Nursing Studies MSc / Nursing Studies (Advanced Nursing Practice) MSc

Course content

What will you study on the MSc Nursing Studies/MSc Nursing Studies (Advanced Nursing Practice)?

The MSc Nursing Studies can be studied part-time and we offer an advanced practice pathway which can also be studied part-time.

In these programmes you will focus on:

• Research evidence and ways of asking research questions
• Methodological context, paradigms, different approaches to research design
• Designing a research proposal
• Research ethics and research processes
• Critical evaluation of published research in substantive area(s)
• Sampling methods
• Quantitative research methods;
• Qualitative research methods
• Mixing methods / methodologies
• Data analysis
• Dissemination of research findings in relevant contexts.

Nursing Studies - Part-time options

If you do not wish to study the full MSc, you may consider the option of a PGDip where you complete one core module of 30 credits and 90 credits of optional modules .

The postgraduate diploma consists of 120 credits, and includes a core module of 30 credits, and 90 credits of optional modules to complete the programme. The MSc consists of 180 credits including two core modules of 90 credits and 90 credits of optional modules to complete the programme.

A programme planning meeting with the Programme Leader will be arranged prior to choosing your modules. This meeting will allow you to focus on the specific modules you wish to study, discuss any Accreditation of Prior Learning and consider whether you wish to choose a work based learning approach to your final project/ dissertation or a traditional research methods/dissertation route.

Students wishing to receive the post-graduate diploma do not need to take the final 60 credit module.

A work based learning route:

• Advanced Practitioner Enquiry (30 credits)
• Work Based Learning Project (60 credits)

Optional modules

Please contact the Programme Leader prior to selecting your optional modules. A list of the modules that may be available can be found on our CPD health webpages.

The module aims to critically develop the student’s knowledge and skills to enable them to work effectively within the context of leadership and service development within the workplace. Students will be facilitated to develop and enhance their own leadership role within their chosen profession, and to critically explore and evaluate their own leadership style.

This module aims to provide managers and practitioners with the opportunity to explore legislation and policy directions in public and community services. There will be a focus on the impact of the practitioner’s role in leading the development of services in a way that gives high importance to quality enhancing.

The module aims to enable students to critically examine the concept of advanced practice and to apply their skills to advancing nursing practice in their own practice.

The module aims to critically develop the student’s knowledge and skills to enable them to work effectively within the context of leadership and service development within the workplace. Students will be facilitated to develop and enhance their own leadership role within their chosen profession, and to critically explore and evaluate their own leadership style.

This module aims to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a ‘professional learning and development project’ that is designed to plan how you will improve your own professional practice and understanding. You will reflect on and critically analyse your professional development and learning needs and action plan how these can be developed both through your Masters programme and beyond.

This module will develop your skills in research and inquiry methodologies in order to design a work based project that has the potential to improve practice. It will explore approaches to practitioner inquiry methods appropriate for your area of practice and enable critical reflection upon your role.

The aim of this module is to enable the experienced practitioner to develop the skills of physical assessment in order to apply this to their clinical area. It enables the student to undertake an autonomous assessment to start to plan appropriate care or referral for their patients. It provides the experienced practitioner with a more advanced knowledge base, communication skills and clinical examination to increase confidence and aid with patient care decisions.

This module is designed to support practitioners in developing the evidence based knowledge and skills required for undertaking safe, appropriate and cost effective independent and supplementary prescribing roles. This will be within the context of current legislation and local and national policy. An emphasis will be placed on a team and public health approach to prescribing decisions and practice. The module aims to build on the students existing knowledge base and physical assessment skills and further enhance autonomous practice. This module leads to a NMC recordable qualification.