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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Nursing Diploma Vs Nursing Degree. What is the difference ?

40 replies

NOMurDErousPLUME · 30/10/2006 14:17

They both last 3 years (full time)

They are both taught in a University environment.

Both feature placements as a large part of the curriculum.

Both lead to RN/RGN status

I know one is funded differently to the other, and in some Uni's you can do the Diploma without an access certificate or a-levels (you can get on with just a few good GCSEs), but this is the case nationally (the uni where I hope to do the DipHE insists on good post GCSE qualifications).

What's the difference ?

Is a nurse with a degree better qualified than his/her colleague who took the Diploma route ? How and why ?

OP posts:
Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 30/10/2006 14:18

sorry, that should be "but this is not the case nationally (the uni where I hope to do the DipHE insists on good post GCSE qualifications). "

OP posts:
ginmummy · 30/10/2006 14:25

I've got a friend who did a 3 year child nursing diploma at Sheffield University and she's now working on a 20000 word dissertation to top it up to a degree. She's been told there's only so far you can climb up the career ladder with a diploma and that's why she's doing it.

Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 30/10/2006 14:26

That's interesting and frustrating, ginmummy. Why is the degree worth more ? On the surface they look very similar

OP posts:
ginmummy · 30/10/2006 14:28

I honestly don't know, especially as you say they last the same length of time, i.e. 3 years. All I can think of is the research point of view that a final dissertation would take in.

Smurfgirl · 30/10/2006 14:32

The bursary.

There are rumours that you need the degree to progress up the career ladder, but many people with the dip do top up modules after they qualify so I don't think there are that many issues.

We are completely taught together for the first 2 years and then split for the different modules in 3rd year. Both dip and degree do a dissertation, but the degree one is assessed at a higher level and you do another modules. My uni offers the higher dip. which is very close to the degree.

It does vary from uni to uni so you are best asking where you apply.

I am doing degree BTW.

Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 30/10/2006 14:35

Sorry Smurf, I thought you were doing the Diploma.

OP posts:
Smurfgirl · 30/10/2006 14:43

I was offered degree and I took it.

My uni allows people to switch to degree after 2nd year maybe look into that? I wish I had done that TBH. Its been a huge financial strain for us, but I am in a very different situation to you.

You come out as an R.N whether you have a degree or diploma. But imo with the degree culture we now live in all nurses will eventually have to top up and I think it will go to degree only training so I wonder if in 10 years diploma will be an outdated qualification but as I say you can top up.

To be a sister, nurse specialist etc you prob need a degree and for the senior stuff need to be working towards a masters.

Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 30/10/2006 14:44

My Uni does not offer the degree option.

OP posts:
ginmummy · 30/10/2006 14:46

I don't know how it works but are you able to do it through distance learning through an institution that does offer it?

nailpolish · 30/10/2006 14:47

i fyou want to progress to anything more than a staff nurse (or a ward sister, depending on your management) you need a degree

its no more better than a diploma, just on paper

the degree course is boring imo

Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 30/10/2006 14:48

I haven't found a distance learning nursing course (I know the OU offers something similar but is a sponsored course and not available to everyone)

OP posts:
nailpolish · 30/10/2006 14:49

the degree course was only created in an attempt to get nursing recognised as a profession on a par with teaching, for money was one reason

sadly, teachers are still seen as superior professionals to nurses

Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 30/10/2006 14:50

I would be extremely pissed orf to find that 3 years (5 yrs including my access course) leads to me only being able to empty bed-pans 'til I'm 65.....

OP posts:
nailpolish · 30/10/2006 14:50

wash your mouth out ndp

Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 30/10/2006 14:51

It just seems like such a futile waste.

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Smurfgirl · 30/10/2006 14:52

np - ours is the same as the dip aside from one module (it is incredibly boring though 3 hours in reflection and SLEEP this morning)

nailpolish · 30/10/2006 14:53

ndp if you feel like that now how are you going to feel after your 5th year of actually emptying bedpans all day?

what kind of nursing do you want to do? its a long haul to anything above sn

Smurfgirl · 30/10/2006 14:53

NDP - you can do loads as a staff nurse with a dip its not like you can;t do anything, do the dip and then transfer in 3rd year or top up

In scotland and wales they only offer degree now i think?

nailpolish · 30/10/2006 14:54

really smurfgirl? wow - only 3 hrs?

when i trained the degree wasnt invented

is the other difference the entrance qualifications?

Smurfgirl · 30/10/2006 14:54

and ditto nailpolish on the eternal bed pan empyting as a student

(have actually progressed to care planning now on placement!)

Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 30/10/2006 14:54

Oh NP, don't.

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nailpolish · 30/10/2006 14:55

oh god i miss care plans

mine were always lovingly neat

nailpolish · 30/10/2006 14:56

i loved a good wound care plan

nicely drawn diagram, full colour of course, exact diameter of said wound, date written neatly on dressing...

sigh...

Smurfgirl · 30/10/2006 14:57

Well we had 3 hours on reflection in 1st year but I missed that lecture so...
The sleep lecture consisted of her saying 'its hard to sleep in hospital'

Basically I am in one huge group (110 of us!) which is a mix of dip and degree - most people do dip actually. Only difference is that we sign different registers!
Can't rememeber what the extra module I do for my degree is think its an extended literature review and maybe teaching and learning??

nailpolish · 30/10/2006 14:58

ndp i think you should seriously think about getting the training over and done with, get a job in a very specialised unit like itu or renal or ccu or whatever, then do top up degrees, everything you can and then progress (in the speciality or whatever)

or you will feel dejected and bored

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