MSc in Learning Disabilities Nursing
Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
GBP 9,250 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* there is no application deadline for postgraduate courses
** home full-time: £9,250 | international full-time: £16,200
Introduction
Why choose this course?
If you're looking to make a positive difference in the lives of people with learning disabilities, and already have an undergraduate degree and experience in health and social care, this master's course is for you. You'll become a registered learning disabilities nurse in two years.
This course prepares you for a career in person-centred professional practice across a variety of health and social care settings. You will learn how to enable the design and evaluation of care for people with learning disabilities and their families. You will be challenged to develop skills in gathering, analysing and synthesising evidence to ensure health inequalities and social isolation are confronted and resolved.
You'll study the factors that affect people's health and well-being, the health inequalities in our society and how we can improve health outcomes for people with a learning disability and autistic spectrum conditions (ASC).
You'll explore the management of complex conditions across the lifespan, from children to the older person and those with dementia, or other mental or physical health needs.
Through simulations, and on placement, you'll work collaboratively with service users. Placement providers include South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust, Surrey and Borders Partnership Trust, Great Ormond Street, The Children's Trust, and The Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability.
This course is designed for a small cohort of students, where you'll benefit from individual learning and support. You will be taught by our dynamic teaching team which includes leading researchers and experts in learning disability nursing from practice and the Department of Health. Our students are highly sought after and receive multiple job offers before their course is complete.
Reasons to choose Kingston University
- Kingston is No.1 in London and No.6 in the UK for nursing and midwifery (Guardian University League table 2022).
- Our expert academics are involved in research and shaping the future of learning disabilities nursing nationally and our nursing students have been finalists in the Student Nursing Times Awards from 2012 to 2022, with Jessica Ball winning Student Nurse of the Year: Learning Disabilities in 2022.
- You will work directly with individuals with learning disabilities, their families/carers, as well as actors with learning disabilities from the Baked Bean Theatre Company, in our simulation suite.
Accreditation
This degree confers both an academic award and a professional qualification in nursing. On successful completion of the programme, you will be recommended to the Nursing and Midwifery Council for professional registration.
Admissions
Curriculum
What you will study
This course will share learning with adult, child and mental health nursing students, where you can develop your skills in supporting people with a learning disability across their lifespan.
Topics covered include factors affecting the health and well-being of individuals in our changing and diverse society, addressing health inequalities and promoting improved health outcomes for people with a learning disability.
Year 1 modules (parts one and two)
Year 1 introduces the foundations of nursing and healthcare. You will study the role of the learning disability nurse and the diverse needs and contexts of people with learning disabilities. At the end of Year 1, you will be offered an opportunity to undertake a national or international placement.
Core modules
- Foundations of life sciences for graduates
- Establishing the fundamentals of nursing care
- Assessment and care planning in learning disability nursing
- Collaborative working for health and well-being in learning disability nursing
- Introduction to professional practice
- Developing professional practice
Year 2 modules (part three)
In Year 2 you will explore the management of complex conditions across the lifespan (e.g. children, transition, adulthood and the older person) and the analysis and application of research and evidence base. You will also be prepared for your transition to registered nurse.
Core modules
- Safe and effective quality care in learning disability nursing
- Coordinating the care of people with learning disabilities with complex healthcare needs
- Leadership in learning disability nursing
- Advancing professional practice
Please note
Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
After you graduate
Once qualified, you will have a range of employment opportunities in leading NHS and independent organisations. Graduates have gained employment in areas such as:
- Acute or primary care liaison nurses
- Community learning disability nurses
- Specialist nursing (e.g. Epilepsy, behaviours that challenge)
- Nurse therapists
- Senior managers and leaders of the profession
- Nurse consultants (learning disability).