Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting), PGDip

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Community nurses

Course Overview

Our Postgraduate Diploma aims to develop Specialist Community Public Health Nursing Health Visiting (SCPHN HV) practitioners who are skilled at working autonomously in a range of public health community settings. Specialist Community Public Health Nurses play a crucial role in ensuring that children have the best start in life. They work in partnership with individuals and families, as well as working collaboratively with a range of different health professionals including nursery nurses, social workers, GPs and education. This programme will prepare you for work in complex and varied settings including homes, schools and the wider community. You will become a knowledgeable practitioner with excellent managerial and interpersonal capabilities.

This course is available full or part time, and all candidates must already be qualified nurses and / or midwives with various levels of experience. The programme has been designed to meet Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requirements and prepares candidates to support community health developments and promote health and well-being throughout the population. We provide a balance of theory and practice and provide candidates with a range of learning and teaching strategies. This approach allows students to be taught the theoretical principles within the university environment and later apply them within a professional environment, providing a critical link between academia and practice.

If studying a PGDip, it may be possible to upgrade to an MSc exit qualification during your studies however please note this will not be accredited by the NMC.

Why study at Swansea University?

This course is delivered through our School of Health and Social Care, giving you the benefit of our extensive cross-disciplinary teaching and research expertise. 

According to the most recent Research Excellence Framework results, 75% of research carried out at the School of Health and Social Care is 3* and therefore considerable in terms of reach and significance. Our focus on research outputs has resulted in a 21% increase in world-leading research (REF2021). This research expertise and excellence feed directly into our learning and teaching practice and your course content.

Your Specialist Community Public Health Nursing experience

Throughout the course your learning will be supported through 50% theory which is taught at university and 50% practical work placements. Your theory will be taught at our Singleton Park Campus, set in beautiful parkland overlooking Swansea Bay. You will cover a wide range of subject areas including public health, health promotion, using evidence and research, safeguarding and leadership and management.

Our Singleton Park Campus is home to our accredited cutting-edge Simulation and Immersive Learning Centre (SUSiM). Students on our SCPHN HV course will participate in Simulation Based Education (SBE), which will include group work and debriefing to capture the learning gained and recognised from different perspectives. Effective simulation facilitates safety by enhancing knowledge, behaviours, and skills within the curriculum. Simulation provides opportunities in which to develop non-technical skills, such as communication, decision-making, teamwork, clinical judgement, and leadership, which are safe and controlled so students are able to make mistakes, correct those mistakes in real time and learn from them, without fear of compromising patient safety.

Health Visiting Careers

On successful completion of our Postgraduate Diploma, you will gain the recordable qualification of Specialist Community Public Health Nurse Health Visitor. There will be an option to progress to part 2 of the programme in order to complete the dissertation module and to graduate with an MSc in SCPHN practice. Additional funding will be required in order to complete the final 60 credit dissertation module to gain the full Master’s degree.

Modules

We're currently reviewing our curriculum to enhance your learning experience and embed skills that will benefit your future career. This means that some modules may be subject to change.

Entry Requirements

We consider all applicants on their own merits and welcome applications from students with a wide range of qualifications.