This module is only open to students undertaking the BSc. (Hons) Specialist Practice - Community Nursing in the Home - District Nursing award

All students undertaking this module must have access to a designated and registered practice mentor (Community Practice Teacher/Educator, Sign-off Mentor) in a practice placement area
This practice component is 50% of the award as per NMC Standards for Specialist Practice

Jones-Devitt, S. & Smith, L. (2007) Critical Thinking in Health and Social Care. London. Sage
Means, R., Richards, S. & Smith, R. (2008) Community Care. 4th Edition. Basingstoke. Palgrave Macmillan
Sines, D., Appleby, F. & Frost, M. (2005) Community Healthcare Nursing. 3rd Edition. London. Blackwell

A PORTFOLIO weighted at 100% ( contributes to meeting all LO's )

A framework to ensure competency in practice which is assessed as pass/fail

Both elements of assessment must be passed

Additional Assessment Details (include formative feedback / assessment)::
Group work, case scenarios, presentations.

This module will provide an opportunity for students to explore the theory that supports the practice of district nursing with particular emphasis on:
- Impact and influence of policy on practice
- Legal and ethical issues
- Self awareness, reflection in and on practice, discourse analysis, critical incident analysis
- Nursing models and approaches to care
Developments, philosophies and principles underpinning practice

Students will be able to critically reflect on innovative practice and its influence in new ways of working
The integration of theory and practice within this module will enable the student to understand and apply the principles of patient assessment and caseload management
Content will include:
- assessment skills and approaches in identifying need
- care co-ordination and care planning for individuals and groups
- introduction to the management of long term conditions
- Client involvement and empowerment and identifying and addressing the needs of vulnerable group
- Therapeutic relationships, intervention strategies, counselling skills: assessment and diagnostic techniques; health education, prevention and promotion: screening, surveillance and public health agendas
- The necessity to manage risk and difficult situations when managing care for vulnerable individuals
- Leadership in District Nursing

Contact Hours: (48)
34 hours - interactive lectures, group work, student seminars and blackboard support
10 hours - Critical incident and reflective discussion
4 hours - Student based activities

Independent Study Hours: (102)
82 hours - Independent learning activities based on critical reflectyion of the students own needs. This might include shadowing and visits to alternative practice settings, reflective writing/journals, SLOT analysis, learning contracts, action planning
20 hours - The importance of the patient experience and patient carer experience achieved through the series of patient observations and stories
112 days (50% clinical practice requirement) - Experiential learning in practice setting

Community Practice Teacher/Educator, Sign-off Mentor
Clinical Practice Placement
IT Equipment
Blackboard VLE
Library Support and Resources