Neonatal Nursing

Overview

Our Graduate Certificate (GradCert) Neonatal Nursing course is for practitioners registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and who are currently employed within the field of neonatal nursing. Through our Grad Cert Neonatal course you will critically explore the management of the ill neonate in a variety of settings in order to develop and expand your role within the field of neonatal care.

It has been developed to provide a standardised level of professional competence and academic accreditation for neonatal nurses and incorporates the competencies of Matching Knowledge and Skills for Qualified in Speciality (QIS) Neonatal Nurses. It consists of three core SCQF Level 10 modules.

“The course at UWS gave me strong evidence based knowledge and the ability to question practice in order to provide the best care for our babies and their families. The implementation of Family Integrated Care and the vital importance of developmentally supportive care to optimise outcomes is now embedded in our practice. I would commend the course at UWS to anyone keen to develop their professional practice.”

Carolyn McConnell, Neonatal Nursing graduate 2018

Overview

“The course at UWS gave me strong evidence based knowledge and the ability to question practice in order to provide the best care for our babies and their families. The implementation of Family Integrated Care and the vital importance of developmentally supportive care to optimise outcomes is now embedded in our practice. I would commend the course at UWS to anyone keen to develop their professional practice.”

Carolyn McConnell, Neonatal Nursing graduate 2018

Course details

The GradCert consists of three SCQF Level 10 modules, normally undertaken over six months – one year:

Special Care Neonatal Nursing(core, 20 credits) – you will critically explore the specific needs of a baby requiring special care nursing. You will undertake the practice element of the programme within your own area of practice and will be supported by clinical mentors.
Neonatal Intensive Care/High Dependency(core, 20 credits) – you will critically explore the specific needs of a baby requiring intensive care nursing. You will undertake the practice element of the programme within your own area of practice and will be supported by clinical mentors.
Neonatal Work-based Learning(core, 20 credits) – this module will enable you to work towards the achievement of clinical competencies as detailed within the clinical log book; you will be supported by clinical mentors throughout.

You will primarily be based in your own units, in both special and intensive care environments.

Teaching & Assessment

The Special Care Neonatal Nursing and Neonatal Intensive Care/High Dependency modules are delivered using a blended learning approach with some attendance at the Lanarkshire campus and the remainder of the teaching and learning activities being delivered via the virtual learning environment.

You are expected to undertake a significant element of independent study during the course.

Within the Neonatal Work-based Learning module, you will consolidate learning attained in the special care and intensive care modules and complete a range of clinical competencies supported by a mentor in practice. This will normally be undertaken in their own area of practice.

LEARNING AND TEACHING

Scheduled learning: 45%

Independent study: 55%

ASSESSMENT