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MSc - Practice Development: Nursing

As a health care professional, it is important your skills are of the highest calibre to ensure a top level of service to patients. The MSc Practice Development Nursing program has been developed with local stakeholders to meet the educational needs of health care professionals looking to continue their professional development in a multidisciplinary yet context welcoming way. You will benefit from a flexible approach to learning that fits around your work, life and shifts, allowing you to study through distance and work-based learning. Our subject specialists have extensive experience in distance learning. You will leave with the knowledge and skills to move forward in your career, reaching senior levels of employment. So, if you've got the ambition, we have the facilities and resources to help you achieve it.

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Practice Development: Nursing cover image

Course Overview

Our long-established Practice Development Framework comprises tailor-made continuing professional development (CPD) for all healthcare professionals including nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, radiographers, paramedics as well as unregistered staff working in the health, wellbeing and social care sector. Your programme of study has been designed to meet your needs and interest in developing your professional and personal knowledge and expertise to develop excellence in practice within community, workplace and health and social care settings. Studying with us you will be offered the opportunity of tailoring your own programme of study. Delivery is flexible online distance learning. There may be opportunity to APL credits from other programmes you have studied into the programme and there are flexible funding options available, with the option to pay on a module-by-module basis or via a student loan where appropriate.

Your programme provides accessible higher education opportunities at a level which is appropriate to you, the student. The programme utilises a collaborative approach in the provision of inclusive person-centred continuing professional development education which has been developed following extensive engagement with employers, current students and external commissioners. Whilst undertaking this programme of study, you will be introduced to and experience the process of transformative learning, founded upon personal critical reflection which will develop you as a knowledgeable, flexible, enquiring practitioner, capable of problem solving and leading innovative approaches

On this course you will...

  • Challenge existing knowledge and facilitate the development of new ideas and new ways of thinking
  • Develop conceptual knowledge and advanced understanding of how techniques of enquiry enable the critical and objective analysis, interpretation and application of research and evidence within your sphere of influence
  • Develop a mastery of complex and specialised knowledge and a critical awareness of issues at the forefront of your field of practice
  • Advance your academic and professional development through critical self-reflection and reflexivity
  • Increase knowledge and leadership skills that will enhance and develop your practice
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Course Structure

What you will learn

You will be required to undertake the following core modules:
Leadership Through Transformational Learning (20 credits)
Research Methods (20 credits)
Dissertation (60 credits or 40 credits). The 40 credit dissertation is only available for those students who, following APL of 120 credits into this programme are required to study one or both of the core modules, as well as the dissertation.

The remaining 80 credits may be selected from the list of optional (and adopted) modules which is appended to this programme specification. Optional modules must be relevant to your area of practice and target award and agreed in your personal and professional development plan with your personal tutor.

Compulsory modules
  • Leadership Through Transformational Learning
  • Research Methods
  • Dissertation

Attend an Open Day at Cumbria

An Open Day is your opportunity to explore one of 5 campuses, meet your lecturers, and find out how the University of Cumbria could become your new home.

Take the next step towards achieving your dreams.
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