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Professional Doctorate in Nursing

Location
Southwark

Duration
5 years (part-time)

Mode of study
Part-time

Start date
September

Number of places
10

Simple timetable info
Part-time days only
Year 1: 8 days plus 4 day research methods school
Year 2: 8 days
Years 3–5: Regular meetings with supervisory team

How to apply
Direct to LSBU – 020 7815 8012

LSBU code
3420

Course contact
Dr Cliff Roberts
Course Director
robertcj@lsbu.ac.uk – 020 7815 6743

Non-standard entry requirements

Prerequisites: Applicants should be a Registered Nurse with at least 5 years experience, working a minimum of 15 hours per week, and should normally possess a Masters degree in nursing or health related subject. Applicants who do not possess a Masters degree in nursing or a health related discipline, but who can demonstrate equivalent experience and academic preparedness, may also be considered for entry to the programme. Students undertaking a Masters degree within the Strategic Leadership and Expert Practice framework LSBU may be eligible for direct entry to the Professional Doctorate programme. The presentation order of units may be subject to change.

Course units
Year 1

2 core compulsory units:

– Issues in Research Epistemology: Philosophy, Paradigms and Methods

– Delivering an Evidence-Based Service

Year 2

1 core compulsory unit:

– Achieving Practice Innovation (double unit)

Years 3–5

Compulsory: Doctoral Thesi


Course description

This programme has been specifically developed by The Institute of Strategic Leadership and Service Improvement, for practitioners who have, or intend to pursue, professional careers such as Nurse Consultants, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Practice Development Nurses, Senior Nurse Managers, Lecturer- Practitioners etc. Participants will be expected to identify professional issues for independent research which have the potential to make a significant contribution to practice and/or improve service delivery and performance within their organisation.

In Year One you will explore and question certain assumptions about what constitutes research knowledge and how such knowledge is generated, applied and perceived. You will also explore challenges inherent in delivering an evidence-based health and social care service which meets requirements for quality improvement and innovation.

In Year Two you will consider key issues associated with leading and achieving practice innovation in your professional environment, either at an individual level or as part of the service. You will also extend your skills in conducting research enquiry and critical reflection and develop a research proposal.

In Years Three–Five you will develop (with the support of your supervisor), a research-based thesis building on elements explored in the first two years. The thesis is likely to address the research question/ issue developed in Year Two in ‘Achieving Practice Innovation’.

Career opportunities

The D. Nursing programme has been specifically developed for practitioners who have, or intend to pursue, professional careers. For example, Nurse Consultants, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Practice Development Nurses, Senior Nurse Managers, Lecturer-Practitioners etc. You will be in a position to participate as an authoritative expert in your chosen field of strategic leadership and service innovation.

Additional notes

On completion of your Doctorate, you will be in a position to build on your research as an authoritative expert in your chosen field of leadership and service innovation. If at the end of Year Two you decide not to continue with Year Three–Five, there may be a possible step off point for students who would prefer to exit with an MSc Nursing Research and Practice Development.