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Accessibility statement
This practice-based module develops your knowledge and skills for nursing or healthcare practice, with successful completion enabling you to progress in your chosen programme of study. You’ll be introduced to the essential aspects of care while building core skills in questioning, problem-solving, communication, relationship management, numeracy and literacy, all applied to safe, effective practice. You’ll also study key areas, including medicine management, anatomy and physiology, and health promotion, which will help you develop and maintain the currency and relevance of your practice in an ever-changing healthcare environment. See the entry requirements for full guidance on practice settings and supervision criteria.
The theory element of this module requires 125 hours of study consisting of 16 learning guides which are studied alongside your work-based practice. Your tuition will be provided online by your module tutor who will support your learning and achievement in online tutorials, email or telephone-based discussions and feedback on your assessed work.
Learning Guides 1–7
The first seven learning guides are the essential building blocks from which you can begin to understand your role as a student and will inform the foundations of your learning and practice. Topics include:
The module materials are developed in ways that support and encourage you to apply your theory learning to your practice. They will inform the development of your skills in practice and support you in being proactive in developing your competence in your practice setting.
Learning Guides 8–15
The next eight learning guides introduce holistic, personalised, person and family-centred care for people in different settings and different fields of practice. You will be encouraged to take a questioning and problem-solving approach to care delivery, and explore the rationale for care and underpinning evidence that informs how and why care is delivered in particular ways. Topics include:
As you study the learning guides, you will continue to develop your skills in practice.
Learning Guide 16
In the final learning guide you will reflect on your ongoing development for your area of practice, and achievements so far. If you are continuing with your studies following on from this module, you will also look forward to the second stage of your qualification and how you will make the transition to working and studying at level 2.
Overall, this module will support the development of your practice. You will be supported throughout by your Practice Supervisor and Practice Tutor/Academic Assessor and your practice will be assessed by a Practice Assessor and your Practice Tutor/ Academic Assessor.
You will need to be employed in a setting where you can gain appropriate practice learning experience under supervision and be assessed in practice. Your workplace employer must be able to provide significant supervision by a registered nurse; they will oversee 770 practice hours, be accountable for assessment and evaluation of workplace performance, as well as completing three review meetings and liaising with practice tutors.
Certificate of Higher Education in Healthcare Practice (T01)
If you're studying this module as part of the Certificate of Higher Education in Healthcare Practice,  you are eligible to register on this module without going through a process of recruitment and selection.
Foundation Degree in Nursing Associate Practice (X20)
If studying this module as part of the foundation degree, you will undertake a recruitment and selection process. This requires you to:
If you are looking to study this module as part of our BA (Honours) Nursing (R39), please visit the KYN104 module description.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
As this module is delivered mainly online it is important to develop your confidence in the use of IT. There are a range of local and online resources to support people in developing their confidence in their IT skills and you may wish to consider these as preparation for this module. IT support will be provided within the module including an OU Computing helpdesk and exercises you can complete to prepare for your studies.
You will be supported by a:
Module Tutor who will guide you through the study materials, mark and comment on your written work and provide advice and guidance through email, online tutorials discussion forums and by phone.
Practice Supervisor who will ensure that your development has been appropriately supported and your performance effectively reviewed and monitored to complete the Practice Assessment Document (PAD). This evidence is critical for successful completion of the module assessment requirements, and the proficiencies identified by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards for Pre-Registration Nursing Education (2019).
Practice Assessor who will work in collaboration with your Practice Supervisor to conduct assessments to confirm your achievement of proficiencies and programme outcomes for practice learning.
Practice Tutor/Academic Assessor who takes an overview of your practice development. Will support the Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor in readiness for practice assessment and in the verification of your achievements in your PAD.
Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Course work includes:
The end-of-module assessment (EMA) consists of an assignment and completion of your Practice Assessment Document (PAD).
Online learning materials and resources, Practice Assessment Document (PAD), 16 learning guides and accompanying resource materials.
You will also have access to a module website, through which teaching and library resources are available that provide links to current information and relevant research-based materials relating to module content.
There will be some online activities in which you will be expected to participate.
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying K104 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
Introduction to healthcare practice starts twice a year—in March and October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2025 and March 2026.
From 2027, it will be available twice a year, in March and June.
We expect it to start for the final time in June 2034.
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