Career Start / Fundamental Pathway for Practice Nurses Programme
Dates TBC

The Career Start / Fundamental Pathway for practice nurses is a programme of three accredited modules. It also includes national cervical screening training; national core immunisation training if required. Currently this pathway is not being delivered whilst local organisations consider their pathway requirements. If you have any queries regarding GPN education please contact karen.l.elton@northumbria.ac.uk.

Accredited awards include;

- Advanced Diploma (for Diploma qualified applicants)

- Graduate Diploma (for Degree qualified applicants)

Context of Nursing in General Practice - AC6719

This module will prepare general practice nurses to work safely and competently within professional, legal and governance frameworks in primary healthcare settings. Practitioners will explore professional, legal and health and social care frameworks to support the high-quality provision of general practice nursing services. Practitioners will analyse the health needs of their practice population and critically appraise the provision of services to meet their needs, identifying opportunities to develop practice provision. There is an expectation that the practitioner will also understand their own personal development needs, and that of clinical students within their organisation, and develop strategies to support learning and assessment within the workplace.

The module will be delivered via a blended learning approach which will incorporate the use of online resources, directed and campus-based learning activities alongside the supported development of competencies in practice. 

Summative assessment will include a written assignment of 2500 words  and the successful achievement of practice competencies directly related to the learning outcomes of the module. The written component will be marked according to the level 6 CPD marking scheme and written feedback will be offered in relation to performance and feed-forward comments to offer guidance in enhancing future work.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the module practitioners will be able to:

• Demonstrate effective knowledge of the commissioning, provision and monitoring of general practice services
• Critically appraise the health needs of their general practice population, public health priorities and service provision
• Critically analyse outcomes from quality performance indicators and identify opportunities for service development
• Demonstrate safe and effective clinical practice, working within local and national governance frameworks

Preventative Interventions in General Practice Nursing - AC6720

This module aims to develop practitioners to undertake preventative interventions within contemporary practice nursing. Students will be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to assess and respond appropriately to health need, whilst working independently and within legal, ethical and professional guidelines. National cervical cytology screening and core national immunisation training can be undertaken during this module at no extra charge to the practice.

The module will be delivered via a blended learning approach  which will incorporate the use of online resources, directed and campus-based learning activities alongside the supported development of competencies in practice. 

Summative assessment will include a 2500 word written assignment based upon an audit undertaken in practice and the successful achievement of practice competencies directly related to the learning outcomes of the module.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the module the practitioner will be able to:

• Appraise frameworks for health promotion that address preventative interventions for  health and well-being
• Critically analyse assessment data to identify priorities and plan of care in partnership with the client
• Demonstrate clinical competence in assessing, planning and managing preventative care for clients with health needs, including safeguarding, utilising evidence-based interventions and defensible decision making
• Evaluate how effectively the needs of clients with health issues are addressed in current practice, making recommendations for improvement

Monitoring and Management of Long Term Conditions - AC6721

This module has been developed in response to the need for a bold transformative change to service delivery with a greater emphasis on keeping people healthy in order to live longer illness free lives.  The report highlighted the need to prevent as well as treat illness, focusing on mental health as well as physical health problems.  It also highlighted that the needs of the population had changed influenced by an ageing population with a high prevalence of long term conditions. The module encompasses a generic approach in order to develop transferable skills across the long term conditions agenda depending on the nurse development requirements

The purpose of this module is to prepare/support practitioners to monitor and manage long term conditions in a primary care setting. The module will include classroom-based sessions, work-based learning with clinical competencies to achieve as well as directed learning activities supported by on-line learning materials.

You will be expected to produce a 2500 word written reflective account which critically examines strategies which may be utilised to support the monitoring and management of a chosen long term condition that is relevant to your own practice area. In addition, you will be expected to achieve core clinical competencies relating to the monitoring and management of long term conditions.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the module the practitioner will be able to:

• Define the concepts and underpinning principles of health promotion as part of the monitoring and management of long term conditions within a practice context
• Critically explore the attitudes, values and beliefs which may impact upon self-monitoring and management of long term conditions
• Critically discuss the range of tools, specialist techniques and strategies which facilitate effective monitoring and management of long term conditions
• Demonstrate awareness of and need for referral to specialist services if and when appropriate