MSc (PGDip Entry) Specialist Community Public Health Nursing

Course Overview

Approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the course covers key areas of contemporary community nursing practice, from protecting children and the vulnerable, and supporting developmental needs through their lifespan, to effective caseload management.

This course is for qualified nurses with a postgraduate diploma in nursing. You will be sponsored by a health organisation or trust and achieve a master’s, while gaining advanced skills and knowledge in the area of public health nursing you want to specialise in.

What will I study?

Specialist Community Health Nursing is an area of nursing practice which has a focus on assessing and reacting to, the health needs of young people aged 0-19 and their families. Working in the community requires specialist knowledge, skills and behaviours that are distinct from working in the hospital setting.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• understand the complexities of working in a community setting
• better appreciate strategic influences on policy
• take a critical approach to identifying the health needs of individuals, groups and populations in the community
• consider aspects of safeguarding children, young people and their families. As you may be working with at risk or deprived groups, it is important you recognise when a child is at risk of harm and what action to take
• develop leadership, innovation and management skills to be able to contribute to successful health outcomes for children
• show you have the necessary skills for working in the community, so you can qualify for the third part of the NMC register.

How will I be taught and assessed?

Honing your critical thinking and leadership capabilities, you will build the capabilities needed to become highly successful at leading large teams of nurses in your chosen area of practice. You will also learn to take a more strategic view of community healthcare provision, drawing on the latest research, ideas and policy – as well as carrying out your own piece of research.

The course makes use of a range of flexible learning and assessment approaches, to ensure you learn in the way that suits you best. We will be looking, in particular, at how well you apply the theory to your own nursing and leadership practice.

You will benefit from strong support throughout, with personal and link tutors at the university, and a practice teacher supporting you to learn in your trust.

As well as spending half your time in practice, learning opportunities at the University such as case study-type simulations will enable you to develop your skills in a safe environment. You will also work closely with students from other community nursing courses at BNU, building your experience of working in a multi-professional way.

Our programme incorporates a unique ePortfolio that you can engage with throughout the programme, helping you to develop the skills required to integrate the concept of lifelong learning within your professional careers.

What are my career prospects?

As a graduate of this course, you will be well equipped to move forward as a team leader in either health visiting or school nursing. Your career trajectory may also include management, practice teaching or teaching in higher education.

Students need to be registered as a level 1 nurse on the appropriate part of the NMC register. They also need to be working in UK clinical practice, so this course is just available to UK students.