Specialist Community Public Health Nursing
BSc(Hons)

Course summary and entry requirements

Course duration
Full-time: 1 year (max 3 years)
Part-time: 2 years (max 4 years)

Professional accreditation
Successful completion of the course means that graduates are enabled to meet the ten key areas of public health practice required for second level registration as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC 2004). Achievement of these proficiencies requires ability in assessing risk in complex situations; in developing effective relationships based on trust and openness; in working flexibly with other services in a range of settings; in dealing with conflicting priorities and ambiguous situations; and in knowing when to use, different and sometimes contradictory theories and perspectives.

About the course

Specialist Community Public Health Nursing equips nurses to be responsive to the needs of client groups across different settings for public health practice.
The settings offered at University of Brighton include health visiting and school nursing.
Public health roles are diverse, and flexibility in the course allows students to gain appropriate knowledge and skills. Student and service need is considered and linked meaningfully with individual learning pathways. Use of a personal / professional development plan (PDP) from the initial interview, and throughout the course, helps to bring these elements together, providing links with the existing knowledge and skills framework requirements, and providing evidence of employability on completion of the course. The PDP also ensures that needs are assessed on an ongoing basis and adjustments made accordingly, particularly useful if an extended part-time route is taken.
Students are supported by a Practice Teacher (and mentors where appropriate) in practice placements within their employing trust. This provides excellent opportunities and support in application of learning in practice. An exciting variety of learning approaches are utilised in the course, accommodating a wide range of preferred learning styles. A period of consolidation of practice at the end of the course allows further opportunity for integration of theory and practice and development of the student's role.

Typical entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are for students starting their course in 2014. Entry requirements for students thinking about starting a course in 2013 can be found in the online prospectus. Individual offers may vary
For non-native speakers of English:
IELTS 6.5 overall and 6 in writing.
Other:
Please note that, as an NMC regulated course, the modules have a practice element that is assessed in practice. If you wish to undertake one of these modules, either as a part of a course, or as stand-alone CPE, please contact the course leader prior to application to ensure that the appropriate practice assessor can be put in place.
Degree and/or experience:
Registration as nurse or midwife with Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Evidence of successful study in the last five years at diploma level or above.
Applicants are short-listed and subsequently interviewed jointly by academic staff and employers.
Course content

Course structure

Students are allocated practice placements by their employing trust, and are assigned a practice teacher to support their learning in practice. Students undertake a period of alternative practice when they can spend a week in another context that is of demonstrable value to their role.
A variety of learning and teaching strategies are used including problem-based and work-based learning. You need to be highly motivated and be prepared to actively engage with all aspects of your learning.

Areas of study

A core module within the course looks at early intervention and Capacity building approaches to working with individuals, families and communities. An individualised approach to planning is taken with each student though a personal development plan and learning contracts that are agreed between the student, university and employer. Modules also allow students to focus their practice assignment work on areas of value to their role.
A central feature of these courses is to ensure shared learning between the community nursing specialities so that the benefits of developing intra-professional collaboration can be enhanced. Programmes have been designed to include modules in which learning is shared with students from other disciplines, and where possible, other professions.

Syllabus

Core modules
Work-based Learning
Developing Practice: the challenge of Change
Practising Public Health
Capacity building for early interventions
Options
Child protection
Health promotion
Fees and costs

To undertake the course you will have a training contract with a local NHS Community Health Trust. You will be paid a salary by this Trust for the duration of the course.
Location

Location Falmer

Our Falmer campus is located on the edge of the South Downs National Park on the outskirts of Brighton. Approximately 7,000 students are based here.
View campus maps and directions
Living in Brighton
Brighton’s rich mix of historic architecture, lively arts scene, varied shopping and cosmopolitan community make it a vibrant, enjoyable place to live. It is no wonder that many Brighton graduates choose to stay here.
Social scene
Alongside the traditional seaside attractions, Brighton is famed for its exciting social scene with a wide choice of pubs, clubs and restaurants.
Arts
The highlight of the city’s cultural year is the Brighton Festival. The event is held each May and is England’s biggest arts festival, which showcases arts and performance from around the world. Brighton is also home to the UK’s oldest working cinema, the Duke of York’s, which shows alternative and mainstream films. The city is also well known for its exciting music scene and hosts The Great Escape music festival.
Sports
Whether you take your sport seriously or just want to keep fit, Brighton offers all kinds of sports opportunities and facilities, on and off campus. You can also make the most of the location, and play volleyball, basketball and windsurfing down by the beach. The seafront is also the finishing point for the famous London – Brighton bicycle ride and the quirky veteran car run.
Career opportunities

Most graduates go on to work within the NHS in health visiting or school nursing teams. The context of public health practice both within and without the NHS is constantly changing and opportunities for innovative approaches to service provision exist.

Visit the careers service website.