Nursing - Specialist Community Public Health Nursing

Only offered for health visiting and school nursing students, this course is designed to prepare students to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to meet the Standards of Proficiency for Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (NMC 2004) Health Visitor or School Nurse.

You will acquire the skills and knowledge required to deliver a practice that is safe and effective in maintaining and improving the health of the public and communities and acknowledges the responsibilities and accountabilities necessary for public protection. You will also develop the methods to reflect systematically upon and develop your practice through analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. The SCPHN programme embraces diversity on a local and global level and, reflecting a changing society, recognises the challenges of migrating populations and facilitates the student knowledge in recognising and responding to the needs of clients/families during resettlement periods.

Ulster is the sole provider in Northern Ireland of this course. The completion of this course allows you to progress your career and practice at a specialist level.

Work placement / study abroad
?The student is required to complete a minimum of 128 days in the practice learning environment under the supervision of a Practice Assessor who will assess their proficiency. Practice days are completed alongside the theoretical teaching in university in semester 1 and 2. The main focus in semester 3 is in the achievement of the NMC (2004) Standards of Proficiency for SCPHN within the practice learning environment. Formative and summative assessment will also take place in the practice learning environment to enable the students to develop their skills. This will be evidenced by the development of a Practice Learning Portfolio which will demonstrate progression towards achievement of NMC proficiencies.

The 52-week programme includes a holiday allowance, so the programme consists of 45 weeks, of which at least 22.5 weeks are practice learning, all of which must be successfully completed. Where a practice route is required, students must complete their consolidation experience (minimum of 10 weeks full time), in settings with clients that are central to the responsibilities for that defined area of practice. In addition, students must spend at least three weeks gaining experience in work settings and with clients considered either of relevant importance or that may be a potential area of responsibility, even if not central to the defined area of practice (NMC 2004).

For further course details please see "Course Web Page" below.

To apply to our postgraduate taught programmes, you must meet the University's General Entrance Requirements and any course-specific requirements.

These vary depending on the course and are detailed online.

- Applicants must have current Part 1or 2 registration in either nursing or midwifery with the Nursing & Midwifery Council

- BSc Hons/BSc degree in Nursing or a health related area OR

- A Diploma of Higher Education in Nursing/midwifery which is equivalent to 240 academic credits OR

- Applicants without a Diploma Higher Education in nursing/midwifery must have successfully completed a portfolio of evidence for
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) which demonstrates the achievement of all Level 4 and Level 5 learning outcomes. Please note this APL portfolio must be successfully completed and assessed by Ulster University before applicant can proceed to interview.

- Health Visiting students are required to apply through a Regional Recruitment and Selection process and pass the standard set at interview

- Occupational Health Nurses and School Nurses apply directly to the HSCT and must pass the standard set at interview

- Provide an Access NI Enhanced Disclosure certificate, which is current on application to Ulster.

If English is not your first language this course requires a minimum English level of IELTS (academic) 7.0 with no band score less than 7.0, or equivalent.

Visit ulster.ac.uk/englishrequirements for more details.

This course is open to international (non-EU) students.

For full entry requirements please see "Course Web Page" below.

Your Application
Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink" below).

Career options
Career prospects of graduates from this programme are excellent with the majority moving rapidly into permanent posts with their specialist area.