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Practice Nursing PG Cert

Developed in collaboration with Health Education East Midlands and local general practice, the Practice Nursing course aims to prepare registered nurses who have not worked in general practice to have a baseline competence in the role, through both theoretical and practice learning.

Winner: Best University Careers and Employability Service
NUE Awards, 2021
Learn more

Overview

The Practice Nursing programme of 60 credits at level 7 (postgraduate) and was developed to address the issues of recruitment and competency across the East Midlands region. This programme can also be studied at undergraduate level (level 6).

It aims to prepare registered nurses who have not worked in general practice before to have a baseline competence in the General Practice Nursing (GPN) role through both theoretical and practice learning. This will allow employers in the future to expect a safe, competence practice nurse and a certain level of consistency in terms of knowledge, skills and competence.

This programme was shortlisted for a Health Services Journal Award - Workforce category in 2014.

This programme incorporates academic learning and work based learning and includes key clinical skills required for General Practice Nursing which include venepuncture, ear care, wound management and cervical cytology.

Reasons to study Practice Nursing at DMU:

  • Flexible study options allow you to study at a level to suit your professional needs; with progression opportunities from undergraduate level to PG Cert
  • The programme is subsidised by Health Education East Midlands with a contribution from General Practice of £600 for each eligible student
  • The course will prepare you with the competency in a number of key clinical skills in a short space of time, including venepuncture, ear care, wound management, immunisations and vaccinations and cervical cytology
  • Module content is also aligned to the Royal College of General Practitioners’ (RCGP) competencies
  • 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

 

For additional information, please visit Health Education’s General Practice Nursing Programme webpage.

Scholarships:
At DMU, we are committed to helping our graduates enhance their careers and personal development through further study.

Vice-Chancellor’s Sports Scholarship
Find out more about the Vice-Chancellor's Sports Scholarships worth up to £6,000.

  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

Course code: B70099

Module code: PNUR5100

Duration: 40 weeks over two semesters

Attendance: 17 days of theoretical content, usually on Thursdays

Location of study: De Montfort University Leicester UK

Fees and funding:

This programme is currently supported by the Local Education Training Board and Health Education East Midlands.

For the 2021/22 academic year employers are required to pay a £600 contribution towards the cost of the programme.

For students outside of the East Midlands please contact:

Allison Brindley
E: Allison.brindley@dmu.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)116 257 7126

If you wish to apply for a place on this programme please discuss your application first with your local contact:

Derbyshire contact: Debbie Allen: debbie.allen@healtheducationderbyshire.co.uk

Nottinghamshire: Nicola Payne Nicola.payne8@nhs.net

Northamptonshire: Jo Stewart jo.stewart@nhft.nhs.uk

Leicestershire: Ruth Waddington ruth.waddington@charnwoodgpnetwork.nhs.uk  

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

This course is not available for International students

Entry criteria

  • A UK honours degree (2:2 or above in a relevant subject, or equivalent)
  • A minimum of 60 credits (inclusive of research) at level 6
  • Evidence of recent study (within the last 5 years)
  • Effective registration on the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) professional register
  • Be employed as a general practice nurse by the start of the programme
  • You must complete a declaration form and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before starting the course, which need to be cleared in accordance with DMU’s admission policy

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.

Please visit dmu.ac.uk/international for more information.

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessment

Academic expertise

 

Course modules

PGCE Practice Nursing:

Introduction to Practice Nursing (60 credits, level seven).

The Introduction to Practice Nursing is a 60 credit module that runs over two semesters. The aim of this module is to prepare registered nurses who have been recently appointed in general practice to have a baseline competence in the General Practice Nursing (GPN) role through both theoretical preparation and work based learning.  This will allow employers in the future to expect a safe, competent practice nurse and a certain level of consistency in terms of knowledge, skills and competence from the GPN.

Teaching and assessment

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
  • Student-led seminars and presentations
  • Discussions and tutorials
  • Independent study
  • Focused reflection
  • A range of experiential teaching methods

Contact hours:

The programme includes 16 face to face taught days of 6 hours in length and a day dedicated to on line learning. 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.

Teaching contact hours

Contact hours in a typical week will depend to some extent on the optional modules you choose to study.

Large group teaching: you will typically have 6 hours of lectures each week

 

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

 
Placements
Placements
Placements
Placements
 

Health and Life Sciences facilities

Substantial investment has developed our teaching and learning facilities to help you expand 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 practice in a safe environment. You will receive guidance and support from staff to ensure that you develop a precise and accurate practical ability in the clinical skills suites.

Library services

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including Blackboard, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

Learning zones

Our Learning Zones and The Greenhouse also provide space for group or individual work and study.

There are 1,600 study places across all library locations, more than 700 computer stations, laptops to borrow, free wi-fi and desktop power outlets.

You can also book rooms with plasma screens, laptops and DVD facilities for group work and presentations, secure an individual study room with adjustable lighting or make use of our assistive technology.

Opportunities and careers

Winner: Best University Careers and Employability Service
NUE Awards, 2021
Learn more
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Scholarships

As part of the university's commitment to enhancing the personal and career development of our graduates. We offer a Postgraduate Alumni Scholarship offering up to 30% off selected Postgraduate course fees. Find out more on the Health and Life Sciences Postgraduate Alumni Scholarship webpage. 

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Graduate careers

Due to an increasing clinical service load in primary care, with the trend to devolve clinical responsibility from secondary care, practice nurses are often first point of contact in terms of public health promotion and intervention, signposting and identifying onset of conditions.

The role of a practice nurse is now much more diverse in their management of health, including Quality Outcome Framework (QOF), with many having acquired specialist skills and knowledge. This course provides you with a relevant and recognised qualification in general practice nursing, enabling you to fulfil your role as practice nurse, and enhancing your current and future career opportunities.

 

DMU Open Evenings

The perfect way to find out more about DMU is to attend one of our postgraduate open events.

Here, you can speak with course academics and current students, discuss fees, learn about your career prospects and tour the campus.

Book now

Order a prospectus

Our prospectus will give you a clearer idea of what it's like to live and study at DMU and a snapshot of the courses we offer.

Order your copy

How to apply

We welcome applications from students with a wide range of qualifications and experience.

Find out more

More about your DMU

50% off selected PG courses
Open evenings
Online chats
Research at DMU
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Up tp 30% off selected PG courses

Our dedicated Postgraduate Alumni Scholarship provides DMU graduates with a tuition fee discount of up to 30 per cent. The discount is available on selected full-time and part-time postgraduate taught courses running across multiple start dates in the 2021/22 academic session, with the first intake in September 2021.

The scholarship, based on academic achievement and merit, applies automatically to all DMU UK, EU and international students who are graduating in 2021.

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Open Evenings

The best way to find out more about DMU is to attend one of our postgraduate events. You can also check out our postgraduate live stream schedule for programme-specific talks to find out how our courses can enhance your knowledge and benefit your career path.

These events are a chance to learn more about our extensive careers and employability support, as well as fees and funding opportunities such as scholarships. They're also an opportunity to speak with current students and academics to really get a feel for studying your course. You can also take a tour of our beautiful campus and facilities from the comfort of home via our Virtual Open Day.

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Online chats

Chat with our current students and staff advisers online and have your questions answered. Our team will be available to advise you on anything from information on the current postgraduate courses we offer, scholarships, fees and funding, campus facilities, and life in Leicester. View our upcoming PG Online Chat events.

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Research at DMU

De Montfort University (DMU)’s growing reputation for research which benefits society has been confirmed with the publication of the REF 2014 results. Find out more.