Overview
This professional course aims to enable you to make real changes to the lives of people with learning disabilities, one of the most marginalised and vulnerable groups in society.
You will learn the value of people with learning disabilities as equal citizens and people who have a real contribution to make to your development as a caring professional nurse in this field of practice. You will have the opportunity to study and develop specialist skills in communication, comprehensive health assessment, equality and issues related to professional practice. This includes complex health needs, profound and multiple needs, care packages and therapeutic approaches to service users with learning disabilities.
The course is designed to equip you with the hands-on clinical and care skills to prepare you to practise autonomously and compassionately, providing person-centred care and building therapeutic relationships to support people with a learning disability across all ages, regardless of personal characteristics or aspects of their lifestyle and circumstances, together with their families, carers, and friends.
Ranked 7th in the UK for Nursing and Midwifery in the Guardian University Guide 2021.
Why Coventry University?
An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.
COVID-19
The University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2020/2021 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to Covid-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunitiesEmployability
Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeedTeaching Excellence
Taught by lecturers who are experts in their fieldCourse essentials
A degree which offers you more, at no extra costAccreditation and Professional Recognition
This course is accredited and recognised by the following bodies:
Nursing and Midwifery Council
The course is currently fully accredited by the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)* and on successful completion you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council
Royal College of Nursing
Learning Disability Nurses are activists, advocates, investigators and carers. We are proud to support the Royal College of Nursing in celebrating this wonderful profession.
Our Facilities
Hospital Wards
We have two fully-equipped mock hospital wards, each containing 4 beds. The wards are built to NHS standards and contain moveable beds, first aid equipment and patient monitoring tools.
Life Sciences Research
Our facilities include a real ambulance, which students can use as part of their studies, and a purpose-built Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre. This allows for improved training quality in patient care and patient safety.
SuperLab
The Alison Gingell building contains a state-of-the-art SuperLab, capable of holding up to 270 people at once. The lab's facilities include equipment for microscopy, DNA analysis and forensic testing.
What our students say...
Training to be a Learning Disability (LD) Nurse has been a phenomenal experience. The versatile and transferable skills that are acquired whilst on the course are invaluable. Not only are you trained to care for service users across the lifespan but the communication skills that I have developed ensures that I am equipped to care for a variety of service users with many diverse needs. The lectures are interesting and a two-way process – involving group work, individual assignments as well as opportunities for self-directed study. Overall, I cannot praise the Learning Disability Nursing course enough and would encourage anyone thinking of going into nursing to seriously give Learning Disability Nursing real consideration. It is life changing and a privilege to be involved with such service users.
Course information
In modern health and social care settings nursing students are increasingly required to work towards becoming autonomous practitioners, taking a leadership role in decisions regarding patient care within multi-professional settings. They routinely have frequent and what can be intense contact with patients and so must be competent in recognising changes in the patient’s condition so that appropriate action can be taken.
Placing equal value on practice and theory, undertaking approximately 800 hours of both per year, you will have the opportunity to study a wide range of subjects, including anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, psychology, sociology and research methods. This course will give you the opportunity to become immersed in learning about the needs of populations, individuals, related health and nursing services with an emphasis on using research to enhance and improve services.
The collaborative curriculum, which you’ll study alongside students from other health-related courses, has been developed in response to the need to produce professionals who are effective communicators, caring and compassionate, with good relationship building skills. It recognises the importance of inter-professional working within the health and social care workforce and comprises five core modules in the areas of: the foundations of communication and professionalism; the social determinants of health and wellbeing; evidence informed practice and decision making; working together to lead service improvement; and enhancing practice through evaluation and research.
Your degree culminates with a literature review related to one aspect of nursing practice, for which you will write a 5,000-word report. Past students have covered topics as diverse as effects of antipsychotic medication, uptake of annual health checks, treatment of people with learning disabilities in acute hospital settings, experiences of parents with learning disabilities and experiences of offenders with learning disabilities.
100%
of students were in graduate level employment 6 months after graduating
DLHE 2015/16 and 2016/17 combined
Course Specification
Download PDF
Modules
The modules listed below are the current modules, however to ensure that this course continues to reflect the latest developments in the field and enable graduates to continue to be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council we will be changing the content of the course for 2020 entry. Updated modules will be published as soon as possible.
Our Learning Disabilities Nursing BSc course is ranked 4th in The Guardian University Guide 2020.
In more detail...
Learning disability nurses play a critical role in helping to try and improve their patients’ physical and mental health, reducing barriers to them living an independent life and supporting them to lead a fulfilling and healthy life where they can relate to others on equal terms. What can be seen as a hugely rewarding profession, it is a great career choice if you are compassionate and keen to support individuals of all ages through the many physical, mental and social challenges facing people with learning disabilities.
This course aims to prepare you for the dynamic and fast changing health and social care system, designed to develop you into an adaptable, flexible, reflective, competent and compassionate practitioner. Actively engaging with people with learning disabilities, their families and carers from the outset, you’ll have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience under supervision from qualified mentors, spending up to 50% of your time on clinical practice placements in a range of healthcare environments within the NHS in hospitals and community placements, at private hospitals and independent care providers.
While the course has a clear focus on people with learning disabilities, a key benefit of our curriculum is the notion of collaboration across all areas of health and social care. Your studies will be complemented with significant insights into a range of potential challenges to health and wellbeing throughout the lifespan, such as mental health, complex care and life limiting conditions. Some modules are also studied in conjunction with other health and social care professionals; looking at specific issues and challenges they face to try and broaden your knowledge and expertise.
100% of past students are in a professional or managerial position 6 months after completing the course (DLHE 2015/16 and 2016/17 combined).
- Nursing and Midwifery at Coventry is ranked 4th in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2020.
- Fully accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) providing eligibility for registration to practice on successful completion.
- Field trips* within the UK may include visits to the first operating theatre in London and museums capturing the history of nursing and healthcare.
- High levels of student satisfaction – 95% of students said staff have made the subject interesting in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2019.
- Well established clinical placements, teaching and research links with local partner Trusts within the National Health Service (NHS) and other healthcare providers, such as private hospitals, hospices and community settings.
- State-of-the-art Alison Gingell Building provides facilities for teaching and research, featuring an operating theatre, critical care settings, community housing and other real life nursing environments relevant to practice.
- Currently there is a high demand for Learning Disability Nurses locally and across the country. Typically, past final year students have been offered a range of posts within the NHS and the private sector prior to qualifying and 100% of past students have gained employment in professional or managerial roles combined for 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17 (latest figures available, source DLHE survey).
Our course meets the professional outcomes that are identified by the Nursing and Midwifery Council as essential pre-requisites for registration as a Learning Disability Nurse.
Our main study themes are:
- Learning Disabilities Nursing: This covers: people with learning disabilities across the lifespan. Children and adults with challenging behaviour, children and adults with complex needs, evidence based nursing interventions across diverse settings including NHS, private sector and local authorities, residential, domiciliary, respite, prison, police and secure services. Leadership and Management, specialisation in epilepsy, autism, Downs Syndrome and various other syndromes.
- Nursing practice: Aims to develop the professional values, attitudes and behaviours required to deliver safe and effective, holistic person-centred care. You’ll cover the key concepts of nursing, caring and clinical skills, as well as factors influencing care, for example, National Service Frameworks. Clinical skills acquisition which underpins these care factors will be taught and practiced in the simulated environment of clinical skills laboratories.
- Assessment and care pathways across the lifespan: Designed to develop your ability to assess, interpret and manage a range of care requirements for service users. You’ll be introduced to the concept of health and wellbeing, which should enable an understanding of the bio-psychosocial needs of your patient group across the life span in most fields of nursing. You’ll have the opportunity to develop an understanding of how assessments support and inform clinical judgement and decision making in practice, explored across primary, secondary and third sector care environments.
- Evidence informed practice and decision making: Explores the principles and strategies of Evidence Informed Practice (EIP) which should enable you to apply, creatively, a wide range of sources of evidence for clinical decision making. You will be introduced to research perspectives (methodology and design), audit, health policy, and service user participation as methods to evaluate your EIP plans and interventions.
- Communications and professionalism: Communication is highlighted as an essential skill for health care professionals because it can impact on patient satisfaction. You will have the opportunity to develop the key professional attributes incorporating the six ‘C’s model of communication, commitment, courage, care, competence, compassion.
The course can be studied full-time over three years and on a part-time basis, typically taking four-and-a-half years.
This course uses a wide variety of approaches to teaching and learning to suit individual learning styles. This includes a series of interactive lectures with associated seminars, skills lab activities and practical placements. All modules are mandatory so that upon successful completion you should have the knowledge, values and skills to be able to work within integrated care settings and enhance the delivery of care for service users, their families and carers.
The course is underpinned by an approach to professional care which is characterised by empathy, respect, dignity and kindness towards patients and their families. We will encourage you to develop an in-depth understanding of the organisation and culture of modern health care systems, which should equip you with the confidence to be able to take a stronger role in the leadership and management of resources in delivering treatment and healthcare options to patients.
Throughout your studies, in groups and individually, you will have the opportunity to undertake profession specific health and social care related projects and case studies. These may, for example, include an appraisal of the role of the nurse in ethical and legal decision making, considering service improvement bids or complex care planning and delivery via the multi-disciplinary team. You will also have the opportunity to participate in a group poster presentation to explore your understanding of research underpinning patient care.
We’ll undertake a range of interesting fieldtrips* (additional costs may apply). You’ll have the opportunity to make use of our extensive simulation facilities – from basic life support manikins to high tech simulation dummies, which emulate patient responses. You will use equipment found in the real world of practice, such as medical devices to assist with all elements of care and especially medication administration. You will also have the opportunity to take part in our Mask-Ed character learning scenarios. This will educate you through authentic, spontaneous and humanistic simulation experiences created for students by the knowledgeable tutor wearing realistic silicone masks to play the role of a service user whose history and story evolves over the duration of your course.
Gaining experience using simulation across a range of care settings is designed to build your confidence and knowledge about how to act in these situations and is a central part of the course. It is designed so that you can practise and develop your clinical and interpersonal skills in a safe but realistic environment. We also use actors to enhance your exposure to these experiences in scenarios such breaking bad news, demonstrating emotional resilience, conflict, aggression, teaching, child protection conferences, relationship issues in learning disability, alternative communication (e.g. Makaton, communication aids etc.), consent and capacity, ethical issues in caring for vulnerable people, and counselling individuals, parents and staff.
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods can include assessments within practice placements, coursework, a viva and formal examinations.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes. Assessments may include exams, individual assignments or group work elements.
The primary objective of this course is to enable you to be a high quality and confident learning disabilities nurse
On successful completion of the course you will have knowledge of:
- The implications of current legislation, professional regulation, standards of performance and the NMC Code.
- The nurses’ role in the enhancement of public health and biological, psychological and social wellbeing of service users.
- The biological, physiological, pharmacological, psychological and sociological knowledge, which underpins all nursing practice across the lifespan.
On successful completion of the course you will able to:
- Demonstrate effective individual and team leadership skills and apply quality monitoring initiatives.
- Discuss service user and carer needs in respect of equity, fairness, antidiscrimination, rights, values, customs, culture, beliefs, sensitivity, diversity, lifestyle and environment.
- Utilise and disseminate current research findings and other forms of evidence that underpin nursing practice.Transfer knowledge and skills to a variety of settings and adapt practice to meet varying, unpredictable and complex circumstances.
- Conduct a comprehensive and systematic health assessment of service users’ needs across the lifespan using a range of appropriate assessment tools.
- Plan, implement and monitor nursing care, involving service users and carers.
- Evaluate and revise expected outcomes, nursing interventions and priorities in accordance with changes in the individual’s condition, needs or circumstances across the lifespan.
- Demonstrate a range of essential nursing skills and seek supervision to develop safe, compassionate, skilful and autonomous nursing practice.
- Consult with service users and carers to identify and respond to their need and desire for health promotion advice, education, support and the development of services.
- Co-ordinate the delivery of nursing and healthcare within your sphere of professional accountability, including people with complex and co-existing needs.
- Provide safe and effective immediate care to all people.
- Seek clinical supervision to develop safe and effective nursing practice.
- Critically evaluate relevant research, possible interventions and the most up-to-date technology to support quality care delivery.
- Critically analyse situations and incidents through reflective practice activities.
As 50% of the course is practice based, this requires approximately 40 hours per week in placements. In a typical teaching week, you will have up to 21 ‘contact’ hours of teaching. This generally includes:
- Personal tutorial/small group teaching
- Medium group teaching
- Large group teaching
Throughout the course, we aim to provide key insights into cultural diversity and global issues of significance to public health and in most fields of nursing practice. For example, we look at what it means to be culturally competent within health care today. There are also opportunities to study specific issues of interest to you, such as people trafficking, working in war torn or developing countries. Some of this is supported by guest lecturers or simulation facilitators and others through topical issues covered within the course.
Students and visiting lecturers from other countries provide an input into the course, previously from areas such as Hong Kong, Japan and Africa. We also participate in a number of senior staff exchanges, for example, from India and China, who can provide additional insights to students in to international issues.
Global ready
Did you know we help more students travel internationally than any other UK university according to data from the experts in higher education data and analysis, HESA?
In 2018/19, we were able to provide a total of 5,469 experiences abroad that lasted at least five days.
Much of this travel is made possible through our Global Leaders Programme, which enables students to prepare for the challenges of the global employment market, as well as strengthening and developing their broader personal and professional skills.
Explore our international experiences1st for
international experiences
Sending more students overseas than any other UK uni 2016/17
5,469
Student experiences
The number of student trips abroad for at least 5 days in 2018/19
12,000
and counting
The number of students we’ve helped travel internationally since 2016
12
global programmes
As well as trips, we offer other opportunities like language courses
What our students say...
The course at Coventry University offered me the opportunity to gain an in-depth experience and the academic staff were supportive and encouraging throughout. The skills and knowledge gained have allowed me to develop and become a compassionate Learning Disability Nurse.
Entry Requirements
What our students say...
Training to be a Learning Disability (LD) Nurse has been a phenomenal experience. The versatile and transferable skills that are acquired whilst on the course are invaluable. Not only are you trained to care for service users across the lifespan but the communication skills that I have developed ensures that I am equipped to care for a variety of service users with many diverse needs. The lectures are interesting and a two-way process – involving group work, individual assignments as well as opportunities for self-directed study. Overall, I cannot praise the Learning Disability Nursing course enough and would encourage anyone thinking of going into nursing to seriously give Learning Disability Nursing real consideration. It is life changing and a privilege to be involved with such service users.
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis and offer a wide range of scholarships to support students with their studies. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
For more information, please visit our Finance pages.
Course essentials at no extra cost
We're committed to communicating study costs clearly to make sure you're not faced with having to make any unexpected payments.
This is why our ‘Flying Start’ package provides you with a few course essentials. Your full-time fee for an undergraduate degree will cover the following:
UK field trips
Any mandatory site visits and trips within the United Kingdom.Key material
This can include core textbooks, software and equipment.Laser prints
1,000 A4 sides of black and white laser printing credits per year.Optional year
Pay no tuition fees for optional work placements or study abroad trips.EU student fees
EU nationals and their family members starting in the 2019/20 academic year remain eligible for the same fees as home students and the same financial support. Financial support comes from Student Finance England, and covers undergraduate and postgraduate study for the duration of their course, providing they meet the residency requirement.
For tuition fee loans
EU nationals must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
For maintenance loans
EU nationals must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
What our students say...
Training to be a Learning Disability (LD) Nurse has been a phenomenal experience. The versatile and transferable skills that are acquired whilst on the course are invaluable. Not only are you trained to care for service users across the lifespan but the communication skills that I have developed ensures that I am equipped to care for a variety of service users with many diverse needs. The lectures are interesting and a two-way process – involving group work, individual assignments as well as opportunities for self-directed study. Overall, I cannot praise the Learning Disability Nursing course enough and would encourage anyone thinking of going into nursing to seriously give Learning Disability Nursing real consideration. It is life changing and a privilege to be involved with such service users.
Career prospects
Graduate Immigration Route visa
Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.
There are currently over 3,500 learning disabilities nurses within the NHS and demand for these specialist nurses is high.
You will have opportunities to support people of all ages with learning disabilities in a range of settings, which may include: hospital wards such as epilepsy and palliative care; mental health trusts; adult education; residential and community centres; patients' homes; workplaces; and schools. This can lead to career prospects in specialist areas such as education, sensory disability or service management or move into areas such as management, teaching or clinical research.
During your three years on the programme you will have the opportunity to undertake at least six placements in a range of service settings, working with and alongside qualified learning disability nurses, and therefore potential local and regional employers. On graduating successfully from this course, you can apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which can enable you to practise immediately (additional costs apply).
As well as helping you to find suitable work placements and give you advice on how to get the most out of them, the university’s talent Team will support you when you are ready to begin your professional career.
100% of past students are in a professional or managerial position 6 months after completing the course (DLHE 2015/16 and 2016/17 combined).
100%
of students were in graduate level employment 6 months after graduating
DLHE 2015/16 and 2016/17 combined
Where our graduates work
The majority of our graduates find employment as qualified nurses in the NHS with a growing emphasis on community settings, in acute hospitals, military nursing or within the private and independent healthcare sector, in private hospitals, nursing or care homes. As your career progresses, a number of options are open to you as a lecturer or specialist practitioner, advanced nurse practitioner, consultant nurse or manager.
Recent graduates have gone on to roles such as working in forensic services, generic and specialised children’s services, end of life care (adults and children), neurology services, dementia services, prison and court diversion, police diversion, schools, research and many more.
What our students say...
Training to be a Learning Disability (LD) Nurse has been a phenomenal experience. The versatile and transferable skills that are acquired whilst on the course are invaluable. Not only are you trained to care for service users across the lifespan but the communication skills that I have developed ensures that I am equipped to care for a variety of service users with many diverse needs. The lectures are interesting and a two-way process – involving group work, individual assignments as well as opportunities for self-directed study. Overall, I cannot praise the Learning Disability Nursing course enough and would encourage anyone thinking of going into nursing to seriously give Learning Disability Nursing real consideration. It is life changing and a privilege to be involved with such service users.
Disclaimer
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 19/20 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.
For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.
Admission to this course is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and a successful interview. Find out about the application process.
