Nursing Studies BSc (Hons) top-up

The year is made up of five mandatory modules, followed by your choice of one optional module (out of three optional modules for the September intake, and two optional modules for the January intake).

Modules

• Principles of Professional Nursing Practice - 20 credits

  This module is specifically designed to meet the needs of international nurses undertaking the Nursing Studies course. It therefore recognises the particular needs regarding cultural, educational and professional acclimatisation. It will sensitively address your individual needs in relation to your previous professional and educational experience; build on and value these. The focus of the module will therefore be on principles underpinning professional nursing practice incorporating the concepts surrounding Evidence-Informed Practice and developing the skills of independent lifelong learning as a professional requirement. It will concentrate on developing related skills including information technology, information literacy in preparing you for further learning.

  Compulsory

  Assessment: coursework

• Leadership and Change in Public Service Management - 20 credits

  This module will examine current leadership and organisational theories in order to promote a critical appraisal of management principles applied to public service settings. The module is also designed to evaluate the role of public sector governance and how the use of quality improvement initiatives impact on the users’ experience. Specific emphasis is placed on enabling you to develop their ability to explore, analyse and participate in change within the practice of your own speciality/profession. The intention is to combine these elements so that you are encouraged to integrate your experience of professional practice with the wider environment of public services.

  Compulsory

  Assessment: coursework

• Health Assessment - 20 credits

  The aim of this module is to provide you with the underpinning knowledge, principles, skills and techniques to enable you to undertake comprehensive holistic health assessment. The module is designed for those working in a variety of practice settings, who work in an autonomous capacity and whose assessments lead up to and include medical diagnosis.

  Compulsory

  Assessment: coursework, test

• Reviewing Research for Professional Practice - 20 credits

  This module enables you to examine a body of research evidence and develop skill in critically reviewing selected literature of relevance to health studies or professional practice. The conduct of the review will enable you to build upon and enhance your skills and knowledge base in research and project management. In so doing you will be prepared to foster research-based innovation and change in practice. In turn this has the potential to underpin personal development, enhancement of information and knowledge resources and processes, along with improvements in quality within your practice setting.

  Compulsory

  Assessment: coursework

• The Scope of Public Health - 20 credits

  This module aims to provide an understanding of the scope, nature and elements of multidisciplinary public health in order to increase awareness of the collective perspective in enhancing the health of populations. It will examine underpinning theory and its application to contemporary public health practice including the issues surrounding health needs assessment in determining public health priorities for action.

  Compulsory

• Health Promotion - 20 credits

  This module is designed to enable you to appreciate the complexity of health promotion as a concept by examining the underpinning theory and to provide a rigorous analysis of a range of interventions and approaches aimed at promoting health. The module will encourage an understanding of effective health promotion and explore factors influencing health at both the individual and structural levels. The module is intended for anyone seeking to develop an in-depth understanding of the predominant theories and principles of health promotion, and their application to practice, whether or not they are employed in a healthcare setting.

  (September intake only)

  Optional

  Assessment: coursework

• Pain Management - 20 credits

  The module is designed for healthcare professionals working with people in pain. The module content recognises a range of pain types across varied client groups in both hospital and community settings. Participants from different clinical and professional backgrounds can analyse the evidence base for effective pain management in order that they become competent practitioners in meeting bio-psychosocial needs of patients with pain. Inadequate knowledge continues to be one of the major barriers to pain management, inadequacies in the curriculum have been reported in a variety of health professions across different countries. The recent British Pain Society (2018) guidance for pain education into pre-registration curricula for healthcare professionals in the UK is incorporated. The module facilitates practitioners to rise to the individual challenges of pain management in their own sphere of clinical practice.

  (September intake only)

  Optional

  Assessment: coursework

• Competence and Skills for General Nursing - 20 credits

  Overseas Nurses, who wish to enter the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) professional register, are required to undertake testing at an approved centre, which takes the form of a multiple choice test and Observed Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE). This module will prepare nurses to enter the NMC test with enhanced confidence. It builds on existing knowledge and skills related to professional values, communication and interpersonal skills, informed decision-making for nursing practice, leadership and team working and enables you to develop and apply these in a UK professional nursing context. The use of OSCEs features prominently in teaching and formative assessment opportunities along with the summative assessment to mirror the NMC approach.

  (September and January intake)

  Optional

  Assessment: coursework

• End of Life Care - 20 credits

  This module has been developed to meet the needs of health and social care workers working with people approaching the end of their lives. It aims to equip such practitioners with knowledge, skills and confidence to practice within all contexts where end of life care is delivered. The module encourages you to analyse the principles of palliative care and apply them to your specific area of clinical practice.

  (January intake only)

  Optional

  Assessment: coursework