BSc (Hons) - Nursing/Registered Nurse: Learning Disabilities Nursing

Year one

In Year One you will be introduced to the key concepts that underpin health and nursing practice. There are 4 academic modules and these are studied alongside students from the other nursing fields, with field-specific content to develop field identity
You’ll be introduced to the principles of holistic healthcare, exploring how physical, psychological, and social factors can influence patient wellbeing. Year One focuses on the importance of effective communication, professional and ethical practice, and how these are applied in real healthcare settings.
You will gain an introduction to evidence-informed care and the role of health and social care policy in shaping modern healthcare and nursing practice. Your learning in the biological science module will be reinforced through practical clinical skills sessions, delivered in a simulated ward environment. This is to help you develop confidence and apply theory to practice

• Fundamentals of Nursing Practice NURS4001 40 credits
  Throughout this module, you will learn how to approach patient care with a person-centred and holistic mindset, recognising how this influences health and wellbeing. You will be introduced to different communication strategies that relate to diverse caring situations. Interacting effectively with patients, families, and the multidisciplinary team is an essential nursing skill and you will learn the tools to develop your communication skills. A significant focus will be on understanding the systematic process of assessing, planning, delivering, and evaluating nursing care, providing you with a foundational framework for your future practice.
  This module is shared and taught across all nursing fields, with field-specific content integrated throughout the teaching. This module will introduce the importance of coordination of care and the concept of person-centered care in Learning Disability Nursing.
• Applied Biological Sciences for Health across the Lifespan NURS4002 20 credits
  This module provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental concepts of anatomy and physiology essential for clinical practice. Here you will develop an understanding of how the body systems function. You will explore common diseases and conditions and understand the pathophysiological changes. You will explore key homeostatic mechanisms and the anatomy and physiology of human body systems. This module emphasises how biological sciences underpin assessment skills and clinical decision-making. Within this module you will be given the opportunity to practise your clinical assessment practical skills through simulated learning. This module is delivered and taught alongside all fields of nursing. This enhances the learning experience for all students and helps to develop a shared knowledge and skills base.
• Concepts of Health & Wellbeing NURS4003 20 credits
  Here you will be introduced to the beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviours in relation to health and well-being. You will examine the multifaceted determinants of health, including biological, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual factors, and their influence on wellbeing throughout a person's life. You will explore holistic health concepts and apply principles of health promotion and prevention of disease for diverse population groups. The module also covers health policy, literacy and economics, offering insights into the social and political contexts of healthcare. By integrating these perspectives, you will be introduced to the skills needed to promote person-centred care and address the complex needs of individuals across different cultural settings. This module is delivered and taught alongside all fields of nursing. This enhances the learning experience for all students and helps to develop a shared knowledge and skills base.
• Fundamentals of Decision Making NURS4004 40 credits
  You will explore the legal, ethical and professional principles essential for effective decision-making in health and social care. You will examine relevant legislation, ethical frameworks, and the complexities of professional accountability. Key topics include legal duty of care, safeguarding and the role of professional regulatory bodies with focus on the NMC The Code. You will be introduced to research methodology, how to search for the evidence base and learn how to critically appraise the literature and research. By completing this module, you'll be equipped to apply the legal and ethical frameworks to practice, understand professional responsibilities, and uphold high standards of accountability and conduct within health and social care settings.
  This module is delivered and taught alongside all fields of nursing. This enriches the learning experience for all students and supports the development of a shared base of knowledge and skills.

Year two

In Year Two, you will deepen your knowledge and skills around the key principles that underpin nursing practice. You will develop a critical approach to nursing theory, nursing practice, and evaluate the complex range of factors that influence decision making within health and social care practice. You will develop an understanding of how individuals live with complex healthcare needs by examining the care for people with long term conditions, examining the care of the acutely ill person, and the provision of emergency care nursing practice. You will deepen your knowledge of pharmacology and medicine management, and how patients may be supported by alternative therapeutic interventions.

• Therapeutic Interventions NURS5001 40 credits
  In this module, you will explore the principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, developing an understanding of drug safety and therapeutic monitoring, and how these concepts apply to a range of health conditions. You will learn how to apply medicines management and therapeutics to support safe, effective, and person-centred patient care, while working in line with relevant legislation and healthcare policies.
  The module will also support the development of your communication skills and ability to build therapeutic relationships within healthcare settings. By the end of the module, you will be able to use appropriate strategies to develop supportive relationships with individuals, families, and multidisciplinary teams, ensuring professional, empathetic, and effective engagement in therapeutic care.
• Nursing Practice NURS5002 20 credits
  This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of caring for individuals with complex care needs across a variety of care settings within your chosen field of nursing.
  You will further explore the role of the nurse in supporting people living with long-term and complex conditions, gaining a deeper understanding of their assessment, management, and ongoing care. Learning will be enriched through service user narratives, providing insight into the lived experience of managing long-term conditions.
  The module will also examine the realities of living with long-term conditions and the principles of end-of-life care, using examples relevant to your field of nursing. In addition, you will explore key policy frameworks, discharge planning, and the importance of effective decision-making and holistic care, delivered in partnership with individuals, their families, and the wider healthcare team.
  This module is shared and taught across all nursing fields, with field-specific content integrated throughout the teaching. Here, you will examine long-term and complex health conditions, profound and multiple learning disabilities, transition from child to adult services, and aging with a learning disability.
• Advancing Nursing Practice NURS5003 40 credits
  In this module, you will build upon the material you have already learned and will enable you to focus on the deteriorating person, thinking about assessment, the nursing care required, and the nurse's role in escalating concerns. The clinical skills required to deliver and prioritise care will be addressed, making close links between theory and practice. You will become familiar with the National guidelines and policies that inform patient care in the context of your field of nursing.
  This module is shared and taught across all nursing fields, with field-specific content integrated throughout the teaching. As a learning disability nurse, you will examine acute health conditions and the nurse's role in managing deteriorating patients who have a learning disability. You will also examine the national guidance that informs contemporary health care practice with a focus on learning disability nursing and address the ethical and professional challenges in acute, primary and community care contexts. You will learn how to respond to deterioration in across the life span. Case studies specific to learning disability nursing will inform your learning.
• Advancing Decision Making in Professional Practice NURS5004 20 credits
  In this module, you will explore the factors that influence decision-making in healthcare and consider key questions such as: Who is responsible for keeping patients safe? and How are clinical decisions made in practice?
  You will examine concepts including human factors, unconscious bias, and risk in healthcare, alongside the frameworks that support safe and effective practice. Through this learning, you will develop an understanding of how nurses contribute to patient safety and high-quality care, and how informed decision-making underpins professional practice in healthcare settings
  This a shared module and learning will take place through structured learning, discussion on case studies from practice, and by learning in collaboration with each other.

Year three

In the final year of the BSc Nursing programme, you will prepare for the transition to NMC registration. Building on the knowledge and skills developed in Years One and Two, you will draw on your clinical experiences and learning throughout your nursing journey to further develop your confidence and competence in practice.
You will explore ways to support and empower individuals and communities to lead healthier lives, with a particular focus on community and public health. Year 3 also strengthens your leadership and decision-making skills, preparing you for the responsibilities of registered practice.
The focus in Year 3 of the programme is on consolidating your learning and supporting your development as a critical, autonomous, and competent nurse who is accountable for their actions and committed to delivering safe, high-quality patient care.

• Public and Population Health NURS6001 20 credits
  This module will enable you to examine the factors that influence health and well-being. You will explore the health needs of communities with an emphasis on community empowerment when caring for groups of people. A key focus of this module is understanding how the determinants of health, health choices and policies influence the health outcome for different communities. You will develop a deeper understanding on the responsibilities of the nurse in the arena of public health
  This module is delivered and taught alongside all fields of nursing. This enriches the learning experience for all students and supports the development of a shared base of knowledge and skills.
• Service and Quality Improvement NURS6002 40 credits
  What does best practice look like? Here, your learning will focus on service and quality improvement within health and social care. In this module, you will learn how to analyse how services can be evaluated and improved to enhance patient outcomes, safety, and the overall quality of care delivery.
  
  You will consolidate your understanding of evidence-based practice, revisiting key research methodologies and methods and how these are used to inform improvements in healthcare. You will also examine the theories and models that underpin change management, and how these can be applied in real health and social care settings.
  
  As you will now be preparing for NMC registration, you will be asked to i reflect on your own personal qualities, professional values, and leadership potential as a future nurse and agent of change. This module allows you to research a topic of your choice and apply it to a health care improvement proposal
  
  This module is delivered and taught alongside all fields of nursing. This enriches the learning experience for all students and supports the development of a shared base of knowledge and skills.
• Consolidating Nursing Practice NURS6003 40 credits
  This module will consolidate the concepts of nursing practice and application to your relevant field of nursing. You will be learning further nursing skills in advanced communication and be confident in being a patient's voice in your role as a patient advocate. You will have awareness of advanced safeguarding, application of advanced medicine management skills and development of your delegation skills. You will learn how to negotiate difficult conversations and how to deal with uncertainty.
  This module is shared and taught across all nursing fields, with field-specific content integrated throughout the teaching. You will consolidate your skills and knowledge in Learning Disability Nursing Practice. You will be equipped with the knowledge required for leading and managing care, including skills of delegation, supporting learners, and models of preceptorship in relation to Learning Disability Nursing. More advanced clinical skills will be taught in this module such as more advanced assessment skills and pharmacological knowledge building your confidence in readiness for NMC registration.
• Transition to Registered Practice NURS6004 20 credits
  In this module, you will be prepared for life as a registered nurse. Here, all that you have learned in your nursing journey will be brought together to help you succeed as a newly qualified nurse. In this module, you will learn about the requirements for maintaining professional registration and build on concepts such as critical reflexivity, professional identity, risk/resilience, human flourishing and healthful workplaces. Key concepts within this module include exploring your professional identity, developing a personal philosophy of nursing, legal, ethical and regulatory aspects of practice and navigating complex healthcare systems whilst understanding patients and families' experiences
  
  
  
  Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the course information. However, nursing programmes are subject to regular review and development. At times, changes may be necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council. We may also make changes to keep course content updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make changes to the programmes and delivery if we consider these to be necessary or in the best interests of students.