Clinical Practice GradCert

Course in brief

This is a part-time course for the graduate health and social care practitioner wanting to obtain a level 6 academic and professional qualification in one of 5 care speciality pathways.

You should have a minimum of one year's post-registration experience and be in practice for at least 20 hours per week before applying for the course.

Modules of study are clustered together into 5 pathways, reflecting contemporary clinical practice: acute care, cardiac care, emergency care, intensive care and neonatal care. A wide choice of modules means you can create your own study programme to suit your professional or personal aspirations.

We are known for our flexible approaches to practice-based learning, with course durations and intensities that can be adapted to your individual needs and outside commitments.

Our high quality teaching and research are renowned, and have an applied focus. We have established strong links with critical care practice educators to ensure the provision of support and guidance both within the university and in clinical practice.

We have a dedicated team of academic staff who are actively engaged in internationalising the nursing and midwifery curriculum, and we offer all our students the chance to experience practice in another country.

The recognition that patients come first in everything the NHS does, and the values of the NHS constitution – respect, dignity, compassion and working together for patients – are embedded in our curriculum.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

UCAS code Not applicable. Apply direct to the university.

Part-time 3 years (some distance learning)

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2018. They should be used as a general guide.

We operate a flexible admissions policy – this means that you could receive a lower conditional offer than the typical offer, informed by our assessment of your complementary non-academic achievements and experiences. For courses that require interview or portfolio review, this may also be considered in the level of any conditional offer that follows if your application is successful.

Degree and experience

First degree equivalent to 300 credits, 60 of which should have been studied at level 6.
Professional registration and a minimum of one year post-qualified experience.
Additional pathway pre-requisites may apply.

Course in detail

Course structure

Attendance requirements vary according to the modules you choose to study on your chosen pathway. For a 20-credit module you will typically attend university for a total of 60 to 70 hours.

You should expect 15 study days for 30 credit modules, and 10 study days for 20 credit modules, attended as one day per week during the semester of study.

Modules are delivered in intensive or extensive mode over a semester. The course is delivered in a variety of ways, and is flexible enough to meet the needs of part-time students. Delivery is typically via e-learning, lectures, seminars, workbooks for work-based learning and simulation in our state-of-the-art Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite.

Virtual attendance for part(s) of any module within the pathway can be considered under special circumstances. This is limited to a maximum of two places per module and is at the discretion of the pathway leader.

You should be working a minimum of 20 hours per week in relevant practice areas, so that you can integrate theory and practice, and complete practice assessments. Assessments include clinical skills assessed by a mentor in practice or a lecturer in the Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite at the university.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through our applicant portal.

Acute Care

You can choose any module from any of the following areas of practice: acute care, burns and plastic reconstructive surgery, cancer care, cardiac care, child health, emergency care, intensive care, neonatal care, ophthalmic care or renal care.

To be awarded the Graduate Certificate, you will need to achieve 60 credits at level 6, with a choice of any module from any pathway, plus the following (Each is worth 20 credits and is at level 6 unless otherwise stated):

Care of the Acutely Ill Adult
Neurological Patient Care
Acute Stroke
Respiratory Care – Adult
Physical Assessment of Adults
Operating Theatre Practice
Advanced Physical Assessment – Adult (Level 7)
Advanced Respiratory Care (Level 7)
Complex Wound Management
Diabetes Delivering Innovative Care
End of Life: Principles of Care
Leg Ulcer Management
Work-based Learning

Cardiac Care

To achieve the graduate certificate you will need to complete the clinical pathway of 60 credits from the module choice listed. Each module is worth 20 credits and is at level 6 unless otherwise stated.

The aim of the pathway is to allow you to study a collection of modules relevant to your individual learning needs rather than to study a pre-determined route which may not suit your clinical focus or personal interests.

All modules may be taken as stand alone modules for CPD purposes.

Modules

12-lead ECG (10 credits)
Acute Coronary Syndromes and Management
Cardiac Arrhythmias and Interventions
Heart Failure (10 credits)
Physical Assessment Cardiac and Respiratory Conditions
Advanced Physical Assessment of Cardiac and Respiratory Conditions (level 7)
Advanced Heart Failure (level 7)

Nurse and doctor using diagnostic equipment

Emergency Care

The content of the modules encompasses a wide range of clinical conditions of illness and injury, and is designed to meet the needs of health care practitioners working in urgent and emergency care settings.

To achieve the graduate certificate you will need to complete the clinical pathway of 60 credits from the Emergency Care pathway and optional clinical modules from the Acute care pathway These include comprehensive system assessment, cardiac, respiratory, abdominal, musculoskeletal, neurological, mental health, ear nose and throat, ophthalmology, wound care, burns, and maxillo-facial.

Each module listed below is worth 30 credits and is at level 6 unless otherwise stated. All modules may be taken as stand alone modules for CPD purposes.

Modules

Emergency Care Developing Autonomous Practice
The development of autonomous practice for effective management of a specified range of minor injuries and illnesses within an emergency care area of practice.
Emergency Care Trauma
The assessment, prioritisation, planning, implementation and evaluation of emergency care for patients attending with acute minor to major/multiple injury trauma presentations.
Emergency Care Admissions
The assessment and management of undifferentiated, undiagnosed acute/chronic deteriorating emergency illness/disease/conditions which require emergency admission to hospital.

Intensive Care

Completion of the pathway includes three mandatory modules for a total of 60 credits: Intensive Care Ventilation, Intensive Care Cardiovascular, and Intensive Care Specialities. Each module is worth 20 credits and is at level 6 unless otherwise stated.

All modules may be taken as stand alone modules for CPD purposes.

Modules

Intensive Care Ventilation
In addition to caring for patients with acute respiratory failure, this module covers current issues in preventing hospital acquired infections, research, and evidence-based practice in intensive care.
Intensive Care Cardiovascular
This module prepares students to care for patients with cardiovascular instability and also explores psychosocial care and the role of the multidisciplinary intensive care team.
Intensive Care Specialties
This module includes caring for intensive care patients with gastrointestinal, renal, and neurological dysfunction. Other topics integrated into this module as related to intensive care are management, education, ethics, and end-of-life care.

Neonatal Care

To achieve the graduate certificate you will need to complete the clinical pathway of 60 credits from the module choice listed. Each module is at level 6 unless otherwise stated.

All modules may be taken as stand alone modules for CPD purposes.

Modules

Neonatal High Dependency and Intensive Care (30 credits)
Neonatal QIS Consolidation (10 credits)
Work-based Learning (20 credits)

Study abroad

Post-registration students

As a qualified nurse or midwife you may be interested in developing a European or an international dimension to your learning and development.

Here at the School of Health Sciences we can offer the opportunity to do this through our international work-based learning module. If you have a particular clinical interest, for example public health nursing, and are interested in how this is delivered and practised in Scandinavia we can arrange for you to access a placement area with one of our partners in Finland, Norway, Sweden or Denmark. We can also help structure your experience through establishing focused learning outcomes and detailed preparation.

Our courses are vibrant and internationally aware. Many of our academic staff have international health and education experience and some are members of groups such as Sigma Theta Tau and the Florence Nightingale Scholars.

We also have a vast range of modular opportunities for the following students:

UK nurses seeking additional hours/knowledge to enable registration in the USA and links with recruitment agencies
EU nurses wanting to register in the UK with the NMC and requiring additional hours/knowledge
International nurses wanting to register in the UK with the NMC and requiring additional hours/knowledge

Please do contact the admissions team for further information about these modules, by emailing namcpeadmissions@brighton.ac.uk.

Careers and employability

The course educates practitioners with at least one year of post-registration experience to recognised practice standards for each pathway.

Once qualified, you will have the opportunity to enhance your clinical practice, progress to a higher-graded band and take part in research and practice development.

Fees and funding

Your fees

For up-to-date details of fees, please contact our admissions team at namcpeadmissions@brighton.ac.uk or telephone 01273 644016.

Most students obtain funding through their trust, some choose to self-fund, and others secure funding through scholarships or bursaries.

How to apply

Download the application form and associated documents from the how to apply section on the modules page.
If you require funding via NHS Trust Health Contract (formally the PTD contract) you may need to submit your application to a panel and/or need a designated signatory before you send it to the university.

For more information, contact the School of Health Sciences at namcpeadmissions@brighton.ac.uk.

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2018–19.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and living here

Location

About Brighton

Forward-thinking and welcoming, the city of Brighton & Hove is a community of creative and diverse people who share values like sustainability and inclusivity – just like its university.

Miles of pebble beaches, hundreds of bars, restaurants and clubs, a packed calendar of culture, music and sport and great independent and high street shopping attract visitors from all over the world. By the end of your course you’ll still be finding new things to enjoy about the city.

The Brighton Festival, England’s largest arts festival, takes place every May – as does the Great Escape Europe’s leading industry showcase for new music, 300 bands perform over three days at venues across the city. Major events celebrate Pride, digital culture, cinema, photography, food and the winter solstice. Our own Brighton Graduate show is a highlight, turning the university into the largest exhibition space in the south east as we celebrate the outstanding creativity of our students.

As a student here you’ll have a unique opportunity to experience what the city has to offer. Volunteering and placement opportunities enable you to play your part in the events, organisations and communities that make Brighton such a compelling place to be.

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Surrounded by the South Downs National Park and just five miles from the centre of Brighton, our Falmer campus has benefited from over £60million of investment over the past 10 years. 7,000 students are based here, studying subjects including English, education, social science, nursing and medicine.

Recent developments include the Falmer Sports Centre – with its fitness suites and sports hall – and the innovative Checkland Building, which has natural ventilation systems and an insulating green roof.

Falmer has also recently installed more than 600 solar panels, which reduce the campus’s carbon emissions by more than 80 tonnes. The renovation has made us one of the top universities in the UK for on-site renewable energy production.

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Accommodation

Brighton: Falmer

We have halls of residence across the city in Grand Parade, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

Eligible students can apply for any of these options. Find out if you are eligible…
You’ll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
Falmer campus is linked to halls on the Falmer campus and Varley Park.
- Varley Park offers a mix of rooms and catering options. Varley Park is less than a mile from Falmer and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
- Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls are on campus and offer a range of room types and catering options.

We also offer Unihomes and Unilets, student houses that we let out to our students on behalf of private landlords. This option offers the most choice and flexibility and can work particularly well when you’re balancing learning with placements and other commitments.

There’s plenty of support if you choose private rented accommodation. We manage our own studenthomes database of properties. And we run our housemates service over the summer for students, new and returning, looking for a place to live.

Find out more on our accommodation webpages.

Hillside hall of residence at Varley Park

Varley Park accommodation near to the Falmer campus

Student in our Moulsecoomb Place hall of residence

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Falmer campus

Find out more

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