Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) Top-up BSc (Hons)

• Overview

  This course is designed to enable you to study at academic Level 6 (BSc Hons) whilst also preparing you to become proficient practitioners within specialist community public health nursing/practice and work at specialist practitioner level within complex primary health care arenas.

  This course provides a programme of preparation and learning for registered nurses and midwives who wish to become registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) on Part 3 of the register as a SCPHN Health Visitor (HV) or School Nurse (SN) (NMC 2004).

  Course

  Highlights

  • Top up to complete BSc (Hons).
  • For NMC registered Nurses or Midwives.
  • 50% practice 50% theory.

  Apply Now Open Days

  
• Course Details

  You will have the opportunity to gain the additional qualification of Community Practitioner Nurse Prescriber with the Nursing and Midwifery Council upon successful completion.

  There is a focus on work based learning throughout the course which ensures clear integration of practice-based learning, assessment and university based work. A shared learning approach is encouraged with inter-professional modules and integrated working incorporated within the overall programme structure.

  The course will be delivered by a range of teaching methods such as core lectures, group work, online activities, use of case studies and directed learning approaches. Shared learning with other professionals will be a focus of this course and you will be encouraged to develop a critical, evaluative approach to the knowledge which underpins present day specialist community public health practice.

  This post registration award prepares you for a career in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing at both strategic and operational levels. The BSc Hons consists of six compulsory modules, two are practise focussed modules underpinned with key theoretical concepts and run for the duration of the course enabling theory to inform practice and vice versa. A consolidating period of practice equivalent to at least ten weeks at the end of the programme is incorporated into this programme as per NMC SCPHN Standards (2004).

  All modules are linked to service delivery and developments within Primary Care/Public Health and are intended to develop core skills in research, practice development, public health activity and education. 50% of the course is in a practice environment which is commensurate with the specific annotation students are following i.e. Health Visiting or School Nursing. This element of the programme is supported by designated practice teachers who have undertaken a formal education programme to fulfil this role.

  Methods of Learning

  Students following a part time route will under normal circumstances attend university for one day per week, practice for the second day and have half a day study time each week. Block weeks will be timetabled as above, but will be for two and a half days per week.

  The course is delivered by a wide range of blended teaching and learning activities including lectures; enquiry based learning; online activities; workshops; tutorials and group work. Specialist practitioners and service users input into the teaching elements of the course whenever possible.

  The course comprises of 45 programmed weeks for full-time students (50% of which is in practice, 50% in theory), or no more than 208 weeks for part-time students which is in accordance with NMC 2004 SCPHN regulations. An initial theory (university based) induction programme is timetabled at the beginning of the course, followed by a practice induction period. Following this induction, the course integrates both practice and theory, so for those students following the full-time course, they can expect to be in practice for part of the week and at university for the remainder of the week. One study day per week is also timetabled whenever possible. There are block weeks in practice which usually occur at least once per term, and block study weeks which, wherever possible, are timetabled to coincide with preparation for assignment submission dates. The final 10 weeks of the programme is consolidating practice as per NMC standards (2004).

  Assessments

  This course comprises of a range of assessment strategies which enable you to demonstrate your knowledge, synthesis and analysis in a variety of forms. Assessment strategies include portfolios, exams, vivas, reports, essays, OSCEs and presentations alongside a practice proficiency document. The aim of the assignment programme is not only to test your knowledge and skills but also to develop these skills (for instance, the ability to present to a group of people). You can expect between one and three items of assessment per module.

  Read more

  Additional

  Information

  Contact

  For further information regarding the course, please contact Helen Kimble, Programme Lead on: Helen.kimble@northampton.ac.uk

• Careers and Events
  • Open Days

    See for yourself

    Our Open Days offer you a fantastic opportunity to get a real taste of university life at Northampton and discover how studying here will be a life-changing experience.

    Each Open Day has a packed programme of subjects talks, advice sessions and activities designed to give you all the information you need about studying at The University of Northampton.

    To find out more about the day, please feel free to have a look at our Open Day Guide.

    
  • Careers

    Career Opportunities

    The specialist nature of this award will enhance graduates opportunities to extend their responsibilities and undertake new roles in practice within clinical teams. On successful completion of this course you will be registered with the NMC on third part of the register and will be able to apply for band 6 and 7 posts as Specialist Community Public Health Practitioners working within a wide variety of settings.

    
• Requirements

  Applicants must be registered with the NMC as either a nurse or midwife, and will need to provide evidence of sponsorship from an NHS Trust prior to commencing the course. University applications can be made prior to obtaining an offer of sponsorship.

  Applicants must have attained 240 credits of which 120 must be at level 5 (Diploma).

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands
    for study at undergraduate level.

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

  Contacts

  Course enquiries
  study@northampton.ac.uk

  Application status enquiries
  admissions2020@northampton.ac.uk

  Current student enquiries
  SID@northampton.ac.uk

  International student enquiries
  international@northampton.ac.uk

  Enquire online
  Online enquiry form

  Applying for 2019
  Facebook Applicant Group

  Office hours:
  Mon – Thu: 9am – 5pm
  Fri: 9am – 4.30pm

  Phone Call

  0300 303 2772

  +44 (0)1604 892134

  +44 (0)1604 892546

• Course Content
  • Stage 4

  ± SCPHN students may be required to take NUR3032P in addition to the Compulsory modules.

  • Children, Young People & Family Well-being (1) (20 Credits)
    Module code: NUR3032P

    Core Module Y
  • Children, Young People & Family Well-being (2) (20 Credits)
    Module code: NUR3033P

    Core Module Y
  • Applied Public Health (20 Credits)
    Module code: NUR3019

    Core Module Y
  • Enhanced Communication Strategies for Patients and Clients (20 Credits)
    Module code: NUR3031

    Core Module Y
  • Health and Social Research Methods for Evidence Based Practitioner (20 Credits)
    Module code: PSC3001

    Core Module Y
  • Leading Clinical Teams (20 Credits)
    Module code: PSC3005

    Core Module Y
  • Community Practitioner Nurse Prescribing Formulary± ( Credits)
    Module code: NUR3023P

    Core Module N

  Facilities &

  Special Features

  • registered qualification with the NMC on part 3 of the register
  • practice-based learning
  • robust mentorship programme in place to support students in practice
  • shared learning on some modules
  •  sponsored programme through local NHS Trust.
• Further Studies
  • How to apply

    Applicants must have attained 240 credits of which 120 must be at level 2 (Diploma). Applicants who do not have the required 120 credits at level 2 through certificated learning will be credited with 60 credits at level 2 if employed in contemporary clinical practice. Applicants may also make an additional claim for APEL for a maximum of 60 credits at level 2.

    For application information please see our how to apply page.

    
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    Opportunities Available

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    Discover what businesses we work with and what opportunities may be available to you on our Business and Enterprise pages.

    
• Fees & Funding
  • UK & EU

  NHS funded students only*

  *Applicants must be registered with the NMC as either a nurse or midwife, and will need to provide evidence of sponsorship from an NHS Trust prior to commencing the course.

  You are advised to contact the course leader as soon as possible if you require information as to which NHS Trusts are likely to offer sponsorships.

  If you choose to study this course full-time course (over 45 weeks), you will not usually have annual leave during the course as this is given predominantly at the end of the course (six weeks annual leave over the summer period). Over Christmas and Easter, however, block weeks of study leave are expected to be timetabled on both occasions.

*Course data provided by Unistats