Specialist Practice in District Nursing PgDip

Overview

District nursing is a core service within the NHS. People are living longer with increasingly complex needs so more care needs to be delivered in the home environment. This course enables community nurse specialists to meet the demands of their complex role and develop their knowledge and skills, allowing them to deliver evidence-based care while leading a team and managing patients with complex needs.

Course Details

Course Structure

• Advancing District Nursing 1
  • You learn key aspects of district nursing, including building a community profile, safeguarding, risk, teaching and learning, promoting independence, the experience of service users and carers, and understanding associated research.
• Advancing District Nursing 2
  • You incorporate the professional district nursing proficiencies, management and leadership skills, developing service improvements, patient safety and understanding research methodology for project design.
• Advancing Non-medical Prescribing
  • Independent and supplementary prescribing is an integrated feature of health service delivery. Some health-specific professionals are qualified to prescribe across a range of healthcare settings. Advancing roles within both nursing and allied health professions have provided a greater access to medicines. This award provides nurses and allied health professionals (physiotherapists, radiographers, podiatrists, dietitians, and paramedics who are working in advanced practice roles) with the knowledge and skills to prescribe safely and effectively. You must work within your own scope of practice and area of competence and be able to complete the care cycle in a holistic manner for clients within your care.
• Physical Assessment Skills with a Focus on Long Term Conditions
  • You explore clinical assessment and management skills for key long-term conditions, drawing on current guidelines and practice.

How You Learn

• You commit to a comprehensive and individual approach to learning. Teaching includes group discussions, presentations, project work and clinical skills development in practical labs. You gain confidence in accessing digital resources There is some online learning, but most teaching and learning is in-person.
• You share some learning with students on the district nursing apprenticeship course, and students on other courses during the Non-Medical Prescribing module.
• We highly value the experience and knowledge of service users and carers involved in the programme, for example through teaching activities and assessment. Your practice assessor plays a significant role in ensuring that you have access to great learning opportunities during placement. Their skills and experiences also provide you with an excellent role model.

How You Are Assessed

• You are assessed through exams, essays, reflections, reports, simulations, projects and assessing proficiencies in practice through a practice assessment document. Your practice assessor and practice supervisors are key to these practice assessments.

Entry Requirements

• You must:
  • have an NMC-valid registration as a registered first-level nurse and at least one year’s experience post-registration
  • be successful at interview
  • have a degree or RPL equivalent
  • be professionally practising in a role where there is an identified need to prescribe
  • be approved by the employing trust or organisation’s non-medical prescribing lead and service manager who must provide verification of your suitability to prescribe
  • have an NMP practice assessor or designated prescribing practitioner to provide supervision, support and opportunities to develop competence in practice
  • pass a 20-question drug calculations entry test with a mark of 80% or above
  • successfully complete a clinical skills module or written evidence of assessment within practice (successful completion of the clinical skills module within the course enables the applicant to meet this criteria)
• You also need an employing organisation who is responsible for the following essential elements:
  • appropriate learning opportunities
  • supervision and assessment from the practice learning team, specifically a practice assessor
  • a completed work-based risk assessment
  • a satisfactory DBS

Employability

Career Opportunities

• On completion of the course, you are well prepared for the dynamic and inspiring world of community nursing. You are well placed to apply for a position as a district nurse and team leader.

Professional Accreditation

• After successfully completing your course you are eligible to be awarded the recordable qualification of the Specialist Practice Qualification in District Nursing which has integrated within it the V300 recordable qualification of Independent Non-medical Prescriber.

Full-time

Fees

• £7,710 a year
• Limited HEENE funded places available for eligible applicants - you must check with admissions before applying. PgDip: £4,500

Length and Start Date

• Length: 1 year
• Start date: September

Part-time

• Not available part-time

Choose Teesside

• Stand out from other job applicants with your higher level qualification, specialist knowledge and expanded networks.
• Improve your project management, critical thinking, research skills, time management, presentation skills and teamwork.
• The median salary for working-age postgraduates (£45,000) was £6,500 more than for working-age (those aged 16 to 64) graduates (£38,500) in 2022. (Graduate labour market statistics, tees.ac.uk/source)
• Study in our friendly town-centre campus with £280m of recent investment.
• Study at Europe's first Adobe Creative Campus and develop your creative and digital skills.

Teesside University

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Overview:

Teesside University is a public university located in Middlesbrough, Tees Valley, England. It is known for its strong focus on student experience, research, and business partnerships. The university has invested heavily in its campus, offering modern facilities and a vibrant learning environment.

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Services Offered:

Teesside University provides a wide range of services to its students, including:

Undergraduate and postgraduate study:

Offering a diverse selection of programs across various disciplines.

Short courses and CPD:

Providing opportunities for professional development and upskilling.

Online learning:

Delivering flexible and accessible learning options.

International student support:

Providing dedicated services for international students.

Career services:

Offering guidance and support for career planning and job searching.

Student support services:

Providing academic, personal, and financial support to students.

Library and IT facilities:

Offering access to extensive resources and technology.

Accommodation services:

Providing on-campus and off-campus accommodation options.

Sports and recreational facilities:

Offering a variety of sports and leisure activities.

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Student Life and Campus Experience:

Teesside University prides itself on its close-knit and supportive community. Students can expect a vibrant campus life with:

Social events and activities:

Offering opportunities to connect with fellow students and engage in extracurricular activities.

Student societies and clubs:

Providing platforms for students to pursue their interests and develop their skills.

Campus facilities:

Including a modern library, sports facilities, and a variety of dining options.

A welcoming and inclusive environment:

Fostering a sense of belonging and diversity.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

Affordable excellence:

Offering a high-quality education at a competitive price.

Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

Recognized for its outstanding teaching and student experience.

World-leading research:

Conducting impactful research across various fields.

Strong industry partnerships:

Providing opportunities for students to gain practical experience and develop valuable connections.

Vibrant and supportive community:

Offering a welcoming and inclusive environment for students to thrive.

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Academic Programs:

Teesside University offers a wide range of academic programs across six schools:

School of Arts & Creative Industries

School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies

School of Health & Life Sciences

School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law

Teesside University International Business School

University departments

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Other:

Campus Masterplan:

Teesside University has invested £280 million in its campus to enhance the student experience and support the local community.

Strong commitment to equality and diversity:

Recognized as a top employer for its commitment to inclusivity.

Nationally recognized for its services to business:

Providing impactful partnerships with local and global organizations.

Located in a vibrant and affordable region:

Offering a unique blend of urban and rural experiences.