General Practice Nursing
AdvCert

About this course

About

Language of instruction: English This course is designed to be taken over one academic year, in part-time mode. The course will consist of three modules. Two 30 credit modules will be taught over semesters one and two. Additionally, the two taught modules will be complimented with a work-based learning module which will be undertaken across semester one and two. The first module in semester one, NUS597, will provide students with key principles and knowledge required in general practice nursing, with a focus on the context of general practice nursing, health promotion, women's and men's health, communication and decision making when caring for the person with a long-term condition. The second module in semester two, NUS598, will build on this and examine wider aspects of the general practice nurse, including interpersonal skills, interprofessional working, innovation and leadership when delivering person-centred care for those living with a longterm condition. During the course students will also engage in 12 days (72 hours) of work-based learning and this will be captured as part of a non-credit bearing module, NUS599. Students will complete a portfolio that demonstrates how they have met the competencies outlined within the Career Pathway for General Practice Nursing Roles (NIPEC 2019). Details of the modules (Level 6) and corresponding credit values are provided below: NUS597 Key Concepts of General Practice Nursing 30 credits C NUS598 Enhancing the Role of the General Practice Nurse 30 credits C NUS599 GP Nursing portfolio C C - Compulsory

Attendance

2 semesters over 1 year - 1 week in university with alternate weeks in General Practice for work-based learning. There will be 12 university days and 12 practice based learning days over the academic year

Start dates

• September 2020

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Semester 1 -There will be a class test on week 6 (30%) on pathophysiology of diabetes/ chronic kidney disease and coronary heart disease.There will be an assignment (4000) words on a case study and reflection due on week 12

Semester 2 - There will be a presentation on a respiratory condition by week 8 (30%) and an assignment on innovative practice due on week 12 (70%)

Content

The content for each course is summarised on the relevant course page, along with an overview of the modules that make up the course.

Each course is approved by the University and meets the expectations of:

• the relevant generic national Qualification Descriptor
• the applicable Subject Benchmark Statement
• the requirements of any professional, regulatory, statutory and accrediting bodies.

Attendance and Independent Study

As part of your course induction, you will be provided with details of the organisation and management of the course, including attendance and assessment requirements - usually in the form of a timetable. For full-time courses, the precise timetable for each semester is not confirmed until close to the start date and may be subject to some change in the early weeks as all courses settle into their planned patterns. For part-time courses which require attendance on particular days and times, an expectation of the days and periods of attendance will be included in the letter of offer. A course handbook is also made available.

Courses comprise modules for which the notional effort involved is indicated by its credit rating. Each credit point represents 10 hours of student effort. Undergraduate courses typically contain 10- or 20-credit modules (more usually 20) and postgraduate course typically 15- or 30-credit modules.

The normal study load expectation for an undergraduate full-time course of study in the standard academic year is 120 credit points. This amounts to around 36-42 hours of expected teaching and learning per week, inclusive of attendance requirements for lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, fieldwork or other scheduled classes, private study, and assessment. Part-time study load is the same as full-time pro-rata, with each credit point representing 10 hours of student effort.

Postgraduate Master’s courses typically comprise 180 credits, taken in three semesters when studied full-time. A Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) comprises 60 credits and can usually be completed on a part-time basis in one year. A 120-credit Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) can usually be completed on a part-time basis in two years.

Class contact times vary by course and type of module. Typically, for a module predominantly delivered through lectures you can expect at least 3 contact hours per week (lectures/seminars/tutorials). Laboratory classes often require a greater intensity of attendance in blocks. Some modules may combine lecture and laboratory. The precise model will depend on the course you apply for and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. Prospective students will be consulted about any significant changes.

Assessment

Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods. Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes. You can expect to receive timely feedback on all coursework assessment. The precise assessment will depend on the module and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.

Coursework can take many forms, for example: essay, report, seminar paper, test, presentation, dissertation, design, artefacts, portfolio, journal, group work. The precise form and combination of assessment will depend on the course you apply for and the module. Details will be made available in advance through induction, the course handbook, the module specification and the assessment timetable. The details are subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.

Normally, a module will have 4 learning outcomes, and no more than 2 items of assessment. An item of assessment can comprise more than one task. The notional workload and the equivalence across types of assessment is standardised.

Calculation of the Final Award

The class of Honours awarded in Bachelor’s degrees is usually determined by calculation of an aggregate mark based on performance across the modules at Levels 5 and 6, (which correspond to the second and third year of full-time attendance).

Level 6 modules contribute 70% of the aggregate mark and Level 5 contributes 30% to the calculation of the class of the award. Classification of integrated Master’s degrees with Honours include a Level 7 component. The calculation in this case is: 50% Level 7, 30% Level 6, 20% Level 5. At least half the Level 5 modules must be studied at the University for Level 5 to be included in the calculation of the class.

All other qualifications have an overall grade determined by results in modules from the final level of study. In Master’s degrees of more than 200 credit points the final 120 points usually determine the overall grading.

Academic profile

The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 59% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.

Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (25%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (18%) or Lecturers (57%).

We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic staff (81%) are accredited fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.

The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise. The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff. This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.

Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.

Figures correct for academic year 2019-2020.

Modules

Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course.

Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list.

Year one

Key Concepts of General Practice Nursing

Year: 1

Status: C

This module is suitable for nurses working in general practice. It encourages students to explore the local, national and international context for their role. Nurses will develop their assessment, management and communication skills as a general practice nurse and in particular, will do this through focusing on the care of people living with long term conditions and their families/carers. This course is a compulsory module in the Advanced Certificate in General Practice Nursing. Assessment is 100% coursework.

Enhancing the Role of the General Practice Nurse

Year: 1

Status: C

This module complements the module 'Key Concepts of General Practice Nursing' by expanding on the knowledge required by General Practice Nurses across a range of long term conditions, to effectively care for people experiencing complexity and co-morbidity and by encouraging nurses to develop the leadership and innovation skills required to enhance quality care. This is a compulsory module in the Advanced Certificate in General Practice Nursing. Assessment is 100% coursework.

GP Nursing Portfolio

Year: 1

Status: C

This is a work based learning module for students completing the Advanced Certificate in General Practice Nursing. Students will complete a portfolio to demonstrate how they meet the competencies of the General Practice Nursing Framework for Northern Ireland (NIPEC 2019) and will be supported in practice by a supervisor.

Standard entry conditions

We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.

A level

The A Level requirement for this course is [Enter exact grades].nil - no A Level entry conditions

English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants
The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

• English language requirements
• Your country

Additional Entry Requirements

Applicants must: (a) have gained a Certificate of Higher Education or an equivalent standard in an approved alternative qualification; [and] (b) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent); or as an alternative to (a) and/or (b): (c) provide evidence of their ability to undertake the programme through the accreditation of prior experiential learning. And (d) be a first level registered nurse working in a general practice setting.

Careers & opportunities

Career options

This is a recognised course with competencies approved by the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council (NIPEC) and will be a foundation for a career pathway as a General Practice Nurse

Work placement / study abroad

There must be a named practice based supervisor for the 12 practice based learning days. A portfolio will be completed during this time and must be passed in order to achieve the PGcert award

Apply

Start dates

• September 2020

Contact

Evelyn Walton- e.walton@ulster.ac.uk

For more information visit

• Faculty of Life and Health Sciences
• School of Nursing

Disclaimer

1. The University endeavours to deliver courses and programmes of study in accordance with the description set out in this prospectus. The University’s prospectus is produced at the earliest possible date in order to provide maximum assistance to individuals considering applying for a course of study offered by the University. The University makes every effort to ensure that the information contained in the prospectus is accurate but it is possible that some changes will occur between the date of printing and the start of the academic year to which it relates. Please note that the University’s website is the most up-to-date source of information regarding courses and facilities and we strongly recommend that you always visit the website before making any commitments.
2. Although reasonable steps are taken to provide the programmes and services described, the University cannot guarantee the provision of any course or facility and the University may make variations to the contents or methods of delivery of courses, discontinue, merge or combine courses and introduce new courses if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Such circumstances include (but are not limited to) industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key staff, changes in legislation or government policy including changes, if any, resulting from the UK departing the European Union, withdrawal or reduction of funding or other circumstances beyond the University’s reasonable control.
3. If the University discontinues any courses, it will use its best endeavours to provide a suitable alternative course. In addition, courses may change during the course of study and in such circumstances the University will normally undertake a consultation process prior to any such changes being introduced and seek to ensure that no student is unreasonably prejudiced as a consequence of any such change.
4. The University does not accept responsibility (other than through the negligence of the University, its staff or agents), for the consequences of any modification or cancellation of any course, or part of a course, offered by the University but will take into consideration the effects on individual students and seek to minimise the impact of such effects where reasonably practicable.
5. The University cannot accept any liability for disruption to its provision of educational or other services caused by circumstances beyond its control, but the University will take all reasonable steps to minimise the resultant disruption to such services.