PgDip Specialist Community Nursing (General Practice Nursing)

Key information

Course Leader: Dawn Royall

Start date: September 2024 & January 2025

Mode of delivery: Blended

School: Health & Social Work

Entry Requirements

A UK degree, or other qualification at equivalent level, in a health-related subject.
Current and active Nursing and Midwifery Council registration as a nurse (level 1)
You will need to have access to an appropriate specialist community practice placement with a designated practice supervisor and practice assessor for the duration of your studies on the programme. This is normally provided through the sponsoring employer.
Applicants must demonstrate safe and effective practice at the level of proficiency appropriate to the NMC-approved Specialist Community Nursing programme before being considered eligible to apply for entry.
Normally students are sponsored by their employer to undertake the programme, however, it is possible for self-funded/ non-NHS/ self-employed students to enrol on the programme providing they are able to locate and negotiate an appropriate specialist community practice placement with a designated practice supervisor and practice assessor whilst enrolled on the programme, with an appropriate service provider.
Non-NHS, self-employed or self-funding applicants must complete an honorary contract with their allocated supporting organisation in addition to the University online application and supporting admissions form.
Successful interview with the sponsoring employer, conducted in collaboration with the University to demonstrate the student’s understanding of the role of the Community Children’s Nurse, District Nurse or General Practice Nurse, the demands of the programme and academic level of study required.
Successful applicants are subject to disclosure and barring service (DBS) checks and occupational health assessments.

The Specialist Community Nursing Programme: Community Children’s Nursing, District Nursing and General Practice Nursing (MSc top-up available)

For January starters there will be induction on 6th, 7th and 8th January 2025

About this Programme

The programme is designed to enable NMC registered nurses to take a strategic lead in advancing specialist community nursing. The programme fosters effective collaboration across various disciplines and agencies, all with the goal of enhancing the health and well-being of individuals, families, groups and communities. The programme fulfils the education and professional Standards of Proficiency for Specialist Community Nursing developed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2022) and Standards for post-registration programmes (2022).

The programme leads to a recordable qualification with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and professional recognition as a Specialist Community Nurse in either Community Children’s Nursing with Integrated Independent Nurse Prescribing, District Nursing with Integrated Independent Nurse Prescribing, General Practice Nursing with or without Integrated Independent Nurse Prescribing.

The programme has been designed to align with the pillars of advanced practice and will equip students with the necessary skills for advancing practice. The programme is also mapped to the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) field specific standards for the community nursing specialist practitioner qualification.

The three different pathways for this programme differ as follows:

Community Children’s Nurses deliver specialised care to children and young people with complex, often long-term illnesses and disabilities in the community. Alongside direct care, they support parents and families, including teaching specific care techniques to help maintain the child's health at home when safe. Collaboration with and communication within the multi-disciplinary and multi-agency team are also key responsibilities.

District Nurses are essential members of the primary healthcare team. They lead and manage teams that visit patients in their homes or residential care facilities, delivering increasingly complex care and supporting family members. In addition to providing direct patient care. District Nurses teach and support patients in self-care and educate family members on how to care for their relatives. They play a critical role in minimizing hospital admissions and readmissions, ensuring patients can return home as quickly as possible. Collaboration with the multi-disciplinary and multi-agency team is expected.

A General Practice Nurse works in GP surgeries as part of the primary healthcare team, which can include doctors, pharmacists, physiotherapists, paramedics, and dieticians. In larger practices, you may be one of several practice nurses sharing duties and responsibilities. In smaller practices, you might work independently, taking on multiple roles. The scope of your role will depend on the employer's needs. Effective collaboration and communication with the multidisciplinary and multi-agency team will be essential.

Why Choose this Programme

This programme will equip you with the skills and knowledge to excel in your chosen field, whether you’re aiming to be a Community Children’s Nurse, District Nurse or General Practice Nurse.

During the PgDip Specialist Community Nursing programme, you will:

Evaluate the current organisational and professional agendas that influence care delivery in primary healthcare and community settings.
Study leadership and management skills so that when you graduate you will be able to provide effective leadership within a mixed skill team and multi-agency work setting as well as to work proactively in a commissioning environment.
Combine learning at the University with hands-on experience in a practice environment, with an equal allocation of practice and theory hours.

Programme Structure

To attain a PgDip award you need to complete 120 credits. To top-up to an MSc you will need to complete a further 60 credits (180 credits) apply for MSc Top-Up here. There is an interim award available of a Postgraduate Certificate which can be awarded after completing 60 credits. There is no professional qualification associated with this award.

Teaching Methods

On the PgDip Specialist Community Nursing programme, you will experience a diverse range of teaching styles designed to enhance your educational journey. This programme prioritises the development of your capacity for self-directed study and interpersonal skills, ensuring you are well-prepared for the demands of the field.

We place a strong emphasis on structured research, well-prepared written and verbal presentations, and computer literacy. Alongside traditional lectures, seminars, tutorials, and simulation of practice which allows learners to actively engage with realistic scenarios relevant to their field, enabling them to apply theoretical knowledge in practical contexts. You will engage in case studies, clinical assessments, individual and group projects, and other student-centred activities.

The programme's assessment methods are varied and dynamic, including essays, presentations, reports, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE) and posters. This multifaceted approach ensures a comprehensive evaluation of your skills and knowledge, setting you up for success in your professional career.

Modules

Clinical Assessment and Examinations in Advancing Practice
The aims of this module are to enable students to build on existing knowledge and skills to demonstrate a critical, systematic approach to the comprehensive holistic assessment of children and young people / adults in primary / community care settings.
Foundation Knowledge and Skills for General Practice
The aim of this module is to introduce students to their role in general practice.  Throughout the module, there will be an emphasis on health promotion and screening as well as the management of long-term conditions.  There will be a focus on consultation and communication skills to build confidence in building rapport with people seeking care across the lifespan.
Managing and Co-ordinating Person Centred Care in the Community
The aims of this module are to enable students to autonomously plan, manage deliver and evaluate personalised care provided to children, young people and adults who have a range of complex and/or acute care needs and/or who are living with long-term or life-limiting conditions, through the use of person-centred approaches, across primary and community settings.
Practice Development in Specialist Community Nursing
The aims of this module are to enable students to demonstrate a critical, systematic, research and evidence-based approach to specialist community nursing practice in primary care and community settings. To successfully achieve the standards of proficiency for registration as a Community Nurse Specialist Practitioner in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Standards of Proficiency for Community Nursing Specialist Practice Qualifications (2022).
Promoting Health and Prevention of Ill Health in the Community
The aims of this module are to enable students to foster knowledge and understanding of health promotion, health protection and the prevention of illness within the context of contemporary health policy and the underlying political agenda. Its goal is to enhance self-management and independence across various fields of practice, lifespan stages and aspects of health and social care.
Team Leadership and Management in Primary and Community Settings
The aims of this module are to enable students to oversee services and skilfully coordinate the care of individuals, groups or assigned caseloads of patients to manage specific risks associated with their designated field of specialist community nursing practice and care setting; and to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to lead and manage teams.

Prerequisites

A UK degree, or other qualification at equivalent level, in a health-related subject.
Current and active Nursing and Midwifery Council registration as a nurse (level 1)
You will need to have access to an appropriate specialist community practice placement with a designated practice supervisor and practice assessor for the duration of your studies on the programme. This is normally provided through the sponsoring employer.
Applicants must demonstrate safe and effective practice at the level of proficiency appropriate to the NMC-approved Specialist Community Nursing programme before being considered eligible to apply for entry.
Normally students are sponsored by their employer to undertake the programme, however, it is possible for self-funded/ non-NHS/ self-employed students to enrol on the programme providing they are able to locate and negotiate an appropriate specialist community practice placement with a designated practice supervisor and practice assessor whilst enrolled on the programme, with an appropriate service provider.
Non-NHS, self-employed or self-funding applicants must complete an honorary contract with their allocated supporting organisation in addition to the University online application and supporting admissions form.
Successful interview with the sponsoring employer, conducted in collaboration with the University to demonstrate the student’s understanding of the role of the Community Children’s Nurse, District Nurse or General Practice Nurse, the demands of the programme and academic level of study required.
Successful applicants are subject to disclosure and barring service (DBS) checks and occupational health assessments.

Course Leader

Dawn Royall

Start date

September 2024 & January 2025

Mode of delivery

Blended

Faculty

Health & Social Work

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