Advanced Clinical Practice (Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner) (MSc)

About this course

Prepare for an advanced role in neonatal practice with a master’s in neonatal nursing at the University of Southampton. Our MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner) degree develops your existing neonatal clinical experience and skills, helping you take on greater responsibility and make more complex clinical decisions.

You’ll study within the School of Health Sciences: ranked 9th in the world and 3rd in the UK for nursing and midwifery (QS World Rankings by Subject 2021).

Throughout this degree you’ll:

• critically evaluate role development in relation to advanced neonatal practice
• explore how to apply evidence to your role
• apply diagnostic and clinical decision-making skills to your professional practice
• develop new and improved history-taking and clinical skills for assessment and examination of newborns, advanced neonatal studies and pharmacology
• demonstrate your clinical competence through simulated and practice-based clinical assessment

If you’re eligible to practise as an independent or supplementary prescriber, you will have the opportunity to obtain the V300 non-medical prescribing qualification.

We centre our programme around the 4 pillars of advanced practice:

• advanced clinical practice
• leadership
• education
• research

You’ll learn more about research and evidence-based practice, advanced health assessment, diagnosis, decision-making and pharmacology, plus non-medical prescribing. You’ll also explore the place of advanced practice within contemporary healthcare and within your own future professional role.

Students can also achieve PGDip award.

Careers

Our MSc programme will give you the skills and expertise for a lead role in neonatal clinical practice and professional development.

Students will need a 2:2 degree in a subject from a clinical or science background, and: a current professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council; a current job contract in a clinical or clinically related area (including the support of a clinical mentor to assess your practice competency and help with your learning); at least 2 years post-registration clinical experience; at least 1 satisfactory reference, normally from your employer, confirming the availability of appropriate clinical practice experience and mentor support.