BSc (Hons) Community Specialist Nursing

What you will study

The programme consists of 50% theory and 50% practice (minimum of 600 hours practice) within a district nursing team. There is also a 6 week period of practice consolidation at the end of the programme, ensuring that you feel fully prepared for your new role as a District Nurse.

MODULES

• Foundations of Community Practice: This module will enable registered practitioners to enhance their knowledge and problem-solving skills to a point where they can practice competently in a community setting. 
• Process of Enquiry: This module aims to provide you with insight into the principles of a range of research methods while encouraging critical thinking and stimulating the development of research-based practice.
• Clinical Portfolio: This module will enable you to engage in critical reflection during their community placement and explore your professional practice and personal development.  
• Nurse Prescribing (V100): This module aims to prepare community nurses to prescribe safely, appropriately and cost-effectively from the Nurse Prescribers’ Formulary for Community Practitioners.
• Assessing Complex Needs: This module will prepare you on how to deal with complex care situations systematically and creatively, and make sound judgements within the boundaries of their own discipline.
• Managing Community Specialist Practice: This module will equip you with the underpinning knowledge of leadership and management in the context of district nursing practice.
• Innovations in Community Practice: This module will enhance your ability to lead and manage a district nursing team by recognising the need for change and designing and planning innovation to reflect the needs within the locality. The module will also enable you to disseminate this good practice.
• Consolidation of Practice (NMC requirement): You will complete this module at the end of your studies and it will enable you to manage a small caseload of patients in readiness for embarking on yournew role as a District Nurse. You will feel fully prepared having worked towards the NMC proficiencies over a prolonged period of time.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

Entry requirements & applying

To apply for this course you must:

• Hold current registration as a nurse (part 1) with the UK NMC and be educated to at least diploma level. 
• Provide a satisfactory reference from a current employer/line manager.
• Provide a self-declaration of health and good character and where required, undertake a satisfactory occupational health assessment.
• Hold a current Full UK driving licence.

Before you are offered a place on this programme, you will be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance (previously known as CRB) and pay the appropriate fee so that a check can be made on your suitability for working with children and/or vulnerable adults.

All candidates who meet the entry criteria will be offered an interview.

To apply, please contact postregadmissions@glyndwr.ac.uk.

Teaching & Assessment

You are taught via face to face lectures, group discussions, problem based learning, scenarios, quizzes and break-out activities. We also have service users and external speakers, where relevant and applicable to the taught content.

Our Active Learning Framework makes the best use of on campus learning spaces with student focused content which can be accessed after lessons for consolidation or revision.

You are assessed in a variety of ways over the course of your studies. The balance between the different forms of assessment is determined by the different aims and learning outcomes of the modules. Assessment methods include academic assignments, case studies, poster presentations and examinations. As the programme is about learning in practice, you will have a clinical portfolio which is completed as you progress through the modules. You are allocated a Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor within practice, who will assess your competency against the NMC Specialist Practice Standards for District Nursing.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

Wrexham Glyndwr University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential.

We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our student support section has more information on the help available.

Career prospects

On successful completion of the programme, the qualification will be recordable with the NMC. This coveted qualification will enable you to apply for Band 6 roles within district nursing, and will increase opportunities within community nursing as a whole.

Many of our previous students gain a Band 6, Caseload Holder position, progressing onto Team Leader and Matron. Some students have gained specialist roles such as Lymphoedema Specialist, Tissue Viability Nurses, Palliative Care specialist, Discharge Liaison Diabetes Specialist Nurses and Continuing Health Care roles.

Our Careers & Employability service is there to help you make decisions and plan the next steps towards a bright future. From finding work or further study to working out your interests, skills and aspirations, they can provide you with the expert information, advice and guidance you need.

Fees & funding

Prospective students, working for the NHS in Wales within community nursing can access Welsh Government Funding to cover the course fees.

The fees you pay and the support available will depend on a number of different factors. Full information can be found on our fees & finance pages. You will also find information about what your fees include in the FAQs section of those pages. 

Please contact the programme leader to discuss the possibility of accessing Welsh Government funding for this programme.

Programme specification

You can see the full programme specification here. 

Accommodation

If you’re looking for a place to stay while you study, then why not take a look at our accommodation section to get more information.