Return to Practice for Nursing Associates, Nurses, Midwives and Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (RTP501/601/701)

This 20 credit module is available at:

Diploma Level 5 

For Nursing Associates.

Degree Level 6 

For Nursing Associates, Nurses, Midwives or Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (SCPHN).

Masters Level 7 

For Nursing Associates, Midwives or Specialist Community Public Health Nurses who hold a Health Care related degree at level 6 or 7.

Programme specification

The NMC require all Return to Practice students to undertake 450 hours (900 for dual registration) of clinical practice in your chosen sphere of practice with placement provider in Devon and Cornwall. Individual profiling is used to underpin your personalised learning journey which is tailored to meet your particular needs and the opportunity to achieve graduate skills.

The theoretical aspect of the module will run alongside your practice placement over 16 weeks and will include:

• a mixture of five taught days in Plymouth, web based face to face days and web based learning.
• one day of independent study.
• up to three days designed for you chosen sphere of practice: midwifery, adult, mental health, learning disabilities, child health, GP practice nursing or SCPHN.  

Course details

Level 5

At the end of the module you will be able to:

• assess personal strengths and establish development needs through analysis of limitations recognising the importance of maintaining and developing professional competence.
• demonstrate an understanding of the influence and impact of current legislation, clinical guidelines, and codes of practice, research and operational policy on practice.
• evaluate the current structure and organisation of care, nationally and locally.
• meet the NMC standards for proficiency for registered Nurse Associate.

At the end of the module you will be able to:

• critically appraise personal strengths and establish development needs through analysis of limitations recognising the importance of maintaining and developing professional competence.
• critically appraise the influence and impact of current legislation, clinical guidelines, and codes of practice, research and operational policy on practice.
• analyse and evaluate the current structure and organisation of care, nationally and locally.
• meet the NMC standards for proficiency for either registered Nursing Associates, Nurses, Midwives or SCPHN.

Level 7

 At the end of the module you will be able to:

• critically appraise personal strengths and establish development needs through analysis and synthesis of limitations, recognising the importance of maintaining and developing professional competence.
• critically analyse and synthesise the factors that influence current legislation, clinical guidelines, and codes of practice, research and operational policy on practice.
• demonstrate an ability to critically analyse and evaluate in depth the complexities of structure and organisation of care delivery, nationally and locally.
• meet the NMC standards for proficiency for either registered Nursing Associates, Nurses, Midwives or SCPHN.

COVID-secure module delivery

The University is adhering to government guidance relating to COVID-secure operation. For this reason, modules are being delivered in a variety of formats, with much content delivered online, either in an interactive manner (i.e. requiring participation at the allotted times), or sometimes in a passive manner (i.e. you may be able to conduct some of the study outside of the typical taught hours of 09:00–17:00).

Some sessions, particularly clinical assessments, will continue to be delivered face-to-face with appropriate risk-mitigating measures in place. Others may allow you the option of attending face-to-face or synchronously engaging online with peers who attend face-to-face.

When you receive confirmation of your enrolment on a module, you will be granted access to our Digital Learning Environment (DLE or Moodle). You should access this prior to the start of your module to determine the teaching format of the module’s sessions.

Accreditation

The module is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

In addition, the module is mapped against learning outcomes across Southern England Consortium (SEEC) descriptors, NMC criteria and Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) benchmark statements.

Fees and funding

Health Education England (HEE) will fund the return to practice module including tuition fee, stipend and placement fee via your employer. Please liaise with your prospective employer.  

Module Lead

Adele Kane RN RNT MScEd FHEA

adele.kane@plymouth.ac.uk

Entry requirements

If you are considering returning to practice, you will first need to find and secure a return to practice vacancy with a southwest employer. To find a suitable vacancy please visit the NHS Jobs website and in the keywords/job reference section search for ‘Return to practice’ roles. Only once you have secured this position will your employer be able to book you a place on the course at the University. Unfortunately, you are unable to do this directly as places commissioned by Health Education England (HEE) with Healthcare organisations such as NHS Trusts, general practices and independent providers will be supporting returnees to return to practice with the intention of employment on successful completion of the module.

*For GP Practice Nurses via their training hubs in Cornwall, Devon or Somerset.

*For SCPHN via Somerset, Devon or Cornwall County Councils

Once you have secured this position your prospective employer will be able to book you a place on the course.

Who can apply for the module?

• Potential returners to the Nursing and Midwifery (NMC) can apply,
• Nurses who have qualified within the European Union (EU) and meet the NMC requirements for entry to the register and require evidence of a return to practice module.

If English is not your first language you must have evidence of a minimum overall IELTS 7.0 (6.5 in writing and 7.0 for speaking, listening and reading) or equivalent and level 2 numeracy. For further information about English language requirement please view our English language requirements page.

Disclosure and barring service (DBS) certificate and occupational health assessment

You are required to undergo an occupational health and DBS assessment which forms a condition of acceptance. This will be a part of the recruitment process and undertaken by your employer.

Further information

For further information regarding this module, please contact:

Professional Development Unit

pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)1752 586951

External links

NHS Return to Nursing Website

Return to GP practice Nursing

Return to GP Practice Nursing Devon

Part 2

Our External Examiner said

"The written assessment design is to be commended; it equips students with skills and confidence to complete the NMC revalidation requirements, given the alignment between the students’ portfolio, and the NMC revalidation requirements."

Our students said