NS0531 - Developing and Applying Knowledge and Skills for Nursing Care

What will I learn on this module?

During this module you will explore nursing interventions required to support the acute and critically ill adult and child patient in various clinical settings. You will expand your knowledge and skills regarding the role of the nurse in providing safe and effective care to the acutely or critically ill patient by analysing nursing tools and frameworks and the wider evidence base underpinning practice. In addition, you will examine the cause of illnesses and conditions relevant to the stages of an illness trajectory and how to prioritise care. The module will support you to apply clinical decision making, problem solving and critical thinking skills to your practice in a range of settings with adults and children. During this module you will explore the following topic areas: The biological basis of illness and applied pharmacology to help you problem solve and anticipate the needs of the patient including managing the deteriorating patient; evidence based contemporary nursing interventions; management and governance issues related to providing safe, effective and ethically sound care in the critical and acute period of illness or accident. In addition, in this module you will be taught a range of vital clinical skills and the context of how to apply them in acute and critical scenarios using a range of simulation facilities.

How will I learn on this module?

A variety of different learning and teaching approaches will be used in this module to ensure your individual student learning styles are taken into account. You will participate in key note lectures which will be used to deliver the underpinning theory you require and you will be able to access other learning materials via technology enabled learning. Tutor guided directed and independent reading will also help you to expand your knowledge base further. We will deliver practical workshops in controlled environments to support your acquisition and development of clinical skills and allow you to practice clinical decision making in a safe and supported manner. Your participation in simulated learning activities will enable you to link theory to practice by developing your critical thinking and reasoning skills. Interactions and feedback with your peers and facilitators are key features of the practical workshops to support authentic learning. Your tutors will also facilitate problem based learning workshops to facilitate group learning with your peers. In these groups, you will engage with authentic case scenarios based on critical and emergency care practices and we will guide your discussions and support the exchange and sharing of ideas related to the professional role of the nurse within the context of emergency and critical care nursing activities. You will participate in workshops which will be a mixture of face to face attendance and electronic based delivery. A series of formative activities will support you to adopt skills in self direction, analysis and enquiry based learning. Formative activities will also give you the opportunity to practice clinical skills associated with the module content. All activities and supplementary material will be available electronically to support directed and independent learning.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

University lecturers attached to this module will provide you with academic and practical support to help you meet the module learning outcomes. A technology enabled group tutorial will be provided to support you with the development of your module assignment. Library services provide a number of interactive services to help you develop your analytical and critical thinking skills. Reading material regarding academic writing will be included on the reading list for this module. Extensive support from the programme team such as your personal tutor and the programme leader are available to you throughout this module delivery. Your peers are also a key support mechanism within this module. Many activities undertaken within workshop sessions are aimed at facilitating peer discussion and learning from each other. Facilitators will also help and guide you through the practical workshops and enable you to practice your clinical skills safely. This will ensure that you are supported in developing the knowledge and skills required to meet the learning outcomes of this module.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

By the end of this module you will be able to:
Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Apply knowledge of the pathophysiology underpinning illness and disease trajectories requiring emergency intervention in order to anticipate the needs of the patient including: children; adults and older people; people with mental health needs and people with needs associated with their learning disabilities.
2. Analyse and apply current evidence based frameworks that underpin contemporary emergency and critical care nursing.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Apply clinical judgement and problem solving skills when appraising options and providing care for the acutely or critically ill patient in order to recognise and respond to their changing needs.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity):
4. Recognise the impact of acute and critical illness episodes on the patient and their family.
5. Demonstrate understanding of ethical and legal frameworks underpinning your nursing care.

How will I be assessed?

Formative assessment
This will be a continuous process throughout the module to prepare you for your summative assessment. You will receive feedback on your contribution to discussions and in workshops from facilitators, module tutors and peers. In addition, you will complete self-assessment activities which will be available electronically. (MLO 1-4)

Summative assessment
For this assessment you are required to write a 2500 word assignment analysing the nursing interventions and care delivery for a patient with an acute or critical illness. (MLO 1-5)

You will receive written feedback on your assignment to inform your ongoing learning.

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

This module will provide you with the foundations on which to build your knowledge and skills in the safe nursing care of patients of all ages requiring, acute, critical or emergency intervention including: children; adults and older people; those utilising maternity services, people with mental health needs and people with needs associated with their learning disabilities. The module is designed to enable you to apply acquired research rich knowledge and skills to effectively to assess, plan, implement and evaluate the holistic, person-centred care of patients in critical and emergency settings due to its strong practice focus.
Taught by experts in the subject, engagement with this module will increase your knowledge of the evidence base for practice and your ability to analyse nursing interventions and make clinical judgements effectively. This will enhance your skills for employment as a nurse in diverse practice settings. You will be supported in your learning during the module through feedback on technology enabled and face to face formative assessment activities in order to prepare you for your summative assessment which asks you to examine the care of a patient in a an acute, critical or emergency situation.

Course info

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 3 years Full Time

Location Various Locations

City Newcastle

Start October 2021

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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