PGDip Community Specialist Practice (District Nursing)
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Course details
Year of entry
2023, 2024
Duration
2 YRS (PT)
Location
Wrexham
Course Highlights
Taught
by a team of professional nurses.
Funded
by the Welsh Government.
Recordable
with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) after successful completion of the course.
Why choose? this course?
Broaden your understanding and develop a critical awareness of the role and responsibility of key aspects of district nursing, including the coherent an detailed knowledge at the forefront of care.
- Our course is designed for qualified nurses who hold a current registration as a nurse (part 1) with the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council Register (equivalent to parts 1 or 12 of the NMC Register). The programme enables the student to qualify as a District Nurse and record the qualification with the NMC.
- An attractive feature of the programme is that the Postgraduate Diploma element of the courses can be taken full-time for 1 year (self-funded) or part-time over 2 years (possibility of Welsh government funding if you work in Wales) or flexibly by a module by module approach (over 4 years).
- The Postgraduate Diploma (Level 7) is open to students who hold a minimum of 120 credits at level 6. On successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma (Postgraduate Diploma in Health & Social Care (District Nursing), students can continue their studies and achieve a full masters, titled MSc Health and Social Care (Community Specialist Practice).
Key course features
- Utilise contemporary research and advanced scholarship to critically analyse and evaluate key aspects and developments in District Nursing.
- You will be taught by a dedicated team of professional nurses who have backgrounds in District Nursing and Community Nursing Roles.
- On successful completion of the Community Specialist Practice Programme, the District Nursing qualification will be recordable with the NMC.
- The course includes the Community Nurse Prescribing (V100) programme, which you will be able to record with the NMC.
- The programme consists of 50% theory and 50% practice (minimum of 600 hours practice) within a district nursing team, and has a 6 week period of practice consolidation at the end of the programme, ensuring that you feel fully prepared for your new role as a District Nurse.
- On successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma, students who have accrued the required credits at level 7 can be offered the opportunity to undertake a 60 credit dissertation, leading to a full masters qualification titled MSc Health and Social Care (Community Specialist Practice).
What you will study
MODULES
- Foundations of Community Practice: The Foundations of Community Practice module will enable registered practitioners to enhance their knowledge and problem-solving skills to a point where they can practice competently in a community setting.
- Research Methods: The Research Methods module aims to provide the student with a critical understanding of the philosophical, practical and ethical concepts of research and research methodology within the context of health and society.
- Clinical Portfolio: The Clinical Portfolio module will allow the student to engage in critical reflection during their community placement and explore their professional practice and personal development.
- Nurse Prescribing (V100): The Nurse Prescribing module aims to prepare community nurses to prescribe safely, appropriately and cost effectively from the Nurse Prescribers’ Formulary for Community Practitioners.
- Assessing Complex Needs: The Assessing Complex Needs module will prepare students to deal with complex care situations systematically and creatively, and make sound judgements within the boundaries of their own discipline.
- Managing Community Specialist Practice: The Managing Community Specialist Practice module will equip the students with the underpinning knowledge of leadership and management in the context of district nursing practice.
- Innovations in Community Practice: The Innovations in Community practice will enhance the students’ ability to lead and manage a district nursing team, by recognising the need for change and designing and planning an innovation to reflect the needs within the locality. The module will also enable the students to disseminate this good practice.
- Consolidation of Practice (NMC requirement): Students will complete this module at the end of their studies and it will enable them to manage a small caseload of patients in readiness for embarking on their new role as a District Nurse. The students will feel fully prepared having worked towards the NMC proficiencies over a prolonged period of time.
Students who wish to continue their studies on completion of the Post Graduate Diploma will undertake a dissertation module.
- Dissertation: Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learnt and select, plan, prepare and write a dissertation which explores a topic relevant to District Nursing.
The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.
Entry requirements & applying
All applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Hold current registration as a nurse (part 1) with the UK NMC and hold the minimum qualification of 120 credits at level 6.
- Provide a satisfactory reference from a current employer/line manager.
- Provide a self-declaration of health and good character and where required, undertake a satisfactory occupational health assessment.
- Hold a current full UK driving licence.
- Before you are offered a place on this programme, you will be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance (previously known as CRB) and pay the appropriate fee, so that a check can be made on your suitability for working with children and/or vulnerable adults.
- All candidates who meet the entry criteria will be offered an interview.
Teaching & Assessment
District Nursing students are assessed in a variety of ways over the course of their studies. The balance between the different forms of assessment is determined by the different aims and learning outcomes of the modules.
Assessment methods include academic assignments, case studies, poster presentations and examinations. As the programme is about learning in practice, all students have a clinical portfolio which is completed as students’ progress through the modules. All students are allocated a mentor/sign off mentor within practice, who will assess your competency against the NMC Specialist Practice Standards for District Nursing.
Teaching and Learning
Wrexham University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential.
We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our Student Support section has more information on the help available.
In terms of particular needs, the university can provide appropriate guidance and support should any students require reasonable adjustments to be made because of a recognised prevailing disability, medical condition, or specific learning difficulty.
Career prospects
Our Careers & Employability service is there to help you make decisions and plan the next steps towards a bright future. From finding work or further study to working out your interests, skills and aspirations, they can provide you with the expert information, advice and guidance you need.
On successful completion of the Community Specialist Practice Programme, the District Nursing qualification will be recordable with the NMC. This coveted qualification will enable you to apply for Band 6 roles within District Nursing and will increase opportunities within Community Nursing as a whole.
Fees & funding
You may be eligible to access funding to cover course fees up if working for the NHS in Wales after registration.
You do not have to pay your tuition fees upfront.
The fees you pay and the support available will depend on a number of different factors. Full information can be found on our fees & funding page.
Accommodation
International
If you are applying as an European / International Student, and live outside of the UK, you should make your application through our online application system, Centurus.
For information about the university’s entry requirements for EU/international students, please visit our international section.
