MSc Community Healthcare Practice

Why study this subject?

If you are a professional already working in community healthcare practice, as a district nurse, health visitor, school nurse or community children’s nurse, this course can help you enhance your career prospects and gain a master’s in Community Healthcare Practice.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

You will benefit from an excellent standard of teaching provided by staff from the University and practice, in partnership with our NHS Trust partners. As well as this you will be taught by lecturers who have a wide expertise in the field. Our lecturers also maintain close links with practice, ensuring that the programme is up-to-date with modern practice.

We offer continuous support throughout the programme, and you will receive personal tutoring and benefit from a high level of research within the teaching team. Your personal tutor will help guide you through your studies, support you with your academic development and give advice when needed.

What facilities can I use?

We have a range of state-of-the-art facilities for you to access, including our multistorey library and IT suites. Students will be able to access our full range of support services, including the Learning Development Unit for skills and study support, the Careers and Employability Team, Student Finance Team, Accommodation and Counselling Services.

What will I study?

On this programme, you will:

• build your skills in designing and undertaking research that is relevant to community healthcare practice
• develop your ability to synthesise and evaluate literature to an advanced level, through the systematic investigation of a relevant topic
• consider ethical principles in designing appropriate research
• develop skills in undertaking independent study that contributes to the body of community nursing knowledge.

To achieve the full MSc in Community Healthcare Practice, you will need to complete the Dissertation module, allowing you to investigate a topic important to you. You will cover the whole research process, undertaking empirical investigation and analysis. An allocated supervisor will support you throughout the whole process.

How will I be taught and assessed?

This course aims to build your skills in designing and undertaking research that is relevant to community healthcare practice. Through the investigation of a relevant topic at an advanced level, you will demonstrate your ability to undertake an independent research study. This will be presented in the form of a dissertation.

Over the year, your tutoring sessions will ensure you are prepared and able to do the following:

• development of the aim and research question for the dissertation
• identification of a search strategy and exploration of relevant literature to inform the study
• development of an appropriate research strategy to meet the requirements of the research question
• presentation of research findings, methodology, discussion, accurate Harvard referencing and application to practice, promoting evidence based practice.