Postgraduate Certificate in Advancing Nursing Science

Course Description

This programme is designed to guide you, a qualified nurse, through a study journey that will advance your knowledge and skills in a defined speciality nursing practice area — either care of older people, cancer care, mental health care, or critical care. You will choose your speciality pathway at the start of the programme, and from there, you will orient all of your study work, research, reading, and assessments toward the chosen speciality. Gaining advanced knowledge and skills in your speciality will support your role and career development as a future nurse leader, as you navigate the complex, multi-disciplinary landscape of healthcare.

If you prefer not to specialise, and instead opt for a broader focus throughout your studies, you will graduate with a Postgraduate Certificate  in Advancing Nursing Science.

The programme embeds four key areas of practice that are widely recognised across advanced clinical practice in all nursing specialities: leadership, research, education, and clinical practice. Learning in a mixed-speciality group, you will be supported to develop a master’s level critical appreciation of these four areas of practice that are relevant to all. You will also be guided to apply this learning to your chosen speciality and/or other areas through directed learning, independent study, and specialist tutor support throughout the programme. You will learn from healthcare experts to critically appraise the research and evidence underpinning nursing practice in your chosen speciality and/or other areas, and you will analyse the challenges of practising as a leader at an advanced level within your professional context.

You will participate in modules that include mandatory lecturer-led activities such as class lectures, online sessions, tutorials, discussions, presentations, workshops, fora, and peer discussions that promote valuable peer-to-peer learning. As a master’s level student, you will be expected to engage not only in taught sessions but also in a wide range of directed and independent study activities to meet the programme’s learning outcomes.

Entry Requirements

Candidates who apply for this course will hold a:

• Applicants are required to be qualified nurses.
• Applicants are required to hold a full bachelor’s in Nursing with a minimum of 2:1 or 2:2 classification (First-Class Honours, Upper Second-Class Honours, Second-Class Honours).
• For those nurses who hold a foreign qualification, an IELTS 6.0 will be requested at admission stage.

In the case of mature students who do not possess all the formal required academic qualifications, then the RPL process could be applied such that if evidence of equivalent learning is found then the applicant could still be accepted in the course.

Such RPL process will subject applicants to an interview held with a board of experts within the field, chosen specifically by IDEA College, so as to verify their experiences and prior learning.

Target Audience

This programme targets:

• Qualified nurses holding a full bachelor’s in Nursing.

Career Paths

The programme prepares for positions such as and not limited to:

• This Degree aims to equip qualified nurses with the knowledge and skills needed to advance their own nursing practice in a defined speciality and/or in other area/s following a generic route.

Modules

You are required to complete all 3 compulsory modules (40 ECTS) to fulfil to the requirements of this Postgraduate Certificate

How you’ll be assessed

The course comprises:

• Evening classes for part-time courses.
• Classes held throughout the day for full-time courses.
• Guided learning, presentations, comprising synchronous online discussions, tutorials and/or videos.
• Self-study hours comprising research, reading and assignment work.

Assessment

Assessment is carried out via two mandatory components:

• Mini Studies
• Modular Assessment

The programme includes different forms of assessment which allow for and promote students’ critical engagement. The Modular (formative and summative assessment tasks) may include an in-class assignment and/or a home-based written assignment using diverse assessment tools which may take the form of online and in-class discussions, examinations, case studies, reports, proposals, essays, and presentations, etc., as applicable to the diverse modules.