Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship


Institution code	H36
School of study	School of Health and Social Work
Course length	Full Time, 3 Years
Location	University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Entry requirements

About the course

Apprenticeship Standard: Registered Nurse

Final Award: BSc (Hons) Nursing

As a learning disabilities nurse, you’ll have the challenging yet rewarding job of caring for people with a range of special needs. This pre-registration course gives you the knowledge, skills and attitudes to enhance a person’s health and wellbeing, and improve or maintain a range of complex developmental, physical, psychological and mental health needs. You’ll work in partnership with people with learning disabilities, their families, carers and other health and social care professionals. Ultimately, you’ll help people with learning disabilities to live a life that’s as fulfilling as possible. As with our other nursing courses, you’ll take a variety of clinical work placements.

Registered nurses are key in leading and co-ordinating care in a wide array of health and social care arenas that includes the NHS and the Private, Voluntary and Independent sectors.

A career as a Nurse means working with a variety of service users, families and carers, and with a range of health and care professionals and other agencies, to give care, advice and support to sick, injured or disabled people.

This programme enables apprentices to develop a set of core skills and knowledge, with specialisms in adult nursing, children’s nursing, mental health and learning disabilities. Apprentices are able to choose their preference.

Why choose this course?

Learning Disability Nursing is a highly skilled, rewarding and caring profession where you can make a real difference to people’s lives.
Gain a well rounded understanding of all factions of the nursing profession, whilst being able to specialise in your chosen field and develop your critical, analytical and reflective skills.
Graduates of this programme will be entitled to apply to enter the professional register of the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the field of Learning Disabilities.
Those who have successfully completed a Level 5 qualification in nursing (or a related subject), are eligible to undertake a two year top up version of this Level 6 qualification, through Accredited Prior Learning (APL).

What will I study?

The Learning Disability field programme comprises both of theory and practice in a range of service-user contact experiences in a diversity of settings. The aim is to enable you to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to assess, plan, implement and evaluate the total nursing care of service-users who have learning disabilities in partnership with their families / carers and other professionals.

A range of teaching and learning approaches will be used. Teaching approaches will include; lectures, seminars, group work/projects, role play, tutorials, practice experience / fieldwork, course work, problem based learning, internet technologies and reflection as an integrating technique between theory and practice.

Level 4

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
An Introduction to Interprofessional Education	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module is designed to provide students with the opportunity to learn in groups, facilitating an improved understanding of professional roles and encouraging collaborative learning and practice. Learning will take place in lectures, seminars and tutorials with activities are designed to consolidate learning and promote engagement with the topic.
The Lived Experience of People with a Learning Disability	15 Credits	Compulsory
This 15 credit level 4 module specific to the field of intellectual/learning disability nursing is designed to introduce pre-registration nursing students to the fundamental concepts and knowledge which underpin the field, using a combination of academic inquiry and practical experience that is student-led. This module will emphasise the role of the intellectual/learning disability nurse, stimulating inquiry about the value base of learning disability nursing, including the implementation of the nursing process. Additionally, the student will be introduced to definitions, diagnosis and will explore evidence about the impact of conditions associated with intellectual/learning disability including autistic spectrum conditions. Equally the module will include understanding physical health needs commonly attributed to people with intellectual/learning disabilities. As student's practical experience develops, they will be required to reflect upon their practices, using a student focused approach to develop reflective and self-awareness skills. In addition, contributors to the module will include recipients of intellectual/learning disability nursing practice and support networks, enabling students to develop their understanding of the lived experience and enhancing skills in collaborative working through discussion with experts by experience, service users, carers and other professionals.
Communication and Relationship Management Skills for Nursing	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module will develop students' existing communication skills in line with the relevant nursing standards. It will enable students to develop their skills in searching and evaluating the literature, critical reading and writing skills aiding students to formulate and communicate scholarly arguments and ideas.
Communication and People with a Learning Disability	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module seeks to enable students to actively learn how to build upon their existing written communication skills and start to explore some theories around communication that are relevant to nurses in all fields and situations. The module will start to look at basic communication skills and how to apply these verbal and non-verbal skills in different situations. Students will develop their written communication skills and skills in searching for appropriate literature, scholarly and grey literature, to help them develop an accessible information tool. Issues including consent, equality and diversity, and confidentiality around communication will be addressed so students can apply this to future placement areas. The module will also introduce students to some scholarly and grey literature around communication to allow them to broaden their understanding of this area, which they will eventually be able to apply to practice to their own nursing practice.
Foundations of Health and Wellbeing	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module will examine bioscientific and professional concepts that underpin nursing practice. It will address how these inform nursing care and health and wellbeing. It will also consider wider social, political and economic issues and their impact on health and care delivery.
Learning Disability Nursing Practice 1	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module is designed to introduce students to some of the fundamental concepts and knowledge which underpin the practice of Learning Disability Nurses. Students will have the opportunity to practise basic vital observational skills using simulated practice learning. Students will attend placements during this module.

Level 5

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Developing Health and Wellbeing	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module builds on the knowledge acquired in Fundamentals of Health and Wellbeing. While the focus on the professional aspects of nursing practice continues, ideas of health and wellbeing alongside the social and political context of health and wellbeing are further examined. The focus on bioscience shifts to the pharmacological aspects of health and wellbeing.
Physical Health Needs of People with a Learning Disability	15 Credits	Compulsory
This 15-credit level 5 module is designed to introduce learners to health conditions associated with complex needs and the role of the learning disability nurse in understanding and improving evidence-based health outcomes. Supporting people to improve health and well-being is integral to Learning Disability Nursing practice, therefore enabling students to examine contemporary practice.
Research for Learning Disability Nursing Practice	30 Credits	Compulsory
This 30 credit Level 5 module focuses on research and associated evidence as well as its potential impact on learning disability nursing and healthcare provision. Participation in this module will involve engagement in interactive activities that will be specifically designed to enable students to understand the research cycle and associated processes.
Learning Disability Nursing Practice 2	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module will enable students to develop their knowledge and understanding about the health needs of people with learning disabilities. Students will use the nursing process to develop nursing skills to work collaboratively with professionals in practice.
Transition of Young People with a Learning Disability to Adult Services	15 Credits	Optional
This 15 credit Level 5 module is designed to develop students understanding of addressing the needs of young people with learning disabilities who are in transition from child to adult services. This module will give students the opportunity to explore best practice approaches, to enhance the outcomes for young people.
European Perspectives of Young People with Learning Disabilities	15 Credits	Optional
Module Content: (for publication, max 150 words) This 15 credits Level 5 module is designed to develop, through academic enquiry and practical learning opportunities, the knowledge and understanding of students in addressing the needs of young people with intellectual and learning disabilities during the health and social inclusion process. The vulnerability of this group is well documented (CQC, 2014; NICE, 2011). Transition to new services takes place within complex professional, legal and ethical frameworks and this module explores these complexities, giving students the opportunity to develop skills in critical evaluation of the literature and current best practice approaches, to enhance the outcomes for young people. Students will engage in a range of learning activities, including groupwork and discussion with practitioners in the field to develop their understanding of the management of risks and conflicts within the context of contemporary policies and legislations. There will be an essential focus upon collaborative working across professional disciplines and the evaluation of current evidence/literature; and its application to practice. This module will be delivered abroad with Erasmus funding in collaboration with five other countries namely Stockholm University, Queens University in Belfast, Edinburgh Napier University, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oradea University in Romania and Maria Grzegorzewska-University.

Level 6

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Enhancing Health & Social Care through Inter-professional Education	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module is designed to give students further opportunities of working in multi-professional groups in order to improve understanding across professional boundaries and encourage collaborative learning and working that will bring benefit to patient/service-users. The justification for inclusion of inter-professional working within health care is addressed. The module requires students to bring specialist in-depth knowledge of their profession and professional codes of conduct to a group setting so that health and social care pathways are critically reviewed in the context of professional practice.
Imagination and Innovation in Evidence Based Nursing Practice	30 Credits	Compulsory
Students on this module will be supported to create an evidence-based proposal to effect positive change in service delivery. It represents an exciting opportunity for students to engage in a negotiated work-based practice project proposal that will encourage them to focus upon a practice issue of personal and professional interest.
Leading and Managing Learning Disability Nursing Practice	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module is designed to give student nurses the opportunity to develop their leadership skills. Students nurses will learn about aspects of the managerial role including: • Collaborative practice, including inter-professional practice • Using feedback to improve performance/outcomes • Identifying learning needs • Leadership skills • Risk assessments • Supervision in practice • Reflection and use in practice • Political context of NHS, nursing, resource management. Students will engage in a range of learning activities including taught content, group discussions and critical appraisal of current research and best practice guidance to inform their clinical practice in relation to the learning outcomes for this module.
Learning Disability Nursing Practice 3	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module is an interactive and practical based module that has a strong emphasis on simulation and practical skills. Students will use consolidate their learning to develop their skills to be able to work autonomously in practice.
People with Learning Disabilities who Experience Mental Ill-Health	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module will enable learners to develop their knowledge and understanding of the mental health needs of people with a learning disability. Students will have the opportunity to explore best practice approaches, to enhance the mental health/psychological wellbeing outcomes for people with learning disabilities.
Final Numeracy Exam	0 Credits	Compulsory
Using both lecture based teaching and online resources this module intends to enable the student to develop knowledge of the formulae used for calculating medication dosages for both enteral and parenteral medicine administration.

Professional Accreditations

Entitlement to apply to enter the professional register of the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the field of your chosen specialism - Learning Disabilities.

Careers

Following successful completion of the Learning Disability Nursing programme you will be entitled to apply for registration as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council UK. This registration will enable you to take advantage of the varied opportunities available to you, to put into practice all you have learned and make a positive contribution to the lives of people with learning disabilities and their families.

You will be able to seek employment in a wide range of organisations including NHS, social services and private and voluntary organisations. You will meet many interesting people throughout your career and each day will be different. You will always be learning, and developing new and innovative skills through experience and education that will enable you to diversify or specialise in a particular area of Learning Disability Nursing, giving opportunity for promotion and job satisfaction.

Following qualification there are many opportunities to further your professional studies with courses, available at graduate level and above, to help develop your knowledge and practice.

What job can I get?

This course entitles you to apply for registration as a learning disabilities nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. This opens up a range of career options providing care within the NHS, social services and private and voluntary organisations.

Course fact sheets
BSc (Hons) Nursing (Learning Disabilities) (Degree Apprenticeship)	Download
BSc (Hons) Nursing (Learning Disabilities) (Degree Apprenticeship)	Download

Programme specifications
BSc (Hons) Nursing (Learning Disabilities) (Degree Apprenticeship)	Download
BSc (Hons) Nursing (Learning Disabilities) (Degree Apprenticeship)	Download

Additional information
Sandwich placement or study abroad year	n/a
Applications open to international and EU students	No

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