Post Graduate Diploma in District Nursing
Designed with close collaboration between key stakeholders reflecting the constant changes within the community healthcare environment.

For any queries regarding admissions or enrolments, please contact the Professional Development Unit Admissions team
Email: pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1752 586951
Visit: Professional Development Unit, Level 4 Rolle Building, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom.
Opening hours:
Monday - Thursday 08.30 - 17:00
Friday 08:30 - 16:30.
This programme has been designed with close collaboration between key stakeholders including students, clinical representatives, academics and patient / service users, families and carers. Reflecting the constant changes within the community healthcare environment whilst building on existing good practice the programme has been designed to take into account strategic and professional changes. It aligns with regional health care employers’ strategic objectives and goals around workforce planning. On successful completion students will be eligible to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Council for the recordable Specialist Practitioner Qualification (SPQ), District Nurse.
The programme is aimed at registered adult nurses with a minimum of one year’s post-registration experience who wish to develop their knowledge, skills and practice to perform in the role of Specialist Practitioner District Nurse awarded by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Offering:
Year 1
Foundations of Community Nursing
This module explores skills of advanced and
complex holistic assessment, therapeutic relationships and enhanced
communication skills, exploration of the wider determinants of health and
health promotion theory and its application.
Advancing Practice in Context
This module will enable the student to develop their professional understanding within advancing practice, allowing them to consider the legal and ethical boundaries, the working environment and the complexities of their area of practice specialty.
Advancing Assessment for Clinical Practice
This module will enable experienced practitioners to undertake a systematic and structured history taking assessment alongside a physical examination in order to integrate advanced assessment findings into clinical decision making.
Year 2
Independent and Supplementary Non-medical prescribing
The aim of this module is to advance the development of health care professionals, enabling the understanding of wider influences and principles of prescribing, in order to practice safely and effectively within their scope of professional practice.
Contemporary Leadership and Management in Community Nursing
The aim of this module is to advance the development of community nurses to implement effective leadership in the community setting, including case-load, work-load and work-force management. It will critically explore the role of leadership and clinical governance, including, and enable them to provide quality care. Looking at approaches to team development and education and practice development. Wider socio-political, ethical, professional influences on community health care delivery.
Course type: Full-time.
Duration: Two years.
Hours of study: Students will spend 1-2 days a week in the university and then the rest of the time in practice-based learning. Applicants must have the support of their employer.
Delivery method: A blended approach to learning with face to face study days and highly directed online study resources and work-based learning.
Entry requirements:
* In order to commence the programme, entrants must meet the University’s entry requirements for study at postgraduate level.
Applicants will normally have a first degree, BSc (Hons) at 2.2 or above; or European first cycle equivalent plus a professional qualification in health or social care. Those individuals without a degree but with appropriate practice related experience relevant to the programme may be eligible to apply. Candidates without a first degree at 2.2 or above (or European first cycle equivalent) will normally be required to submit a short piece of writing as part of the admissions process. It is necessary to assess the potential student’s ability to study at masters level and therefore an interview will be necessary
Claims for credit for prior learning, whether certificated or experiential are considered and if suitable accepted for Recognition of Prior learning, following University regulations and Faculty procedures.
Fee: £5,500 per annum.
Other key facts: Students will remain as part of the workforce and continue to contribute to patient care whilst working towards their qualification.
Offers are subject to a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) report.
Email: pdu@plymouth.ac.uk
Professional Development Unit, Level 4 Rolle Building, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom.
Monday–Thursday 8:30–17:00 and Friday 8:30–16:30.