School of Nursing and Midwifery

MSc Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Do you want to enhance your career opportunities and learning within the specialist field of neonatal nursing? Our innovative new MSc Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner programme has been developed through close collaboration with key stakeholders, including University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, to empower you to develop as an advanced practitioner. The contemporary focus inspires efficiency, effectiveness and quality of practice to positively impact on neonatal care.

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Key features
  • Seize opportunities to study in an inter-professional setting with inter-professional core modules delivered by an academic team with extensive experience, as well as programme specific modules delivered by specialist neonatal practitioners.
  • Gain a deeper understanding of the advanced clinical practice role and learn how this level of practice is used to enhance the patient journey.
  • Develop a critical understanding of the contemporary issues that impact on neonatal practice and how the advancing level of practice influences the provision of high quality, patient centred care.
  • Critically review trends in theory, practice and management relating to neonatal practice.
  • Develop a contemporary approach to health and social care through advancing and utilising knowledge and skills in professional practice, underpinned by a focus on excellence and sustainability by developing a critical, analytical and creative approach.
  • Promote an understanding of the philosophy and procedures involved in research and use of evidence, with the opportunity to design and undertake research that will enhance and develop patient care and/or service provision within the neonatal arena.
  • Be equipped to take on lead roles in management, clinical practice and/or education.
  • Part time programme offering flexible delivery and exit points to support a learner centred approach.
This programme is also available as an Apprenticeship MSc Advanced Clinical Practice in Neonatal Care. For further information on the apprenticeship route and details of how your employer can apply for you please visit our apprenticeship webpage.
Please note that when you enrol on this programme, you always enrol to study the master degree but we offer three exit awards: PgCert, PgDip and MSc.
Course details

  • Year 1

  • Postgraduate Certificate
    To achieve a postgraduate certificate, you will need to obtain 60 credits by completing the three core modules below. 
    Please note: the named exit award at postgraduate certificate level is Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.

  • Year 2

  • Postgraduate Diploma
    To achieve a postgraduate diploma, you will have first completed the PgCert and need to obtain an additional 60 credits (to give 120 credits in total) by completing the two core modules below. 
    Core Modules
    ANNP702 Advanced Neonatal Nursing Practice 20 Credits
    (ANNP702 cannot be taken as a standalone module. ANNP701 must be completed first)
    NMP703 Independent and Supplementary Non-medical Prescribing 40 Credits

  • Final year

  • MSc
    To achieve a full master degree, you will have first completed the PgDip and need to obtain an additional 60 credits (to give 180 credits in total). This must include the core module and an optional module of your choice. 
    Core module
    SPP702 Substantive Professional Project 40 Credits
    Optional module
    Optional module 20 Credits
    Optional modules can be chosen from the Masters level modules A-Z list. Please contact the Professional Development Unit Admissions Team to discuss your options.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

MSc Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner programme specification 6136

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.
Entry requirements
You’ll 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.
You will also need to be working in an environment where you can meet the module learning outcomes. Specific criteria includes:
  • attainment of a recognised QIS qualification
  • neonatal clinical experience of at least two years post QIS qualification (excluding maternity leave)
  • management experience within neonatal clinical practice
  • supernumerary practice of at least 7.5 hours per week (exclusive of taught contact time)
  • current NMC registration
  • access to an appropriate clinical mentor.
If you do not have a degree but have appropriate practice-related experience relevant to the programme you may be eligible to apply.
Applicants whose first language is not English must also provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English in accordance with the University’s Admissions Code of Practice - IELTS of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each part.
You will be assessed individually for your ability to study at this level and therefore an interview may be necessary. If you do not have a first degree at 2.2 or above (or European first equivalent) you must have completed an evidence based practice module at degree level and will normally be required to submit a short piece of writing as part of the admissions process.
AP(E)L:
Claims for credit for prior learning, whether certificated or experiential are accepted and will be assessed following University regulations and Faculty procedures.
European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS):
This programme is equivalent to 90 ECTS credits (second cycle) with 30 ECTS credits at postgraduate certificate, 60 credits at postgraduate diploma and 90 credits at masters degree. Each 20 credit module has the equivalent of 10 ECTS credits and assumes a notional student effort of between 200-300 hours.
We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.
Fees, costs and funding
Student 2023-24 2024-25
Home N/A N/A
International N/A N/A
Part time (Home) £1,100 per 20 credit module £1,220 per 20 credit module

Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per a number of credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and funding. 
Additional costs
Please be aware that there may be additional costs to undertaking your studies relating to printing of course materials, and requirement for an initial outlay for travel and accommodation in respect of practice placement. If you have any questions regarding these costs please contact admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.
International
If you are studying on a programme where placements are integral to your study there are costs associated with travel and accommodation. Please speak with the programme admissions tutor to find out more.
In order to cater for the needs of the NHS workforce, this programme is flexible in nature and allows up to five years for students to complete the full MSc. For this reason, students on the programme are unable to claim support via the Student Loans Company Postgraduate Loan. The SLC stipulates that part time programmes (which do not have a full time equivalent) must be offered for no longer than three years. If you think that you will have trouble funding your place on the programme, we would recommend a discussion with your employer to see whether any financial support can be granted.
How to apply
Applying for this programme
Applications for the full-time programme need to be completed through the PG apply online form. You will also need to complete a Postgraduate Application Referee form.
Applicants also need to complete an additional information form and attach it to their application.
Any questions please contact: 
Professional Development Unit
4th floor, Rolle Building
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus
Plymouth, PL4 8AA
What happens after I apply?
After your application is received, it will be processed and sent to the Programme Lead for a decision to be made on your suitability to study. You may be asked to provide additional information or to take part in an interview (for overseas students this may be by telephone or video conference). Once this decision has been made, you will be sent an email either confirming your place on the programme, or rejecting your application and giving the reasons for this decision (you may request further feedback in order to improve your chances of selection at a later date).
Please note that you will be enrolled on the full MSc programme. You may choose to exit with the qualification of PgCert upon completion of an appropriate 60 credits, or a PgDip upon completion of an appropriate 120 credits. More information is contained within the programme specification.
For applicants with disabilities
If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by the University of Plymouth, please visit our Disability Services webpage.

This three year programme is designed for senior neonatal nurses with an ambition to become an Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. Study within an inter-professional setting, with core modules delivered by an academic team with extensive experience, and programme specific modules delivered by specialist neonatal practitioners 

Develop a contemporary approach to health and social care by advancing and utilising your knowledge and skills in professional practice. The development of a critical, analytical and creative approach will ensure your professional practice is underpinned by a focus on excellence and sustainability. The programme will involve critically reviewing trends in theory, practice and management relating to Neonatal practice, and promoting an understanding of the philosophy and procedures involved in research and the use of evidence. The programme is inclusive of independent and supplementary prescribing and the routine examination of the newborn competencies.

MSc Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust midwifery team

MSc Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner modules

Find out more about the modules that make up the MSc Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner programme
Year 1
ANNP701- Holistic neonatal assessment and clinical management
APP701- Advancing practice in context
APP758- Advanced concepts in research: methodology and methods
Year 2
ANNP702 - Advanced neonatal nursing practice*
NMP702 - Non-medical prescribing: Independent and supplementary prescribing for nurses and midwives 
Year 3
One 20 credit optional module, to be agreed with Programme Lead
SPP702- Substantive professional project
*Please note that there is no webpage for module ANNP702 as it cannot be taken as a standalone professional development module. Please contact the Professional Development Unit for further information.

Career opportunities

Our MSc Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner programme will equip you to perform as an advanced practitioner and independent prescriber.
You'll support the provision of neonatal care within all levels of designated service, keeping high standards of care for infants and their families.
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Graduation, 1778451

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