Personal statement

Personal statements will be reviewed. Please read the course details before completing your application.

Your statement is your opportunity to show us your passion, enthusiasm, and your personality.  

Here's what we want to see in your personal statement: 

• Your interest in nursing: Tell us why you are interested in child nursing. Take time to learn about some of the big conversations happening in healthcare. We like to see that you are engaging in the world of child nursing and healthcare.
• Understanding the role: Demonstrate your comprehension of the specialist responsibilities and the fulfilling aspects of being a children’s nurse. 
• Transferable skills: Highlight transferable skills gained from work experience, volunteering, or hobbies. These skills may have been gained through working in a caring environment, but equally may have been gained through communicating with and interacting with children, young people or adults, in a non-healthcare environment (for example, working in a shop/café, volunteering at a school).
• Work experience: Explain how your past work experiences have equipped you with the necessary skills to progress as a children’s nurse. Demonstrate a commitment to delivering kind, compassionate and competent care. 

Work experience

We recommend that you undertake as much work experience as possible. A caring environment is preferred; however, we understand that work experience with children and young people can be difficult to obtain. Therefore, we are happy to hear about any work experience where you have developed transferrable skills that could be relevant to the care setting. This could include work experience in an adult care setting, or voluntary work with children and young people. Work experience should give you a feel for the personal and professional attributes necessary for your chosen career, highlighting the breadth and depth of knowledge and skills required. 

Any experience in the below settings will strengthen your application: 

• NHS hospitals 
• community setting, for example, working with vulnerable groups, community groups, dementia care 
• special schools private practice 
• Voluntary experience of working with children and young people, for example, brownies/guides

Interview

For 2025 entry, all interviews will be conducted online using the web-based SAMMI-Select© software. This is a multiple mini-interview (MMI) online platform, where you will be asked a range of pre-recorded questions by academic staff, clinical practice partners and other key stakeholders.

The interview is designed to assess the personal qualities usually considered important for the practice of nursing. These qualities are based on the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Practice. We will also be evaluating if you are applying with a clear understanding and commitment to the course and the profession. You'll be expected to demonstrate:

• Research the field of child nursing: Show your interest and understanding of the nursing field you wish to join. Be familiar with the responsibilities, challenges, and rewards that come with child nursing.  
• Practice self-reflection: Be ready to talk about yourself and your accomplishments. Highlight experiences that demonstrate your dedication, compassion, and resilience.  
• Showcase teamwork skills: Nursing involves collaborating with various healthcare professionals. Give evidence of your ability to work effectively in a team, emphasising your adaptability, cooperation, and respect for others' contributions. 
• Apply your knowledge: Showcase your ability to apply theoretical knowledge and transferable skills to the role of a children’s nurse. Discuss how you would handle different scenarios of interacting with children, young people, and parents or families.  
• Your communication skills: Practice expressing yourself clearly and confidently. Focus on active listening and empathy. 
• Display professionalism: Demonstrate a professional attitude throughout the interview.  
• Stay informed on health issues: Be knowledgeable about current developments in child health - watch the news, read, search the internet/ social media. 

Once invited to interview, you will have seven days to complete and submit your interview. The interview lasts approximately one hour from start to finish. There are six pre-recorded questions, with each question allocated four minutes to respond and a short one-minute break between questions. All responses are recorded and submitted to the admissions team to be reviewed. Please be aware that the interviewing team will not have seen your personal statement which allows for consistency and fairness across the review process for all interviews. You are encouraged to include information from your personal statement in the interview where relevant. 

Although there is flexibility to complete your interview anytime within the seven days to suit your own circumstances, this must be completed in one go. It is not possible to pause or restart the interview. There is a practice question built into the system which can be repeated to promote familiarisation with the process and trouble shoot any technical challenges before you decide to begin.

You will need access to a computer or laptop with a webcam and microphone, reliable Wi-Fi and a private and quiet space where you'll be alone and not interrupted. Due to software compatibility, it is not possible to use any tablet device or mobile. Please be aware that the web-browser ‘Safari’ is not compatible. Google chrome is recommended for all interviews.

You will receive more information and a short video about your interview if selected.

We will contact you from time to time using the following email addresses:

• mhssupport@nottingham.ac.uk
• UGAdmissionsMHS@nottingham.ac.uk
• feestatus@nottingham.ac.uk

To make sure that emails from the university are not filtered into your junk or spam folders, please add these addresses to your contact list.

Please do still continually check your junk/spam folders so you don’t miss out on any important information from us.

Before the interview

• Make sure you familiarise yourself with SAMMI platform
• Test sound and microphone settings
• Find a quiet room free from distractions

If you require adjustments to be put in place for your interview, please get in touch with as much detail as you can before your interview. We may need you to provide us with some supporting evidence. We require at least five working days' notice before your interview to consider your request. We cannot guarantee we will be able to meet every requirement, but we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Receiving an offer

All offers for Nursing (Child) BSc are subject to achieving the academic and non-academic offer conditions. This includes:

• achievement of academic qualifications stipulated in the offer
• occupational health clearance 
• enhanced clearance with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) 

In accordance with the university's policy relating to equal opportunities, there will be no discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, and religious belief. 

As part of your course, you will undertake supervised clinical practice placements.

Preparing for your interview; Ella Guerin, Mental Health Nursing Admissions Tutor, explains the nursing application interview process and gives hints and tips on how to prepare.