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Practice Nursing BSc

Developed in collaboration with Health Education East Midlands and local general practice, the Practice Nursing programme will teach you the fundamentals of primary care nursing. The programme will equip you with all of the core skills required for the General Practice Nurse role.

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Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments - rather than lots of exams at the end of the year - and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.

Read more about block teaching

Overview

Watch: Practice Manager Kate Hunter discusses the benefits of undertaking the Practice Nursing programme at DMU.

The Practice Nursing programme of 60 credits at level 6 (undergraduate) programme which means that on successful completion of the programme you will be awarded with a BSc, graduate certificate in Practice Nursing. The teaching provided on the programme is shared with level 7 (postgraduate) students. 

The aim of the programme is to prepare registered nurses who have not worked in general practice before to have a baseline competence in the General Practice Nursing (GPN) role. The programme incorporates academic learning and work-based learning.

Within the programme the key clinical skills required for the role of GPN are included. The programme delivers venepuncture, ear care, wound management, cervical cytology and immunisation and vaccination training, as well as providing the foundations for chronic condition management. The programme is designed to develop both clinical and academic skills to prepare for a career in General Practice Nursing.

Throughout the programme competencies will be demonstrated within the work place and documented in a portfolio of evidence. This will be supported with supervised practice with a GPN mentor.

Key features:

  • Flexible study options allow you to study at a level to suit your professional needs, with progression opportunities from undergraduate level to PG Cert
  • Our team of experienced academics are all specialist practice and community nurses, ensuring your learning is relevant to current practice and a wide range of issues and contemporary debates in the field
  • Benefit from direct input and visiting lecturers from experienced practitioners in the field; broadening your perspective of practice nursing regionally and nationally
  • Inter-professional learning develops your ability to work as part of a multi-professional team 
  • Module content is also aligned to the Royal College of General Practitioners’ (RCGP) competencies 

For more information please contact:

Nicola Else (programme Leader)

E: nicola.else@dmu.ac.uk

 

Dr Tania Hart PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons), RMN, RNT, SFHEA

E: tania.hart@dmu.ac.uk
T:  0116 257 7481

 

 

 

  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

Programme code: B70098

Module code: PNUR3100

Duration: 40 weeks studied part-time over two semesters:

  • Autumn and Spring
  • Spring and Summer

Attendance: The programme is delivered face-to-face. The usual day of study is Thursday. 

Location: This programme is taught face-to-face on campus at De Montfort University.

Start date: For the academic year 2023/24, there will be two intakes: September 2023 and Jnuary 2024

Fees and funding: This programme is currently supported by the Local Education Training Board and Health Education East Midland

For the 2023/24 academic year employers are required to pay a £600 contribution towards the cost of the programme.

Students outside of the East Midlands please contact:

Nicola Else
E: nicola.else@dmu.ac.uk

Dr Tania Hart E: tania.hart@dmu.ac.uk

Additional costs: You may incur additional costs for this programme, including the cost of travelling to and from project/placement locations.

Places for this programme in 2023/24 are being allocated locally. If you wish to apply for a place on this programme please discuss your application first with your local contact:

Derbyshire: Laura Bentley laura.bentley2@nhs.net or Amy Foster amy.foster12@nhs.net

Nottinghamshire: Gemma Bird gemma.bird5@nhs.net

Northamptonshire: Clare Rogers clare.rogers@nhft.nhs.uk

Leicestershire: Ruth Waddington ruth.waddington1@nhs.net

Lincolnshire: Hannah Daniel hannah.daniel2@nhs.net

Please note: the closing date for September applications is Friday 4 August 2023

Closing date for January applications is Friday 1 December 2023

This course is not available to international students.

Entry criteria

  • All students must have an effective level 1 registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council
  • They should also possess 120 credits at levels 4 and 5 And have the ability to study successfully at degree level (level 6)
  • Students should demonstrate evidence of recent study (usually within the last 5 years)
  • Employed as a general practice nurse by the start of the programme

 OR

  • All students must have an effective level 1 registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council
  • Students should have a minimum of three years post-registration experience, within a health practice setting
  • They must also possess 120 credits at level 4 and a minimum of 30 credits at level 5 and have the ability to study successfully at degree level (level 6)
  • Employed as a general practice nurse by the start of the programme
  • Applicants who fall short of the above entry requirements may use the APA mechanism to contribute towards the above criteria. 

English language requirements:

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 7 or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English language tuition, delivered by our British Council accredited Centre for English Language Learning (CELL), is available both before and during the course.

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Study dates

Teaching and assessment

 

 

BSc General Practice Nursing
Introduction to Practice Nursing (60 credits, level six).

The Introduction to Practice Nursing is a 60 credit module that runs over two semesters. The end of the module assesses achievement of the standards set by Working in Partnership Programme (RCN 2012) i.e. The GPN Career Framework for Level five Practitioners.

 


Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

September 2023

Taughts day will be delivered on the following dates:

  • 27th September 2023
  • 28th September 2023
  • 5th October 2023
  • 12th October 2023
  • 19th October 2023
  • 26th October 2023
  • 2nd November 2023
  • 9th November 2023
  • 16th November 2023
  • 23rd November 2023
  • 30th November 2023
  • 7th December 2023
  • 14th December 2023
  • 11th January 2024
  • 18th January 2024
  • 25th January 2024
  • 1st February 2024

January 2024

This cohort will be delivered online on the following dates:

  • 31st January 2024
  • 1st February 2024
  • 8th February 2024
  • 15th February 2024
  • 22nd February 2024
  • 29th February 2024
  • 7th March 2024
  • 14th March 2024
  • 21st March 2024
  • 18th April 2024
  • 25th April 2024
  • 2nd May 2024
  • 9th May 2024
  • 16th May 2024
  • 23rd May 2024
  • 30th May 2024
  • 6th June 2024
Taught days will be delivered on the following dates:

Teaching and assessment on the course

Teaching methods

The course adopts a range of teaching and learning strategies designed to facilitate the learning of a professional group; aiming to be efficient and motivating in the transfer of theoretical and practical knowledge, and to engage positively in actively negotiating, constructing and evaluating learning. Strategies include;

  • Teacher-led sessions
  • Discussions and tutorials
  • Independent study
  • Focused reflection
  • A range of experiential teaching methods

Assessment

You will be assessed in a variety of ways including written assignments, and a reflective portfolio.

Contact hours

The programme includes 17 taught days which will be delivered face to face at the DMU campus. Taught days are 6 hours in length. There is also time available of three hours throughout the programme for students to access support for academic work from the programme team. This includes group tutorials and one-to-one sessions. Each student will be supported by a personal tutor from the teaching team throughout the programme. 

Academic expertise

A key strength of our team is that they are experienced and specialist practice and community nurses; familiar with a wide range of accompanying issues and contemporary debates.

Visiting lecturers will also contribute to the modules to broaden your perspective of practice nursing regionally and nationally.

Facilities and features

Facilities 

Substantial investment in Health and Life Sciences has developed our teaching and learning facilities to help you develop your practical experience and theoretical knowledge beyond the classroom.

The 19th century Hawthorn Building has facilities designed to replicate current practice in health and life sciences, including contemporary analytical chemistry and formulation laboratories, audiology booths and nursing and midwifery clinical skills suites.

Purpose-built clinical skills areas allow you to apply theory to practice in a safe environment. You will receive guidance and support from staff, to ensure that your practical ability in the clinical skills suites is accurate.

Library

We have 1,500 study places and 650 computer workstations across four sites on campus.

During term time the main Kimberlin Library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, giving access to more than half a million publications and a wide range of DVDs, as well as e-resources and thousands of electronic journals. Award-winning staff are on hand to help and there is a café for study breaks.

We offer a range of workshops, drop-ins and one-to-one sessions, plus our Just Ask service provides email or telephone support.

Learning zones

Our comfortable and well-equipped study areas provide a range of environments to suit your needs.

Originally set up in our main Kimberlin Library, the learning zones proved so popular that more were created in the Eric Wood building and Greenhouse. These flexible spaces are ideal whether you are working as a group, practising a presentation or working quietly on your own.

They feature workstations with power supplies for laptops, plus bookable syndicate rooms with interactive whiteboards and DVD players. Eduroam wi-fi is available across all campus locations.

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team
 
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Graduate careers

There will be an increasing clinical service load in primary care with the trend to devolve clinical responsibility from secondary care. Practice nurses now are diverse in their management of health including Quality Outcome Framework (QOF) with many having acquired specialist skills and knowledge e.g. in long term conditions such as asthma and diabetes.

Further, Practice Nurses are often first point of contact in terms of public health promotion and intervention, signposting and identifying onset of conditions. This, in turn, with appropriate treatment, can lead to reduced admissions to specialist services. A graduate, or postgraduate, academic qualification in General Practice Nursing will enable you to fulfil your role as Practice Nurse.

practicenursing-further-details

Further details

For further details or to discuss the programme please contact:

Course Leader: Nicola Else

Email: nicola.else@dmu.ac.uk

Telephone: 0116 257 7126

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