for students who need additional academic preparation before entering the main degree, and a year abroad, which gives you the opportunity to experience paediatric nursing in an international context and to see how healthcare for children is organised and delivered differently in other countries. The curriculum covers paediatric anatomy and physiology, child development, family-centred care, communication with children at different developmental stages, common childhood conditions and their management, safeguarding, and the ethical and legal frameworks specific to the care of minors.
Clinical placements are a required and substantial component, ensuring that academic knowledge and clinical skills develop together throughout the programme.
Registered children's nurses work in NHS trusts, community nursing, neonatal intensive care, paediatric oncology, children's hospices, and many other specialist settings. The specialisation is in demand, and there are structured routes into advanced practice, leadership, and specialist roles for those who wish to develop their careers further.