Learning Disabilities Nursing, BSc (Hons)

Course summary

Learning disabilities nursing is a great career choice if you are compassionate and keen to support people with learning disabilities and/or autism who face physical, mental and social challenges.

• Fully accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) providing eligibility for registration as a nurse on successful completion of the course (additional costs may apply).

• Ranked 11th in the UK for Nursing and Midwifery in the Guardian University Guide 2022.

• All home students on this course can apply for a minimum payment from the Government of £5,000 per year, with additional payments for students incurring childcare costs*.

• Study in the state-of-the-art Alison Gingell Building4 which features hospital wards, operating theatre, critical care settings, community housing and other real-life nursing environments relevant to practice.

Key BenefitsThe 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.*see website for details

Modules

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.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. 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.For more information about what you will study and detailed module information, please visit our website.

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