Why should I study tropical nursing?
Global health inequalities are growing, particularly in low-and middle-income countries and humanitarian settings where preventable diseases continue to affect individuals, communities and economies.
As a nurse, midwife or allied health professional, you can make a huge contribition to the health, wellbeing and prosperity of some of the poorest populations in the world, by combining your experience with the specialised tools you will gain from the Diploma in Tropical Nursing.
What will I get out of it?
This course will equip you with tools to help you respond to the demands of working in humanitarian settings and low-and middle-income countries, where resources are limited. It will prepare you to deliver specialised care competently and confidently, helping communities to thrive in challenging situations.
Using real-life scenarios and the latest research, you will get to grips with topics ranging from the impact of climate change on global health to gender inequality. You will learn with a friendly and diverse group of peers from across the world, sharing experiences and building networks to support your personal and professional development.
Technical knowledge, combined with targetd practical skills will give you the confidence to take on rewarding roles that make a difference, and the mindset to develop your reflective practice and continit to learn in the future.
Is tropical nursing for me?
If you are a registered general nurse or midwife or an allied health professional who wants to improve the lives of people living in low-and middle-income countries, the Diploma in Tropical Nursing will help you achieve your goals. The course is designed to support your career goals and to start making a difference immediately. It doesn't matter where you are in your career, as long as you have at least two years' experience. If you take this opportunity to build skills, resilience and adaptability, you can take your career to new and exciting places.
Meet our Director of Studies, Terry Kana
Course content
The Diploma in Tropical Nursing combines up-to-date factual knowledge and current best practice with scenario-based learning and practical skills in lab sessions.
It is based around nine themes:
- Introduction
- Global Health
- Clinical
- Sexual and reproductive health and rights/paediatrics
- Humanitarianism and natural disasters
- Nursing professional and personal skills
- Simulation exercise
- Academic skills
- Summary
The Diploma in Tropical Nursing will help you develop your analytical, problem-solving and practical nursing skills. While focusing on clinical learning, you will also build your competence in essential areas such as leadership, quality improvement, strategy development and resilience strategies.
The course content is informed by organisations that deploy nurses and other allied health professionals to humanitarian settings and low-and middle-income countries, and mirror current issues they face on the ground, including refugee mental health, outbreak management and sexual abuse.
Study pattern
The on-campus course will have approximately 200 learning hours. The format is:
- Six weeks of pre-learning which is mapped out formally (10 hours per week)
- Three weeks of taught contact on-campus (90 hours) plus self-directed learning (50 hours)
Assessment
Four week assessment period in addition to the 200 hours learning, to include:
- An essay critically reflecting on the development of competency within the Diploma portfolio
- A briefing document for an NGO senior management team about proposed interventions to support change and successful implementation by the team.
Delivery
You will be taught by experts including nurses and midwives from across the world. Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to develop your self-directed learning skills, evaluating and reflecting on your learning as you go.
Course content will be delivered through lectures, case studies, group work and practical lab sessions, which will be completment by reading and self-directed learning. We offer a rich bank of online resources to help you with this, and there is plenty of opportunity to draw on the support and encouragement of course leaders and fellow students to consolidate learning and transferable skills.
External Funding Opportunities
The Royal College of Nursing has various funding opportunities for professional development up to £1600. All UK registered nurses and midwives are normally eligible to apply.
Alumni profiles