Nursing (Learning Disability)

The Nursing and Midwifery Council introduced new national educational standards – Future Nurse Standards of Proficiency for registered Nurses in 2018. The curriculum from September 2021 onwards, is based on these standards for nurse education.

The primary aim of being a learning disabilities nurse is to support the well-being and social inclusion of people with learning disabilities; through improving or maintaining physical and mental health to live full and rewarding lives within their communities. You need to be committed and dedicated with the willingness to give time to others with care and compassion.

During this course – thanks to strong links with service providers across the region – we are able to offer a range of placement opportunities embedded within all three years of the course.

You will benefit from shared learning opportunities with students from the other fields of nursing practice, but will also engage in field of practice specific learning opportunities throughout the programme, to ensure that you develop your identity, skills and knowledge within the learning disabilities field of nursing practice.

Key features

• The programme is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and upon graduation of the programme, you will be eligible to register with the NMC.

• We have more than 50 years of teaching experience, enabling us to deliver high-quality professional education to our diverse studentship.

• Graduates are eligible to apply for registration, and registered nurses can start on a salary of more than £25,655 (NHS pay scales 2020/21).

• Study in our purpose-built facilities which comprise clinical skills suites, a moving and handling area, a cardiopulmonary resuscitation room and a sensory room – allowing you to apply theory to practice in a safe environment.

• Our strong links and integrated work placements with local health and social care providers allow you to experience real-world situations.

• Students have gained valuable international experience as part of their studies with our DMU Global programme. Our students have previously taken part in healthcare programmes in Peru, improved the health of communities in India and examined the social and health inequalities faced by specific populations in the US.

Uniform policy

All students will be required to adhere to a uniform policy when in practice, in which they must be bare below the elbow. This is non-negotiable as it is an infection prevention requirement to safeguard the health and safety of all students and service users.

FIRST YEAR:
Practice Experience 1
Transition into Higher Education
Foundations of Nursing Practise
Foundations of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology
Influences on Wellbeing
Foundations of Field of Practise

SECOND YEAR:
Practice Experience 2
Research and Evidence Based-Practice
Primary Care – Patient Journey 1
Acute Care – Patient Journey 2
Complex Care – Patient Journey 3

THIRD YEAR:
Practice Experience 3
Critical inquiry and research proposal
Leadership and Service Improvement
Managing Complexities in Nursing Practise
Consolidating Care and Professional Practise

Learning is supported by a strong system of personal tutors, teaching teams, academic assessors, practice work placements and enthusiastic practice supervisors and assessors. Teaching methods include lectures (face-to-face and online), seminars, webinars, workshops, presentations, tutorials and many more. Practice is assessed through the completion of your practice documentation which reflects the standards required by the NMC (2018) for Future Nurse Proficiencies. Theory is assessed through academic assessments including; assignments, reports, examinations, workbooks, screencast presentations and case studies.