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MSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting)

  • This course is up for periodic review

    This course is due to be renewed at a Periodic Review event which will be held on March 2022.

    We anticipate that there will be further enhancements made to the course as a result of the Review.

    Our website and printed literature will be updated following completion of the Periodic Review in order to provide applicants with further confirmed details on the following:

    • module titles
    • whether the modules are core or optional
    • the expected contact hours
    • how the course will be assessed
    • staff teaching on the course
  • Entry requirements and key information

    The normal entry requirements for the MSc Specialist Community and Public Health Nursing course are:

    A UK degree, or other qualification at equivalent level, in a health related subject (excluding a specialist community degree leading to professional recognition as a specialist community public health practitioner).

    All applicants are required to demonstrate effective registration on parts 1 and 2 of the NMC register.

    You also need to have access to an appropriate specialist community practice placement with a designated ‘sign off’ practice teacher for the duration of your studies on the course. This is normally provided through the sponsoring employer. If you are self-sponsored you are required to negotiate this with a Primary Care Organisation.

    If you do not have the required level of English for entry, our academic English and foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.

    Institution code

    		 H36

    School of study

    		 School of Health and Social Work

    Course length
  • Full Time, 1 Years
  • Part Time, 2 Years

    • Location
  • University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield
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  • Employability

    Careers

    As a qualified Health Visitor your role will require you to deliver the Healthy Child 0-5 Programme to children and families, planning, delivering and evaluating an efficient and cost effective Health Visiting service for an identified population. You will also be delivering the national and local public health agendas in response to identified health and social need. You will be expected to work in partnership and liaise with the multi-disciplinary/multi-agency team.

    Your qualification is registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. 

About the course

The MSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing course gives you the opportunity to develop and demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skills in public health nursing. It is designed to support professionals to establish skills and strategies necessary to promote health and well-being in partnership with individuals and groups in a variety of community settings.

The course is suitable for all registered nurses who want to achieve registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse. To gain access to this course you need first to secure a secondment/sponsorship from a healthcare employer. You cannot apply directly to this course yourself.

To find sponsorship/secondment opportunities in healthcare organisations please visit the NHS jobs website

If you choose to fund your own studies you are required to find a primary care organisation for practice experience at your own.

During the MSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing course you will evaluate the current organisational and professional agendas that influence care delivery in primary healthcare and community settings. The modules that you study place emphasis on the development of leadership and management skills so that when you graduate you will be able to provide effective leadership within a mixed skill team and multi-agency work setting as well as to work proactively in a commissioning environment.

The course gives you the opportunity to gain specialist skills in two areas of community public health nursing: health visiting and school nursing.

You will combine on-campus learning at the University with hands-on experience at a practice environment, with an equal allocation of practice and theory hours. Teaching takes place in specialist groups and, in some modules, learning is shared with other nursing students.

Why choose this course?

The MSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing course is designed to support professionals to establish skills and strategies necessary to promote health and well-being in partnership with individuals and groups in a variety of community settings

  • It is suitable for all registered nurses who want to achieve registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse
  • You can specialise in two areas of community public health nursing: health visiting and school nursing
  • It combines on-campus learning at the University with hands-on experience at a practice environment, with an equal allocation of practice and theory hours

What will I study?

You'll experience a wide variety of learning styles on the MSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing course. During your studies you'll develop your capacity for self-directed study and your interpersonal skills.

We particularly emphasise the importance of structured research: well-prepared written and verbal presentations and computer literacy. Alongside elements of standard lectures, seminars, tutorials and laboratories, you also learn through case studies, individual and group projects and other student-centred activities.

You will develop your capacity for independent study and interpersonal skills on this programme. There is an emphasis on structured research, well-prepared written and verbal presentations and computer literacy.

  • Level 7
    Module Credits Compulsory/optional
    Advanced Decision Making in Health and Social Care 15 Credits Optional
    Dissertation 45 Credits Optional
    Integrating Research with Professional Practice 15 Credits Optional

    • Further course information

    Course fact sheets
    MSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting) Download
    MSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting) Download
    Programme specifications
    MSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting) Download
    MSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting) Download
    Additional information

    Sandwich placement or study abroad year

    n/a

    Applications open to international and EU students

    		 No

    Student experience

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