Critically Exploring Professional Practice
Postgraduate
MSc/PgDip/PgCert
Nursing (Block and Blend)
School of Health and Society
Attendance
Full-time
Course
One year
Next enrolment
September 2024
In a nutshell
International applicants: please check the international intakes page for the latest information and application dates.
The MSc Nursing will empower you to take forward your practice and patient care through critically exploring professional biography, the therapeutic relationship and embedding an evidence-based and person-centred approach to care. By studying modules relevant to contemporary clinical practice, you take control of your personal, professional and academic development whilst engaging in critical debate about the issues at the forefront of nursing practice. You will gain skills in applying new knowledge to your practice and achieve mastery of nursing related to your chosen award.
You will:
- Develop a mastery of contemporary nursing knowledge and practice.
- Enhance your professional credibility.
- Develop personal confidence to influence nursing.
International
students accepted
All about the course
Our 'Block and Blend' learning route enables you to study both face-to-face and at home. In semester one, you will study two modules in the University face to face and the remaining modules can be studied online with remote supervision and access to all teaching and learning materials. The final dissertation is online, where you will receive supervision and access to training materials.
We also offer our MSc Nursing programme as a two-year or three-year part-time course, with a range of pathways to choose from. Please note, the part-time course options are not available for international students. See the MSc Nursing programme page for further details.
MSc Nursing (Block and Blend) course structure:
- Semester one, face-to-face: Critically Exploring Professional Practice (30 credits) + one optional module (30 credits).
- Semester two, online learning: Research Methods Online (30 credits) + one optional module (30 credits).
- Semester three, distance learning: Dissertation (60 credits).
Core modules
This module focuses on your professional development as a nurse and is designed to support your critical analysis of yourself and professional practice.
Online: Research Methods
This module will allow you to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of a range of research techniques that can be applied to a variety of research and scholarly situations. It will also allow you to evaluate critically the purpose, process and products of research activity and systematically apply appropriate research techniques to explore and examine identified questions and problems. You will also be able to critically reflect on their role as a researcher and the implications for developing new insights and evidence based practice.
Dissertation
Topic and assessment negotiated with supervisor relevant to programme aims and outcomes and specific award where appropriate.
Either:
a) Systematic literature review or
b) Project.
Semester one optional modules
Diagnosis, Classification and Prevention of Diabetes
Within this module, you will be able to explore the definition of diabetes together, with its classificatory typologies. You will be able to critically discuss the contributing factors associated with diabetes together with the pathophysiology and clinical features of this condition. The recent diagnostic criteria for diabetes will be discussed together with the problems likely to be faced by clinicians when adopting this approach in the presence of other pathologies. You will discuss the importance of appropriate health education models likely to prevent the occurrence of diabetes.
Therapeutic Relationships in Nursing
This module will encourage you to deepen your knowledge about the nurse-patient relationship.
Therapeutic Advances in Diabetes and Self-Care Management
This module will enhance your understanding of the recent pharmacological innovations in the management of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. You will also be made aware of their activities and likely side-effects on the person with diabetes. It will also equip you with self-care models which will empower people to effectively manage their diabetes.
Leading Education in Academic Practice
- Critically apply the theoretical underpinning to leading classroom based or academic learning
- Lead and facilitate learning within a professional and inter-professional learning and working environment
Leading Education in Practice
- Critically examine the theory, research base and impact of the drivers for health and social care reform on leading practice education
- Identify a clear theory and/or research base in the design of practice learning, teaching and assessment
End of Life Care
The module is designed to help you to understand the concepts of palliative and end of life care across all fields of practice and disease boundaries as well looking at this area from a broad perspective whilst trying to provide an innovative approach to teaching and learning.
Tissue Viability
You will learn to critically review and apply relevant concepts and knowledge of care that underpins excellence in care delivery within the specialism of tissue viability. You will build upon your knowledge and skills to a point where you can critically apply theory and practice int he management and care of patients in tissue viability.
Semester two optional modules
Online: Diagnosis, classification and prevention of diabetes
The aim of this module is to demonstrate a systematic understanding and critical awareness of a person-centred approach to diagnosis, classification and prevention of diabetes.
Online: Inflammatory bowel disease
The aim of this module is to critically review and apply the relevant concepts, knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to professionally care for a patient with inflammatory bowel disease, utilising relevant up-to-date evidence. Empower an evaluation of the practitioners’ knowledge and skills to enable a critical appraisal of issues related to inflammatory bowel disease.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
The School of Health and Society
The School of Health and Society is a forward-thinking, dynamic school with a commitment to lifelong learning and real-world impact.
Our courses are informed by the latest research and we work closely with organisations from both the public and private sector to ensure our teaching is at the forefront of practice. The school is home to state-of-the-art healthcare Simulation Suites.
Service User and Carers Group
Our Nursing Service Users and Carers Group (SU&C) is a collective group of service users, carers and parents who have past and current lived experience of engaging with local healthcare services and or providing care for family or friends. The group shares their breadth and wealth of expertise and diverse lived experiences in an open genuine, generous and frank manner with students to ensure that the voices of the public, patients and carers are fully heard and represented in the nursing curriculum.
What about after uni?
On graduation, nurses will have achieved mastery of their chosen field and will be better equipped to influence the future of nursing based on current evidence. You will have the underpinning theoretical knowledge to support your innovative clinical practice.
Completing the master's course will enable you to exercise more choice in your career and to consider applying for senior posts within your organisation with greater confidence. You will be able to move into clinical nurse specialist positions, practice education facilitator roles, research posts and management positions.
The MSc Nursing provides an opportunity for students to work alongside experienced lecturers and develop their research and evidence-based skills. On completion of the MSc Nursing programme, there is the opportunity to progress on to Doctoral courses, Professional Doctorate in Health and Social Care, and traditional PhD routes.
Career Links
This course is suitable for any healthcare industry and encourages students to enhance their practice through critical exploration of their practice, organisation, and patient care delivery.
What you need to know
Applicant profile
This course is suitable for qualified nurses from any field of practice who are looking to enhance their personal, professional and academic development in order to underpin existing practice; and to push the boundaries to influence future nursing practice, education, research and international nursing for the benefit of patient care.
Applicants may come from the following groups:
- Qualified nurses from any field of practice who wish to develop advanced knowledge, mastery and critical awareness in relation to practice, education or research
- International qualified nurses seeking a unique opportunity to study nursing at Masters level in the UK
- Qualified nurses with a desire to expand to prepare for progression into senior roles within their organisation or to diversify within their career
- Qualified nurses seeking a relevant specific pathway
- Aspirational individuals, who are qualified nurses, looking to gain the confidence to use an evidence base from which to challenge and influence practice.
English language requirements
International applicants will be required to show proficiency in English. An IELTS score of 6.0 (no element below 5.5) is proof of this.
International Students - Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
International Students are required by the Home Office and/or the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Certificate before they begin studying their course. You may need to obtain an ATAS Certificate before you come to the UK in order for you to comply with Home Office regulations. Please refer to your offer conditions.
You can find out if your programme requires an ATAS by checking the FCO website at gov.uk/academic-technology-approval-scheme with your JACS code which will be on your offer letter should you choose to make an application. If you cannot find it please contact the International Conversion team at application@salford.ac.uk. If you have any queries relating directly to ATAS please contact the ATAS team on Salford-ATAS@salford.ac.uk.
You can apply for your ATAS Certificate at academic-technology-approval.service.gov.uk.
Standard entry requirements
Previous study and experience
You must be a qualified nurse with a Bachelor’s degree with honours from a UK University or an equivalent academic or professional qualification from the UK or elsewhere, i.e. incorporating study at least comparable to 120 credits at level 6.
As this course includes a 12-week compulsory residential, international students must obtain a short-term study visa in order to study in the UK.
Alternative entry requirement
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
How much?
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2024/25 | £8,820.00per year |
| Full-time international | 2024/25 | £16,380.00per year |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
All Set? Let's Apply
Still have some questions? Register for one of our Open Days or contact us:
By email: enquiries@salford.ac.uk
By phone: +44 (0)161 295 4545