Program Overview

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Overview

This degree prepares you to work with people across the lifespan, from new families, children, and young people to older adults who require support at various times throughout their lives. You will provide nursing care and support to individuals and families, having a profound impact on their lives. You will experience something new every day and have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. You will work in a wide variety of settings, with endless opportunities to have a career where you are always motivated and inspired to go to work for another exciting and rewarding day.

Course Structure

Year One

• Applied Biological Sciences for Health: Anatomy and physiology relating to key systems, including Principles of Homeostasis, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, and Gastrointestinal.
• Professional Practice and Accountability: Spheres of professional accountability & responsibility, including health & social care legislation, legal & professional duty of care, and negligence.
• Developing Evidence-Based Practice: Exploring knowledge acquisition, academic skills, information and digital literacy and fluency, academic integrity, and reflective practice.
• Introduction to Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Equipping students with a variety of communication, interpersonal, and self-awareness skills required to provide culturally appropriate and compassionate nursing care.
• Concepts of Health and Social Policy: Explore perspectives of biological, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual, and behavioural determinants of health and promote person-centred wellbeing across the lifespan.
• Introduction to Learning Disabilities Nursing: Explore key concepts in Learning Disability Nursing and develop a foundation of knowledge and skills.

Year Two

• Pharmacology and Medicine Therapeutics: Focus on understanding and applying the principles of pharmacology and medicine therapeutics in the management of care.
• Living with Long Term Conditions Across the Lifespan: Develop underpinning knowledge relating to the causes, presentation, and management of long-term conditions across the lifespan.
• Learning from the Lived Experience: Analyse contextual knowledge through problem-based learning and reflection using narratives of individuals accessing health and social care.
• Communication and Relationship Management in a Therapeutic Context: Learn to recognise, select, and utilise appropriate communication strategies and therapeutic skills.
• Recognition and Assessment of Physical & Mental Health of Clients with Learning Disabilities: Learn to acknowledge the prevalence of health issues and inequalities that individuals with a learning disability experience. Develop assessment skills to enable clinical care planning.
• Values-Based Contemporary Learning Disability Nursing: Explore a bio-psycho-social approach to overcoming barriers, and discrimination to promote independence and enable people with a learning disability to lead desired lives.

Year Three

• Clinical Decision Making and Complex Care: Consolidate professional competence in clinical decision-making related to the management of complex care.
• Contemporary Issues and Change Management in Professional Practice: Learn to consolidate evidence in order to improve service quality within professional practice.
• Public Health: Focus on public health and social care agendas and their impact on individuals, groups, and communities.
• Leading and Managing Health and Social Care: Prepare for working as a professional within an organisation, leading and managing care within a changing environment.
• Consolidating Awareness of Learning Disability Nursing: Prepare for registration as a learning disability nurse with the ability to make analytical and objective assessments and judgement based on evidence related to your area of practice.

Teaching & Assessment

How You Will Learn

A variety of teaching and learning methods are designed to match learning outcomes and to provide you with some experience of the method best suited to your own learning style. They are designed to:

• Be student-centred, flexible, and modern whilst being challenging and stimulating
• Be fully supported by and integrated with, technological approaches such as the Blackboard virtual learning environment (VLE) and electronic portfolio
• Ensure the linkage of theory with practice
• Consider, value, and incorporate service user and carer perspectives, involving service users and carers directly, as per the Institute strategy
• Develop you to be independent and self-directed, communicating the ethos of lifelong and reflective learning
• Develop your abilities to learn effectively and progress academically including an in-depth evidence-based literature review (dissertation) as well as leadership and change management

How You Will Be Assessed

Modules use formative and summative assessment so that students progress through a module and build knowledge for practice coherently and logically. Formative assessments are designed so that feedback on the individual student’s performance is provided prior to the submission of the final, summative assessment – though this does not contribute to the final module mark or the credit awarded.

Types and methods of assessment will include:

• Group seminars and presentations
• Essays
• Interpersonal skills analysis
• Portfolio of evidence (achievement of clinical competencies and written evidence)
• Examination (context-based scenarios)
• Map of patient/client experience
• Reflective essays
• Community health profile, learning statement, and reflective incident recording
• Resource package
• Poster presentation
• Dissertation

Entry Requirements

• 104-112 UCAS Tariff Points
• GCSE English Language and mathematics at grade 4/C or above
• Functional Skills Level 2 in English and maths and Adult Literacy and Numeracy are also accepted
• A full list of acceptable level 2 qualifications can be found here: Level 2 Acceptable Entry Requirements

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

• £9,535 - UK
• £16,900 - International

Funding

You may also be eligible for additional funding through the NHS Learning Support Fund.

If you're eligible, you can get access to:

• A Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year
• Parental Support of £2,000, if you have at least one dependent child under 15 years, or under 17 years if registered with special educational needs
• Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses
• Exceptional Support Fund (Students experiencing financial hardship)

Learning disabilities nursing is currently on the list of courses that will receive additional specialist funding of £1000 per year.

Additional Costs

• There will be some additional costs. For example, all students will need to purchase stationery and may wish to purchase some textbooks.
• Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees, etc., although such features are usually options within the course.
• Books are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year.

Books and Journals

The course team does not specifically recommend any particular core textbooks as you will cover a wide subject base during the programme. The University of Cumbria library catalogue is extensive, and there are textbooks that can be accessed online.

Stationery

Students should budget for stationery and consumables for their own personal use. This should include notebooks, pens, and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework.

Clothing and Equipment

A good pair of black sensible shoes – you will be doing a lot of standing and walking on placement, so make sure your feet are comfortable – uniforms will be provided if required, but mostly Learning Disability Nursing students will not be required to wear a uniform. You will need to dress casual/smart for office environments when you are undertaking community placement (Cost variable). A fob watch might be required depending on placements (nurses’ watch) please make sure it is one with an easy-to-clean silicone cover. Cost approx. £10

Other

For half of the programme, you will be engaged in practice-based placements. Our placement circuit is across a wide geographical area, and you may be required to travel for up to 90 minutes by public transport or car. Costs will vary depending on whether you use public transport with or without a discount, or your own transport. You will have to fund any costs incurred by travelling to and from placement and any car parking charges. You are also expected to fund travel costs to and from the University of Cumbria. In Year 2 of the programme, you have an opportunity to arrange a 2-week ‘Enrichment Experience’ either within the UK or abroad. Costs will vary depending on the location, but you will be required to fund this experience. Membership of a union is strongly recommended (UNISON & Royal College of Nursing).