Nursing (Adult) Direct Entry
Adult nursing is among the most demanding and rewarding careers available in the health professions. Registered nurses care for adults across the full range of acute, chronic, and complex health conditions, requiring a combination of clinical knowledge, practical skill, emotional intelligence, and professional judgement that few other roles demand to the same degree. At the University of Derby, the Nursing (Adult) Direct Entry programme is a two-year full-time degree designed specifically for applicants who already hold a Foundation Degree and are Registered Nursing Associates, allowing them to complete the qualification for full Registered Nurse status through an accelerated route.
A foundation year is also part of the programme structure.
The programme is explicitly designed as a holistic learning experience. You will develop the clinical knowledge and technical skills required for adult nursing practice across medical, surgical, and community settings, alongside the emotional resilience and reflective capacity that transformational nursing practice requires. The current programme description captures this well: the aim is to produce nurses who are equipped to meet the unique challenges of adult nursing, not just technically proficient but genuinely capable of person-centred, compassionate care.
As Registered Nursing Associates entering the programme, you bring existing clinical experience and knowledge that the degree builds on and deepens. A year abroad is available, offering the opportunity to experience healthcare systems and nursing practice in a different national context.
Registered Nurses qualified in adult nursing are employed across the National Health Service, independent healthcare providers, care homes, community health services, and specialist settings including critical care, oncology, and mental health. The direct entry route is designed for those already committed to a nursing career, and completion of the degree leads directly to eligibility for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Some graduates go on to postgraduate study, including specialist nursing qualifications, advanced practice programmes, nurse prescribing, or master's degrees in nursing or health sciences.
The programme equips graduates not just to practise but to lead, advocate, and contribute to the ongoing development of nursing as a profession.