Learning Disabilities Nursing BSc (Hons)

at Coventry University

Why study this course

The Learning Disabilities Nursing BSc (Hons) emphasises the value of people with learning disabilities as equal citizens. It is designed to enable people who have a real contribution to make to work collaboratively towards the development of compassionate, innovative and autonomous professional nursing practitioners, upon successful completion.

You will be offered the opportunity to study and develop specialist skills in communication, comprehensive person-centred health assessment, and professional skills to enable you to work in specialist areas in the field of Learning Disabilities nursing practice following graduation.

In modern health and social care settings nursing students are increasingly required to work towards becoming autonomous practitioners, taking a leadership role in decisions regarding patient care within multi-professional settings. They routinely have frequent and what can be intense contact with service users and so must be competent in recognising changes in the patient’s condition so that appropriate action can be taken.

This course offers thorough preparation to help graduates make a valued and professional contribution to the dynamic and rapidly changing health and social care landscape.

Opportunities are provided to gain hands-on experience under supervision from qualified mentors, with 50% of the course spent in clinical practice placements across a wide range of healthcare environments including community and hospital settings, both within NHS and independent services.

You will have the opportunity to work and study in collaboration with other health and social care students, with the chance to work together to explore specific issues and challenges, designed to broaden the knowledge and professional expertise of nursing and health professionals.

You’ll have the opportunity to make use of our extensive simulation facilities – from basic life support manikins to high-tech simulation dummies, which emulate patient responses. You will have the chance to use equipment found in the real world of practice, such as medical devices to assist with all elements of care and especially medication administration. You will also have the opportunity to take part in our Mask-Ed character learning scenarios.

What you'll study

Year one
Year one is designed to enable you to develop the fundamental skills required to become an effective Learning Disabilities Nurse. You will gain an understanding of the importance of evidence-based decision-making and putting service users, their carers and families at the centre of care.

Modules

• The Scientific Foundations of Nursing - 20 credits

• Fundamental Skills for Person- and Family -Centred Practice - 20 credits

• Study skills for Evidence Based Practice - 10 credits

• The Foundations of Evidence-Informed Practice - 10 credits

• Introduction to the Foundations of Nursing Practice (Practice 1) - 20 credits

• The Foundations of Nursing Practice 2 - 20 credits

• Health and Well-being in the Community - 20 credits

Year two
Building on the theory and practice of year 1, the second year of the programme aims to enable further skills development in care provision across the lifespan. Professional skills should be further developed to enable the nursing professional the opportunity to carry out holistic assessment of needs and plan effective care for service users.  Ethical and legal aspects of clinical decision-making in the context of nursing are also explored. 

Modules

• Ethical and Legal Decision Making in the Context of Nursing - 20 credits

• Developing the Management of Care Across the Lifespan (Practice 3) - 20 credits

• Assessing Needs and Planning Care Across the Lifespan - 20 credits

• Managing Care Across the Lifespan Practice 4 - 20 credits

• Facilitation and Teaching of Learning in Practice - 10 credits

• Developing Evidence Informed Decision Making in Nursing - 10 credits

• Advancing Therapeutic Care in Learning Disabilities Nursing - 20 credits

Final year
The final year offers the opportunity to investigate complex care needs and the opportunity to take greater steps towards becoming an autonomous practitioner upon graduation. Program participants are given the opportunity to consider innovative approaches to the development of Learning Disabilities service provision, with consideration given to contemporary issues in professional nursing practice.

Modules

• Leadership and Management for Healthcare Professionals - 20 credits

• Application of Complex Care in Integrated Care Settings - 20 credits

• Co-ordinating Health and Social Care Practice 5 - 20 credits

• Specialist Issues in Learning Disabilities Nursing - 10 credits

• The Autonomous Practitioner (Practice 6) - 20 credits

• Evidence-Based Project - 20 credits

• Transition to the Accountable Practitioner - 10 credits

Additional information
Caring experience, either paid or voluntary is essential. You will also be required to attend a selection event, which provides detailed information about the course and assesses numeracy, literacy and aptitude as part of the selection process. Satisfactory health clearance and criminal records disclosure required. Skills in digital and technological literacy are considered vital and there is opportunity to develop these throughout the course.

In line with the National Health Service constitution we use a values-based recruitment approach in seeking candidates with the appropriate values to support effective team working in delivering excellent patient care.

English language requirements

• This course requires an IELTS of 7.0 overall, with no component lower than 6.5.

International Fees
£18,050 per year

International Pathways 2022 Scholarship
You could enjoy a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees.
Our high-quality foundation, international year one and pre-masters courses are for international students who do not meet the requirements for direct entry to their preferred Coventry University undergraduate or postgraduate course. We can support you to achieve the academic and/or English grades you need and help you gain the personal and professional skills required to study at university.

We want to encourage ambitious international students like you to study at Coventry University, so we’ve secured extra financial support for you worth £3,000, to help with the cost of tuition fees, living expenses and accommodation.

The scholarship application deadline is:
September 2022 intake: 31 July 2022

There are currently around over 3,500 learning disabilities nurses within the NHS and demand for these specialist nurses is high. Typically, past final year students have been offered a range of posts within the NHS and the private sector prior to qualifying.

As a learning disability nurse, you will have opportunities to support people of all ages with learning disabilities in a range of settings, which may include hospital wards such as epilepsy and palliative care; mental health trusts; adult education; residential and community centres; patients' homes; workplaces; and schools. Career options, upon successful completion, may include working in specialist areas such as education, sensory disability or service management or moving into areas such as management, teaching or clinical research.

During your three years on the programme, you will have the opportunity to undertake six placements in a range of service settings, with the chance to work with and alongside qualified learning disability nurses, and therefore potential local and regional employers. On graduating successfully from this course, you can apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which can enable you to practise immediately (additional costs apply). Please see the Accreditation and Professional Recognition section for further information.