Find out more
Find out more about our Nursing and Midwifery Council-approved Nursing degrees.
BSc Nursing - Adult
BSc (Hons) Nursing – Adult
BSc Nursing - Mental Health
BSc (Hons) Nursing - Mental Health
Nursing placements
Nursing placements are a key foundation of studying Nursing at Stirling. Our undergraduate students develop their skills and experience with placements at NHS Forth Valley and third sector partnerships.
Our placements go beyond standard hospital placements. You will learn from a variety of practical experience conducted in diverse settings. These include the prison service, care homes, forensic placements and acute wards.
All our placements will be within the Forth Valley area in Year 1 and Year 2. There is some scope for placements in NHS Lothian and Fife.
During placement, you will be supported by a team of skilled clinicians and assessors. They will guide you so you can maximise your learning experience.
Adult health placements
For adult health nursing students, your experience will include:
- medical and surgical nursing
- rehabilitation of adults
- care of older adults (acute or long term)
- speciality placements such as the emergency department and intensive care
- community placements such as district nursing, health visiting or prison nursing.
Mental health nursing students
For mental health nursing students, your experience will include:
- adult hospital and community
- older adult hospital
- community and long term and specialities such as forensics
- secure placements
- prison nursing.
What is a student nursing placement like?
What is a Student Nursing Placement like?
Virtual Practice Learning
Practice experience will include virtual practice learning (VPL). VPL enables you to explore the needs of individuals, families, and carers across the life span. This augments knowledge, behaviours and skills. It enhances authenticity and insight into diverse areas of practice.
This means the VPL experience can cover situations less frequently encountered in the practice setting. This includes maternity care, learning disability, child health and community nursing.
Support and assessment
You will be continually assessed and supported on clinical placements. We've got a team of practice assessors, practice supervisors and academic assessors to support you. We organise teaching sessions and student forums for the placement team and for students. University academic assessors support and guide students as well as practice assessors and supervisors.
On placement
Placements are allocated to match your stage in the programme, past programme experience and chosen field of practice. All placements enable you to develop your knowledge, skills and professional values.
You must undertake clinical practice experiences throughout the NHS Forth Valley area to meet NMC criteria. Be available to work 37.5 hours per week. This covers 24-hour shift patterns, 7 days per week (including early, late, night and weekend shifts). Your shifts will be arranged so that you work alongside the nurse who has been allocated to be your supervisor and/or assessor.