Public Health (School Nursing, Health Visiting and District Nursing) Postgrad Diploma
Overview
Nursing is changing with recent shifts to graduate level entry and increasing focus on public health, prevention of ill health and community care. These changes mean more specialist nursing practitioners are required that are competent and confident in clinical, research and leadership knowledge and skills outside hospital contexts.
The Postgraduate Diploma Public Health (School Nursing, Health Visiting and District Nursing) offers qualified, NMC registered nurses and midwives an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and broaden their skills base in ways that can improve health within communities. City offers three specialist community practitioner routes within the Postgraduate Diploma course, these are school nursing, health visiting or district nursing. These routes lead to an academic and professional award.
Students who have successfully completed a Postgraduate Diploma may progress to the MSc, most students complete this over one year part-time study.
Who is the course for?
The course is for qualified, NMC registered nurses or midwives who are looking for a new career path in school nursing, health visiting or district nursing.
The course is for individuals who are confident, possess good communication skills and are excited by the prospect of working in the community.
Why study Public Health at City?
- Undertake shared learning between school nursing, health visiting and district nursing students.
- Gain from a rich diversity and wealth of learning opportunities by spending 50% of your learning time in community settings.
- Expand your career opportunities by being eligible to take on posts for school nurses, health visitors and district nurses in local Trusts.
- Undertake modules which are set in the context of the four domains of specialist public health nursing practice
- Graduate from a NMC approved course.
Entry Requirements
Normally a 2:1 degree and current registration on part one (nursing) or part two (midwifery) of the NMC register. For the District Nurse route you will need to be a registered adult nurse.
English Requirements
For those students whose first language is not English, one of the following qualifications is also required:
- IELTS: 7.5
- TOEFL (internet-based): 107.
Visa Requirements
City University London retains Highly Trusted Status from UKBA, enabling us to sponsor international students to study in the UK.
The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course at City, there are different rules for:
- Students on courses of more than 6 months
- Students on courses of less than 6 months
- Students on a pre-sessional English Language course
For more information see our main Visa page.
When and Where
- Start Date:
- September 2013
- Duration:
- Full-time – One year; Part-time – Two years.
Course Content
To fully prepare students for specialist nursing roles in the community, the course offers students the opportunity to learn new knowledge and skills. It also promotes shared professional learning about clinical practice, evidence-based practice and leadership. Learning reflects current public health and community care policy agendas.
Course Structure
The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health is usually undertaken as an intensive one year programme, it may be undertaken over two years of part-time study. Students who have successfully completed the Postgraduate Diploma modules may then opt to undertake a dissertation module to complete the MSc in Public Health.
Successful completion of the School Nursing and Health Visiting routes allows graduates to register as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (third part of the NMC register). District Nursing graduates can record their specialist practice qualification with the NMC.
The course consists of 7 core modules and one optional module (this optional module is specific to either the School Nursing and Health Visiting or District Nursing routes). All modules are offered at M level. Students are taught together providing a unique opportunity for shared learning between school nursing, health visiting and district nursing students.
Core modules
- Philosophy and Politics of Primary Healthcare
- Innovations in Healthcare: Leadership and Management Perspectives
- Public Health and Society
- Research Methods 1
- Practice-based Module, including Nurse Prescriber Course V100
- Clinical Assessment in Primary Care
- Evidence for practice (discipline specific)
Read the full programme specification.
Teaching and Assessment
Teaching and learning methods will include lecture sessions, workshops, small group activities and discussions. On practice placements student learning is supported through portfolio development and guided reflection.
The course comprises 50% theory and 50% practice. During placements students work alongside a named practice teacher within their sponsoring NHS Trust. This practice teacher will be experienced in the students' chosen field and has undertaken further study to enable them to facilitate and assess student learning in practice.
Formative assessment strategies (these are developmental strategies that support learners in passing a final assessment) will include seminar presentations and feedback on the development of practice-based portfolios.
Summative (final or marked) assessment focuses on the evaluation and application of theory and practice through essays, examinations, poster presentations, research proposals and development of a practice portfolio.
Read the full programme specification.
Fees
- Full-time EU: £See fees & funding
Funding is normally available via sponsoring PCTs from the SHA. Please note there is no self-funding opportunity for this course. We suggest that you carefully consider which PCT you are interested in working for, as each PCT will have a job description specific to its needs. You should consult the website of the PCT which you would like to consider you for sponsorship. It is important to find out what types of jobs are offered and the kind of applicants that are considered for posts.
We will make every effort to place you with the PCT of your choice, but there may be circumstances under which you will be offered a place with a different PCT. You should, therefore, try to establish a connection with your preferred PCT. If you want to study part time, you will usually have to arrange to work part-time for your sponsoring PCT.
Funding
For up-to-date information about tuition fees, living costs and financial support, visit Undergraduate Fees and Finance or Postgraduate Fees and Finance.
Career Prospects
Successful completion of School Nursing and Health Visiting routes on this programme will enable you to gain second registration on the third part of the NMC register (professional award) plus a Postgraduate Diploma academic award. You will also be able to practise as a school nurse or health visitor. Successful completion
of the District Nursing route will enable you to record
a district nursing qualification with the NMC.
The programme is approved by the NMC. It is aligned to NMC standards of proficiency for specialist community public health nurses (School Nursing and Health Visiting routes). It is also aligned to V100 standards (community prescribing) and specialist professional qualification standards for District Nursing.
Previous graduates have taken up posts as school nurses, health visitors and district nurses in local Trusts.
About the School and Department
Find out more about City University London
To apply
Postgraduate Diploma Public Health (School Nursing)
Postgraduate Diploma Public Health (Health Visiting)
Postgraduate Diploma Public Health (District Nursing)
For further information contact
Admissions (CPD & postgraduate)
School of Health Sciences
City University London
Health Building, Northampton Square
London
EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)20 7040 5000
F: +44 (0)20 7040 5808
E: healthprofessionals@city.ac.uk
Or
Barbara Kirk
Senior Programme Officer
School of Health Sciences
City University London
Health Building
Northampton Square
London
EC1V 0HB
Tel: 020 7040 5782
b.a.kirk@city.ac.uk