• 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.
  

• Programme overview

• Postgraduate certificate - to achieve a postgraduate certificate, you will need to earn 60 credits by undertaking three core modules.

  Please note: the named exit award at postgraduate certificate level is Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.
  

  Postgraduate diploma - to achieve a postgraduate diploma, you will need to earn 120 credits by undertaking five core modules.

  Master of Science - for a full masters degree, you will need to earn a total of 180 credits. You will study the same core modules as the postgraduate diploma, with the extra 60 credits coming from two further core modules.

  Year 1

  Core modules

  • ANNP701 Holistic Neonatal Assessment and Clinical Management

    This module will enable neonatal nurses to develop existing professional skills. Performing comprehensive health assessments through history taking, clinical examination, diagnosis and documentation, to develop initial treatment and management strategies. The practitioner develops competence through experience in clinical practice, utilising pathophysiological knowledge to facilitate the clinical decision making process.

  • APP701 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 practice.

  • APP702 Advancing Research Knowledge in Practice 1

    This module develops an understanding of research designs and methods, enables the critical appraisal of research and introduces the principles of data collection and analysis.

• Year 2

• Core modules:

  ANNP702 – Advanced neonatal nursing practice

  NMP702 – Non-medical prescribing: Independent and supplementary prescribing for nurses and midwives

• Final year

• Core modules:

  APP703 – Advancing research knowledge in practice 2

  SPP701 – Substantive professional project

You’ll normally have a first degree (BSc (Hons) at 2:1 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
  
• 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 minimum of 7 in each part.

You’ll 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 2.1 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.

This programme will commence in September 2017. For further information please contact the Professional Development Team.

When to apply

Applications for this programme can usually be made throughout the year. Please check the closing date and apply as early as possible as our programmes are popular.

Apply for this programme

Applications should be made by using the relevant PDF or Word application form.

Postgraduate application form DOC – A ten page DOC application form for postgraduate students to print, fill in and mail to the University

Postgraduate application form PDF – A ten page PDF application form for postgraduate students to print, fill in and mail to the University

International student postgraduate application form DOC – Postgraduate taught programmes application form for international students

International student postgraduate application form PDF – Postgraduate taught programmes application form for international students

Printed application forms are also available and can be obtained from the Professional Development Unit. Please send your completed application form to the address or email listed below:

Professional Development Unit
4th floor, Rolle Building
Plymouth University
Drake Circus
Plymouth PL4 8AA

Email: pdu@plymouth.ac.uk

Tel: +44 1752 586951

What happens after I apply?

You will normally receive a decision on your application within four weeks of us receiving your application. You may be asked to provide additional information, to take part in an interview (which in the case if you are an overseas student may be by telephone or video conference) or you will be sent a decision by letter or email.

If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by Plymouth University, please visit our Disability Assist website.

Support is also available if you an overseas students applying to the University from our International Office.