Postgraduate Diploma

Specialist Community Public Health Nursing

(School Nursing and Health Visiting)

Duration:: One year full-time or two years part-time
Start Dates:: September and February (subject to validation)
Attendance:: Full-time: two days per week at University and two days in practice; Part-time: one day per week at University and one day in practice
Venue:: High Wycombe Campus
Cost:: Available on request

Key Contact:: Kate Potter
Tel:: 01494 522 141
Email:: kate.potter@bucks.ac.uk

Is this course suitable for me?

If you are a highly motivated nurse seeking to develop your career in public health nursing within the community this programme will equip you with the skills required to carry out public health nursing within the community.

Overview

This modular course has been specifically designed to meet the NMC requirements of Specialist Community Public Health Care nurses. On successful completion of the course students will become registered on the third part of the nursing register.

The specific disciplines include:
Specialist Community Public Health Care Nursing (Health Visiting)
Specialist Community Public Health Care Nursing (School Nursing)

Structure

Semester one:
two days per week at the University
two days per week in the practice placement
one study day per week

Inter-semester block of practice: two weeks

Semester two:
two days per week in the practice placement
two days per week at the University
one study day per week

Final Block of Practice: 10 weeks (June, July & August)

Modules available

Foundations for public health practice
Leadership, management and innovation in public health practice
Safeguarding individuals and families
Evidence based practice
Child development
Practice development project.

Teaching and learning

The teaching, learning and assessment methods are wide-ranging to fit the variety of student learning styles. In all cases these methods will focus on application to practice, and a critical approach to nursing care in the community. Academic tutor support is offered to all students to facilitate their academic development at a postgraduate level.

Learning is facilitated in the community practice environment as well as the classroom and the methods used here are those of discussion as well as critical observation and demonstration, enabling you to analyse your decisions and the decision making process. The understanding of research based knowledge underpinning the decisions is of key importance. You are also encouraged to consider the development of innovative research into their specialist area of practice.

Within the classroom, lectures, discussion and seminars are used to enable students to both build their knowledge and share experiences with their peer group. This sharing of experience is seen as a major element in the development of community nurses who are able to practice at a high level, taking responsibility for complex decisions within a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency environment.

Assessment will be by course work, portfolio development, presentations and examinations. The assessment of practice is undertaken using a community practice portfolio. The Practice Teacher is responsible for the teaching and assessment in practice and they work closely with the Link Tutor, who will visit the practice learning environment on at least three occasions during the year.

Entry requirements

You will need to be registered on the appropriate part of the NMC Professional Register, with a relevant first degree in a subject relating to nursing or health visiting. In addition, if you are studying for the Specialist Practitioner qualification, a practice placement must be arranged before the course commences that will run concurrently with the theoretical element of the course, most practitioners who undertake the Specialist Practitioner qualification receive sponsorship from a Primary Care Trust, the practice placement is then arranged by the sponsoring trust.

Further opportunities

This is a programme which prepares qualified nurses and midwives for the third part of the NMC register. They will be prepared to work as health visitors or school nurses in the community in a variety of public health settings.

How to make an application

Please contact the Enquiries Team on 01494 603 171 or email ask@bucks.ac.uk

Application forms should be returned to:

Mike Thomson
Recruitment Officer
Bucks New University
106 Oxford Road
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1NA

Students funded by the NHS or other employer

If the cost of your course is being funded by your employer, please contact your education lead or manager for guidance as to how they would prefer you to make an application.

Bucks New University

Faculty of Society & Health