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District Nursing with V300 Prescribing PG Dip

This postgraduate diploma will enable you to develop specialist skills, knowledge and behaviours within the area of specialist community nursing practice: district nursing. Furthermore, you will undertake the non-medical prescribing modules to become an independent and supplementary V300 prescriber.

Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive community. That’s why most of our postgraduate taught students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You will benefit from more regular assessments and feedback, a better study-life balance, and a simplified timetable that provides more time for work, professional development, caring responsibilities, and everything else that's important to you. Our block-taught courses are informed by industry practice, often accredited by professional bodies, and are delivered by passionate and talented academics, who will help you develop the skills to achieve your goals.

Read more about block teaching

Overview

The Postgraduate Diploma District Nursing with V300 programme builds upon collaborative partnerships with local practice partners to facilitate the academic progression and professional development of registered nurses in the community setting. You will study at academic level 7 over 24 months and develop specialist skills, knowledge and behaviours within the area of specialist community nursing practice: district nursing.

Theoretical and practice learning are integrated throughout the course as required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC); you will attend taught modules at DMU on average one day a week and will attend practice placement (self-funders will need to secure practice placement to meet programme requirements). You will be required to complete and pass a zero-credited practice learning module that runs across both years; learning for this is demonstrated through the completion of a Practice Assessment Document (PAD).

On successful completion of the programme, you will be able to apply for registration as a Specialist Community Nursing Practitioner (District Nurse) with the NMC. You will be awarded with a formal digital accreditation and certificate from the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI), as well as becoming an Independent and Supplementary Prescriber (V300), and achieving your Postgraduate Diploma.

Key features

  • Undertake specially designed modules to meet the specific programme outcomes that are mapped to professionally recognised standards.
  • Develop your professional practice skills during clinical placements in a district nursing team that is supported by a practice-based practice supervisor and practice assessor.
  • Gain competencies that are mapped to the NMC Standards of Proficiency for Community Nursing Specialist Practice, QNI District Nurse Standards for Specialist Practitioners and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s standards for all prescribers.
  • Undertake an accredited prescribing course that will allow you to become a V300 Independent and Supplementary Prescriber upon successful completion.
  • Be taught and supported, at DMU and on placement, by specialist academic and clinical colleagues who have worked collaboratively to develop this specialist practitioner programme.
  • Upon successful completion of the course, you will exit with a Postgraduate Diploma, a digital accreditation and certificate with the QNI, as well as recognised status as an Independent and Supplementary Prescriber (V300).

 

The programme can also be accessed via the apprenticeship route: PG Diploma District Nursing with V300 Prescribing Apprenticeship (B70274)

Please speak to the programme leader Donna Edwards for further information. 

Donna Edwards

Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead

E: donna.edwards@dmu.ac.uk

Tel: 0116 250 6003

DMU has been shortlisted for the Postgraduate Award in the 2024 Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs), as voted for by students.

  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

Course code: B70273

Duration: 24 months

Attendance: One day a week (on average) for 24 months

Start date: 23 September 2024

Fees and funding: 

If you are an employee of a Leicestershire Partnership Trust, or Northampton Healthcare Foundation Trust, the programme will be funded through NHS England following a successful interview with your manager and a member of the university’s academic team.

As a Self-funder the cost of the programme is £9,200 (total cost) and is subject to:

  • meeting the programme entry criteria
  • meeting prescribing programme entry criteria; completion and confirmation of associated prescribing appendices
  • Written agreement and confirmation of placement in a district nursing team that meets programme, quality and governance standards, and meets professional standards
  • Successful interview with the programme and placement team

Contact us: For more information complete our online enquiry form or call us on +44 (0)116 2 50 60 70.

Apply now

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

This course is not open to direct applicants from overseas.

 

 

Entry criteria

Current registration as a Nurse on Part 1 of the NMC professional register with no restrictions on practice; and be registered with the NMC for a minimum of one year.

A UK degree (or equivalent) with a second-class honours or above in a BSc nursing field (BSc hons 2:2 or above).

In exceptional circumstances non-standard entry is possible, the applicant must:

  • Have current registration as a Nurse on Part 1 of the NMC professional register with no restrictions on practice; be registered with the NMC for a minimum of one year.
  • Have 120 credits at level 5 (Dip HE), or have a UK (or equivalent) third class degree (with hons) in a nursing field, and should: 
  • possess 3 years post-registration nursing experience within a health practice setting within the last 5 years; and
  • 60 academic credits at level 6 or 7; and/or
  • be interviewed by the Programme Leader and will be asked to submit a piece of academic writing which will be assessed and marked at level 7; if the applicant passes this successfully they could gain entry to the PGDip DN Programme (examples of such applicants may have previously submitted papers for publication, or similar).

All applicants must meet the additional NMC Standards for Prescribing Practice (NMC, 2023) entry criteria:

  • Intend to practice in an area of clinical need for which prescribing will improve patient/client care and service delivery;
  • Ensure that there is a clinical need for prescribing in their role;
  • Have the support of two prescribers: one to take on the role of practice assessor and the other to take on the role of practice supervisor,
  • Have managerial and non-medical prescribing lead support (for self-funded candidates this is not required but a professional reference is required instead).

 

Additional criteria

Applicants are required to supply a current enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS); and evidence that the applicant meets the NMC good character requirements through completion of a good health good character form. Any applicants who have spent or unspent criminal convictions must declare these upon application.

Applicants must attend, and be successful at an interview with their employing NHS Trust, a service user and a member of the programme team from DMU. Self-employed /self-funding applicants will be interviewed by a service user and members of the programme and placement team.

Self-employed /self-funding applicants will need to have written and agreed practice learning placements arranged before commencing the programme.

If English is not the applicant’s first language, they will need to complete The International English Language Testing System (IELTS). They must provide an IELTS certificate that confirms an overall score of 7.0, however, a level 6.5 in writing will be accepted alongside a level 7 in reading, listening, and speaking.

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessments

Academic expertise

 

Year one:

Specialist Practice in District Nursing - 30 credit module that will enable you to develop expert skills, knowledge and behaviours to become a community nursing specialist practitioner: district nurse.

Clinical Skills for Community-Based Patients – 30 credit module that will enable you to develop practical skills and knowledge of assessment, consultation and examination of a community-based patient.

Year two:

Leadership and Innovation in Specialist Nursing Practice – 15 credit module that will enable you to explore communication, leadership and problems solving skills to enhance specialist practice.

Pharmacology for Prescribers (one of the 2 prescribing modules) – 15 credit module that will enhance your knowledge of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and therapeutic uses of drugs when prescribing.

Applied prescribing (second of the 2 prescribing modules) – 30 credit module that will encourage you to explore and critically appraise the skills, competencies and knowledge required to make a safe prescribing decision.

Year one and two:

Practice Assessment Document (PAD) - This is a 0-credit module that is a pass/fail; you will collate evidence to complete a portfolio of practice to demonstrate that you have met the NMC and QNI standards 

Module content will utilise digital communication/teaching methods such as self-directed learning via the university’s virtual learning platform ‘Learning Zone’; whilst providing innovative and engaging teaching methods in and out of the classroom setting.

 

Teaching and learning

Throughout the programme you will participate in learning opportunities that include attending taught modules on campus at DMU and learning in clinical practice.

Practice learning could include working with and leading community nursing teams, shadowing specialist practitioners, working in specialist teams and attending conferences. You will demonstrate your knowledge and skills and have the opportunity to reflect on learning and development of the NMC and QNI standards through completion of theoretical modules and the Practice Assessment Document.

The programme learning and teaching strategy will empower you to be co-creators of your own learning, encouraging independent, lifelong learning skills and skills of self-critical inquiry. Knowledge, skills and behaviours are developed through an incremental approach to learning over the duration of the programme and you will be expected to take responsibility for personal, professional and academic development.

Individual development can be supported by a dedicated student support team at DMU who aim to enhance your health and well-being, together with supporting academic learning. From the outset of the programme, you will be equipped with the skills necessary to facilitate self-directed study expected in the postgraduate learner, in line with the teaching and learning strategy at DMU.

Module content will utilise digital communication and teaching methods such as self-directed learning via the university’s virtual learning platform, the Learning Zone, whilst providing innovative and engaging teaching methods in and out of the classroom setting.

Assessment

Achievement of the programme outcomes, and professional standards, will be assessed by the utilisation of a variety of innovative assessment methods underpinned by the DMU principles of Universal Design for Learning, to ensure that all students are supported to reach their potential. 

Assessments in each part of the programme will build upon skills developed throughout the programme and will reflect the robust scaffolding of content delivery.

Assessments will include student presentations, Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, learning logs, written reports, and assignments. Assessment in practice will be facilitated, supported, and assessed by practice supervisors and practice assessors in practice, and academic assessors in DMU. You will demonstrate achievement of meeting the programme outcomes, and professional Standards through the completion of the PAD. 

 

Academic expertise

A key strength of our team is that we are experienced specialists in community nursing practice, are familiar with the evidence-base and policy driving and informing nursing specialist practice, and have extensive skills, knowledge and practice to inform contemporary practice. Both the academic and practice team are members of professional and influential bodies, such has the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Association of District Nurse Educators, and the Queen’s Nursing Institute.

Visiting lecturers may also contribute to the modules to broaden learners’ perspective in district nursing specialist practice regionally and nationally. In addition, we have academic and practice staff members that are actively involved in undertaking research, and improving practice within this special practice area.

 

Facilities and features

 
Placements
Placements
Placements
Placements
 

Health and Life Sciences facilities

Substantial investment in Health and Life Sciences has developed our teaching and learning facilities to help you develop your practical experience and theoretical knowledge beyond the classroom.

The 19th century Hawthorn Building has facilities designed to replicate current practice in health and life sciences, including contemporary analytical chemistry and formulation laboratories, audiology booths and nursing and midwifery clinical skills suites.

Purpose-built clinical skills areas allow you to apply theory to practice in a safe environment. You will receive guidance and support from staff, to ensure that your practical ability in the clinical skills suites is accurate.

Library services

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including Blackboard, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

Learning Zones

Our Learning Zones and The Greenhouse also provide space for group or individual work and study.

There are 1,600 study places across all library locations, more than 700 computer stations, laptops to borrow, free wi-fi and desktop power outlets.

You can also book rooms with plasma screens, laptops and DVD facilities for group work and presentations, secure an individual study room with adjustable lighting or make use of our assistive technology.

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team
practicenursing-careers

Graduate careers

District Nurse Specialist Practitioner graduates, have gone onto to work in district nursing teams in community NHS Trusts working as district nurse leads and managers.

Further study to complete a Master’s Degree at DMU is possible. Please visit the Professional Clinical Practice course page for further details

Professional Clinical Practice

 

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