Community Health Studies
(Children’s Community Nursing, District Nursing, Learning Disability Nursing
and Practice Nursing
(MSc / PgD / BSc (Hons)
About the course
Community healthcare is undergoing rapid and immense change following demographic, political
and structural changes. This award is funded by the Welsh Government and gives you an
understanding of the contemporary primary and community health agenda. The award also meets
the specific requirements from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) regarding community
nursing competence.
The NMC states that to achieve specialist practitioner status, graduates must have achieved
prescribed standards, both core and community-specific. When you successfully complete this
award, you will receive a specialist practitioner qualification in your chosen pathway. The pathways
available are Practice Nursing, Children’s Community Nursing, District Nursing, or Learning Disability
Nursing.
Course content
This programme is structured around the requirements of the NMC (2001) Standards for Specialist
Education and Practice.
Year 1:There are two core modules, Fundamentals of Community Practice and Decision Making, and
a Specialist Practitioner module which has both generic and pathway specific components.
Year 2: BSc- a Practice Project and for children’s community nurses a Continuing Health Care for
Children and Young People module.
Year 2: PgD, MSc- Research methods (and dissertation for the MSc option) and for children’s
community nurses a Continuing Health Care for Children and Young People module.
How you will study
The course requires two years’ part-time study and will consist of 40 academic days per year
(September to June). A variety of teaching and learning methods are adopted such as taught
sessions, tutorials, self directed study, blended learning, or distance learning (e learning).
In addition to the 40 academic days, you have to complete 40 clinical days. Ideally, you should be
working in a community setting, though if you are a direct entrant to a new speciality, placements
may be negotiated. While in practice, you will be assigned a sign-off mentor who will assess your
clinical competence. If you have undertaken the Fundamentals of Community Practice Module (30
credits) within the last five years, this can be transferred to the award.
Career potential
Undertaking this course ensures you will graduate with the knowledge, skills, competencies and
capacity to provide safe and effective nursing care in community settings. Additionally, having
employees with a specialist practitioner qualification is valued by nursing managers, commissioners
and the Welsh Government, and other Government agencies.
Entry requirements
Applicants must have a first level registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
For the BSc you must have acquired a credit rating of 120 credits at Level 5 (Diploma). If you have
not achieved 120 Level 5 credits, there is a process of some accreditation of prior and experiential
learning (APEL) you can undertake.
In addition to the above criteria, applicants wishing to undertake study at PgD level or MSc must also
possess a relevant degree.
Course length
Part-time 2 years
Further Details
Visit our website www.glam.ac.uk/hesas
Or telephone -01443 483136
The course is ideal for current community-based
practitioners and for nurses wishing to work in the
community setting. I was very impressed with the
facilities, the information given by the LRC, and the
support of the lecturers was first-class.
Helen E Lewis,
BSc (Hons) Community Health
Studies (Practice Nursing)