Advanced Practice - Community Children’s Nursing

Year 1

In year one of study, you will be learning and exploring topics around Leading Innovation in Advancing Healthcare Practice. Within the Clinical Assessment and Examination for Advancing Community Children’s Nursing, and Advancing Practice in Community Children’s Nursing theory, you will be equipped with knowledge around assessment and examination for children within the context of a variety of community settings.

Year 2

In year two, students will explore concepts of Research and Evidence for Advancing Healthcare Practice. They will also either undertake the Prescribing for Healthcare Practitioners theory or complete two 15 credit elective modules of their choice. In addition, a 10-week Practice Learning Experience (PLE) will support students to demonstrate their learning and achievement of the NMC SPQ proficiencies. This PLE will support consolidation of the learning from the course.

Year 3

Students will complete an Advancing Practice Dissertation Project. This learning will enable them to undertake study of an area of practice using a robust and systematic process which will inform future practice or further study. This learning will build upon the research skills and knowledge established within year two.

PgDip/MSc Advanced Practice Programme

The PgDip/MSc Advanced Practice course will equip you with contemporary knowledge to take forward the rapidly changing healthcare agenda and make a positive difference. 

The programme includes four different specialism routes which prepare you for a range of people and situations to deliver safe, effective and person-centred care at a higher level of practice. You will explore professional and clinical implications of working as an autonomous practitioner and develop the leadership skills to advance and lead innovative healthcare services. The four routes are:

• Community Children's Nursing
• District Nursing
• Health Visiting
• School Nursing

Applicants to all routes should be sponsored/supported by an NHS Board or appropriate employer to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requirements for practice assessment.

Find out more:

Graduate Stories

Learning Methods

This is an online course taught within our virtual environment, Moodle, and a variety of teaching and learning resources are applied throughout the theoretical learning and applied to CCN area of practice.

We offer a range of assessments on this programme includes essays, exams, portfolios and an oral virtual exam. Also, as part of the work-based module achievement of Practice Assessment Document (PAD) including the SPQ, NMC proficiencies which must be meet.

Students need to have a reliable broadband connection and further develop their digital literacy to be able to participate in online learning.

How long is an Advanced Practice - Community Children’s Nursing course?

The Community Children’s Nursing course can be successfully completed in 36 months studying online part time.

Activity Summary

• Lectures - 10 students per group, 4 hours per week
• Seminars - 10 students per group, 2 hours per week
• Webinar - 10 students per group, 2 hours per week
• Tutorials - 10 students per group, 2 hours per week
• Project Supervision - 10 students per group, 1 hour per week
• Independent study - 12 hours per week
• Placement/work based learning - 36 hours week for 10 weeks in year 2

Independent Study

As adult learners, the resources and directed learning will be available for you to work through in a timely manner. The materials and learning activities are designed to be accessible and inclusive to all. In addition, to accessing the materials within specific modules it is expected that individuals widen their reading to develop further analytical and critical thinking skills.

Assessment  

Typically students are assessed via:

Year 1

• 1 written assignment, including essay
• Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

Year 2

• 2 written exams, one taking 30 minutes, one taking 2 hours
• 2 written assignments, including essay

Year 3

• 1 dissertation of 7,000 words
• Practice learning experience assessment documentation to demonstrate proficiency in accordance with the NMC

Feedback

We aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of hand-in for all written exams, coursework and practical exams.

Staff Delivering on this Course

Staff on this course are experienced healthcare lecturers and include Children and Young People nurses from a variety of paediatric backgrounds. Many of which were practicing at advanced levels in practice prior to joining academia. To ensure contemporary CCN content there will also be a variety of guest speakers and staff who hold SPQ CCN qualification who help develop and deliver some of the content. The lecturers who teach on this course are qualified Healthcare Professionals who hold a teaching qualification, with a wide range of experience from varied healthcare settings. They also have educational and research experience.

Placements

Students will undertake practice learning experiences as part of this course.  

Practice Learning Experience (PLE) requirements: 

• Community Children’s Nurse - one 10-week (360 hours WTE) PLE

If you elect to undertake the Prescribing for Healthcare Practitioners module, you will require supervision by a Prescribing Practice Assessor and supervisor during a 90-hour practice learning experience. You will explore professional and clinical implications of working as an autonomous practitioner and develop the leadership skills to advance and lead innovative healthcare services. You will also explore a range of strategies and approaches to address the health care needs of CYP and develop skills when making informed judgement surrounding complex influencing factors associated with providing CYP care in the community.

Job Prospects

The programme prepares students to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requirements of being annotated as a Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ) Community Children’s Nurse.

This programme will prepare you for an advanced role in a range of healthcare settings. You will develop the decision-making, research and leadership skills required to deal with complex situations. The programme is designed to allow you to continue and develop your knowledge and skills within your own areas of practice, enabling you to accelerate your career progression.

Entry Requirements

What is needed to study PgDip/MSc Advanced Practice - Community Children’s Nursing?

The minimum entry requirement for this programme will normally be an honours degree or its equivalent.

In addition, because of the practice-based nature of the programme, all students must be working in clinical practice or sponsored by a Health Board/appropriate employer and have access to a practice assessor/practice supervisor.  

Additional Requirements

To enter this route, the student must be an NMC registered nurse (level 1) or NMC registered midwife capable of safe and effective practice at the level of proficiency appropriate to the NMC-approved Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN).

Acceptance is based on having acceptable references from two sources and a satisfactory Protection of Vulnerable Groups. When a student is sponsored by an organisation this will be considered as the equivalent of one reference.

All students will require the guarantee of being able to obtain the relevant practice experience in School Nursing with the relevant support of a Practice Supervisor(s) and a Practice Assessor.

A self-declaration of good health and character will be undertaken as part of the admission process and will be repeated on practice learning experiences.

Any self-funded applicant will be given the advice to contact a relevant practice learning partner to seek practice learning experience and contract. Applicants will be supported to meet the conditions required for undertaking practice learning experiences.

 English Language Requirements

All routes must meet the NMC English standard requirement

We accept a variety of in-country and secure English language tests, find out more:

Please note, some courses may require a higher standard of English than stated in this page. Contact admissions@rgu.ac.uk for further information.

Academic Year 2026/2027

UK Students

Part Time

• £3,010 for year 1
• £2,920 for year 2
• £2,920 for year 3

This course is not open to EU or international Students.

Academic Year 2025/2026

UK Students

Part Time

• £3,210 for Stage 1
• £3,210 for Stage 2
• £2,130 for Stage 3

This course is not open to EU or international Students.

Additional Costs

• £59 for Protecting Vulnerable Group (PVG) check