Nursing Science Registered Nurse (Learning Disabilities) BSc (Hons)
Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Nursing. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.
112 UCAS Tariff points
From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.
Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator
Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions. We have a range of schemes and alternative offers to make sure as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to study at our University regardless of personal circumstances or background. To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo
Subject Requirements:
There are no specific subject requirements for this course.
GCSE Requirements:
Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.
Additional Requirements:
Applicants will be required to attend an interview. Admission is subject to a suitable DBS Enhanced Certificate and a satisfactory health check. Applicants must meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council's suitability for registration requirements.
International Qualifications:
We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.
If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English Language Requirements:
International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 7.0 with 6.5 in each component or Occupational English Test (OET) with at least a grade B (350 to 440) in reading, listening and speaking, and at least a grade C+ (300 to 340) in writing.
For further admissions guidance and requirements, please visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/admissionsguidance Please review this information before submitting your application.
UK Fee in Year 1: TBC
* The maximum tuition fee that we are permitted to charge for UK students is set by government. Tuition fees may increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, these are subject to government regulations and in line with inflation.
International Fee in Year 1:
ADDITIONAL COSTS
You will be required to purchase a fob watch and suitable footwear for use in placement, which will cost approximately £80. You will need to pay for your own travel costs, which may be approximately £800 per year depending on your placement location. You may be eligible to claim reimbursement of travel costs from the NHS Business Authority. Up to date information relating to this can be found at: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/student-services. If using a car to attend placement, you may also need to pay parking charges of approximately £200 per year. On completion of the programme you will be eligible to register with the Nursing Midwifery Council and the cost is approximately £120.
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
LE4001 -
Introduction to Evidence Based Practice in Health and Ill Health Registered Nurse Learning Disability (20 Credits)
This module begins your journey into becoming a learning disability nurse. You will learn about the fundamental values, skills and knowledge required and gain insight into the context of care for people with a learning disability and the indifferent perceptions of society.
You will explore the aetiology of learning disabilities including environmental and genetic causes. You will also be introduced to the needs of people with a learning disability and consider how the specialist learning disability nurse applies holistic care to meet those needs. Key themes, including equality and societal values will be an integral part of this module.
Subjects will include; the diverse roles of a learning disability nurse, genetics, person centeredness and how to develop your emotional intelligence. As well as communication, implementing value based safe and effective care and professionalism.
You will explore the experiences of people with a learning disability and their families/carers. This will be done through clinical practice by engaging with experts by experience and practitioners specialising in learning disability. This module enables you to discover and develop your value base, which will enable you to challenge discrimination.
You will also discover how to search and apply the relevant evidence base in learning disability nursing.
LE4002 -
Applied Life and Social Sciences, Planning and Evaluating Care (20 Credits)
Nurses in all fields require an in-depth knowledge of anatomy, physiology and physical and mental health problems across the age spectrum. These are considered an essential basis for safe and effective practice. This module will enable you to apply biosciences to understand the determinants of health- social, psychological, behavioural, environmental and genetic factors and how they impact on health at a physical and psychological level. You will develop an understanding of the functioning of the body at different levels (cell, tissue, organ, system) and how this knowledge will assist you in delivering safe, holistic, compassionate nursing care.
This module builds on the knowledge gained in Semester 1 (Module LE4002, Introduction to evidence based practice in health and ill health). Nurses in all fields need to consider the importance of holistic assessment, including risk assessment.
In this module, you are offered opportunities to learn about supporting people with a learning disability and how to apply this knowledge to offer high quality and safe care to service users and their families. You will study the following;
• You will learn specifically about physical systems of the body and how this may effect someone with a learning disability within your practice.
• You will consider the psychological aspects of traumatic life events.
• You will consider the effects of certain syndromes on people with a learning disability and their families.
• Critical appraisal of contemporary evidence.
Topics you will cover include:
• Anatomy and physiology
• Good Physical and Mental Health
• Deterioration in physical and mental health
• An understanding of how drugs and medicines interact within living systems
• Holistic Assessment, planning, delivering and evaluating care.
• Introduction to consent and legal frameworks within learning disability services
• Introduction to Functional Analysis of Care Environments (FACE) risk assessment and narrative risk assessment
• Diabetes
• The role of the hospital liaison nurse
You will explore the experiences of people with a learning disability and their families or carers through meeting ‘Experts by Experience’ and practitioners specialising in learning disability. This module offers an opportunity to discover and develop your professional value set and your nursing skills regarding supporting people with a learning disability to stay healthy and safe.
NS0423 -
Practice Module 1: Becoming a Safe, Caring Professional (40 Credits)
This practice module will provide you with a unique opportunity to develop skills and knowledge directly relevant to your current practice placement experiences. The practice module will both support your learning while you are in practice and provide an environment, within university, to consolidate the skills and knowledge necessary to progress effectively. By using a concept curriculum approach, the nursing practice module will support you to learn how to become an accountable professional, lead and manage nursing care, and work in teams.
During the first year, you will learn the fundamental skills that are necessary for safe, effective and professional practice.
During the majority of your first year clinical placements you will return to university for two days a week to reflect on your experiences. You will learn together with your peers and examine theoretical concepts such as professionalism, interprofessional learning, medicines management and safeguarding that will enhance your practice. Seminars and workshops will focus on a range of subjects that will enhance your professional nursing practice. Innovative teaching and learning strategies will be used to enhance your learning, This will include the use of digital educational resources to support your learning in relation to concepts such as medicines management.
You will learn how to develop your Ongoing Record of Achievement (ORA) and how to reflect on your personal and professional development. You will learn about the importance of patient centred and recovery focussed approaches and will be asked to reflect on feedback given by Experts By Experience (EBE). These skills are the start of your development as an evidence-based practitioner.
NS0424 -
Nursing Skills 1: Introduction to Nursing Assessment Skills (20 Credits)
The content of Nursing Skills 1 will be informed by the proficiency standards outlined in Annex A and B in ‘Future Nurse: standards of proficiency for registered nurse’ (NMC 2018).
The module will introduce the concept of safe nursing practice and the proficiencies nurses need when undertaking the physical assessment of people of all ages. You will learn how to observe and assess people of all ages in terms of symptoms and signs of physical ill health. You will learn how to take, record and interpret a patient’s vital sign and use communication tools to support verbal and written reports. These skills and proficiencies will be supported by opportunities to participate in simulated education utilising a range of specialist technology and taught by experts. These nursing skills are directly relevant to your practice learning and include nursing procedures that are necessary for safe and effective patient care. Before your first placement you will complete a number of mandatory requirements, which will enable you to practice with confidence and ensure patient safety. The learning opportunities in this module are designed to support you to develop knowledge, which will inform the attainment of communication and relationship management skills and nursing procedures as identified as Part 1 in your Ongoing Record of Achievement (ORA).
NS0425 -
Nursing Skills 2: Development of Communication Skills and Nursing Interventions (20 Credits)
Nursing Skills 2 will build on the concept of communication and safe and effective practice which you have been introduced to in the previous skills module. You will further develop your communication and clinical skills relevant to your practice placement experiences. You will continue to learn a range of skills, such as recognition of the deteriorating patient, that are necessary for safe, effective and professional practice. You will have the opportunity to participate in simulated education utilising a range of specialist technology, including human patient simulators, and taught by a specialist module team of lecturers in nursing, midwifery and health.
You will consider and develop your nursing skills, acting with integrity, applying the principles of The Code (NMC, 2018). You will demonstrate your ability to practise in a holistic, individualised, person centred, non-judgemental, caring and sensitive manner, acknowledging the diverse needs of a contemporary society. You will continue to develop your understanding of team working and its importance in nursing practice. You will learn about the importance of person-centred care and effective communication skills. These learning opportunities will continue to help you gather evidence of your abilities and confidence and will inform your attainment of communication and safe and effective practice as identified as Part 1 in your Ongoing Record of Achievement (ORA).
RV5001 -
Academic Language Skills for Nursing, Midwifery and Health; Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.
The topics you will cover on the module include:
• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
LE5001 -
Capability, Empowerment and Capacity in Learning Disability Nursing (20 Credits)
This module continues your journey in becoming a learning disability nurse and will build on the concepts from year one. You will develop greater confidence and autonomy in the context of caring for people with a learning disability, whilst enhancing your skills and knowledge. This module will support you to further examine ethics, values and societal perceptions.
The philosophy of person centred care will form the basis of this module, allowing you to explore a range of contexts for safe care delivery. You will be given the opportunity to explore the experiences and challenges of people with a learning disability and their families; at key points in their lives.
You will explore the concepts of assessment, planning and evaluation of care in relation to the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and consider the safeguards involved in the protection of vulnerable people. You will also be supported to develop your knowledge on contemporary public health issues and the implications effecting the learning disability population. This module also offers an opportunity for you to examine your personal beliefs and values, whilst developing skills to empower others.
Topics you will cover include:
Prenatal diagnosis and diagnostic assessment, including non-invasive testing.
Child development.
Sexuality, sexual health and personal relationships.
Gender identity.
Deprivation of Liberty (DOL’s) and best interest principles.
Introduction to leadership, courage and professional challenges.
Skills for assessment including capacity and capability will be a core theme.
LE5002 -
Perspectives of Complex Care in Learning Disability Nursing (20 Credits)
On this module you will be offered opportunities to learn about supporting people with a learning disability in a variety of non-specialist and specialist practice provision. This will take place in health establishments such as; in GP surgeries, in health and social care provision and in schools. This learning spans the whole life time of people with a learning disability as services and patient needs change. You will learn about:
• Community Nursing
• Behavioural specialisms
• Health Facilitation
• Clinics in other health settings
• Health action plans
• Psychological therapies and patient ownership
• Person centeredness and working with families
Topics you will cover include:
• Practicing in challenging environments
• Practicing in primary health care settings
• Practicing in GP surgeries
• Learning Disability and health policy
• Championing the rights and health of people with a learning disability
• Teaching other health professionals
• Developing accessible information
• Clinical risk taking
• Understanding and utilising Positive Behavioural Support across communities of practice (PBS)
You will explore the experiences of people with a learning disability and their families or carers through meeting with service users and practitioners specialising in learning disability and through the eyes of non- specialist professionals. This module offers an opportunity to discover and develop your creativity, value base and skills of helping people with a learning disability to stay healthy and safe. This module will also allow you to consolidate your specialist communication skills building from the skills developed at level’s 4 and 5 (NS0423: Becoming a safe, caring professional in Learning Disability Nursing, NS0424: Introduction to nursing assessment skills, NS0425: Development of communication skills and nursing interventions, LE4001: Introduction to evidence based practice in health and ill health –Learning Disability Nursing, LE4002: Applied life and social sciences - planning and evaluating care, LE5001: Capability, empowerment and capacity in Learning Disability Nursing and NS0525: Developing evidence based skills for best practice)
You will be undertaking other modules focussing on specialist learning disability practice, alongside this module (NS0524: Developing shared decision making in Learning Disability Nursing and NS0526: Enhancing clinical skills for complex care)
NS0524 -
Practice Module 2: Developing Shared Decision Making (40 Credits)
This practice module will provide you with an opportunity to build upon and extend your portfolio of skills and knowledge relevant to your clinical practice. This module will both support your learning while you are in practice and provide an environment, within university, to consolidate the skills and knowledge necessary to progress effectively. By using a concept curriculum approach, the nursing practice module will support you to learn how to become an accountable professional, lead and manage nursing care, and work in teams.
During your module you will explore clinical decision making in practice through collaboration and partnership working. In your clinical placements you will return to university for two days a week to share your experiences with your peers and module tutors to help develop effective decision making. You will be provided with opportunities to critically reflect on your own role and professional responsibilities in making shared decisions for your continued development as a safe and effective student nurse. By using a developing concept curriculum approach, you will be able to practise safely and have an awareness of your own limitations, demonstrating increasing autonomy and independence when performing a range of practical skills. You will apply your developing knowledge of pharmacology, social and life sciences to nursing practice. Innovative teaching and learning strategies will be used to enhance your learning. This will include the use of digital educational resources to support your learning in relation to concepts such as medicines management. The module will also incorporate simulated practice learning hours to support you to develop appropriate nursing skills.
You will continue to develop your Ongoing Record of Achievement (ORA) and reflect on your personal and professional development as an evidence-based practitioner. You will reflect on the importance of patient and family centred approaches in addition to the effectiveness of patients and client feedback. Some of your learning will be online via online learning resources stored on BlackBoard Ultra as we help you to facilitate, and organise your independent learning.
NS0525 -
Nursing Skills 3: Developing Evidence-Based Skills for Best Practice (20 Credits)
This module will build on the concepts from year one and introduce more complex skills linked to the proficiency standards outlined in Annex A and B ‘Future Nurse: Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurse’ (NMC, 2018). This will support your practice learning and help you further develop the knowledge and skills you have gained from your year one clinical placements. The module will help you develop greater confidence and autonomy, allowing you to contribute effectively to a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare providers. This skills module will support your learning while you are in practice and provide an environment, within university, to consolidate the skills and knowledge necessary to progress effectively. While in university you will also be updating, consolidating and learning new communication and relationship management skills, nursing procedures and elements of patient safety to ensure safe and effective practice.
More informationNS0526 -
Nursing Skills 4: Enhancing Clinical Skills for Complex Care (20 Credits)
The content of Nursing Skills 4 will be informed by the proficiency standards outlined in Annex A and B in ‘Future Nurse: Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurse’ (NMC, 2018).
This module will build upon your knowledge of medicine administration whilst being exposed to the challenges of complex care needs. You will learn about nursing interventions associated with people of all ages with complex care needs exploring the principles, approaches and concepts of safe nursing practice and the delivery of holistic care. You will build your knowledge of safe ethical medicines management with an emphasis on the clinical application of these skills and understanding. There will be a particular focus on the challenges of medicines optimisation in people with complex care needs, which requires understanding of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Alongside this you will learn to develop professional accountability to ensure safe administration of medicines including competency in drug calculation. You will continue to develop your understanding of team working and its importance in nursing practice.
RV5001 -
Academic Language Skills for Nursing, Midwifery and Health; Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.
The topics you will cover on the module include:
• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
LE6001 -
Transition to Accountable Practitioner in Learning Disability Nursing (40 Credits)
The module builds on the skills and knowledge that you have developed during the programme and supports your transition towards becoming a confident accountable practitioner. Scholarship within learning disability nursing will be embraced; this will enable you to critically analyse and challenge the status quo, demonstrating courage and professional curiosity. The module content encourages independent thinking skills and creativity. Research and practice development philosophy is explored, this will support your summative assessment which is a 6000 word Practice Project Proposal.
You will critically reflect upon a presenting operational, practice, or leadership challenge. In order to do this, you will explore contentious elements of people with learning disability receiving service support, healthcare, including consent & capacity, advocacy, global health priorities and health economics. Patient safety and cost effectiveness are competing forces in learning disability healthcare and community services, you will examine this paradox alongside the maintenance of high-quality care with finite resources. Human factors within organisations and/or systems are paramount to its success, you will appraise the evidence, particularly in relation to working within teams. Archived serious case reviews, critical incidents and governance will be critically analysed. This will promote understanding of organisational culture and professionalism, increasing your determination and resilience to become a competent accountable practitioner. Research and practice development provide rich evidence to support innovation and action. The module will develop your ability to analyse and select appropriate methods of research/practice development to fulfil the summative assessment requirements and prepare you for the future.
NS0621 -
Practice Module (3) Leadership, Quality and Team Work (40 Credits)
In this third year module which is based in practice, your learning will be predominantly online via BlackBoard Ultra. This will be supported with some additional face to face seminars to explain expectations as we help you to facilitate greater independent learning as you transition to become a registered nurse. This module will provide you with the opportunity to advance your skills and knowledge directly relevant to your third year practice placement experiences and prepare you for working life as a registered nurse. It will specifically focus on leadership, quality and team work.
By using a concept curriculum approach, the nursing practice module will support you to become an accountable professional, working in teams to lead and manage quality nursing care. Within the context of your practice placements you will critically reflect and debate contemporary theories and explore service improvement models, which support sustainable service improvement. Applying your knowledge of team and Interprofessional working you will learn how to coordinate safe and effective high quality care. This will include a collaborative approach embedding the views of service users, lay carers and colleagues in the delivery and enhancement of care. You will be provided opportunities to critically reflect on your own personal and professional responsibility for your continued development as a manager and future leader of service improvement. You will learn how to manage uncertainty and put into practice the strategies that develop resilience in yourself and others.
Through dynamic learning opportunities in practice you will gather evidence to aid completion of your North East Electronic Practice Assessment Document (NEEPAD). Through critical reflection and self-assessment you will complete your Ongoing Record of Achievement (ORA) demonstrating your capability and readiness for independent practice. This demonstrates to a future employer that you are fit to practise as a registered nurse caring for people of all ages and across all care settings.
NS0622 -
Nursing Skills 5: Leading and Improving Safety and Care Quality (20 Credits)
Nursing Skills 5 will build on the concepts from years 1 and 2 and further enhance your skills. The module focuses on aspects of leadership to build your competence in the delivery of safe and effective person-centred care. You will update and explore in greater depth skills you acquired in previous years, including mandatory skills and a range of more advanced techniques and procedures whilst preparing you for your role as a newly qualified nurse. In addition, you will build on your knowledge and experience of safe nursing practice, promotion of health and medicines management in relation to caring for people with acute, complex and advanced conditions. You will develop advanced communication and nursing procedure skills as appropriate to your field of nursing.
More informationNS0623 -
Nursing Skills 6: Advancing Nursing Skills (20 Credits)
This module will consolidate the concepts and nursing interventions from the previous skills modules and be delivered following Nursing Skills 5. Building on your existing knowledge and skills you will enhance your development and become an agile skilled practitioner in your relevant field of nursing. You will be learning to apply high level communication and medicines management skills, previous knowledge and experience as well as your advanced knowledge of nursing procedures to prepare you for autonomous practice. History taking skills will be developed and used as a framework for enhanced assessment and care of people of all ages. A range of dynamic learning opportunities both in the simulated and real-life practice setting will help to generate evidence, which will aid you in the completion of your Ongoing Record of Achievement, demonstrating that you are capable of a high standard of competent, safe and independent nursing practice.
More informationRV5001 -
Academic Language Skills for Nursing, Midwifery and Health; Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.
The topics you will cover on the module include:
• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.
Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help. They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
Northumbria University is committed to developing an inclusive, diverse and accessible campus and wider University community and are determined to ensure that opportunities we provide are open to all.
We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.
You can use Northumbria’s AccessAble Guides anytime to check the accessibility of a building or facility and to plan your routes and journeys. Search by location, building or accessibility feature to find the information you need.
We are dedicated to helping students who may require additional support during their student journey and offer 1-1 advice and guidance appropriate to individual requirements. If you feel you may need additional support you can find out more about what we offer here where you can also contact us with any questions you may have:
Back to top