Community Specialist Practitioner (District Nursing) BSc (Hons)

Year one, core modules

• Fundamentals of District Nursing

  This module focuses on the essential aspects of the district nursing role, including the changing demographics within the 21st Century and in particular the growing ageing population living in community settings with complex healthcare. You will study caseload management of those living with long term conditions, supported by multidisciplinary teams. The module is aligned with both national and local policies supporting practice, compassion and quality of care in the community setting.

You will choose one of the following modules:

• Community Practitioner Nurse Prescribing - see notes below

  Please note: If you have already completed a prescribing module that's recorded with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), your sponsoring Trust or healthcare organisation and the University may suggest you complete one of the optional modules outlined below. The Nurse Prescribing module will prepare you to prescribe safely, appropriately and cost effectively from the community practitioners formulary for nurse prescribers. The module is an alternative option to advanced non-medical prescribing.

• Non-medical Prescribing

  Non-Medical Prescribing prepares you to prescribe medicines from the British National Formulary (BNF), within your area of competence, and to assist you in extending your practice. You’ll learn to prescribe safely, appropriately and cost-effectively, as both an independent and supplementary prescriber. Supervision and assessment from a designated GP or Nurse Practitioner is essential within this module in order to meet the 78 hours clinical practice requirement. The module will be undertaken with allied health professionals.

Year two, core modules

• Leadership and Management in the Community

  This module will develop leadership and management skills to a strategic level, enabling you as a practitioner to deliver high quality patient care. The module will introduce practitioners to theories of leadership and management processes to support teams, including performance management and motivation. You will also reflect on integrating the values of courage and good communication and addressing the challenges organisational culture can present.

• Undergraduate Major Project

  The undergraduate major project enables you to raise and address significant questions relating to your chosen topic/issue. You will be supported by a tutor with similar interests and research profile. This module requires autonomous study and it is your chance to demonstrate that you have met our University’s expectations and are ready to graduate.

Optional modules

• Caring for People with Dementia

  If you have a professional interest in caring for people with dementia, or if you work in this area, our course will enhance your understanding and skills. You will learn person-centred approaches which are underpinned by respect for individuality, personal choice and family support. The module covers how changes in the brain can affect a person with dementia, and how dementia is assessed and diagnosed. Broader ethical and legal issues are explored, together with how contemporary research and policy issues contribute to best practice and service provision.

• Clinical Assessment Skills for Health Professionals

  Professional, ethical and regulatory issues are inherent in the development of the health professional's role. This module offers you the opportunity to enhance your existing knowledge and skills through a programme that integrates theory and practice in order to acquire the competencies required to provide a same day consultation service for patients. Ongoing support and supervision is integral to the role development as is audit to ensure safe effective practice to plan future development.

• Holistic Assessment Skills for Community Nurses

  This module enables you to develop systems-based assessment skills which are patient-centered and support accurate decision making, integrating the fundamental components of compassionate care. Holistic assessment skills incorporates the environment in which the patient lives and the environment in which care will be delivered. Supervision from a designated GP or Nurse Practitioner is essential within this module to achieve the relevant clinical assessment skills.

• Integrated Care in the Community

  This module will help you develop the theoretical knowledge which supports the concept of integrated care, with opportunities to apply it to practice. This module is 50% theory 50% practice, the theory will be delivered online and you will work with your district nurse mentor for the practice. Subjects studied include: Care around the clock, the international perspective, history and political drivers for integrated working, multi professional working and how it benefits patient care, governance, the autonomous patient and communication.

• Law and Ethics in Health and Social Care

  This module highlights the ethical and legal aspects related to your professional practice. There will be an analysis of legal cases and the statutory provision driving practice coupled with an exploration of current ethical issues, such as resource allocation and judicial review, issues of consent, death and dying and respecting life. The application of principles, theories and the legislative framework will be presented to you via reflective activities, case situations and scenarios, which will enable you to access their knowledge, trace their implications, refine their outcomes and evaluate the degree of moral justification they possess.

• Management of the Person with Diabetes

  This module is intended to reinforce the concept of inter-professional and partnership working in diabetes care. Therefore, you’ll aim to develop a sound knowledge and relevant skills that incorporate all aspects of diabetes management, and be able to identify diabetes competencies applicable to your role either in a primary or secondary care setting. In addition, you’ll be in the unique position to both support the person to come to terms with having a long-term condition and empower them to make choices about the management of their diabetes.

• Research Methodology

  You will learn to be analytical and insightful regarding research reports. You will gain an invaluable skill for anyone who wishes to provide effective and appropriate care in their individual sphere of practice. In addition, today's practitioner is required to work in a multi professional, multi-agency world which requires skills and insight into the efficacy of research. This module will revisit existing knowledge of the research process and assist you in further developing skills of critical analysis and ethical appraisal of published work.

• Wound Management

  This module will help you deepen your clinical and technological understanding, enhance your patient-care skills, and advance your career prospects. You’ll focus on the healing of wounds at cellular level, enabling you to assess wounds arising from different causes within your own clinical setting. You’ll learn to critically appraise and make informed decisions about the use of different care strategies (generally and for individual patients) as well as advanced wound-healing technologies.

You will take one module from the above list. The choice will depend on modules you may have completed in the past and on availability. The course leader will discuss your options with you at the beginning of the course. Modules are subject to change.