Free course: So you want to be a nurse? (OpenLearn)

Key facts

• From The Open University's free OpenLearn site (UK). Not a Mereka course.^[1]
• Free, about 6 hours of study, Level 1 (introductory).^[1]
• Start straight away with no sign-up. A free account (age 13 or over) saves your progress and gets you a statement of participation.^[1][2]
• The statement is not a qualification and carries no credit.^[2]
• It describes nursing in the UK, so the training route it explains is not the Malaysian one.^[1]

What you'll do

The course looks at what nurses do in the UK today, the challenges they face and what makes a great nurse^[1]. It also explains the four fields of nursing and the different ways to become a registered nurse in the UK^[1]. It is reading-based and self-paced, so you can do it in short sessions on your phone.

No Mereka Academy course covers health yet, which is why this one comes from another provider^[3].

What it costs and how to start

It is free, and you can open the first section right now without signing up^[1]. If you want your progress saved and a statement of participation at the end, make a free OpenLearn account; you must be 13 or over to have one^[2]. The course is in English. It was first published in April 2022 and last updated in June 2023^[1].

Who it suits

You, if the caring side of the Health & Science taster pulled you in, or if you are weighing nursing against other health jobs such as medical assistant, physiotherapist or pharmacist.

What this means for you

• Six hours is a cheap way to test an interest before you commit to a longer programme of study.
• The day-to-day work it describes is close to nursing anywhere, but the training route, entry requirements and the body that registers nurses are different in Malaysia. Read the library's Health & Science guides for the Malaysian route.
• The statement of participation shows interest, not ability. Do not list it as a qualification on an application.
• If the course leaves you unsure, that is useful too: it is a sign to talk to a working nurse before you apply.

Your next step

1. Open the course and read the first section this week: So you want to be a nurse?(opens in a new tab)
2. Write down two nursing values from the course that you already show, with one real example each, and ask the programme team at your 30-day check-in how nurse training works in Malaysia.

Availability and age check

Catalogue and cost observations are dated 23 October 2026. Re-check the provider page before starting, and stop if a payment or unavailable course appears. The linked Mereka Connect agreement sets a minimum age of 16^[4]. It is not an Academy-specific registration policy; check the current Academy terms and any guardian-permission step before enrolling. Use the verified direct sign-in link below if the ordinary login screen omits the Mereka option. External courses use their own accounts and terms.

Access checked 24 October 2026: sign in to Academy with your existing Mereka identity(opens in a new tab). On first use, choose your country and continue; no second password is needed. The ordinary Academy login screen may omit the Mereka button, so use this link or the course button. External course providers use separate access rules.

Availability note, 24 October 2026: some Academy pages kept loading after sign-in during our check. If this happens, keep your work here and use an open-reading alternative or contact the First Move team. Do not enter another password or pay to get past a loading page.