MSc/PgDip Specialist Practice District Nursing

Specialise in district nursing and primary care practice and take advantage of career opportunities in this area. Completing the postgraduate diploma enables you to meet all Nursing and Midwifery Council standards for the specialism and join the NMC register as a district nurse and nurse prescriber. The course comprises 50% practice and 50% theory to ensure your learning can be directly applied to practice.

If you are post-registration, completing the postgraduate diploma allows you to specialise in district nursing and primary care practice. You gain the knowledge and skills required to work with varied, and often vulnerable people, in the primary care setting.

You develop your expertise as an autonomous practitioner and leader with an evidence-based skills set that meets the challenges of contemporary practice. There are many opportunities within the course to share learning from your peers and other disciplines from across the primary care team.

If you complete the postgraduate diploma award you gain a Postgraduate Diploma Community Specialist Primary Care Nursing – District Nursing. You then have the option to complete a dissertation and graduate with an MSc Nursing (specialist practice district nursing). Please note additional funding is required for you to go on and complete a further 60 credit dissertation module for the award of MSc.

You complete a research-based module which potentially leads to the dissertation. This equips you to use policy and research to underpin and develop innovative practice and gives you the skills to frame a research question, take empirical research and write up an academic dissertation.

To meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards, your studies consists of 50% practice and 50% theory. We structure the postgraduate diploma to reflect the important balance of the practice elements, which are designated practice days or work-based learning. Consolidated practice enables you to work independently while remaining under the supervision of a practice teacher. The theoretical elements involve a mix of learning approaches including self-directed study days.

To gain the NMC recognised qualifications, you need to be sponsored by an employing organisation and have an appropriately qualified mentor or practice teacher allocated by the sponsoring trust to guide and assess your practice experience.

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

Professional recognition

Successfully completing the course allows you to be on the NMC register as a
• specialist practitioner – district nursing
• community practitioner – nurse prescriber

Requirements

2016 entry requirements**To complete the course you need*• a nursing related degree (120 level six credits)*• current registration on part one (nursing) of the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) register*• normally at least one year's post-registration experience*• to be working as a community staff nurse working in a community team*• self-declaration of good health and character as required by the NMC*• to have successfully applied for a student district nurse NHS training post*• to have a sponsoring health care organisation and be employed by the NHS for the duration of the course***If you are shortlisted you attend a joint NHS and Sheffield Hallam interview. You must bring original copies of your qualifications, certificates, NMC registration, course application form and references with you. This interview is your opportunity to demonstrate that you have the personal, NHS values based and intellectual qualities to complete the course and meet the required standards to become a district nurse. You must show how you strive to improve health and wellbeing and peoples experience of the NHS. **Course enrolment – professional requirements*Before enrolling, you must fully declare during the admissions process any*• unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. For further information on convictions that must be declared see the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) website.*• disciplinary proceedings during paid or voluntary employment or educational establishments *• involvement with safeguarding proceedings, social services or related organisations** You also need to complete*• a DBS Enhanced Disclosure, and provide us with a copy of your DBS Enhanced Disclosure Certificate if requested. Enrolment also depends on the DBS check being deemed suitable for professional training.*• occupational health screening to determine your suitability to undertake the course and an approved programme of immunisation, as recommended by the Department of Health. Health screening and immunisation are provided by your employer.***If your personal circumstances change in relation to any of the professional requirements – from when you apply to the end of your course – you must tell the Professional Issues Team immediately.