If you are post-registration, completing the postgraduate diploma allows you to specialise in district nursing and primary care practice. You gain the knowledge and skills required to work with varied, and often vulnerable people, in the primary care setting.

You develop your expertise as an autonomous practitioner and leader with an evidence-based skills set that meets the challenges of contemporary practice. There are many opportunities within the course to share learning from your peers and other disciplines from across the primary care team.

If you complete the postgraduate diploma award you gain a Postgraduate Diploma Community Specialist Primary Care Nursing Ð District Nursing. You then have the option to complete a dissertation and graduate with an MSc Nursing (specialist practice district nursing). Please note additional funding is required for you to go on and complete a further 60 credit dissertation module for the award of MSc.

You complete a research-based module which potentially leads to the dissertation. This equips you to use policy and research to underpin and develop innovative practice and gives you the skills to frame a research question, take empirical research and write up an academic dissertation.

To meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards, your studies consists of 50% practice and 50% theory. They structure the postgraduate diploma to reflect the important balance of the practice elements, which are designated practice days or work-based learning. Consolidated practice enables you to work independently while remaining under the supervision of a practice teacher. The theoretical elements involve a mix of learning approaches including self-directed study days.