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Page last updated 2 September 2024
Introduction
On our MSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing, you'll study one of three specialist pathways in Occupational Health Nursing, School Nursing or Health Visiting. The course leads to professional registration on Part Three of the Nursing and Midwifery Council register.
Accreditations and partnerships:
MSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) is an innovative, future-focused course with three specialist pathways for health visitors, occupational health nurses and school nurses. The course meets a continuing demand for SCPHN practitioners in the UK, who can work autonomously and inclusively with children, employees and families within different settings.
This master's degree is aligned to the Public Health Knowledge and Skills Framework, supporting you to articulate your specialist skills within the wider public health workforce. You'll achieve the competencies set out in the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards of Proficiency for SCPHN (2022).
Established reputation
UWE Bristol has established a respected reputation as a trailblazer in this field, offering strong connections with professional practice. MSC SCPHN closely aligns with the University's Research Centre for Public Health and Wellbeing, with many members of the teaching team active in research.
The course is also led and supported by experienced academics from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including public health, social sciences, and environmental health. You'll be taught through flexible blended learning, combining face-to-face and online teaching, where you'll study alongside practitioners from different fields in a multi-professional learning environment.
Specialist career routes
MSc SCPHN is suitable for those working as registered nurses or midwives, or recent graduates from an undergraduate nursing or midwifery degree. This master's degree will give you clinical knowledge and skills at the forefront of public health nursing and provide a competitive professional qualification to support your career success.
On completion, you'll gain professional registration on Part Three of the NMC register as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, specialising in Occupational Health Nursing, School Nursing or Health Visiting. The course therefore opens the doors to a variety of healthcare routes in the public or private sectors.
Structure
Content
Year one
You'll study:
All pathways:
- Addressing Inequalities, Diversity and Inclusion
- Compassionate and Collaborative Leadership in Public Health (CCLPH)
- Health Promotion: Theory, Evidence and Practice
- Principles of Evidence Based Public Health.
Plus,
Health Visiting pathway:
- Promoting Health in the Early Years
- Specialist Practice in Health Visiting.
Occupational Health Nursing pathway:
- Specialist Practice in Occupational Health Nursing
- Work Based Health and Wellbeing.
School Nursing pathway:
- Promoting School Aged Health and Wellbeing
- Specialist Practice in School Nursing.
Year two
You'll study
All pathways:
- Dissertation
- Research and Project Management Skills.
This structure is for full-time students only. Part-time students study the same modules but the delivery pattern will be different.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.
Learning and Teaching
Designed to meet the diverse needs of learners, teaching and learning on the MSc SCPHN is flexible and focused on your individual learning needs as an adult learner.
Throughout the course, you'll take a critical perspective and consider a wide range of evidence, theory and perspectives in your application of knowledge to practice. You'll also be encouraged to think critically and reflect on your professional practice in a supportive and safe environment. Where possible, you'll work collaboratively and draw on the lived experience of service users.
You'll engage in a range of interactive learning methods, such as large and small group teaching, case study discussions, debates, e-learning packages, simulation and self-directed study. You'll also receive personalised study skills support, including a bespoke academic skills package for SCPHN learners before and during your studies.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Study time
During Year one of your course, you'll spend approximately 50% of your time applying your knowledge to practice in a professional setting. You'll spend the other 50% of your time learning theory through online and in-person teaching, as well as self-directed study. You'll be able to plan your learning experiences and opportunities in collaboration with your practice and academic assessors.
In the second year, you'll have the opportunity to pursue in-depth autonomous and independent study. You'll choose a particular topic relevant to SCPHN practice, which you'll study with the support of an allocated research supervisor.
Assessment
Our formative and summative assessments enable you to demonstrate your skills development and knowledge application. The assessment tasks are co-designed with SCPHN practitioners and are workplace focused to assess your ability to apply knowledge to contemporary professional practice.
You'll complete a range of assessments which build on the skills and knowledge you've developed from your modules and the experience you'll gain in SCPHN practice. You'll be able to personalise your assessments for your chosen modules to best suit your strengths and learning needs and engage in dialogic feedback and critical reflection. You'll also receive frequent feedback from peers, teaching staff and academic assessors on your work.
Assessment methods include case studies, presentations, peer- and self-assessment activities, designing digital health promotion materials and completing a portfolio of evidence in practice. Your portfolio will contain structured reviews of your progress and tools such as practice assessments.
Learn more about assessments at UWE Bristol.