Nursing (Pre-Registration) Learning Disability MSc drafted

Program Overview

This two-year Pre-Registration Learning Disability Nursing MSc equips students with the skills and knowledge to become Registered Nurses in Learning Disability (RNLD). The program focuses on developing practical and theoretical skills, aligned with Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards, emphasizing a person-centered approach to care. Upon graduation, students are eligible for NMC registration and can pursue various career paths in learning disability nursing.

Program Outline

Nursing (Pre-Registration) Learning Disability MSc

Degree Overview:

This two-year full-time Master's course is designed for those who have already completed a suitable undergraduate degree. Upon successful completion, graduates are eligible for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Registered Nurse in Learning Disability (RNLD). The program aims to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become a confident, competent, and compassionate learning disability nurse in a rapidly changing health and social care environment. It focuses on developing both practical and theoretical skills, aligning with the NMC Standards. These include professional values, communication and interpersonal skills, nursing practice and decision making, leadership, management, and team working. The course emphasizes a person-centered approach to care, focusing on meeting the diverse physical, psychological, and social needs of individuals with learning disabilities. It also highlights the importance of working in partnership with service users, their families, carers, and other professionals to promote health and wellbeing.

Outline:

The course is structured into two years, each comprising a number of compulsory modules. Students have the opportunity to study alongside students from other fields of nursing.

Year 1 Core Modules:

• Becoming a professional - Learning Disability Nursing: This module explores personal and professional attitudes and beliefs, relating them to the future role of a learning disability nurse.
It also covers developing as a learner, maintaining physical and mental health, and managing the transition to university. Ethical and professional codes underpinning learning disability nursing are also explored.
• Developing critical knowledge and skills in Learning Disability Nursing: This module builds upon the knowledge and skills developed in the first stage.
It expands the range of assessment skills and applies them to more complex learning disability care encounters. Students learn to recognize deterioration, identify appropriate interventions, and formulate care plans to meet the needs of individuals and groups.
• Developing research knowledge and evidence for Learning Disability Nursing practice: This module introduces students to designing research studies, including literature reviews and empirical studies.
It covers research methods and design, preparing students to undertake a study relevant to learning disability nursing in year 2. Topics include research ethics, data collection, analysis, and research approaches (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods).
• Introduction to Learning Disability Nursing: This module develops fundamental knowledge and skills required for a critical understanding of theory and practice.
It focuses on providing effective person-centered support to individuals with a range of physical, mental, and cognitive needs, with a specific focus on those with learning disabilities. Students integrate knowledge of anatomy and physiology with psychology, sociology, and other relevant disciplines to explore factors impacting health across the lifespan. They also develop skills in systematic assessments, including medicines administration and pharmacology.
• Understanding knowledge and evidence for nursing: This module introduces the nature of knowledge and its role in supporting evidenced-based practice.
It also explores ethics within healthcare research and develops transferable skills like literature searching, critical appraisal of evidence, and application of evidence to practice.
• Nursing Practice 1: This is the first practice module, where students are placed in clinical areas to undertake clinical practice and practice assessments.
It provides opportunities to develop fundamental nursing practice skills, including personal hygiene, infection control, undertaking observations, and holistic patient assessments and care. Students complete a practice learning experience, applying the theory they have learned.

Year 2 Core Modules:

• Developing as a professional: This module builds upon the "Becoming a Professional" module from year one, developing professional and transferable knowledge and skills required to become a Registered Nurse.
It covers professional, legal, and ethical knowledge and frameworks, and their role in clinical decision-making. Students also develop their understanding and skills for effective team working, leadership, and management to positively influence care delivery, decisions, and management for people in their care. Students complete a practice learning experience, applying the theory they have learned.
• Being a professional: This module builds upon professionally themed modules from year one and consolidates preparation to become a qualified nurse.
Students develop future nurse leader skills to prepare them to positively influence care beyond the organization to a national and global level. They also develop skills in promoting quality care and service improvements across and beyond the organization. The module prepares students to undertake the role of teacher to individuals and groups, as well as the role of practice supervisor for future nurses.
• Enhancing knowledge and skills in Learning Disability Nursing: This module builds upon the knowledge and skills developed in stages one and two.
Students expand their range of assessment skills and apply them under minimum supervision while managing and coordinating the care of people with learning disabilities with a range of conditions varying in complexity and in a range of settings. The module also assists students to develop skills in advanced care management and complex discharge or transfer planning.
• Using evidence and research to enhance Learning Disability Nursing practice: This module builds upon the evidence and research modules from year 1, enabling students to systematically undertake a literature review or a small-scale research project based on the research proposal developed in year 1.
Students develop a detailed literature review report or research study report using a variety of approaches, including qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods, audit, or a review of literature undertaken in a systematic way within the learning disability nursing field. They are also involved in data collection and analysis.
• Nursing Practice 3: This module provides opportunities to gain fundamental skills of nursing practice, including intravenous medicines administration.
Students complete a practice learning experience, applying the theory they have learned.

Assessment:

Students are assessed through a variety of methods, including:

• Group presentations
• Practical tests
• Essays
• Report writing
• Exams
These assessments demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding.

Teaching:

Teaching is delivered by a team of lecturers with diverse experience within learning disability nursing healthcare specialism. They demonstrate the latest techniques and procedures while supporting students as they put these skills and qualities into practice. A range of teaching and learning strategies are used to suit different learning styles. The virtual learning environment and state-of-the-art simulation equipment aim to provide students with everything they need to be successful in theory and practice.

Careers:

Upon successful graduation, students may pursue a variety of career paths, including:

• Staff nurse in local healthcare trusts
• Team leader in a health or social care environment
• School nurse
• Short-term care provider
• Specialist assessment and treatment areas
• High-profile leadership roles supporting people with learning disabilities and specialist needs
Students may also undertake further professional development opportunities and specialist roles, such as:
• Acute liaison nurses
• Epilepsy specialist nurse
• Medicine management nurse
• Roles with secure and probation services
• Management and leadership roles where they may develop and implement health and social care policy

Other:

• The University has strong links with NHS Trusts within the West Yorkshire and wider region, as well as private organizations who offer services to people with a learning disability.
• Lecturers are committed and passionate, as well as practice supervisors and assessors who are research active and have extensive and varied experience in learning disability nursing.
• Teaching takes place in innovative and contemporary teaching and learning environments, including a fully equipped simulated ward.
• Student support is provided by personal tutors, year leaders, academic learning support, and experienced practice supervisors and assessors.
• Students studying this course may be eligible to receive a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000 each year.
• Placement providers for this course may require students to have received a number of vaccinations, unless medically exempt, and provide evidence of these.
• Students are strongly recommended to complete any courses of vaccinations required under current guidelines for their future profession.
Failure to do so may result in their inability to undertake a placement in certain clinical settings, impacting upon their academic progression and potentially leading to academic failure.
• Students may be eligible to gain recognition for their prior learning towards the academic credit on this course.
However, the course is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which allows a maximum of 50% of credits for the award to be conferred through recognition of prior learning.
• Placements are generally offered across West Yorkshire and beyond, covering 24-hour care including evening, weekend, and occasional night-shifts.
• Placement areas could be anywhere within the wider Calderdale, Kirklees, and Wakefield metropolitan districts of West Yorkshire.
• Students need to consider travel arrangements for placements, as they may be required to start a shift at 7.00am and may not finish until 8.00pm.
• Placements will also incorporate night-shift and weekend working.

The full-time tuition fee for 2024/25 entry will be £9250. Students studying this course may be eligible to receive a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000 each year.