Community Health Nursing Specialist Practitioner - District Nursing - PgDip

Health services in the UK are undergoing unprecedented reform particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic; this is transforming the way healthcare is provided. Greater emphasis is on prevention, health promotion and supporting self-care. The Nursing and Midwifery Council have produced proficiencies which reflect the specialist knowledge, skills and behaviours required by nurses working in the community. The role of the District Nurse involves autonomous decision making, the ability to manage greater clinical complexity and risk, both in terms of the people they care for, the caseloads they manage and the services they work within. District Nurses also lead and manage a team who provide a service that works closely with other agencies, professionals, and disciplines within the community in a range of non-clinical environments.

This module explicitly addresses students’ personal and/or professional development with a view to enhancing competence for service improvement in a rapidly changing health and healthcare environment. Through a flexible provision, students are inspired to reflect critically upon their individual learning needs as well as their organisations’ practices, to appraise and apply concepts from the literature on leadership, to issues of relevance for their role, organisation and overall programme of study.

The module is designed for registered practitioners who are looking to critically develop their knowledge and skill in health assessment of the individual patient. The module introduces and develops the skills required to undertaking a systematic holistic patient assessment. The module content is designed and delivered by lecturers from different specialities to ensure the provision of comprehensive learning which intends to foster and develop your awareness and critical analysis of health assessment.

This double module is designed for registered first level nurses and midwives and also SCPHNs to enable development of safe, competent and knowledgeable prescribing practice. It will develop your professional knowledge; skills; understanding; analysis and theoretical frameworks of prescribing working within your scope of practice.

This module aligns with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s (RPS) Competency Framework for all Prescribers and is designed to adhere to NMC prescribing standards. You will undertake practice based learning and complete assessments to enable achievement of the RPS competencies. In line with NMC standards for supervision and assessment practice, you will be supported and assessed by practice supervisors and a practice assessor, who will liaise with your academic assessor here at the university.

You will have the opportunity to develop skills of enquiry, reflection and problem solving. A blended learning approach is taken (incorporating both classroom and online activities via Moodle) in line with the university’s learning and teaching strategy. You will be encouraged to think critically and share practice experiences with your fellow students, as well as engaging in both directed and self-directed learning activities. You will be an active partner in your own learning and development and in return you will receive regular feedback and feedforward aimed at developing your academic skills, and have the opportunity to discuss your progress with your academic assessor.

This module is aligned with the NMC Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (SSSA) with a focus on becoming prepared for being involved in the teaching, learning and assessment for students undertaking NMC regulated post-registration qualifications. The module aims to build upon the theory behind the support and assessment of students in practice as practice assessors and practice supervisors and within the context of specialist practice qualifications.

This module will prepare students to undertake the role of practice assessor for students undertaking the SPQ and will support the development of key skills required such as advanced communication skills, understanding of the relevant NMC standards and supporting students with a range of learning styles.