Specialist Practice District Nursing Higher Apprenticeship (with opt in MSc award)
18 months full time
Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
International
Northumbria’s global footprint touches every continent across the world, through our global partnerships across 17 institutions in 10 countries, to our 277,000 strong alumni community and 150 recruitment partners – we prepare our students for the challenges of tomorrow. Discover more about how to join Northumbria’s global family or our partnerships.
View our Global FootprintBusiness
The world is changing faster than ever before. The future is there to be won by organisations who find ways to turn today's possibilities into tomorrows competitive edge. In a connected world, collaboration can be the key to success.
More on our Business ServicesResearch
Northumbria is a research-rich, business-focused, professional university with a global reputation for academic quality. We conduct ground-breaking research that is responsive to the science & technology, health & well being, economic and social and arts & cultural needs for the communities
Discover more about our ResearchAlumni
Northumbria University is renowned for the calibre of its business-ready graduates. Our alumni network has over 237,000 graduates based in 178 countries worldwide in a range of sectors, our alumni are making a real impact on the world.
Our AlumniIf you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
Apprentices must be paid employees of a partner organisation: therefore, must be either an existing employee or new employee who has been recruited specifically to undertake the apprenticeship course. On the programme, apprentices will be part of a shared approach to learning that is tripartite between the apprentice as a learner, the employer, and the university. Apprentices will therefore combine academic studies with work-based development of specialist skills relating to district nursing. After successfully completing this programme, apprentices will be recognised as a Specialist Practice District Nurse, recorded on the third part of the NMC register. Apprentices may also receive a Master’s degree (or postgraduate diploma if you opt out of the Master’s dissertation) from the University of Northumbria. In addition, apprentices will receive a SPDN apprenticeship award on completion of the end point assessment (EPA) and summative practice progress meeting. The apprenticeship programme is annotated with the NMC to allow an apprentice to work as a Specialist Practice District Nurse.
Apprenticeship Standard
Apprenticeship programmes at Northumbria University are designed to support apprentices in acquiring the appropriate knowledge, skills and behaviours and retain the integrity of the apprenticeship standard as defined by IFATE. For further details please consult the IFATE Apprenticeship standards / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education webpage here.
Level of Study
Postgraduate
Mode of Study
18 months Full Time
Department
Nursing, Midwifery & Health
Location
Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
September 2024
Fees
Fee Information
Modules
Module Information
There is a mixture of field specific modules, focusing on prescribing and advanced clinical assessment skills and shared modules, focusing on research and leading/advancing practice. The latter supports inter-professional learning, giving the opportunity to engage and learn with students undertaking other professional pathways. This strategy is to enable the apprentice to explore the complexity and diversity of service provision and develop skills that contribute to inter-professional working. Both research and technology enhanced learning (TEL) are embedded throughout the programme, all learning materials are underpinned with contemporary research evidence. Apprentices will be actively encouraged and supported to engage with the research and audit process generally throughout the programme, but also in specific modules which focus on the advancement of research, audit and evidence-based practice knowledge and skills commensurate with a specialist nursing role. In relation to practice, apprentices will be allocated a placement duration of the programme, where apprentices must demonstrate evidence of achieving the 2001 NMC standards required of a SPDN and the Institute of Apprenticeship standards for district nursing (2019).
To achieve the SPDN standards apprentices must successfully pass the practice elements and the academic components of the programme. The assessment strategy reflects both formative and summative components. Practice-based assessment will be ongoing throughout the 18 months of the programme, supported by a Practice Assessment Document (PAD), and gives the opportunity to engage in self-assessment and student-led learning. Apprentices will work closely with practice assessors and practice supervisors, who will facilitate learning and provide on-going formative evaluation of progression. There will be a formal review of progress during tripartite review meetings during each quarter of the programme. The practice assessor and academic assessor will complete the summative assessment of achievement of the NMC standards of proficiency, which will be on a pass/fail basis. Apprentices will also be required to successfully complete five academic modules (180 Level 7 credits) over the 18 months for the full MSc award. For the PG/Dip, you will need to complete 120 credits without the opt-in dissertation. Related summative assessments are designed to promote and facilitate student-centred learning and will be clearly articulated within the taught component of the programme; assessment briefs and marking criteria will be available via Blackboard Ultra. Summative assessment will include one invigilated exam, as required by the NMC.
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (2020) state that - Rigorous, robust and independent End Point Assessment (EPA) gives employers confidence that apprentices can actually perform in the occupation they have been trained in and can demonstrate the duties, and knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the occupational standard. For details of the current EPA for your standard please consult the IFATE Apprenticeship standards / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education webpage here.
This apprenticeship normally takes 18 months to complete, followed by the endpoint assessment which will typically be completed within 3-12 months. Full details are available on the IFATE website.
A transformational pedagogical approach is used, where, as an adult, apprentices will engage in self-directed learning; critical evaluation; reflection; knowledge and skills acquisition. Both research and technology enhanced learning (TEL) are embedded throughout the programme, all learning materials are underpinned with contemporary research evidence. Apprentices will be actively encouraged and supported to engage with the research and audit process generally throughout the programme, but also in specific modules which focus on the advancement of research, audit and evidence-based practice knowledge and skills commensurate with a specialist nursing role.
The Apprenticeship programme provides 50% off the job training, with support from the employer and as stipulated by NMC guidelines. Throughout the entirety of the programme, apprentices will remain supernumerary. In relation to practice, apprentices will be allocated a placement duration of the programme, where they must demonstrate evidence of achieving NMC (2001) standards required of a SPDN and the Institute of Apprenticeship (2019) standards for district nursing. Practice-based assessment will be ongoing throughout the 18 months of the programme, supported by a practice assessment document, which gives the opportunity to engage in self-assessment and student-led learning. Apprentices will work closely with practice assessors, practice supervisors as well as academic assessors, who will facilitate learning and provide on-going formative evaluation of progress. There will be a formal review of progression during practice progress meetings held each semester of the programme. The practice assessor and academic assessor will complete the summative assessment of achievement of the NMC standards of proficiency, which will be on a pass/fail basis.
Explore our full range of Higher and Degree Apprenticeships within the following sectors:
Apprentices studying an apprenticeship do not pay any tuition fees, however, as they are in full-time employment they do not have student status and therefore are not entitled to apply for student finance.
To discuss the fees for this apprenticeship in detail or to explore signing an agreement with the university, complete the enquiry form below and someone from our Business and Enterprise team will be in touch shortly.
To start the application process for either current employees or new recruits contact our Sales and Business Development team today by email or complete our online enquiry form.
All apprentices are required to be in full-time employment to study the Specialist Practice District Nursing Apprenticeship. If you are interested in studying this apprenticeship and you are in current full-time employment complete our online enquiry form. Alternatively, you can call 0191 215 6300.
If you are not in full-time employment but would like to study this apprenticeship programme, visit our vacancies page for information on all apprenticeship opportunities currently available.
Skills Assessment
Before entry onto the programme, all Apprenticeship applicants must complete an Initial Skills Assessment which maps their prior knowledge against the apprenticeship standard. This is part of the University’s regulatory funding obligations. The purpose of an apprenticeship is to provide new learning and the skills assessment will be used to establish whether we need to tailor your programme in any way to account for your previous qualifications or experience. It also provides a benchmark against which to map your progress on the programme.
Explore our full range of Higher and Degree Apprenticeships within the following sectors:
Admission onto a higher or degree apprenticeship can only take place if applicants are currently employed and their employer has a training agreement in place with Northumbria University.
Applicants should normally have:
A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in a any subject.
Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and employed as a first level nurse.
International qualifications:
If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English language requirements:
International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 7.0 with 7 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
GCSE Requirements:
Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or Functional Skills English and Maths at level 2 and be able to provide evidence of these qualifications.
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
HA7000 -
Research and Evidence for Contemporary Practice (30 Credits)
This module forms part of the Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Apprenticeship route) (SCPHN) and Specialist Practice District Nursing (Apprenticeship route). This Semester One module will build on your existing knowledge of evidence-based practice and its application to specialist community public health nursing and district nursing. You will develop the skills to critically appraise contemporary sources of evidence, including research; theoretical concepts; practice knowledge; public health data; policies; guidelines and patient perspectives. Regarding research, you will develop key skills associated with literature review and appraisal, as well as a critical understanding of research paradigms and related methodology. You will be able demonstrate your research knowledge, understanding and skills through the design of a research proposal, focussing on an identified topic relating to public health practice. Importantly, you will explore concepts of best evidence and clinical expertise within the context of patient/client centred care, specifically patient preferences and values in relation to shared clinical decision-making. You will also develop and be able to demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills and experiences associated with specialist practice through clinical placement, underpinned by the clinical and managerial expertise of your practice assessor/supervisor and supported by your academic assessor. Through the collection and assessment of a variety of robust evidence sources, you will be able to demonstrate competency and successful completion of NMC and Apprenticeship standards related to your specific area of specialist practice.
HA7003 -
Leading and Advancing Specialist Practice (20 Credits)
This module is for students on the MSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) and MSc Specialist Practice District Nursing Apprenticeship routes.
This module will help you advance your knowledge, understanding and skills in relation to leading and advancing practice in your specialist field of SCPHN (Health Visiting and School Nursing). You will have the opportunity to identify and audit an area of contemporary public health or professional practice from your specialist field. Audit is a quality improvement process, which seeks to improve service user care and outcomes through the systematic review of services against specific criteria. Following this, recommendations for service improvement are identified. In completing an audit, you will source and critique a range of relevant contemporary evidence, apply leadership, and change theory and contextualise learning in order to prepare you for advancing and leading specialist practice. The module content will include, clinical audit approaches, leadership and change theory, development of strategic leadership skills and networking, promotion of research-based practice and integration of research and theory to practice. You will have the opportunity to develop knowledge, skills and behaviours of resilience. You will have the opportunity to apply and relate what you learn on the module towards your academic assessment, which is the development and presentation of a poster and written abstract for use in your area of specialist practice based on the process and findings of your specific audit.
HA7005 -
Advanced Clinical Assessment Skills (30 Credits)
This module focuses on advanced clinical skills assessment in specialist practice and is a core module for those students on MSc Specialist Practice District Nursing Apprenticeship programme. This is a practice focused module where you will strengthen and develop further your knowledge base in relation to body systems, which will include anatomy, physiology, and pathology in the context of clinical assessment. The module content acknowledges and supports notions of holism, and you will, therefore, address not only physical but psychological/social dimensions within clinical assessment, taking into consideration health needs and aspects of health promotion. You will advance your specialist knowledge, critical thinking, and decision-making skills in undertaking a comprehensive clinical assessment focusing on practice-based scenarios, within the simulation suite. You will also demonstrate your ability to accurately document your findings, identifying pertinent clinical and care solutions and effectively communicate these appropriately within the inter-professional team and service users.
More informationAC7066 -
Non-Medical Prescribing (V300) (40 Credits)
This module will facilitate your development of the knowledge and skills required for safe and effective prescribing from a legally specified UK formulary. Successful completion of all components of the module will lead to the achievement of a recordable prescribing qualification with your regulatory body (NMC or HCPC). The subject areas you will study include assessing the patient and considering prescribing options, pharmacology for prescribing and de-prescribing, legal and regulatory frameworks, providing information, reaching shared decisions, monitoring and reviewing treatments, prescribing safely, professionally and as part of a team and improving prescribing practice.
More informationHA7000 -
Research and Evidence for Contemporary Practice (30 Credits)
This module forms part of the Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Apprenticeship route) (SCPHN) and Specialist Practice District Nursing (Apprenticeship route). This Semester One module will build on your existing knowledge of evidence-based practice and its application to specialist community public health nursing and district nursing. You will develop the skills to critically appraise contemporary sources of evidence, including research; theoretical concepts; practice knowledge; public health data; policies; guidelines and patient perspectives. Regarding research, you will develop key skills associated with literature review and appraisal, as well as a critical understanding of research paradigms and related methodology. You will be able demonstrate your research knowledge, understanding and skills through the design of a research proposal, focussing on an identified topic relating to public health practice. Importantly, you will explore concepts of best evidence and clinical expertise within the context of patient/client centred care, specifically patient preferences and values in relation to shared clinical decision-making. You will also develop and be able to demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills and experiences associated with specialist practice through clinical placement, underpinned by the clinical and managerial expertise of your practice assessor/supervisor and supported by your academic assessor. Through the collection and assessment of a variety of robust evidence sources, you will be able to demonstrate competency and successful completion of NMC and Apprenticeship standards related to your specific area of specialist practice.
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
HA7000 -
Research and Evidence for Contemporary Practice (30 Credits)
This module forms part of the Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Apprenticeship route) (SCPHN) and Specialist Practice District Nursing (Apprenticeship route). This Semester One module will build on your existing knowledge of evidence-based practice and its application to specialist community public health nursing and district nursing. You will develop the skills to critically appraise contemporary sources of evidence, including research; theoretical concepts; practice knowledge; public health data; policies; guidelines and patient perspectives. Regarding research, you will develop key skills associated with literature review and appraisal, as well as a critical understanding of research paradigms and related methodology. You will be able demonstrate your research knowledge, understanding and skills through the design of a research proposal, focussing on an identified topic relating to public health practice. Importantly, you will explore concepts of best evidence and clinical expertise within the context of patient/client centred care, specifically patient preferences and values in relation to shared clinical decision-making. You will also develop and be able to demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills and experiences associated with specialist practice through clinical placement, underpinned by the clinical and managerial expertise of your practice assessor/supervisor and supported by your academic assessor. Through the collection and assessment of a variety of robust evidence sources, you will be able to demonstrate competency and successful completion of NMC and Apprenticeship standards related to your specific area of specialist practice.
HA7003 -
Leading and Advancing Specialist Practice (20 Credits)
This module is for students on the MSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) and MSc Specialist Practice District Nursing Apprenticeship routes.
This module will help you advance your knowledge, understanding and skills in relation to leading and advancing practice in your specialist field of SCPHN (Health Visiting and School Nursing). You will have the opportunity to identify and audit an area of contemporary public health or professional practice from your specialist field. Audit is a quality improvement process, which seeks to improve service user care and outcomes through the systematic review of services against specific criteria. Following this, recommendations for service improvement are identified. In completing an audit, you will source and critique a range of relevant contemporary evidence, apply leadership, and change theory and contextualise learning in order to prepare you for advancing and leading specialist practice. The module content will include, clinical audit approaches, leadership and change theory, development of strategic leadership skills and networking, promotion of research-based practice and integration of research and theory to practice. You will have the opportunity to develop knowledge, skills and behaviours of resilience. You will have the opportunity to apply and relate what you learn on the module towards your academic assessment, which is the development and presentation of a poster and written abstract for use in your area of specialist practice based on the process and findings of your specific audit.
HA7005 -
Advanced Clinical Assessment Skills (30 Credits)
This module focuses on advanced clinical skills assessment in specialist practice and is a core module for those students on MSc Specialist Practice District Nursing Apprenticeship programme. This is a practice focused module where you will strengthen and develop further your knowledge base in relation to body systems, which will include anatomy, physiology, and pathology in the context of clinical assessment. The module content acknowledges and supports notions of holism, and you will, therefore, address not only physical but psychological/social dimensions within clinical assessment, taking into consideration health needs and aspects of health promotion. You will advance your specialist knowledge, critical thinking, and decision-making skills in undertaking a comprehensive clinical assessment focusing on practice-based scenarios, within the simulation suite. You will also demonstrate your ability to accurately document your findings, identifying pertinent clinical and care solutions and effectively communicate these appropriately within the inter-professional team and service users.
More informationAC7066 -
Non-Medical Prescribing (V300) (40 Credits)
This module will facilitate your development of the knowledge and skills required for safe and effective prescribing from a legally specified UK formulary. Successful completion of all components of the module will lead to the achievement of a recordable prescribing qualification with your regulatory body (NMC or HCPC). The subject areas you will study include assessing the patient and considering prescribing options, pharmacology for prescribing and de-prescribing, legal and regulatory frameworks, providing information, reaching shared decisions, monitoring and reviewing treatments, prescribing safely, professionally and as part of a team and improving prescribing practice.
More informationHA7000 -
Research and Evidence for Contemporary Practice (30 Credits)
This module forms part of the Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Apprenticeship route) (SCPHN) and Specialist Practice District Nursing (Apprenticeship route). This Semester One module will build on your existing knowledge of evidence-based practice and its application to specialist community public health nursing and district nursing. You will develop the skills to critically appraise contemporary sources of evidence, including research; theoretical concepts; practice knowledge; public health data; policies; guidelines and patient perspectives. Regarding research, you will develop key skills associated with literature review and appraisal, as well as a critical understanding of research paradigms and related methodology. You will be able demonstrate your research knowledge, understanding and skills through the design of a research proposal, focussing on an identified topic relating to public health practice. Importantly, you will explore concepts of best evidence and clinical expertise within the context of patient/client centred care, specifically patient preferences and values in relation to shared clinical decision-making. You will also develop and be able to demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills and experiences associated with specialist practice through clinical placement, underpinned by the clinical and managerial expertise of your practice assessor/supervisor and supported by your academic assessor. Through the collection and assessment of a variety of robust evidence sources, you will be able to demonstrate competency and successful completion of NMC and Apprenticeship standards related to your specific area of specialist practice.
Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help. They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.
Northumbria University is committed to developing an inclusive, diverse and accessible campus and wider University community and are determined to ensure that opportunities we provide are open to all.
We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.
You can use Northumbria’s AccessAble Guides anytime to check the accessibility of a building or facility and to plan your routes and journeys. Search by location, building or accessibility feature to find the information you need.
We are dedicated to helping students who may require additional support during their student journey and offer 1-1 advice and guidance appropriate to individual requirements. If you feel you may need additional support you can find out more about what we offer here where you can also contact us with any questions you may have:
If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
At Northumbria University, our higher and degree apprenticeships are more than a learning programme; they are a partnership. We work with organisations to create courses that meet the demands of businesses.
Our Continual Professional Development (CPD) courses are designed to open up exciting new possibilities for individuals and organisations. By increasing skills and knowledge and introducing new ways of thinking and working we create impact in performance at all levels.
The world is changing faster than ever before. The future is there to be won by organisations who find ways to turn today’s possibilities into tomorrow’s competitive edge.
Back to top