Online Learning Improving Patient Care
10 November 2011
We developed these modules in response to an increased demand for flexible online learning and professional development within the nursing and healthcare community.
”Yvonne Denby, Senior Lecturer within the School of Nursing and Health Care Practice at the University of Derby
Innovative nursing programmes developed by the University of Derby are improving the care of patients as far away as Bermuda and Canada, as well as in the UK. The online nursing degree modules have been developed to help healthcare professionals tackle major international public health problems such as diabetes and asthma.
Twenty one health professionals from around the world are studying the new interactive nursing modules with the University of Derby Online as part of a pilot scheme, before applications begin to be taken for January 2012.
Students on the online nursing modules in asthma, diabetes and public health include a health professional working in emergency care in Bermuda, a psychiatric nurse in British Columbia, Canada, a tissue donation co-ordinator in Ontario, Canada, and a coronary nurse from the Royal Derby Hospital.
Yvonne Denby, Senior Lecturer within the School of Nursing and Health Care Practice at the University of Derby said: "We developed these modules in response to an increased demand for flexible online learning and professional development within the nursing and healthcare community. By working through the interactive modules online, students can top up their education to gain a BSc (Hons) degree in Nursing Studies.
"We developed the online interactive modules with top clinicians such as Dr Chris Gillespie, a Consultant Psychologist at the Royal Derby Hospital, Dr Pash Dhindsa, lead diabetes dietician for Derby City PCT, and Stella Rushton, lead diabetes education for Derbyshire Community Health Services, using real life scenarios and current issues in their fields.
"Each module contains learning videos and interactive problem solving exercises, as well as real-time online lectures and tutorials with academics and fellow students.
"The feedback we have received through the pilot has been incredibly positive, and we know that these students are using what they have learned to improve patient care in a wide variety of healthcare settings around the world."
Student Sony Joseph, who is the manager of the Cedar Care Home in Bath, said: "I am currently studying towards my third module online, and have found each module very detailed yet straightforward to work through.
"I chose to study online with Derby as I want to develop professionally, but do so in a way that fits around my full time job and family commitments. It's worked out really well so far and I've been putting into practice much of what I have learned about diabetes and asthma with our residents and improve their quality of life."
Head of the University of Derby Online, Julie Stone, said: "The move to make Nursing an all-graduate profession has created a high demand for top-up degrees like ours.
"We wanted to provide a way of learning that healthcare professionals could fit around their busy working and family lives, and online study is perfect. We are encouraged by the level of interest we have already seen for January, but advise anyone interested in studying on this programme to contact us."
For more information on the Nursing Studies Online BSc (Hons) Top Up degree please visit website www.derby.ac.uk/online
