MSc
Primary Healthcare

• Ordinarily, students will be working in the field of primary care.
• Contemporary professional speakers who are working in the field of primary care.
• There is funding available from Welsh Government for Nurses employed in the community in Wales.

CORE MODULES

• Research methods: The research methods module aims to introduce students to critically evaluate research methods through the development of the understanding of the philosophical, practical and ethical concepts of research and research methodology.
• Fundamentals of primary healthcare: This module is a generic module for General practice nurses and allied health care professionals who are new to primary care or nurses and allied health professionals who require updates in practice that relate to policy, chronic conditions, legal and ethical issues and current evidence in primary healthcare. 
• Competencies in primary healthcare: This module will prepare participants to manage complex care situations and make sound judgments within the boundaries of their own practice in order to contribute to the person-centred assessment and treatment of a patient with a range of medical conditions.
• Dissertation (Year 3): The module aims to provide students with the opportunity to: demonstrate independent thought and developing originality in the evaluation, application and synthesis of knowledge through the critical exploration of a topic relevant to your field of practice.

OPTIONAL MODULES

• Critically Exploring Professional Practice: The module aims to enable critical examination of the ‘self’ and professional practice, through the development of professional biography.
• Management of Diabetes: This module aims to develop competency and critical application of strategies that address the complexity of caring for the person with diabetes through the use of current theory, evidence-based practice and technological advances.
• Minor Illness Assessment and Management: This module enables practitioners to function effectively and efficiently within the constraints of contemporary healthcare provision in the management of minor illness, to enhance practitioners’ expertise in the assessment and management of minor illness.
• Assessing complex needs: The Assessing Complex Needs module will prepare students to deal with complex care situations systematically and creatively and make sound judgements within the boundaries of their own discipline.
• Non-medical prescribing V300: subject to interview. To enable nurses, midwives, specialist community public health nurses and pharmacists to develop the competence to prescribe safely, appropriately and cost-effectively as independent/ Supplementary prescribers.

Applicants must be employed in primary healthcare.

All applicants must meet the required entry criteria of 120 credits at level 6 in a health-related subject for Masters level entry.

Assessment strategies include:

• Essays
• Portfolios
• Practical competencies.
• Exam for Non-Medical Prescribing
• Poster presentation

The MSc in Primary Healthcare offers a new professional approach to managing the complex needs of patients in the primary healthcare setting.

This programme will appeal strongly to potential and current employers who are seeking to enhance the skill set of their employees, improve care standards; or indeed diversify elements of provision to meet the constantly changing demands of health policy and practice, locally, nationally and globally within primary healthcare.

In addition, these programmes will provide a comprehensive and flexible opportunity for students seeking to follow or develop their careers within the primary healthcare setting. The nurses who exit these programmes will be clinically relevant members of the workforce who are up to date with their clinical, political and educational requirements and will be prepared to meet the needs of the current and future primary care agenda.

The fees you pay will depend on a number of different factors.

Funding is available from Welsh Government for nurses employed in the community.

You can see the full programme specification here.