Nursing placements

Nursing placements enrich your learning with practical, hands-on experience. Find out what to expect on your placement.

While on our nursing course, you'll build solid relationships with healthcare providers through clinical placements. This includes NHS Trusts in Preston, Fylde coast and central Lancashire. These practical experiences will equip you with valuable skills, preparing you for a career in the healthcare sector or postgraduate study.

How placements work

Placement locations are organised into circuits, which are determined by the course you're enrolled in and the campus you're studying at. During your placement, you'll be required to travel within the boundaries of your circuit, with a maximum travel time of 90 minutes each way. Placements include NHS Trusts, as well as private and voluntary practices

View your course

Nursing with Registered Nurse BSc (Hons) - Adult or Mental Health

For students at the Preston campus, you'll need to select a first and second preference of placement circuit during your interview. This should be based on proximity to your term-time postcode. Please note that first choices are not guaranteed, hence the need for a second choice.

Preston campus students have five placement circuit choices:

  • Central - Preston or Chorley
  • South - Wrightington, Wigan or Leigh
  • East - Blackburn or Burnley
  • West - Southport or Ormskirk
  • North - Blackpool, Fylde or Wyre

Students at Burnley Campus will have all their placements within the East circuit (Blackburn/Burnley area). Those at the Westlakes Campus will have placements within the Westlakes area.

Nursing with Registered Nurse (Children & Young People) BSc (Hons)

For students enrolled in this course, there are two potential circuit areas where you may be assigned. You'll be required to attend placements within the circuit area you're allocated to.

  • Central and North - Preston, Chorley, Blackpool, Fylde or Wyre
  • South and West - Wrightington, Wigan, Leigh, Southport or Ormskirk

Nursing with Registered Nurse (Learning Disabilities) BSc (Hons)

For students in Nursing with Registered Nurse (Learning Disabilities) BSc (Hons), we don't operate with placement circuits. Instead, placements are spread across the region. We ensure that placements meet NMC requirements for travel and offer a variety of placements that align with the location within Lancashire and South Cumbria where a student resides.

Practice Based Pathway

If you're enrolled in the Practice Based Pathway, you'll be taught by academic staff at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals. This includes one or two days a week of theory-based learning, which can be in-person at Preston College campus or via distance learning.

  • Lancashire hospitals (Preston and Chorley)
  • East Lancashire hospitals (Burnley, Blackburn, Clitheroe, Pendle, Accrington)
  • Blackpool Victoria and Morecambe hospitals (Lancaster, Morecambe, Barrow, Kendal, Millom, Ulverston)