District Nurse

Apprentices do not pay any course fees – costs are covered by the government and/or employer

Funding models for employers

We can support employers in accessing funding via the apprenticeship levy or provide alternative funding options to minimise or eradicate any up-front cost to the organisation.

There are currently two funding models:

Fully-funded

If the annual pay bill of your organisation exceeds £3 million you will pay for your apprenticeship training through your levy account. If you have exceeded your levy contribution you will fund apprenticeship training through the co-funded model – to better understand how this will work please contact us.

• Employer contribution: Employee salary only
• Apprentices contribution: £0.

Co-funded

Entry requirements

• Entrants must be registered nurse (Level 1) and have a minimum of one years post –registration experience
• Entrants must possess the competence, experience and academic ability to study at the required level of the programme
• Entrants should have completed study at Level 6 or higher within the last 5 years*
• All applicants must preferably hold Level 2 Maths and English at entry – if evidence of Maths and English is not in place at entry the apprentice will be required to undertake Functional Skills. Functional Skills will be scheduled to be undertaken in the first year of the apprenticeship programme. The CAH will liaise with the apprentice to co-ordinate and facilitate FS training and tests to successful completion
  
• Students will be required to be working in a community setting that will facilitate the successful completion of the programme learning outcomes and achievement of a minimum of 600 hours district nursing and community practice.
• Applicants where English is not the first language must also provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English in accordance with the University’s Admissions Code of Practice, that is, IELTS of 7 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each part.

In order to commence the programme, the student 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.

Offers are subject to a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) report.

Overview of modules

Year one:

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 it’s application. Also revision of the pathophysiology and nursing management of common illness, for example diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease.

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.

Emphasis will be on developing an understanding of systems and patho-physiology when seeing and managing patients with undiagnosed and undifferentiated presentations across healthcare settings

Year two:

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.

Assessment will include:

• Examinations
• Clinical Examinations and Viva
• Presentations
• Coursework
• Practice Portfolio
• Reflection
• Distance Learning
• End Point Assessment.