General Practice Nursing

Why study with us?

Come and study a specialised programme, taught by experts in their field. We have many years of experience in running this programme and developing specialist practitioners in general practice nursing with our partnership Trusts. Achievement rates are high and attrition rates are very low. Our nursing courses were ranked second in the north-west for overall student satisfaction in the 2010 National Student Survey.

We have excellent working relationships with our partner Trusts, who provide a supportive learning environment in which you can achieve the required level of proficiency.

What can this course lead to?

On successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma Community Specialist Practice, you will be eligible to apply to be recorded on the NMC Nursing register in your named pathway of General Nursing Practice. If you opt to study NMLB 9001; on successful completion you can apply to record this qualification as a V100 Community Practitioner Nurse Prescriber, on the NMC nurse register.

Having completed the Postgraduate Diploma Community Specialist Practice, you could consider topping this up to a Masters degree. The MSc Primary Health Care is the ideal progression route for you, if you remain in practice within primary health care. Other programmes you might want to consider include:

MSc/PgC Advanced Practice in Health and Social Care.

Resources and facilities

The course will prepare you for the role of Community Specialist Practitioner within General Practice Nursing. Successful completion entitles you to record your qualification with the NMC.

The course length is 40 weeks full-time or 80 weeks part-time. There is a balance of 50% theory and 50% practice. Practice experience is facilitated in an area specific to General Practice Nursing. There will also be opportunities to gain alternative practice experience in another relevant setting during the course. The course will facilitate development of broad knowledge and skills in relation to public health, evidence-based practice, leadership, change management and collaborative working. It will also develop specialist knowledge and skills in aspects such as health assessment, clinical care and case management.

Entry requirements

1st or 2nd class honours degree

Students with other qualifications may be admitted to the course via APL procedures

More about levels and credits

Credit and UCAS requirements Credit: 120 credits Selection criteria

If you apply for this course you must be current on the NMC Nursing register and you will need to provide evidence of study at level 6 within the last five years or complete an approved study skills course.

You will be interviewed for selection for this programme. The interview panel may include Trust staff, employers, mentors/practice teachers and university staff. During the interview you will be offered advice on the suitability of the award dependent on factors such as recency of prior learning, and your personal and professional development needs.

You will need support from a Primary Care Trust or your employer and be able to secure a placement in your chosen area of practice, with access to a Practice Teacher. You will need to have completed a Criminal Records Bureau clearance, and this will be checked prior to your commencement on the course.

If you work in Cumbria, Lancashire or Blackpool areas, you may be eligible to apply for a place on the programme funded and supported by one of the local PCTs. The PCTs advertise places on the programme each year through NHS Jobs usually in spring/early summer. We advise you to contact you local PCT and ask to speak with the manager for the specialist pathway that you are interested in, in order to express your interest and discuss opportunities.

Occasionally students self fund a place on this programme. However, you will still need to talk to the relevant manager in your local PCT in order to ask if they can provide you with a placement and a mentor/practice teacher in the relevant field of practice.

If you live further afield, you are able to undertake the programme with us if you can organise a practice placement with a mentor or practice teacher in the relevant field of practice. Your local PCT will be able to advise you as to whether this is possible.

International applicants can find out more about entry requirements on our dedicated webpages.

Modules

• NMLB 7073 Appraising Research and Evidence for Service Improvement
• NMLB 7050 Public Health Nursing Practice
• XANP 7803 Leadership
• NMLB 7060 Independent Study
• NMLB 7022 CSP in the Context of District Nursing
• NMLB 9001 Community Practitioner Nurse Prescribing (optional)

Course summary

The course will prepare you for the role of Community Specialist Practitioner within General Practice Nursing. Successful completion entitles you to record your qualification with the NMC.

The course length is 40 weeks full-time or 80 weeks part-time. There is a balance of 50% theory and 50% practice. Practice experience is facilitated in an area specific to General Practice Nursing. There will also be opportunities to gain alternative practice experience in another relevant setting during the course. The course will facilitate development of broad knowledge and skills in relation to public health, evidence-based practice, leadership, change management and collaborative working. It will also develop specialist knowledge and skills in aspects such as health assessment, clinical care and case management.

Download programme leaflet