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Discovering a Nursing Career in General Practice

Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry.

This new and innovative module CNO 002 Discovering a Nursing Career in General Practice is an essential starting point for registered nurses and associate nurses wanting to develop a career in the general practice setting. The non-accredited module is also available to pre-registration nurses in training and trainee nursing associates....

  • Level CPD
  • Study mode Short Course
  • Award N/A
  • Start date September 2024, January 2025

This course is:

Overview

This new and innovative module CNO 002 Discovering a Nursing Career in General Practice is an essential starting point for registered nurses and associate nurses wanting to develop a career in the general practice setting. The non-accredited module is also available to pre-registration nurses in training and trainee nursing associates. You will be supported to prepare a job application and gain essential skills to be successful in securing a post on completion of the module.

This course is not open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

The general practice environment is very different from the environment you may be used to. This module aims to enable you to study and explore the core skills required to work in general practice and to appreciate the underpinning theory and rationale enabling safe, effective care. Peer discussion and debate will enhance your confidence in articulating your learning as you progress. Your learning will be assessed formatively through group work, discussion and debate, online activities, and review of progress in developing a portfolio of evidence. Whilst on the module you will be encouraged to link up with your local primary care nurse leads to ensure you are aware of any GP practices that are recruiting. Once in post you will have the opportunity to join the Fundamentals of General Practice course to complete your transition and support you in through your first year in general practice.

Why Choose Us?

  • A well-established portfolio of ongoing career development and educational opportunities for general practice nurses and nursing associates
  • Personal tutor support throughout the module
  • Opportunity for simulation in undertaking essential practice nurse activities
  • Simulation, feedback and support in undertaking a job interview for a post in general practice

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply
  • UK Student
  • International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.

Award: NA

Starting: Sep 2024

Pathway: Level 6 - Credit bearing

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Short Course
  • 12 weeks
  • TBC

Award: NA

Starting: Jan 2025

Pathway: Level 6 - Credit bearing

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Short Course
  • 12 weeks
  • TBC

Award: NA

Starting: Sep 2024

Pathway: Level 7 - Credit bearing

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Short Course
  • 12 weeks
  • TBC

Award: NA

Starting: Jan 2025

Pathway: Level 7 - Credit bearing

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Short Course
  • 12 weeks
  • TBC

Award: NA

Starting: Sep 2024

Pathway: Non-credit bearing

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Short Course
  • 12 weeks
  • TBC

Award: NA

Starting: Jan 2025

Pathway: Non-credit bearing

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Short Course
  • 12 weeks
  • TBC

International students

Sorry, this course is not available to International students.

The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.

Who is this course suitable for? 

  • Student nurses (Non-credit bearing route only)
  • Trainee Nursing Associates (Non-credit bearing route only)
  • Registered Nurses (Any option/level, depending on your previous level of study. Contact the course lead if you have any queries)
  • Nursing Associates (Non-credit bearing or L6)

How to apply

Applicants will complete an online application form and a 300-word statement as to why they want to work in general practice. They will then undertake a half hour interview.

Please email Sue.Shortland@bcu.ac.uk if you would like to apply for this course. 

Course in Depth

Course Structure

The module is delivered using a blended approach to learning with the option of undertaking it fully online if preferred. The module is delivered over 12 sessions with a mix of synchronous and asynchronous  teaching. Specialist lecturers will be involved in delivery as well as university academics who have expertise in primary care nursing. The study days are delivered over a 3-month period to allow for consolidation of learning and access to online resources and self-directed learning using Moodle. The module is aimed at nurses who would like to move to a post in general practice. The module is designed to be accessible to students who are currently either working full time or undertaking a full-time educational programme e.g. a pre-registration nursing course. You will have the option to attend 3 Masterclasses on campus.

Attendance

  • 12 online sessions
  • plus the option to attend 3 Masterclasses on campus

Assessment

For the non-accredited module if HEE funded students will be expected to submit:

  • A prepared curriculum vitae
  • A recording of a simulated interview
  • A personal development and career plan

Students will then receive a certificate of achievement

Facilities & Staff

 

Our Facilities

Our Nursing and Midwifery courses are based at our City South campus in leafy Edgbaston.

We’ve spent £41million expanding our facilities at City South. These facilities offer hands-on practical experience, replicating the spaces you will come across in professional practice.

In a sector where new techniques are constantly being discovered, we work hard to ensure that you learn using the most up-to-date equipment available. Alongside physical spaces such as a mock operating theatre and wards, we also make use of online and virtual technology, such as our virtual ward and virtual case creator.

See more of our skills facilities at City South

Centre for Skills and Simulation

The Centre for Skills and Simulation offers a range of different spaces which replicate situations that you will encounter in practice. These include hospital wards, an operating theatre and a home environment room.

Our mock wards enable you to get a feel of what a ward is really like before you head out for your first placement. The hospital wards can be adapted from low care to high dependency care environment with the necessary monitoring equipment.

The home environment room is the perfect space for teaching communications skills and allows us to simulate a community setting for our students. It is particularly useful for mental health nurses, learning disability nurses and midwives.

Simulation Manikins

We have several Simulation men (SIM men) and simulation babies (SIM babies) which are anatomically correct manikins used for teaching specific techniques such as advanced adult and paediatric life support skills, acute and high dependency clinical skills, first aid and communication skills. The manikins contain software which replicates real symptoms, and can manipulate indicators such as blood pressure, pulse and heart rate for extra realism. SIM man can even ‘talk’ to the students as they are treating him, to add another dimension to learning.

Computer Facilities

The Seacole building has two open-access IT Suites which offer PCs, printers, photocopiers and scanners. There is also an IT Helpdesk for quick and easy help with your computing or internet issues.

Our PCs utilise the latest Intel i5 core technology, all with:

  • Fast (unrestricted) internet connectivity
  • Ability to save files to USB, DVD & CD
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Research and statistical software
  • Storage space which can be accessed from any PC across the University and from home

Our PCs are also designed to support students who may have difficulties with reading and writing, featuring specialised software with zooming/magnification and screen reading capabilities, which may also be customised for individual student needs.

In addition to desktop PCs, we also offer a laptop loan facility, allowing students to borrow a laptop for up to six hours while on campus.

Our staff

Sue Shortland

Associate Professor – Primary Care

Sue qualified as a registered nurse in 1984 and a registered midwife in 1986. Sue worked for over 20 years in general practice as a general practice nurse and then as an advanced nurse practitioner and non-medical prescriber. Sue joined Birmingham City University in 2008 as a Senior Lecturer on the MSc Advanced Practice Course whilst also...

More about Sue

Enquiries

Enquiries

If you have any questions about this course, please contact the course leader Donna Brookes on: Donna.Brookes@bcu.ac.uk.