BSc (Hons) Professional Development in Nursing

Whatever your professional background the course modules are designed to suit your particular interest, whether oncology, critical care, paediatrics, obstetrics or psychiatry. 

All modules have a strong practice focus, which will enhance employability and career progression in the future.

• Focus on professional issues and development in your own field of practice, on a course that acknowledges the diversity in the work settings of registered nurses and provides educational opportunities for adult, child, learning disability and mental health nurses.
  
• Undertake a course developed alongside contemporary concerns about nursing which focuses on compassion, fundamental care skills and recognition of the standards of care and practice to ensure patients receive the highest level of care.
  
• Examine your own practice area, reflect on your own practice and have the chance to discuss and network with your peers, helping you to build professional networks and support whilst undertaking further study.
  
• Build your own self-esteem, motivation for learning and clinical decision-making skills and have the chance to improve your professional practice through critical analysis.
  
• Make the most of the various opportunities for inter-professional learning as part of the course delivery.
  
• Underpin your interventions with the best available evidence, contemporary knowledge and high-level clinical decision-making skills.
  
• 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.
  

Please note that upon completion of this course you will not be able to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

• Course overview

• This course offers the award of BSc (Hons). To achieve this award you’ll need to earn 120 credits by undertaking five modules – four 20 credit modules and one 40 credit module.

  Core modules

  • HEAD360P Understanding Evidence to Inform Clinical Decision Making

    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.

  • HEAD361 Independent Study

    This module extends knowledge of primary and secondary research and develops critical appraisal skills. Students construct an 8000 word integrative literature review of a practice focused research topic.

  • HEAD362 Clinical Decision Making in Healthcare Practice

    This module draws on knowledge, skills and experiences gained through work as a registered healthcare professional and further develops clinical reasoning ability.

  • HEAD363 Ethical and Legal Issues in Healthcare Practice

    This module builds on existing knowledge of legal and ethical frameworks. Students explore and debate ethical and legal concepts, issues and theories relating to health and social care.

  Optional modules

  • HEAD370 Study Skills and Professional Values

    This module enables the student returning to study to develop further academic skills while examining values, accountability and responsibility relating to their professional 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 Nursing pathway specification 6366

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.

You’ll normally be a registered health and social care professional in possession of international equivalent previous study at level 5 (i.e. foundation degree/diploma of higher education). 

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

• English language requirements
• We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.

When to apply

Applications can usually be made throughout the year. Please check the closing date with pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk and apply as early as possible as our courses are popular.

Apply for this course

To apply and for further information please contact the Professional Development Unit

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