PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES KEY FACTS Programme name Award School Department or equivalent Programme code Type of study Full Time Part Time Total UK credits 180 Total ECTS 90 PROGRAMME SUMMARY Nursing (Advanced Practice) MSc School of Health Sciences Division of Applied Biological, Diagnostics and Therapeutic Sciences PSNUAP This programme has been developed to allow you the greatest possible flexibility in developing specialist skills and knowledge at a highly demanding academic and practical level. The programme will prepare you for a range of roles including Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Consultant and Clinical Leadership. The aim is to provide you with the opportunity to create a challenging and rewarding master's programme tailored to your personal development needs.. Students are currently preparing for nurse practitioner, care manager, nurse consultant and clinical leadership roles. The programme may be undertaken on a full or part-time basis. This route enables you to develop the appropriate knowledge and skills to work at an advanced level of practice. There are four compulsory modules: Advancing Nursing Knowledge; Research Methods, Advanced Clinical Practice and the Dissertation module. Students must study physical assessment and medicines management or non-medical prescribing. If you complete this route you will have met the Domains of Practice and competencies for Advanced practice specified by the NMC. If you are undertaking this route you must be registered with the NMC and be able to confirm mentorship from either a doctor or Advanced Nurse Practitioner within your workplace. You must work at least one day per week in a clinical setting in which advanced practice skills can be acquired. Aims The aim of this programme is to develop nurses who will be able to: - Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make informed judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions 1
clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences. - Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level. - Undertake advanced patient assessment and initiate clinical care without direct supervision - Continue to develop their nursing knowledge, and develop new skills which advance their practice. The nurses will also have qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring: - Exercise initiative and personal responsibility, decision making in complex and unpredictable situations, and the independent learning ability required for continuing personal and professional development. WHAT WILL I BE EXPECTED TO ACHIEVE? On successful completion of this programme, you will be expected to be able to: Knowledge and understanding: - Demonstrate a systematic understanding of knowledge and a critical awareness of current problems and new insights into your area of nursing practice - Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to personal research or advanced scholarship - Evaluate existing knowledge and determine areas for development Skills: - Undertake advanced patient assessment and initiate clinical care without direct supervision - Demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in nursing - Practice as an autonomous nurse capable of leading professional developments - Advance nursing by contributing to the debate on the nature of nursing and the boundaries of nursing practice - Undertake either an empirical research investigation, a work based project or an evaluative exposition of the literature - Critically evaluate theories, concepts and research and articulate implications for practice development and innovation. Values and attitudes: - Provide advice for colleagues, patients and their carers that is value free and nondiscriminatory - Construct and manage a personal and professional development plan which reflects a commitment to lifelong learning This programme has been developed in accordance with the QAA Subject Benchmark for Nursing. 2
HOW WILL I LEARN? You will experience a range of teaching, learning and assessment strategies throughout the programme aimed at developing and assessing different knowledge, skills and attitudes. Lectures are used to provide knowledge about topics and these are complimented by seminars, simulated practice, debates and student directed study, some of which will involve on-line learning activities. The seminars, debates and student directed study enable the topics to be explored in further depth and applied to practice situations. Enquiry based learning may also used to promote your skills in critical thinking and decision making as well as information seeking skills and team work. At Masters level these strategies are aimed at developing your ability to challenge current limits of theory and research and creatively use solutions to solve problems. You will engage in full professional and academic communication critically debating and evaluating personal performance and that of others. WHAT TYPES OF ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK CAN I EXPECT? Assessment and Assessment Criteria A variety of assessment methods is used to assess the programme learning outcomes. The choice of assessment method will be influenced by the focus and learning outcomes of the modules. Assessment strategies include coursework, examinations, reports, seminar presentations, skills schedules and objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs). You may be expected to take part in formative assessment activities during the modules in addition to the summative assessments for each module. Assessment Criteria are descriptions, based on the intended learning outcomes, of the skills, knowledge or attitudes that you need to demonstrate in order to complete an assessment successfully, providing a mechanism by which the quality of an assessment can be measured. Grade- Related Criteria are descriptions of the level of skills, knowledge or attributes that you need to demonstrate in order achieve a certain grade or mark in an assessment, providing a mechanism by which the quality of an assessment can be measured and placed within the overall set of marks. Assessment Criteria and Grade-Related Criteria will be made available to you to support you in completing assessments. These may be provided in programme handbooks, module specifications, on the virtual learning environment or attached to a specific assessment task. Feedback on assessment Feedback will be provided in line with our Assessment and Feedback Policy. In particular, you will normally be provided with feedback within three weeks of the submission deadline or assessment date. This would normally include a provisional grade or mark. For end of module examinations or an equivalent significant task (e.g. an end of module project), feedback will normally be provided within four weeks. The timescale for feedback on final year projects or dissertations may be longer. The full policy can be found at: https://www.city.ac.uk/ data/assets/pdf_file/0008/68921/assessment_and_feedback_p 3
olicy.pdf Assessment Regulations In order to pass your Programme, you should complete successfully or be exempted from the relevant modules and assessments and will therefore acquire the required number of credits. The Pass mark for each module is 50%. If you fail an assessment component or a module, you will normally be offered one resit attempt. However, if you did not participate in the first assessment and have no extenuating circumstances, you may not be offered a resit. If you are successful in the resit, you shall be awarded the credit for that module. The mark used for the purpose of calculation towards your Award shall be calculated from the original marks for the component(s) that you passed at first attempt and the minimum pass mark for the component(s) for which you took a resit. If you do not satisfy your resit by the date specified you will not progress and the Assessment Board shall require that you withdraw from the Programme. If you fail to meet the requirements for the Programme, but satisfy the requirements for a lower-level Award, then a lower qualification may be awarded as per the table below. If you fail to meet the requirements for the Programme and are not eligible for the award of a lower level qualification, the Assessment Board shall require that you withdraw from the Programme. If you would like to know more about the way in which assessment works at City, please see the full version of the Assessment Regulations at: http://www.city.ac.uk/ data/assets/word_doc/0003/69249/s19.doc WHAT AWARD CAN I GET? Master s Degree: Part HE Credits Weighting Class % required Level (%) Taught 7 180 100 With Distinction 70 With Merit 60 Without 50 classification Postgraduate Diploma: Part HE Credits Weighting Class % required Level (%) Taught 7 120 100 With Distinction 70 With Merit 60 Without classification 50 4
WHAT WILL I STUDY? The modular structure has three compulsory modules and then additional modules to achieve the required credit from a range of possible options. You can choose options to enable you to gain a specialist focus related to your individual practice. Within the required credits of 180 you may undertake modules equivalent to 30 credits at HE6 level chosen from the list but this must be planned in negotiation with the programme leader to ensure coherence of your programme. The second year of the programme for full time students is seen as writing up time for their dissertation. Completion of this programme requires that you undertake 4 core modules: NMM001 Advancing Nursing Knowledge NMM003 Research Methods NMM004 MSc Dissertation NMM053 Advanced Clinical Practice And additional modules as outlined below: TWO modules concerned with physical assessment (NMM078 and NMM026) EITHER: Medicines management (NMM024) OR Prescribing (NMM110) Within the required 180 credits you may undertake modules equivalent to 30 credits at HE6 level. You are normally expected to have completed 120 credits before progressing to the dissertation module. The table below outlines the core and core elective modules on this programme, and suggests modules which may be available for you to select from as elective modules. Please note that these may not be offered every year. Please check with the Programme Director or Programme Administrator. Module Title SITS Code 5 Module Credits Core/ Elective Can be Compensated? Advancing Nursing NMM001 15 C N 7 Knowledge Research Methods NMM003 15 C N 7 MSc Dissertation NMM004 60 C N 7 Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan Physical Examination: a Systems Approach NMM078 15 C N 7 Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan Introduction to History Taking and Physical NMM026 15 C N 7 Level
Examination Advanced Clinical Practice NMM053 15 C N 7 Independent and NMM110 30 CE N 7 Supplementary Non Medical Nurse Prescribing Medicines Management NMM024 15 CE N 7 Work-Based Projects ( Level NMM055 15 E N 7 7) Biological foundations in NM3301 15 E N 6 clinical practice and related pharmacology Science in Health Care NMM013 15 E N 7 Practice Psychology at Work NMM049 15 E N 7 Education in the Workplace CHM002 15 E N 7 (mentorship module) Leadership for Practice and NMM015 15 E N 7 Service Delivery Psychology at Work NMM049 15 E N 7 Leading and Facilitating NMM109 15 E N 7 Learning in Practice Public health & society NMM123 15 E N 7 Philosophy & politics of NMM087 15 E N 7 primary health care Clinical Decision Making in NMM381 15 E N 7 Neonatal Practice Neonatal Surgical Care NMM317 15 E N 7 Promoting Child and NMM006 15 E N 7 Adolescent psychological development Child protection: Working NMM400 15 E N 7 together with risk and resilience Quality management & HMM006 15 E N 7 action evaluation Leading and managing HMM008 15 E N 7 change Dysphagia & disorders of HCM007 15 E N 7 eating and drinking Information and EDM107 15 E N 7 communication technology in higher education Academic leadership EDM113 15 E N 7 Student support and personal tutoring EDM118 15 E N 7 TO WHAT KIND OF CAREER MIGHT I GO ON? This programme has been developed to allow you the greatest possible flexibility in 6
developing specialist skills and knowledge at a highly demanding academic and practical level. The programme will prepare you for a range of roles including Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Consultant and Clinical Leadership. If you would like more information on the Careers support available at City, please go to: http://www.city.ac.uk/careers/for-students-and-recent-graduates. WHAT PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE? If you are undertaking this route you must be registered with the NMC and be able to confirm mentorship from either a doctor or Advanced Nurse Practitioner within your workplace. You must work at least one day per week in a clinical setting in which advanced practice skills can be acquired. WILL I GET ANY PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION? Accrediting Body: Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Nature of Accreditation - Those students undertaking the NMM110 Prescribing module are eligible for registration with the NMC as an independent and supplementary prescriber. Please see: http://www.nmcuk.org/documents/standards/nmcstandardsofproficiencyfornurseandmidwifeprescr ibers.pdf for further information HOW DO I ENTER THE PROGRAMME? All entrants to the Programme must be in possession of relevant first degree. Applicants without a first degree will be considered and may be required to undertake a module in biological sciences. Applicants would normally be expected to have been practicing as a registered nurse for at least one year and be working at an advanced clinical level or aiming to do so. For students whose first language is not English, the following qualifications will meet the English language requirement for entry to a post graduate course of study: - A first degree from a UK university - A first degree from an overseas institution recognised by the University as providing adequate evidence of proficiency in the English language, for example, from institutions in Australia, Canada or the USA - International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) a score of 7.0 is required - Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (computer based) score 107 required. - Pearson Test of English (Academic) score 72 required - Other evidence of proficiency in the English language, which satisfies the board of studies concerned. not put an additional burden on these applicants 7
A special condition of entry applies to the following students of the PG Dip in Nursing in the former City University School of Nursing and Midwifery. Programmes pre 2004: advanced standing for 100 level 7 credits and 5 level 6 credits September 2004 curriculum: advanced standing for 105 level 7 credits September 2005 & September 2009 curricula: advanced standing for 90 level 7 and 15 level 6 credits. The above students may enter the MSc Nursing with advance standing in respect of the credits awarded during their PG Dip.APL/AP(E)L Requirements The School has an AP(E)L process which students may use on entry to the programmes. The regulations permit students to AP(EL) 45 credits. Version: 1.0 Version date: July 2012 For use from: 2012-13 8