Nursing - Specialist Nursing - Pathways

This course prepares registered nurses for clinical leadership roles in specialist nursing. On successful completion of the course, you will be awarded both an academic award and a professional qualification which are recognised across Europe.

'Specialist Nursing' refers to the exercising of higher levels of judgment, discretion, and decision-making in relation to the nursing care of individuals, families, and communities in four areas: clinical practice, care and programme management, clinical practice development, and clinical practice leadership. Throughout the course, you are supported to achieve clinical expertise and leadership in a specialist area of nursing. Academic and professional competencies are embedded in the four areas.

This course is 50% university-based study and 50% in a practice learning setting. There are a range of pathways to suit all nurses, including district nursing with integrated nurse prescribing, community/mental health nursing, community/learning disability nursing, and community children's nursing. The full range of adult nursing specialisms includes palliative care, stroke care, diabetes care, and emergency care.

Work placement / study abroad
All students must complete 75 days Practice Learning in an approved setting. Students must have direct interaction with patients and families in their specialist field during this period. Supervision by an expert Specialist Nurse (Supervisor and Assessor ) will occur during Practice Learning. A Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ) NIPAD is required to evidence achievement of professional outcomes.

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.

Satisfy the University's general entry requirements; and:
- Hold a degree in Nursing or equivalent

- or demonstrate their ability to undertake the course through the accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL).

- Hold current registration with the NMC and have completed a period of experience as a registered nurse to have consolidated pre-registration outcomes.

- Have the support of an employer for 75 days Practice Learning and the name of an appropriately qualified Supervisor and Assessor in the Practice Learning setting.

- Have competency in written and spoken English (IELTS 7.0).

- Applicants for the District Nursing Pathway(+ Self -funded students) are required to complete Access NI Checks.

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 (full-time only).

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