Course summary

Are you ready to take the next steps in your nursing career? Do you want to increase your expertise? As a nurse it is good practice to keep building on your skills, so you can consistently deliver high quality, evidence-based care. This course is for qualified nurses with a postgraduate diploma in nursing. You will be sponsored by a health organisation or trust and achieve a master’s, while gaining advanced skills and knowledge in the area of public health nursing you want to specialise in. Why study at Buckinghamshire New University? Approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the course covers key areas of contemporary community nursing practice, from protecting children and the vulnerable, and supporting developmental needs through their lifespan, to effective caseload management. You will benefit from an excellent standard of teaching provided by staff from the University and practice, in partnership with our NHS Trust partners. Our lecturers have a wide expertise in the field and also maintain close links with practice, ensuring that the programme is up-to-date with modern practice. Highly regarded by students and practice partners for our teaching in this area, BNU has a strong reputation for its health visitor and school nurse training. You will work with highly skilled academics, who have worked in the community – and spend 50% of your time in practice yourself, consolidating and deepening your understanding and skills. What will I study? Honing your critical thinking and leadership capabilities, you will build the capabilities needed to become highly successful at leading large teams of nurses in your chosen area of practice. You will also learn to take a more strategic view of community healthcare provision, drawing on the latest research, ideas and policy – as well as carrying out your own piece of research. This course covers all the areas needed to meet the NMC professional requirements for specialist community public health nurses, with a focus on either health visiting or school nursing. By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• understand the complexities of working in a community setting

• better appreciate strategic influences on policy

• take a critical approach to identifying the health needs of individuals, groups and populations in the community

• consider aspects of safeguarding children, young people and their families; as you may be working with at risk or deprived groups, it is important you recognise when a child is at risk of harm and what action to take

• develop leadership, innovation and management skills to be able to contribute to successful health outcomes for children

• show you have the necessary skills for working in the community, so you can qualify for the third part of the NMC register.