Masters Degrees in Palliative Care Nursing

Please note that the intermediate awards offered do not permit registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Overview

Our MSc Adult Nursing course has been designed for graduates with care experience who wish to develop a career as a registered nurse and join one of the most rewarding professions in health care. Our course will provide you with a wide range of experiences and prepare you to deliver high quality care with confidence. All of our pre-registration nursing courses are developed by nurses for nurses and will support you to work with health care teams to meet the needs of vulnerable adults requiring health care across a variety of settings. Learning and working at Masters level will support you to shape and improve your future profession and the health care experiences of patients in your care.

Adult nurses have a unique role within the healthcare setting. Making a positive change or improving the quality of people’s lives is a central tenet of this role. This may involve enabling people to improve, maintain, or recover their health, and to achieve the best possible quality of life, whatever the circumstances.

We are committed to the principles and values of the NHS Constitution (DH, 2013) and our Adult Nursing course promotes the behaviours and values that patients and staff believe to be at the heart of our NHS. These include respect and dignity, commitment to quality of care, compassion, improving lives, working together for patients and the understanding that everyone counts.

The course places equal value on clinical practice and theory. It will take you from university lectures to clinical placement settings, from young to mature adults. You may well find yourself at a GP surgery, working with mulita-skilled teams in patients’ own homes or in the middle of a variety of hospital settings, from accident & emergency through to medical or surgical areas or providing compassionate care for patients with life limiting illnesses.

We’ll support you all the way. You’ll soon discover that our faculty is a stimulating place to learn, with modern facilities and registered, practising tutors who’ll make sure you’re being taught the latest techniques. We’re passionate about healthcare and dedicated to delivering the values set out by the NHS Constitution.

You’ll have the chance to share experiences and knowledge with other health care disciplines and to see how the professions work together.

Teaching on campus takes place between 9am and 7pm, Monday to Friday. On placement, you’ll be allocated to a mentor who will support your development and you’ll be expected to work the same shifts as the health care team and your mentor. Each week you will work 37.5 hours. This will include early, late and night shifts, as well as working weekends and bank holidays. Each year, five weeks’ of annual leave is built into the course at set points to support you in balancing your course and relaxation time.

Each of the two years is divided in three 30-credit modules. Each module will start with theory, followed by a hospital or community placement. A series of short Medicines Calculations modules are also embedded through the course.

Placements last around 5 weeks and will include both acute and community settings. Placement opportunities include: Older Person’s Care, Dementia Care, District Nursing, Surgical Setting, Acute Care Nursing and many more. Your final placement will be 12 weeks in length and you will also undertake additional placements each year which will enable you to explore other areas.

You’ll be linked to one of our NHS healthcare trust partners for your placements in hospitals or community settings.

If you study in Cambridge or Peterborough, you’ll do your placement in or around Cambridge, Huntingdon or Peterborough. You’ll get plenty of support from experienced mentors.

Our state of the art skills laboratories provide an ideal environment in which to learn a suite of practical skills in the safety of the university. This ensures that you gain understanding about the underpinning evidence that supports these skills, preparing you for the delivery of these skills in the practice setting.

In year 2 of the course you may choose the option to undertake an overseas placement and gain insight into another health care system.

Careers

All pre-registration nursing courses delivered by Anglia Ruskin University are approved by the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). On successful completion of the MSc Nursing course, you’ll be eligible to apply for registration with the NMC and join a profession with a wide range of opportunity. You may choose to become a community professional, such as a practice nurse, or to work as a staff nurse within a hospital. With experience you could become a nursing specialist or nurse consultant. You may enjoy managing a health care team or leading a specialist team in, for example, the community setting. Nurses also undertake roles in research and education.

Modules & assessment

Year one, core modules -

- Evidence Based Knowledge and Skills for Nursing:
This first module aims to prepare students for the knowledge and skills required to deliver fundamental and safe care. A series of key strands which underpin nursing practice will be commenced in this module including: patient safety; human anatomy and physiology; health promotion and the recognition of the nurse’s role in public health; mental health and common mental health problems; leadership skills and the use of research evidence that underpins care provision. Communication and interpersonal skills will also be considered including principles of de-escalation and the importance of sound interpersonal and professional skills in practice.

- Promoting Professional Practice in Nursing:
In this module students will be supported to understand the significance of prioritising patients as central to the role of the nurse and a key component of the NMC Code (2015). Person-centred care will be addressed through the exploration of patient autonomy and patients' rights. The concepts of advocacy, raising concerns and candour will provide students with an understanding of the legal and ethical parameters that support the delivery of safe care. The module builds on knowledge of bioscience and clinical skills to further enhance delivery of safe fundamental care. Introductions to leadership, management and team working will be provided.

- Nursing Adults with Challenging Health Needs:
This module addresses the complexities of long term conditions and palliative care for adult patients. Preventing the development of long term conditions and life-threatening disease, promoting health and wellbeing and supporting adults with long term conditions to live well independently are key aspects of the nurse’s role. Effective integrated care is critical to the patient experience and students will explore the impact of national drivers from a theoretical and practice based perspective, with a focus on the use and effectiveness of care pathways. This module provides the opportunity to develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of the pathophysiology, pharmacology, clinical skills and ethical and legal issues to meet the challenges faced by those affected by long term and life limiting conditions.
- Medicine Calculations for Safe Practice 1

Year two, core modules -

- Ensuring the Safety of Patients Experiencing Acute Illness:
Patients become acutely unwell in clinical or home settings. This module will provide students with the knowledge, skills and experience to recognise, communicate and respond competently when a patient’s clinical condition indicates that they are becoming acutely unwell. Students will explore how psychological well-being can impact on recovery and the importance of patient focused care and empowerment. Alongside theory input students will participate in clinical scenarios around deteriorating patients (e.g. acute respiratory failure, acute coronary syndrome, and sepsis). Computer-controlled mannequins and simulation skills environments will be utilised to develop students’ skills in recognising and responding to patient deterioration.

- Decision Making, Leadership and Management in Nursing:
This theory/practice module enables students to enhance their leadership, peer coaching and decision making skills. The module aims to develop a varied and flexible repertoire of skills to be able to work effectively within multi-disciplinary teams, in the often challenging environments encountered in modern clinical practice. The module promotes students’ growth and expertise in professional knowledge and judgment, focusing on self-awareness and personal development. Development of key management skills of leadership, assertiveness, delegation and coaching will be provided as well as tools for resilience to withstand the stresses and pressures of practice.

- Major Project - MSc Nursing Adult:
This theory/practice module comprises a major project that is situated in and developed from the care setting. During the final practice placement, students will be expected to negotiate an area for service improvement to enhance the patient experience. This module will consolidate the knowledge, skills and attitudes gained in clinical management and leadership and seeks to complement these with insight to mechanisms for improving the quality of healthcare. Understanding and applying concepts of quality assurance, clinical governance, standard setting and the role of audit in maintaining standards will be key drivers.
- Medicine Calculations for Safe Practice 2
- Medicine Calculations for Safe Practice 3

Assessment -

To make sure you’re developing the skills and knowledge needed for professional practice, we use a range of assessment methods. These include essays, presentations, written exams, and multi-choice questions. We know feedback is essential for your progress and our lecturers take pride in giving you clear guidance on how to improve your expertise. Assessment also takes place in the practice setting and your mentor will support your development and undertake your assessment in each of your placements.

Where you'll study

Your faculty -

The Faculty of Health, Social Care & Education is the largest provider of health, social care and education courses in the East of England, with over 6,000 students from more than 20 countries.

With 95% of our students finding full-time employment within six months of graduating, you can be sure that our courses have been designed with your career in mind. We’ve been educating nurses, midwives and social workers for over 25 years.

At the cutting edge of research, we offer a range of internationally recognised undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses taught by friendly and experienced staff.

Designed to enhance your learning experience, our facilities include state-of-the-art simulated skills laboratories that mirror real-life clinical situations and UK hospital wards. Our students also benefit from our Early Childhood Research and Resource Centre; a space in which they can experiment with equipment and play activities.

You’ll study in an exciting, modern faculty which has strong links with regional, national and international organisations, including healthcare trusts, schools and academic institutions.

Your enthusiasm. Our passion. Your best foot forward.

Visit your faculty - http://www.anglia.ac.uk/health-social-care-and-education

Where can I study?

Cambridge - http://www.anglia.ac.uk/student-life/life-on-campus/cambridge-campus

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The MPH in Palliative Care Research is designed for students wishing to pursue a service or academic career in palliative care. It will provide you with an excellent understanding of both research and public health issues, thus increasing your career opportunities.

Why study Palliative Care Research at Dundee?

Dundee is ideally placed to deliver the MPH in Palliative Care. The Division of Population Health Sciences has several internationally recognised research programmes, with associated academic and research staff, and the Division also houses the renowned Health Informatics Centre (HIC) which provides researchers access to anonymised record-linked data. This includes routinely collected NHS patient datasets for the whole population.

The MPH degree has been run successfully in Dundee for over 25 years and our past students now contribute to the global public health workforce. Building on this success, we are ideally placed to offer a new exit - in palliative care research - from the core MPH. The MPH Palliative Care Research presents an opportunity to integrate public health with quality palliative care research and the clinical palliative care services. This provides a rich learning environment for prospective students.

Research led supervision

The Co-Director of the course, Dr Deans Buchanan, was recently appointed Consultant in Palliative Medicine. The Tayside Palliative Care Service is well placed to support excellence in research and in research training. The varied clinical settings throughout Tayside provide an excellent basis for research projects. Clinicians from within the palliative care service will supervise dissertations and include: Dr Rosie Conway, Dr Claire Douglas, Dr Fiona McFatter, Dr Martin Leiper and Dr Alison Morrison. In addition, Dr Bridget Johnston, Reader in Palliative Care (School of Nursing and Midwifery) will also contribute to the teaching and supervision of students.

Aims of the Programme

This course will provide you with:

* The necessary skills and expertise to enable you to undertake well designed research and interpret research data.
* The requisite communication skills and understanding of the importance of such communication.

Teaching & Assessment

This course is based in the School of Medicine. The MPH in Palliative Care Research degree course starts in September each year and lasts for 12 months on a full time basis, or 24 months on a part time basis.

How you will be taught

A variety of teaching methods will be used including traditional lectures; tutorials; discussion sessions; self directed learning including the use of internet based resources; and supervised research.

The MPH programme of studies provides teaching within a supportive environment and students are encouraged to contact lecturers to raise specific questions.

What you will study

Semester 1:
Epidemiology (15 SCQF credits)
Introduction to Clinical Statistics (15 SCQF credits)
Palliative care: Foundations and research part 1 (7 SCQF credits)

Semester 2, part 1
Research methods (15 SCQF credits)
Applied Statistics with Routine Health Datasets (15 SCQF credits)
Palliative care: Foundations and research part 2 (3 SCQF credits)

Semester 2, part 2
Spatial Epidemiology (5 SCQF credits) OR Data Visualization (5 SCQF credits)
Systematic reviews (5 SCQF credits)

Dissertation
The purpose of the dissertation is to enable students to write a dissertation which utilises all of the knowledge and expertise that they have acquired during the taught component of the course.

How you will be assessed

Performance is monitored by formal examinations and continuous assessment. Formative assessment is delivered through group and individual feedback during the tutorials, discussion sessions and on coursework. Summative assessment is based on assignments and examinations. Examinations are marked by two independent members of the School who are blinded to student identity. Guidelines for markers are provided. The dissertations are also double marked.

Careers

An MPH (Palliative Care Research) will enhance the employability of professionals interested in palliative care research.

For Specialty Trainees in Palliative Medicine this will add distinct skills sets and an essential understanding of both research and public health issues. Such qualifications will open job opportunities in academic medicine and at policy development levels. This course is compatible with the Palliative Medicine Curriculum and dissertation projects could be undertaken in candidates own localities.

Non-medical staff (including nursing staff) will benefit from the same skill set and enhanced ability to enter academic palliative care. Multi-professional learning is encouraged and dissertation projects can be tailored to specific backgrounds.

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Develop the skills necessary to appraise evidence based care and conduct research on issues of palliative care to inform clinical practice and service development. MSc and PG Diploma: six modules plus research study project for MSc. PG Certificate: three modules.

Key benefits

- The programme has a national and international reputation attracting students from all over the world.

- The programme is focused strongly on evidence and on understanding how to conduct research in palliative care and related areas.

- Teaching staff are key academics, practitioners and policy-makers in the field of palliative care. Visiting lecturers are drawn from across the UK and internationally.

- The programme is based at the Cicely Saunders Institute, a WHO Collaborating Centre for palliative care and rehabilitation which is at the heart of national and international research and academic-clinical collaborations.

Visit the website: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught-courses/palliative-care-msc-pg-dip-pg-cert.aspx

Course details

- Description -

Our primary aim is to improve the ability, competence and confidence of students to care for patients with advanced disease and their families. This relies heavily on critically appraising existing evidence of the effectiveness, appropriateness and acceptability of existing interventions (both medical and psychosocial) and services.

The programme is multi-disciplinary - palliative care professionals from all disciplines learn alongside each other. It is jointly run with St Christopher's Hospice, which is widely regarded as the pioneer institution of the modern hospice movement with a reputation for excellence in clinical practice, research and education.

This multi-professional MSc is a joint development between Guy's, King's & St Thomas' School of Medicine and St Christopher's Hospice. We aim to develop the skills you need to appraise research and evidence in issues of palliative care to inform your clinical practice and service development.

You will develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the many clinical, social, psychological, and ethical issues in palliative care and their assessment and management. You will also acquire the skills required to critically appraise the evidence of both existing and new treatments and carry out your own research.

- Purpose -

To develop the skills necessary to appraise evidence-based care and conduct research on issues of palliative care in order to inform clinical practice and service development in the field of palliative care.

- Course format and assessment -

MSc and PG Diploma students take four core and two optional modules. In addition, MSc students complete a research study project. PG Certificate students study two core and one optional module. Assessment is by examinations and coursework, and for MSc students, completion of a research study project.

Career prospects

We are aware that many former students have become experts in their field making notable contributions to patient and family care and influencing palliative care policy locally, nationally and internationally. Specifically, many former specialist training registrars in palliative medicine have progressed their careers to assume challenging and exciting consultant posts in hospital, hospice and community settings. This is also true for a growing number of clinical nurse specialists who are now nurse consultants. Increasing numbers of former students have gone on to successfully conduct PhDs in palliative care related areas. Further, the course has provided many students with exciting opportunities to conduct high quality research which has successfully been disseminated at scientific meetings or high quality peer-reviewed journals.

How to apply: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/taught-courses.aspx

About Postgraduate Study at King’s College London:

To study for a postgraduate degree at King’s College London is to study at the city’s most central university and at one of the top 20 universities worldwide (2015/16 QS World Rankings). Graduates will benefit from close connections with the UK’s professional, political, legal, commercial, scientific and cultural life, while the excellent reputation of our MA and MRes programmes ensures our postgraduate alumni are highly sought after by some of the world’s most prestigious employers. We provide graduates with skills that are highly valued in business, government, academia and the professions.

Scholarships & Funding:

All current PGT offer-holders and new PGT applicants are welcome to apply for the scholarships. For more information and to learn how to apply visit: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/pg/funding/sources

Free language tuition with the Modern Language Centre:

If you are studying for any postgraduate taught degree at King’s you can take a module from a choice of over 25 languages without any additional cost. Visit: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/mlc

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The postgraduate certificate in palliative care looks at the development of effective palliative and end-of-life care, which is a major priority for health providers both nationally and internationally.

This palliative care nursing course addresses the complex challenges end-of-life care creates for societies and health professionals, including a range of ethical, social, professional and cultural issues that need careful analysis.

This online palliative care nursing course is designed to develop and enhance the knowledge and skills you require to promote, lead and drive high quality care for the palliative patient and their families in their care setting. Your studies will centre on current philosophies that underpin palliative care, bringing together a range of clinical and academic experts from this field.

See the website http://courses.southwales.ac.uk/courses/313-postgraduate-certificate-palliative-care-distance-learning

What you will study

Modules:
- Therapeutic Management of Life Limiting Illness in Palliative Care: Assessment and management of complex symptoms

The assessment and management of complex symptoms including pain, nausea and vomiting, anxiety, depression, fatigue and agitation will be explored and appropriate interventions critically discussed. Consideration through the module will be given to psychosocial issues, such as, anxiety and depression within patients who have a life limiting illness and the communication strategies used in relation to managing difficult symptoms.

- Nature and Scope of Palliative Care: Specific issues pertinent to the delivery of effective palliative care

This will explore issues pertaining to palliative care via case studies and a narrative approach. These can include euthanasia, the right to die, and the use of advanced directives while considering the issue of capacity and choice.

- End of Life Care: Role of the professional in the care of an individual at the end of life, including perspectives from the individual and family

You will critically explore the role of the professional in the care of an individual at the end of their life. It will include exploring the impact of death and dying from a holistic perspective on the individual and family. The themes of loss, grief and bereavement will be central within this module. Professional, legal and ethical issues related to death and dying will also be considered through the module.

Learning and teaching methods

You will be taught through online discussion forums via the University’ learning portal Blackboard.

Work Experience and Employment Prospects

This course will enable students to demonstrate clear evidence of ongoing professional development in line with national strategic plans.

Assessment methods

Assessment involves written assignments and achievement of clinical competencies. You will receive key learning materials and be supported throughout the course by the module team and your contact with other students.

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Gain an expert understanding of palliative and end of life care and its aims to achieve the best quality of life for patients facing life-threatening illness on this course. You also learn how to give vital treatment for their condition. Your studies focus on a holistic approach to symptom management for the patient and psychological, social and spiritual support for the patient and their family.

This course is ideal for experienced practitioners providing day-to-day care to patients in their homes, hospitals, hospices and nursing homes.

We have designed this course to make it easy to fit around your work and suit your professional needs. You can tailor your studies to your needs and area of practice, through a mix of core and optional modules. And you complete your studies via distance learning through our online learning environment allowing you to learn in the way most suited to your personal circumstances.

The course was developed by a multiprofessional team for a multiprofessional workforce. The learning, teaching and assessment strategies reflect the interprofessional working in supportive and palliative care helping develop more effective teamwork. Various professionals contribute to the teaching.

An academic supervisor will support your dissertation, on a topic which we work with you to devise. Dissertations can benefit you and your employer through implementation of your research findings. Study at this level also develops autonomous practice in professionals, improving their leadership skills and ability to implement service developments.

PgCert End of Life Care

If you don't want to complete the full MSc, you can stop your studies at the end of year one and receive the PgCert End of Life Care. You can rejoin and complete the MSc at a later date if you wish.

Recognition of previous certificated learning

We encourage the awarding of academic credit for previous certificated study that you may have completed in this area. This means you could be exempt from some modules, gaining your award in a shorter time.

Study individual modules

You can study individual modules from this course and gain academic credit towards a qualification. Visit our continuing professional development website for more information.

Course structure

The postgraduate certificate (PgCert) is achieved by successfully completing 60 credits.

The postgraduate diploma (PgDip) is achieved by successfully completing 120 credits.

The masters (MSc) award is achieved by successfully completing 180 credits.

Postgraduate certificate core modules

• End of life decision making (30 credits)
• Loss, grief and bereavement (15 credits)
• Complexities of symptom management (15 credits)

Postgraduate diploma core modules

• Collaborative working in supportive and palliative care (15 credits)
• Research methods for practice (15 credits)

Postgraduate diploma optional modules

30 credits from either Sheffield Hallam University or elsewhere, as long as they are relevant to the course. Examples include:

• Psychology of cancer care (30 credits)
• Advanced communication and information in supportive care (30 credits)
• Informed consent in healthcare practice (15 credits)

Our full range of module options is available on our continuing professional development website.

Masters

• Dissertation (60 credits)

Assessment

• assignments
• seminar presentation
• group work

Employability

We support and develop your potential to progress your career, either in your current organisation or with a new employer. With our advice, you can pursue areas of specialist interest and take modules relevant to your future career.

Graduates from this course gain the skills and knowledge to work in senior nursing and other specialist supportive and palliative care roles, including

• Macmillan information and support radiographer
• hospice inpatient nurse manager
• lead nurse or consultant nurse
• specialist practitioner, such as physiotherapist, occupational therapist, social worker or speech and language therapist working in supportive and palliative care

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-This course provides you with theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to register as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
-Our academic team includes Dr Jim Richardson, an editor of the widely-used Textbook of Children's and Young People's Nursing, and Dr Jayne Price, lead editor of Palliative Care for Children and Families, which is a key text in child healthcare.
-Our lecturers receive national and international awards for their excellence in learning and teaching.
-Within our state of the art simulation suites, our children's nursing students can further develop the skills required to care for children and families in a safe environment, which closely mimics a health care environment (hospital and home). Child and family role players are central to this learning experience.
-You will have the opportunity to take a national or international elective module at the end of your first year.

Children's nurses provide care for children and young people from birth to 18 years of age across settings, for example hospital, home and hospice. The role of the children's nurse includes promoting health and minimising illness in collaboration with families. When providing nursing care for children, working with the family and consideration of their needs is essential. Moreover, children's nurses work collaboratively with a range of professionals to meet the specific needs of children, young people and their families wherever they are cared for.

What will you study?

The first year is divided into two parts. In part one you will undertake a bridging module introducing you to the foundations of nursing and healthcare. In part two you will look at the context of nursing within a variety of client groups within your specific field of nursing. General nursing topics are studied alongside subjects tailored to adult nursing.

Course structure

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.

Year 1 modules (part one and two)
-Introduction to Nursing for Graduates
-Nursing Practice Part 1
-Nursing the Acutely Ill Child
-Contemporary Issues in Children’s Nursing
-Nursing Practice Part 2

Year 2 modules (part three)
-Complexities of Children's Nursing
-Transition to Professional Practice in Children’s Nursing
-Developing and Analysing Evidence-Based Practice
-Nursing Practice Part 3

Constants/themes throughout the programme

Modules may not contain all of these themes but they will be represented across the whole two-year programme:
-Professional values
-Quality of life
-Working with diversity and anti-discriminatory practice
-Medicines management
-Safeguarding and risk
-Life span
-Life sciences
-Managing and maintaining relationships
-Self-awareness and reflection
-Working with diversity and anti-discriminatory practice
-Nursing skills (essential skills clusters)
-Study skills
-Self-awareness and reflection
-Ethics and law
-Managing and maintaining relationships
-Research and evidence-based practice
-Creativity and problem-solving skills

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This online MSc is ideal for healthcare professionals seeking a qualification that is contemporary, flexible and relevant to practice.

About the programme

The programme is relevant to all healthcare professionals and will enable you to make a significant contribution to improving practice and providing quality care.

Your learning

You may focus on modules relating to a specific practice area to add a specialist named pathway to the MSc Advancing Practice award. These pathways include: Advanced Clinical Practice; Nursing; Cancer and Palliative Care; and Care and Practice Improvement

There are three exit points within the programme:
• Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
• Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
• MSc Advancing Practice (180 credits)

Core modules for the programme
• Postgraduate Certificate – Quality Improvement in Healthcare
• Postgraduate Diploma – Knowledge into Action or Research Methods for Health and Social Care
• MSc – Care or Practice Improvement project dissertation or Research and Enquiry dissertation

Specific core and option modules are required for completion of the four named pathway awards:

- Advanced Clinical Practice:
Core modules:
• Advanced Decision Making (Postgraduate Certificate)
• Advanced Work-based Learning (Postgraduate Diploma)

Option modules:
Assessment in Advanced Practice; Clinical Teaching; Complexities of Pain; Complex Respiratory Disorders; and Advanced Vascular Access.

- Cancer and Palliative Care:
Core modules:
• Advancing Communication (Postgraduate Certificate)
• Psychosocial Concerns (Postgraduate Diploma)
• Contemporary Cancer and Palliative Care (Postgraduate Diploma)

Option modules:
Symptoms in Advanced Disease; and Independent Study HSC.

- Care and Practice Improvement:
Core modules:
• Advanced Facilitation Skills (Postgraduate Certificate)
• Developing Workplace Culture (Postgraduate Diploma)

Option modules:
Improvement Research; Leadership for Effectiveness; Delivering Compassionate Care; HAI Improvement in Practice; and Advanced Work-Based Learning.

- Nursing:
Core modules:
• Role Development in Nursing (Postgraduate Certificate)
• Leadership for Effectiveness (Postgraduate Diploma)

Option modules:
Delivering Compassionate Care; Clinical Teaching; Dementia Care Principles; Contemporary Cancer and Palliative Care; Independent Study HSC; and Prescribing in Advanced Practice.

Our Careers Adviser says

Masters qualifications support career advancement and advanced practitioner roles, potentially leading to PhD study. Graduates possess highly employable transferable skills.

State-of-the-art facilities

Our campuses are equipped with artificial simulated environments with contemporary healthcare technology, where you’ll learn in a realistic context, to put your knowledge into practice. The unpredictability of patient symptoms are mimicked using sophisticated software in a clinical ward setting, ranging from low to high dependency beds.

Investment in the Domus Initiative – an older adult artificial home environment – provides you with experience in caring for older people and dementia care. In a first for the Scottish university sector, we have established A Community Orientated Resource for Nursing (ACORN) where students can practice within a simulated primary care environment.

Lanarkshire and Paisley campuses also provide midwifery students with excellent learning and teaching environments with facilities and equipment that includes a birthing room with maternal simulator and a birthing pool for simulated water births.

Life-changing research

We work jointly with a range of partners, both nationally and internationally, on our research interests, and this directly informs teaching at UWS – which means that you’ll learn from the experts.

Our programmes are informed by practice and all of our academic staff are members of the School’s Institute of Healthcare Policy and
Practice. Some of our most recent initiatives include –

• the launch of a new resource, ‘Jenny’s Diary’, which will provide an invaluable tool for families and practitioners to help people with a learning disability understand their diagnosis of dementia

• the development of a new ‘Philosophy of Care’ in partnership with Broomfield Court Care Home in Glasgow, which will look at ways of enhancing the culture and care within a care setting

• we have collaborated with Ayrshire Hospice to launch the first University Hospice in Scotland to help improve the lives of people with life-limiting illness, their families, partners and carers across Ayrshire & Arran; and Ardgowan Hospice in Greenock, with it becoming a University Teaching Hospice and launching a two-year research project with the University aimed at revolutionising the way palliative
care is delivered to improve the patient journey

• the launch of Dumfries & Galloway Recovery College – the first of its kind in Scotland – which offers short courses designed to enhance self-belief, identify ambitions and encourage learning

• in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University and the University of Edinburgh, the mental health team lead research into the relationship between emotional intelligence and clinical and academic performance in student nurses

• we are working with the Glasgow Improving Cancer Journey Programme to evaluate this groundbreaking intervention in cancer care in Scotland

• we have launched a new state-of-the-art microbiology lab which will form a research base in the fight against Healthcare Associated Infection

• a collaboration with a number of European partners to develop shared academic and practicebased programmes to prepare family health nurses in Europe

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This degree meets the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards for community nursing specialist practice. District nursing is an exciting, challenging, varied and rewarding role; a specialism providing care and support to patients living in the community. This course is focused towards inspiring, innovating and implementing improvements in the quality of specialist district nursing care. Community healthcare is undergoing rapid and immense change following structural changes and reorganisation within NHS Wales. Policy driven by changes in demography, technology and economics have set community nursing as the future.

District nursing means working collaboratively with patients, family, carers, other community nurses, health professionals and individuals from both statutory and voluntary organisations. The degree will focus towards enhancement of your leadership skills. It requires engagement in reflective inquiry, self-awareness, assertiveness and critical thinking skills. Excellence in case load management is also fostered.

Delivery of care includes assessment, diagnosis, prescribing, follow up and discharge for a diverse range of patients including those with acute conditions, highly complex care needs, long term health conditions, safe guarding needs, requiring wound management health promotion, palliative and end of life care.

The degree is fully funded by the Welsh Government and gives you a comprehensive and thorough understanding of the contemporary primary and community health agenda. It will support your progression towards becoming a district nursing leader for the future. When you successfully complete this degree, you will have the NMC recordable specialist practice qualification in Community Health District Nursing.

See the website http://courses.southwales.ac.uk/courses/944-msc-community-health-studies-district-nursing

What you will study

Modules:
Year One
- Fundamentals of Community Practice
- Decision Making
- Specialist Practitioner

Year Two:
Core module
- Research methods
- Law, ethics and nurse prescribing

Optional modules:
- Transition
- Living well with long-term health conditions
- Diabetes care
- Minor illness for Primary Care Nurses
- Continuing care for children and young people
- Advances in epilepsy care

After two years you will attain a recordable specialist practice qualification with the NMC and an option to exit the course with a PgDiploma.

Year Three:
- Dissertation

After three years you will attain the MSc qualification.

Please note modules and module content may change from time to time.

Learning and teaching methods

Teaching and learning methods include lectures, tutorials, self-directed study, workshops and a clinical placement. As part of the course you will complete 40 academic days which run from September to May.

Year one requires attendance every Tuesday. In your second year lectures will be delivered on various days depending on which modules you choose. In addition you will undertake 40 clinical days per year. Ideally you should be working in a community setting, however if you are not, placements may be negotiated. While in practice, you will be assigned a mentor who will assess your clinical competence. All students are required to organise a tripartite meeting between student, mentor and academic supervisor during the first month in order to set objectives for clinical learning.

If you have undertaken the Fundamentals of Community Practice Module (30 credits) within the last five years, this can be transferred to the degree.

Work Experience and Employment Prospects

Undertaking this course ensures you will graduate with the knowledge, skills, competencies and capacity to provide safe and effective nursing care in community settings. Additionally, having employees with a specialist practitioner qualification is valued by nursing managers, commissioners and the Welsh Government.

Assessment methods

You will be assessed by a range of methods including writing essays and case studies, formal presentations, poster presentations, examinations, dissertation, literature reviews and clinical practice assessments.

Facilities

As part of the Decision Making module you will use the Hydra Suite which is used to help analyse and improve decision making for a variety of scenarios faced by professionals within district nursing.

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The Post Graduate Diploma Specialist Nursing (with pathways) is aimed at preparing Nurses for Leadership roles in a field of Nursing of their choice. There are a range of Pathways to suit all Nurses including District Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Learning Disability Nursing, and Community Children’s Nursing. The full range of Adult Nursing Specialisms include, Palliative Care, Stroke Care, Diabetes Care and Emergency Care.

Key benefits

- The programme leads to more than one qualification. You will obtain a degree from Ulster University and a professional qualification from the United Kingdom Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

- Students of District Nursing also obtain a further professional qualification in Nurse Prescribing.

- Recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the purpose of recording as Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ) (child/ adult/ learning disabilities/ mental health)

Visit the website: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/course/pgdip-specality-nursing-with-pathways-ft-jn
or part time https://www.ulster.ac.uk/course/pgd-specialist-nursing-with-pathways-pt-jn

Course detail

- Description -

The term, ‘Specialist Nursing’ refers to, the exercising of higher levels of judgment and decision-making in relation to the nursing care of individuals, families and communities. As a future Leader you must display this higher level of decision-making across four areas; clinical practice, care and programme management, clinical practice development and clinical practice leadership.

- Format and assessment -

At Ulster we focus on developing you as a Leader and help you achieve academic and professional competence in all these areas. This programme is a 50-50 programme, meaning that 50% of the programme is university-based and 50% based in the practice learning setting. In the Practice Learning setting you will be allocated to a Sign-Off Mentor. This Sign-Off Mentor who is an established Specialist Nurse and Leader in Clinical Care will supervise you throughout the Programme. He/she will assess you and sign off your competencies prior to recording the professional qualification with the NMC. You will also be allocated to a Pathway Leader who will supervise your academic development and provide support throughout.

The academic component of the programme consists of four 30-credit modules:

- Research Module
- Leadership Module
- + Two Specialist Focus Modules, depending on your selected pathway.

District Nursing students have an additional 20 credits to complete in order to evidence outcomes related to Nurse Prescribing.

A range of assessment methods including OSCEs, Reflective and Academic Essays, Case studies and Portfolio are used. Patients and families are involved in the assessment process.

- Work placement / study abroad -

All students must complete 75 days Practice Learning in an aproved setting. Students must have direct interaction with patients and families during this period. Supervision by an expert Specialist Nurse (Sign-Off Mentor) will occur during Practice Learning. A Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ) Portfolio is required to evidence achievement of professional outcomes.

Career options

Graduates of this programme take up posts as Specialist Nurses. Most are in Team Leadershippositions. There is 100% Employability associated with this programme.

How to apply: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/how-to-apply#pg

Why Choose Ulster University ?

1. Over 92% of our graduates are in work or further study six months after graduation.
2. We are a top UK university for providing courses with a period of work placement.
3. Our teaching and the learning experience we deliver are rated at the highest level by the Quality Assurance Agency.
4. We recruit international students from more than 100 different countries.
5. More than 4,000 students from over 50 countries have successfully completed eLearning courses at Ulster University.

Flexible payment

To help spread the cost of your studies, tuition fees can be paid back in monthly instalments while you learn. If you study for a one-year, full-time master’s, you can pay your fees up-front, in one lump sum, or in either five* or ten* equal monthly payments. If you study for a master’s on a part-time basis (e.g. over three years), you can pay each year’s fees up-front or in five or ten equal monthly payments each year. This flexibility allows you to spread the payment of your fees over each academic year. Find out more by visiting https://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/fees-and-finance/postgraduate

Scholarships

A comprehensive range of financial scholarships, awards and prizes are available to undergraduate, postgraduate and research students. Scholarships recognise the many ways in which our students are outstanding in their subject. Individuals may be able to apply directly or may automatically be nominated for awards. Visit the website: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/fees-and-finance/scholarships

English Language Tuition

CELT offers courses and consultations in English language and study skills to Ulster University students of all subjects, levels and nationalities. Students and researchers for whom English is an additional language can access free CELT support throughout the academic year: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/international/english-language-support

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Studying this award will provide you with the knowledge, understanding and skills in the principles and practice of holistic palliative/end of life care and you will have the opportunity to critically analyse local and national influences on care and their implications for service delivery.

Undertaking each of the modules within this course will allow you the opportunity to cover a variety of skills important for your development as a qualified health and/or social care individual, in a way which helps you to bring together theory and practice. As a graduate nurse you will reflect a knowledgeable and enterprising approach to health and social care and adopt a critical, analytical and imaginative approach to your practice.

This Masters Programme will equip you, as a health and social care professional, with the necessary skills and knowledge required to ensure the highest possible standards of palliative/end of life care are provided to people with a life limiting progressive illness, including those with a malignant or non-malignant disease.

This Masters Programme also aims to enable practitioners to demonstrate expertise and advanced skills in the management of a case-load and/or healthcare staff in the support of people with a life limiting illness requiring palliative/end of life care.

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This primarily online program is open to health care professionals with a completed health-care related undergraduate honour degree and a minimum of two years' experience in a health-related field. We welcome applications from health care professionals, including nurses, physicians, physician assistants, physiotherapists, dentists, social workers, psychologists, etc.

A partnership with the de Souza Institute will afford health care professionals seeking advanced preparation in oncology and palliative care a unique opportunity for professional development at the graduate level. Students will learn using a combination of the University of Windsor’s online collaborative educational environment and state-of-the-art on-site simulation facility, making it accessible to health care professionals across Canada and beyond.

The de Souza Institute contributes to course development and student support for those taking the graduate level diploma. Established in 2008, the institute provides educational support and professional development to health care professionals caring for cancer patients and families. The institute’s role in this partnership will be to support research training in oncology, to co-host some of the course offerings, and to facilitate clinical placements in 14 Ontario regional cancer centres. This unique model of learning between the University of Windsor and de Souza Institute will ensure that students pursuing advanced practice education have access to the latest standards in cancer and palliative care.

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You will develop a co-ordinated and holistic approach to meet the healthcare needs of the wider community so you can help improve and maximise their life chances. As a specialist practitioner, this course will meet your additional needs preparing you to use your discretion and judgement to make high-level clinical decisions in the management and provision of quality care.

By analysing clinical practice and development, care and programme management and leadership, you will gain a thorough knowledge of the complexity of delivering health and social care services. An equal balance of practical experience and theory, the course will develop your expertise as a specialist practitioner. By undertaking a number of work placements in the area of district nursing, you will build up a network of contacts that can lead to future employment opportunities.

Once you've successfully completed our Leadership, Management and Enterprise module, you will have the opportunity to apply to the Chartered Management Institute to receive their Level 7 Certificate in Management and Leadership, adding another professional hallmark to your portfolio.

- Research Excellence Framework 2014: 20% of our research in the Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care unit is world leading or internationally excellent.

Visit the website http://courses.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/districtnursing_msc

Mature Applicants

Our University welcomes applications from mature applicants who demonstrate academic potential. We usually require some evidence of recent academic study, for example completion of an access course, however recent relevant work experience may also be considered. Please note that for some of our professional courses all applicants will need to meet the specified entry criteria and in these cases work experience cannot be considered in lieu.

If you wish to apply through this route you should refer to our University Recognition of Prior Learning policy that is available on our website (http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/studenthub/recognition-of-prior-learning.htm).

Please note that all applicants to our University are required to meet our standard English language requirement of GCSE grade C or equivalent, variations to this will be listed on the individual course entry requirements.

Careers

On successful completion of our course you will be able to request changes to your registration details with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, allowing you to apply for district nursing roles. You’ll be prepared for senior posts in management, clinical practice and education. You can also gain employment in roles such as a community matron or in community palliative care.

- District Nurse
- Community Nurse

Careers advice:
The dedicated Jobs and Careers team offers expert advice and a host of resources to help you choose and gain employment. Whether you're in your first or final year, you can speak to members of staff from our Careers Office who can offer you advice from writing a CV to searching for jobs.

Course Benefits

We have a long history of providing postgraduate courses in health and social care. The knowledge, skills and attitude that you will gain will offer you the opportunity to consider district nursing practice in significant depth, whilst also increasing your personal development and academic proficiency. You'll learn skills that you will go on to use in your working environment, such as critique, analysis, reasoning, communication, team working, time management and prioritisation.

Once you've successfully completed the Leadership, Management and Enterprise module, you'll also have the opportunity apply to the Chartered Management Institute to receive their level 7 Certificate in Management and Leadership, adding another professional hallmark to your portfolio.

Modules

Getting it Right for Adults with Complex Care Needs

Professional Development in Practice
Increase your skills and knowledge required for both the personal and professional development in the current modernisation agenda.

Leadership, Management & Enterprise
You will be prepared to meet the NMC standards for specialist practice, specifically standards that relate to your role in leading and managing specialist practice.

Building Community Capacity & Public Health
You will develop the skills to build sustainable capacity and resources for health improvement and aid the reduction of health inequalities by identifying priority community health needs and writing a business plan.

Therapeutic Relationships for Health Care Practitioners
You will develop your interpersonal capacities and skills, gaining theoretical knowledge of people's emotional/mental health and wellbeing in relation to being service users/patients.

Understanding Social Research & Evaluation
You will gain a theoretical, methodological and practical foundation for social research enabling you to act as a social researcher to resolve practice based problems.

Research in Practice (Dissertation)
You will produce a substantial research project on a self-selected topic of interest, demonstrating developmental learning in breadth and depth, in addition to a variety of academic and practical skills.

Facilities

- Clinical Skills Suite
The £1 million suite has been designed to meet the learning needs of a range of health professionals, with specialist equipment in purpose-built rooms enabling a variety of sessions to be carried out in a suitable and safe environment.

- Library
Our libraries are two of the only university libraries in the UK open 24/7 every day of the year. However you like to study, the libraries have got you covered with group study, silent study, extensive e-learning resources and PC suites.

- Clinical Skills Suite
The £1 million suite has been designed to meet the learning needs of a range of health professionals, with specialist equipment in purpose-built rooms enabling a variety of sessions to be carried out in a suitable and safe environment.

Find out how to apply here - http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/postgraduate/how-to-apply/

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Build on the community knowledge, skills and experience you’ve gained as a qualified nurse with this Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)-approved course

Overview

District nursing is vital to the sustainability of the NHS, now and in the future. Our course delivers education and training to enhance your practical and theoretical knowledge of working and caring for people in the community, and to qualify you as a community specialist practitioner.

In particular, you'll focus on population and caseload management; on supporting individuals to achieve and sustain independence; and on supporting and caring for those who are either unwell, recovering or at end of life. Multidisciplinary working is integral to community work and is reflected throughout our course, both in the classroom and in the practice field.

The course is 50% theory and 50% practice.

See the website http://www.anglia.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/community-specialist-practitioner-district-nursing

Careers

Graduates in this programme can expect to achieve a role as a Community Specialist Practitioner (District Nurse).

- Links with industry and professional recognition
This is an NMC recordable qualification as a Community Specialist Practitioner (District Nursing).

Modules & Assessment

Core modules -
Fundamentals of District Nursing
Leadership and Management in the Community

You will choose one of the following modules:
Community Practitioner Nurse Prescribing - see notes below
Advanced Non-Medical Prescribing

Optional modules -
Holistic Assessment Skills for Community Nurses
Advancing Professional Decision Making
Law & Ethics in Health & Social Care
Research Studies
Advanced Communication Skills
Facing Death: Patients, Families and Professionals
Advanced Clinical Practice in Palliative Care
Integrated Care in the Community

You will take one module from the above list. The choice will depend on modules you may have completed in the past and on availability. The course leader will discuss your options with you at the beginning of the course. Modules are subject to change.

Assessment

Assessment includes essays, examinations, case studies, poster presentations and a competency-based portfolio.

Where you'll study

The Faculty of Health, Social Care & Education is the largest provider of health, social care and education courses in the East of England, with over 6,000 students from more than 20 countries.

With 95% of our students finding full-time employment within six months of graduating, you can be sure that our courses have been designed with your career in mind. We’ve been educating nurses, midwives and social workers for over 25 years.

At the cutting edge of research, we offer a range of internationally recognised undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses taught by friendly and experienced staff.

Designed to enhance your learning experience, our facilities include state-of-the-art simulated skills laboratories that mirror real-life clinical situations and UK hospital wards. Our students also benefit from our Early Childhood Research and Resource Centre; a space in which they can experiment with equipment and play activities.

You’ll study in an exciting, modern faculty which has strong links with regional, national and international organisations, including healthcare trusts, schools and academic institutions.

Your enthusiasm. Our passion. Your best foot forward.

Visit your faculty - http://www.anglia.ac.uk/health-social-care-and-education

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Designed for health, social care and third sector professionals working with people in their later life years, this programme can also be studied online, offering flexibility for students in employment or a caring role.

About the programme

UWS will provide graduates from various disciplines with a rigorous education in the many complex health and social care issues affecting older people. It will equip professionals with an in-depth knowledge and the critical perspective necessary to plan, practice in partnership, manage and lead high-quality services and interventions for older people and people with dementia. The programme’s integrated perspective helps to challenge the sector’s next generation of leaders to make connections between the biopsychosocial aspects of later life, caring sciences, implementation sciences, service management and economics.

Campus: Online or blended learning with some attendance required at Lanarkshire Campus

[{Additional Entry Information]]
Students who have already gained credit at Level 11 may transfer this in certain circumstances; this will be considered on an individual basis.
Prior learning and prior experiential learning may also be considered for entry on an individual basis.

Your learning

The course has three parts:

- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits):
Includes an overview and introduction to the key aspects of later life, including physical, psychological, social, political, and relationship issues. Core modules are Understanding Later Life, Research in Health and Social Care, and Frailty in Later Life. You will be introduced to research at this stage.

- Postgraduate Diploma (60 credits):
The core Independent Study module is the foundation for the Masters dissertation year. Option modules currently available are Dementia Care Principles, Delivering Compassionate Care and Complexities of Pain.

- MSc (180 credits):
You will complete a supervised dissertation (worth 60 credits) in a subject relevant to adults in later life

Our Careers Adviser says

This programme will prepare experienced professionals to embrace the challenges of autonomous practice, decision-making and leadership necessary for this important sector. It is recognised that advanced and specialised knowledge is needed to support the increasingly blended and integrated roles that professionals will adopt in supporting older people.

Current students include occupational therapists, integrated discharge facilitators, care home and assistant care home managers and charge nurses.

State-of-the-art facilities

Our campuses are equipped with artificial simulated environments with contemporary healthcare technology, where you’ll learn in a realistic context, to put your knowledge into practice. The unpredictability of patient symptoms are mimicked using sophisticated software in a clinical ward setting, ranging from low to high dependency beds.

Investment in the Domus Initiative – an older adult artificial home environment – provides you with experience in caring for older people and dementia care. In a first for the Scottish university sector, we have established A Community Orientated Resource for Nursing (ACORN) where students can practice within a simulated primary care environment.

Lanarkshire and Paisley campuses also provide midwifery students with excellent learning and teaching environments with facilities and equipment that includes a birthing room with maternal simulator and a birthing pool for simulated water births.

Life-changing research

We work jointly with a range of partners, both nationally and internationally, on our research interests, and this directly informs teaching at UWS – which means that you’ll learn from the experts.

Our programmes are informed by practice and all of our academic staff are members of the School’s Institute of Healthcare Policy and
Practice. Some of our most recent initiatives include –

• the launch of a new resource, ‘Jenny’s Diary’, which will provide an invaluable tool for families and practitioners to help people with a learning disability understand their diagnosis of dementia

• the development of a new ‘Philosophy of Care’ in partnership with Broomfield Court Care Home in Glasgow, which will look at ways of enhancing the culture and care within a care setting

• we have collaborated with Ayrshire Hospice to launch the first University Hospice in Scotland to help improve the lives of people with life-limiting illness, their families, partners and carers across Ayrshire & Arran; and Ardgowan Hospice in Greenock, with it becoming a University Teaching Hospice and launching a two-year research project with the University aimed at revolutionising the way palliative
care is delivered to improve the patient journey

• the launch of Dumfries & Galloway Recovery College – the first of its kind in Scotland – which offers short courses designed to enhance self-belief, identify ambitions and encourage learning

• in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University and the University of Edinburgh, the mental health team lead research into the relationship between emotional intelligence and clinical and academic performance in student nurses

• we are working with the Glasgow Improving Cancer Journey Programme to evaluate this groundbreaking intervention in cancer care in Scotland

• we have launched a new state-of-the-art microbiology lab which will form a research base in the fight against Healthcare Associated Infection

• a collaboration with a number of European partners to develop shared academic and practicebased programmes to prepare family health nurses in Europe

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The postgraduate University of the West of Scotland Graduate Certificate programme in Palliative Care has been designed to equip postgraduates with enhanced knowledge and skills to enable them to provide evidence-based, holistic, palliative care to those who require it regardless of place of care or diagnosis.

The UWS course is aimed at experienced health and social care professionals eg nurses, allied health professionals and doctors who care for patients, regardless of age, with life-limiting illnesses whether in primary, secondary or tertiary care.

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