UNIVERSITY of Bolton will launch a new nursing degree course to help address a UK-wide shortage of nurses – and those who enrol onit will receive a £5,000 grant.

The BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing degree will be taught by University of Bolton staff at the university’s satellite centre for nursing at Bradford College.

Facilities include a new, state-of-the-art, purpose-built ‘simulation suite’, which contains adult and paediatric mannequins which allow for interactive clinical simulation scenarios, which has been designed and developed by the University of Bolton in partnership with Bradford College.

The course was delayed from its original start date in April because of the coronavirus pandemic.

As well as the £5,000 grant, a further £3,000 could be available to help towards eligible childcare costs.

The course has been requested by Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Airedale NHS Foundation Trust because of the shortage of local nurses.

The new degree course will involve students spending half of their time in practice on various placements and half studying theory at Bradford College.

Danielle Ellis, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing at the University of Bolton’s Faculty of Health and Well-being, School of Nursing and Midwifery, said: “This additional money, which does not need to be paid back, will have a huge positive impact on our nursing students' finances.

“Our ambitious and innovative approach on this course enables local people to develop the skills and knowledge needed to fulfil their career aspirations and become part of the local health care workforce.”

She added: “There is a well-publicised nationwide shortage of nurses, so these students should be in demand when they qualify.

“Another great thing about our courses is that we offer small intakes, so that we can give extra time to our students, enabling them to learn and develop with the best teaching possible.”

The Adult Nursing degree course has been running at Bolton since February 2015 and has more than 700 students.

Staff Nurse Ellisse Vernon, who qualified in February from the BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing degree course at the University of Bolton, described the course as “outstanding”.

Ellisse, who moved to Bolton from a different university, said: “The university tutors and clinical nurse tutors are very supportive and you are not just a student ID number. At this university you are an individual with a name.

“I couldn’t recommend studying at the University of Bolton enough.”

Dr Trish Houghton, Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Bolton, said: “The School of Nursing and Midwifery in Bolton is extremely successful.

“Our courses have been voted one of the top in the UK for both teaching quality and student experience, according to The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide for the past three years.”

The courses have been validated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.