School of Nursing and Midwifery

BSc (Hons) Professional Development in Neonatal Care

The BSc (Hons) Professional Development in Neonatal Care encompasses a range of academic and practice related skills. It is open to practitioners registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council with experience of working within neonatal care. You will develop and utilise appropriate skills whilst promoting an environment conducive to the provision of high quality neonatal care for infants and their families.

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Key features
  • Discover an innovative approach to gaining specialist and advanced knowledge ‘tailor built’ for the neonatal practitioner with assignments designed to translate knowledge and skills to the practice environment.
  • Meet the nurses QIS (Qualified in Specialty) competencies and have access to a large number of options that meet professional and organisational needs to enhance practice and service delivery.
  • Learn from neonatal care practitioners with our academic partnership modules with very specific work related modules developed and delivered in partnership with local healthcare providers.
  • Develop confidence, competence and emotional resilience to consistently exercise personal responsibility and professional accountability for decision making and the provision of high-quality safe care.
  • Underpin your interventions with the best available evidence, contemporary knowledge and high-level clinical decision-making skills.
  • Flexibly designed programme enabling you to ‘step on and step off’ over a five-year period in response to service need and professional circumstances.

Course details

  • Programme overview

  • This programme offers the awards of BSc /BSc (Hons), Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma. 
    BSc– to achieve a BSc you will need to earn 80 credits by undertaking two 20 credit core modules and one 40 credit core module.
    BSc (Hons)– to achieve a BSc (Hons) you will need to earn 120 credits by undertaking two 20 credit core modules and two 40 credit core modules.
    Students who have previously obtained a health related degree at 2:2 or above are eligible to access the programme via the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma route – please see panel below for further details.
    The module 'HEAD361 - Independent study' is only a core module for students who wish to achieve the BSc (Hons) Professional Development in Neonatal Care award.
    For further information on the modules that make up this programme please visit the BSc (Hons)/BSc Professional Development modules.

    Optional modules

    • Independent Study (HEAD361)

      This module extends knowledge of primary and secondary research and develops critical appraisal skills. Students construct an integrative literature review of a practice focused research topic.

    • Contemporary Issues in the Care of the Newborn (HEAC396P)

      This module will enable the practitioner to develop and utilise appropriate skills whilst promoting an environment conducive to the provision of high quality care for new-born babies requiring additional care and their families.

    • Understanding Evidence to Inform Clinical Decision Making (HEAD360)

      The module is designed to extend students' knowledge around evidence-informed decision making. This will be achieved through students identifying and evaluating a body of research-based evidence relevant to clinical practice.

    • Understanding Evidence to Inform Clinical Decision Making (HEAD360C)

      The module is designed to extend students' knowledge around evidence-informed decision making. This will be achieved through students identifying and evaluating a body of research-based evidence relevant to clinical practice.

    • Understanding Evidence to Inform Clinical Decision Making (HEAD360P)

      The module is designed to extend students' knowledge around evidence-informed decision making. This will be achieved through students identifying and evaluating a body of research-based evidence relevant to clinical practice.

    • Intensive Care for the Neonate (HEAC397P)

      This module will enable practitioners to develop and utilise appropriate skills and contribute to an environment conducive to the provision of high quality Intensive care to sick and pre-term babies and their families by increasing their knowledge and critical understanding of current research and practice.

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

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

BSc (Hons) Professional Development in Neonatal Care pathway specification_6170

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

Entry requirements
To be eligible for the BSc or BSc (Hons) programme you will need to be a health professional with current registration to the Nursing and Midwifery Council with experience of working in neonatal care. You should also be currently working in an environment in which newborns with additional needs are admitted.
If you wish to undertake the graduate certificate and graduate diploma award pathways you must already hold an honours degree at 2:2 or above in a health or health related subject.
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 – minimum overall International English Language Testing System (IELTS) of 6.5 average with a minimum 5.5 in each category.
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.
Extended entry requirements

Fees, costs and funding
The fee for this programme is dependent on the modules undertaken. Please see the relevant module web pages for further information. 

Additional costs

This course is delivered by the Faculty of Health and more details of any additional costs associated with the faculty's courses are listed on the following page:  Faculty of Health additional costs.

How to apply
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
To apply for this programme please complete the application form and return via email to:
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 University of Plymouth, please visit our Additional support for students with an impairment, health condition or disability website.
Support is also available from our International Office if you are an overseas student applying to the University.

BSc (Hons) Professional Development in Neonatal Care has been developed in close collaboration with key stakeholders, including University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, to provide career development opportunities for nurses wishing to pursue a career within neonatal care. You will benefit from our inter-professional setting, and be supported by an academic team with extensive experience, including specialist neonatal practitioners and clinicians. This flexible programme is delivered through a blended learning approach with face-to-face sessions and interactive materials, electronic learning environments and tutorial support.

Ensure your neonatal nursing practice is underpinned by a focus on evidence by developing a critical and analytical approach. Advance and utilise your knowledge and skills in professional practice to develop a contemporary approach to health and social care. You'll have the opportunity to develop a range of key transferable skills and attain specific clinical practice competencies within the specialty of neonatal nursing care such as; fluid and nutrition, respiratory support, cardiovascular, neurology, pain, developmental care, hygiene and infection prevention, thermoregulation, family support, neonatal transport, bereavement, ethics and legal issues.

Doctor holding stethoscope in his hand and doing auscultation newborn baby on breathing machine (mechanical ventilator) in neonatal intensive care unit, copyright mindfullness, courtesy of Shutterstock

Undertake modules which meet the Qualified in Speciality (QIS) competency criteria for neonatal care. Attainment of QIS competency is the foundation of a career in Neonatal Nursing and is essential for progression to senior and advanced roles.

Healthcare mechanism concept. Abstract background with connected gears and icons for medical, health, care, medicine, network, social media and global concepts. Vector infographic illustration. Copyright: Hilch, courtesy of Shutterstock.

Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma

If you have previously obtained a health related honours degree at 2:2 or above, you are eligible to access this programme via the graduate certificate/diploma route:
Graduate Certificate Professional Development in Neonatal Care – 60 credits at degree level
Graduate Diploma Professional Development in Neonatal Care – 120 credits at degree level 
Students seeking to achieve either qualification will be required to achieve the specified number of credits by choosing from a range of pathway specific modules.
Please contact the Professional Development Unit at PDUAdmissions@plymouth.ac.uk for further information.
Postgraduate students

Opportunities for postgraduate study in neonatal nursing

With our MSc Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, you’ll develop your existing diagnostic and reasoning skills and be equipped to contribute to the delivery of multidisciplinary treatment and management strategies for neonates. You’ll examine contemporary issues that impact on neonatal practice and review trends in theory, practice and management relating to this field.
MSc Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Develop significant expertise in your chosen area with our specialist routes:

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