District Nurse
Postgraduate Diploma in District Nursing

Apprentices do not pay any course fees – costs are covered by the government and/or employer
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.
Co-funded
If you are a non-levy paying organisation (the annual pay bill of your organisation is less than £3 million) or you are a levy organisation who has exceeded their pot, the government will financially co-support your apprenticeship training – they will contribute 95 per cent of the costs and the employer will contribute five per cent.
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.
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:
Who is the course for?
The programme is aimed at registered adult nurses with a minimum of one year’s post–registration experience who wish to develop their knowledge, skills and practice to perform in the role of Specialist Practitioner District Nurse awarded by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
ProgrammeThis contemporary postgraduate apprenticeship route provides an alternative, flexible entry into the Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) District Nursing (DN) programme, enabling the apprentice to study for a work-integrated postgraduate qualification whilst remaining in salaried employment. On successful completion apprentices will be eligible to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Council for the recordable Specialist Practitioner Qualification (SPQ), District Nurse.
The PgDip DN programme has been designed with close collaboration between key stakeholders including students, clinical representatives, academics and patient/service users, families and carers. Reflecting the constant changes within the community healthcare environment whilst building on existing good practice the programme has been designed to take into account strategic and professional changes. It aligns with regional health care employers’ strategic objectives and goals around workforce planning and the Institute for Apprenticeships District Nurse Occupational Standard.
On successful completion of the programme apprentices will be eligible to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Council for the professional recordable qualification of Specialist Practitioner District Nurse. They will undertake an End Point Assessment to achieve the Apprentice Standard District Nurse.
Core skills