Glossary of Terms

Year 1 (40 Credits)

RequiredNU6610: Decision Making and Advanced Practice Professional Roles

NU6610: Decision Making and Advanced Practice Professional Roles

Semester 1 | Credits: 10

Content covered will include case management; clinical decision-making; standards of care; ethics; cultural competence; person centred care. Advanced Practice role development; professional issues; theoretical perspectives informing advanced practice roles; and self-management (time and stress management). Contemporary issues in health care; the future of health service delivery. Opportunities will be provided to explore issues related to case management, major pathophysiologic disease processes as applied to clinical decision-making, and standards of care, ethics and role development. Research related to these topics will be used to highlight the changing nature of heath care. Analysis of the role of the advanced nurse practitioner will be emphasised. Within the clinical environment, candidates will expand clinical decision-making abilities and practice advanced, complex, case management under the supervision of a designated clinical supervisor. The theoretical component of this module is applied in clinical practice.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. Design case management algorithms combining quality assurance standards, evidence based practice, and clinical guidelines to support decision analysis.
2. Integrate advanced pathology and pathophysiology in diagnostic reasoning and case management.
3. Apply advanced health assessment and communication techniques in decision-making processes.
4. Evaluate external stimuli that determine direction of the advanced nurse practitioner role in the delivery of quality patient care.
5. Explore the use of an evidence-based evaluation framework in the context of the advanced nurse practitioner role.
6. Appraise the professional role of the advanced nurse practitioner combining a nursing framework with standards of practice.

Assessments

• Continuous Assessment (100%)

Teachers & Administrators

Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.

•  MAURA DOWLING 🖂
  
•  SINÉAD HAHESSY 🖂
  
•  CATHERINE MEAGHER 🖂
  
•  BRONA MOONEY 🖂
  
•  Peter Carr 🖂
  

RequiredNU6521: Advanced Research Methods

NU6521: Advanced Research Methods

Semester 1 | Credits: 10

. This module is designed to enable students to explore the methodological and practical issues of research. It will help students determine the appropriate research design for research questions in their practice and provides an opportunity for students to debate, challenge and clarify research issues. This module will also help students understand the systematic review process and types of reviews, Finally, the module prepares students to develop a research protocol.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate an understanding of what is meant by ‘evidence-based practice’
2. Discuss theoretical perspectives on research methodology
3. Formulate an answerable clinical question using the PICO approach
4. Develop a database search strategy
5. Explain the key characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of the main qualitative and quantitative research methodologies
6. Articulate a research problem and formulate a research question or hypothesis as appropriate to guide the conduct of a study
7. Justify the use of appropriate data collection, sampling, and data analysis methods for qualitative and quantitative research
8. Discuss rigour in the context of quantitative and qualitative research
9. Discuss evidence synthesis of quantitative and qualitative research
10. Create a plan with clear rationales for data collection, sampling, data analysis and rigour to be used when conducting a primary qualitative or quantitative study or evidence synthesis

Assessments

• Continuous Assessment (100%)

Teachers & Administrators

Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.

•  MAURA DOWLING 🖂
  
•  BERNARD MCCARTHY 🖂
  
•  BRONA MOONEY 🖂
  
•  MARI MORAN 🖂
  
•  CLAIRE O'TUATHAIL 🖂
  
•  SIOBHÁIN SMYTH 🖂
  
•  AMANDA WALSH 🖂
  
•  DECLAN DEVANE 🖂
  
•  FIONNUALA JORDAN 🖂
  
•  STEPHEN KENNETH BRADLEY 🖂
  
•  Peter Carr 🖂
  
•  Katherine Pigott 🖂
  

RequiredNU6520: Leadership, Quality Improvement and Governance

NU6520: Leadership, Quality Improvement and Governance

Semester 2 | Credits: 10

Overview of health care system and structure, developments and funding; analysis of health policies, structures and governance systems, and their implications for practice. Overview of the policy process. Strategies for planning service provision, implementing changes in practice, quality improvement. The role of evidence based practice, accreditation, regulation in quality improvement and patient safety. Clinical and professional development issues; leadership and management frameworks, which focus on the development of the Advanced Practice role nationally and internationally. Collaboration, communication, working in groups and team building in health care, and issues influencing the reality of working in an advanced practice role. The module introduces and further develops the knowledge, skills and attitudes of healthcare professionals in the context of clinical governance with specific emphases on leadership theory and skills, inter-organisational partnership principles and frameworks, the concepts of participation and principles of collaboration, team building and understanding individual and organisational change and how to implement change successfully. Students explore motivational models, performance appraisal systems and approaches to managing conflict.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically evaluate current developments in the Irish health case with a focus on Advanced Nurse Practice (ANP)
2. Analyse the impact of international and national policy and policy formation on health service current and future provision
3. Analyse and critically compare frameworks for partnership, quality and governance in different health care contexts including role change and collaborative practice
4. Critically compare and contrast different leadership and management theories and apply these to practice settings.
5. Evaluate quality improvement models and strategies and their application to effective management and quality improvement at individual and organisational levels
6. Critically appraise the implementation and evaluation of different approaches, which enhance the professional development of one-self and others in nursing practice.

Assessments

• Continuous Assessment (100%)

Teachers & Administrators

Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.

•  MAURA DOWLING 🖂
  
•  SINÉAD HAHESSY 🖂
  
•  CATHERINE MEAGHER 🖂
  
•  BRONA MOONEY 🖂
  
•  COLLETTE KIRWAN 🖂
  
•  Peter Carr 🖂
  
•  Dwayne Burke 🖂
  

RequiredNU6312: Advanced Health Assessment

NU6312: Advanced Health Assessment

Semester 2 | Credits: 10

This module aims to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to obtain a comprehensive health history and complete a physical assessment on a patient in the clinical setting. Students must pass each element separately in order to pass the module.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate the ability to review a patient’s health history
2. Demonstrate clinical competence in physical assessment skills
3. Critically analyse patient data and prioritise patient problems
4. Explicate nursing interventions that meet the individual patient’s needs
5. Integrate appropriate consultation skills with the patient and the multidisciplinary team for effective case management

Assessments

• Continuous Assessment (20%)
• Department-based Assessment (80%)

Teachers & Administrators

Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.

•  EVELYN BYRNE 🖂
  
•  YVONNE CONWAY 🖂
  
•  MAURA DOWLING 🖂
  
•  FRANCES FARRELLY 🖂
  
•  SINÉAD HAHESSY 🖂
  
•  BERNARD MCCARTHY 🖂
  
•  CATHERINE MEAGHER 🖂
  
•  BRONA MOONEY 🖂
  
•  CLAIRE O'TUATHAIL 🖂
  
•  MARY ELIZABETH GANNON 🖂
  
•  MARION O'REGAN 🖂
  
•  Peter Carr 🖂
  

Year 2 (70 Credits)

RequiredNU010.I: Professional, Ethical & Legal Issues of Nurse and Midwife Prescribing)

NU010.I: Professional, Ethical & Legal Issues of Nurse and Midwife Prescribing)

Semester 1 | Credits: 10

The Certificate in Nursing (Nurse/Midwife Prescribing), Minor Award, is at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications. This six month programme is aimed at nurses and midwives working in the public, voluntary or private sectors. The programme aims to prepare nurses to prescribe safely, appropriately, cost effectively, legally and ethically. To increase programme accessibility, the programme will be delivered using blended learning. Blended learning will combine face-to-face teaching and facilitated on-line learning.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand and comply with the regulatory framework associated with medicinal product prescribing.
2. Use evidence based knowledge to support their prescribing practice.
3. Apply ethical principles and concepts in their prescribing practice.
4. Analyse and form judgements on how to respond to ethical issues that may arise in practice.
5. Undertake effective consultation with clients including appropriate history taking and assessment to inform diagnosis and prescribing practice.
6. Demonstrate a client centred approach in their practice, emphasising personal choice and responsibility in line with best practice.
7. Analyse and respond effectively to the factors that influence clients’ decision-making in respect to treatment regimes.
8. Establish a support network, for example pharmacists, consultants or others, to support their prescribing practice.

Assessments

• Continuous Assessment (100%)

Teachers & Administrators

Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.

•  MAURA DOWLING 🖂
  
•  CATHERINE MEAGHER 🖂
  
•  CLAIRE O'TUATHAIL 🖂
  
•  HEIKE SCHMIDT-FELZMANN 🖂
  
•  FIONNUALA JORDAN 🖂
  
•  LINDA BIESTY 🖂
  

RequiredNU1191: Pharmacology, Health and Medicinal Prescribing

NU1191: Pharmacology, Health and Medicinal Prescribing

Semester 1 | Credits: 10

Welcome to this module entitled “Drugs, Patients and Illnesses”. As the title suggests, this module will focus on the pharmacological treatment of patients. It will take you from the basic principles of how drugs work and how the body deals with drugs, through to the application of these principles to commonly encountered drugs used in a range of clinical applications. Moreover, the challenges of patient variability in drug response, polypharmacy and risk and cost benefit assessments will be explored. The module provides opportunities for you to be able to apply knowledge to your own clinical setting.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. Possess a firm understanding of the fundamental concepts of Pharmacology.
2. Use the autonomic nervous system to illustrate the mechanisms of drug action.
3. Identify the composite features of the “pharmacology” of a drug, and apply these in their work setting.
4. Describe the pharmacological approach to a range of diseases and conditions.
5. Be aware of the issues surrounding the pharmacological treatment of individual patients and their illness.

Assessments

• Continuous Assessment (100%)

Teachers & Administrators

Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.

•  PETER CANTILLON 🖂
  
•  MAURA DOWLING 🖂
  
•  JOHN KELLY 🖂
  
•  CATHERINE MEAGHER 🖂
  

RequiredNU6522: Research Dissertation

NU6522: Research Dissertation

Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 30

Students will be required to undertake a piece of primary research or an evidence synthesis on a topic relevant to their practice area. Students will be assigned a research supervisor who will support them in undertaking this work.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrated knowledge of ethical requirements and procedures by negotiating access to research site/participants by securing ethical approval from the appropriate Research Ethics Committee in the case of primary research. Or in the case of evidence synthesis/secondary data analysis, demonstrate knowledge in the process of negotiating access to full text data not available in the library databases.
2. Developed a research question(s) of significance to area of of significance to their specialist nursing/midwifery professional practice or a problem statement(s) based on a review of evidence-based literature.
3. Identified and apply an appropriate method(s) to achieve the objectives of the research question (s)/ hypothesis for primary data collection, or in the case of secondary data analysis, employ valid and reliable method(s) for processing and analysing archived research data
4. Critically discuss research findings with reference to the methods used, current literature and professional practice.
5. Prepared a scholarly report (Option A) research article (Option B) ready for publication which will demonstrate accurate expression, analysis, and synthesis of the research subject.

Assessments

• Continuous Assessment (100%)

Teachers & Administrators

Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.

•  GLORIA AVALOS 🖂
  
•  MIRIAM BRENNAN 🖂
  
•  EIMEAR BURKE 🖂
  
•  DYMPNA CASEY 🖂
  
•  MAURA DOWLING 🖂
  
•  ANNE FALLON 🖂
  
•  FRANCES FARRELLY 🖂
  
•  SINÉAD HAHESSY 🖂
  
•  ANDREW HUNTER 🖂
  
•  BERNARD MCCARTHY 🖂
  
•  TERESA MEANEY 🖂
  
•  BRONA MOONEY 🖂
  
•  MARI MORAN 🖂
  
•  CLAIRE O'TUATHAIL 🖂
  
•  SIOBHÁIN SMYTH 🖂
  
•  PATRICIA HEALY 🖂
  
•  GEORGINA GETHIN 🖂
  
•  DECLAN DEVANE 🖂
  
•  MARCELLA HORRIGAN-KELLY 🖂
  
•  FIONNUALA JORDAN 🖂
  
•  CATHERINE HOUGHTON 🖂
  
•  STEPHEN KENNETH BRADLEY 🖂
  
•  CLAIRE QUINN 🖂
  
•  MARION O'REGAN 🖂
  
•  Derek O'Keeffe 🖂
  
•  Peter Carr 🖂
  
•  Katherine Pigott 🖂
  
•  Ciara O'Meara 🖂
  

RequiredNU6506: Clinical Practicum

NU6506: Clinical Practicum

Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 20

The clinical practicum will improve knowledge, competencies and clinical skills for the student at the level of advanced practice in nursing relevant to the specific practice area of the student. Specific knowledge and skills requirements will be negotiated on an individual practice area basis with the student their clinical supervisor and their employer/nurse manager within the framework and structure of the course record and assessment booklet. The major element of the programme will be substantial hours – 500 hours on clinical placement with supervision (as agreed under the site declaration form.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. Integrate relevant knowledge and skills in the conduction of a comprehensive holistic assessment of patients/clients, and manage identified issues/needs at an advanced level within their practice area (or identified scope of practice).
2. Use evidence based frameworks, to synthesise and interpret assessment information to identify normal, subnormal and at risk states of health.
3. Determine the timely use of diagnostic investigations to inform clinical decision making when planning, delivering and evaluating person centred care
4. Actively consider access, cost, clinical effectiveness when planning, delivering and evaluating care.
5. Apply knowledge of therapeutic interventions including pharmacological and non-pharmacological nursing interventions relevant to their advanced practice area
6. Critically reflect on their own and others' learning and practice.
7. Maximise opportunities to educate, mentor, role model and facilitate clinical supervision, on-going reflection, and engagement in continuous professional development.
8. Incorporate effective leadership and communication skills when interacting with interprofessional health care teams in the development, implementation and evaluation of care and services in their area of practice.
9. Evaluate the provision of care and services pertaining to their area of practice and reflect on feedback received to identify gaps in provision of care and services pertaining to area of practice

Assessments

• Continuous Assessment (100%)

Teachers & Administrators

Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.

•  MAURA DOWLING 🖂
  
•  CATHERINE MEAGHER 🖂
  
•  BRONA MOONEY 🖂
  

RequiredNU012.I: Competency Assessment

NU012.I: Competency Assessment

Semester 1 | Credits: 0

Practice’ is considered central to learning on this programme because it is only in practice that the ‘real’ curriculum will be experienced and operationalised. All modules will emphasise the application of what is learnt in class in practice and students will be challenged to critically examine the relevance and applicability of the content explored in class in their practice. Students are required to work for the duration of the programme in the specific area of practice in which prescribing is proposed. This allows students to ‘test’ out their learning in the reality of their practice. Students will be supported and mentored by a designated medical practitioner for the duration of the programme. During the timespan of the programme (26 weeks) the designated medical practitioner (the student’s mentor) will provide 12-days (96 hours) of formal direct supervision. It is anticipated that students will spend the majority of their placement in their own work setting. However, discretionary placement experience may be selected on the basis of identified learning needs of the student and the competence to be achieved.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. Clinical learning outcomes will be individualised to the student and developed in consultation with the student, and the clinical mentor. Clinical learning outcomes will focus on enabling students to achieve competency and will focus on the principles of good prescribing and the prescribing pyramid (An Bord Altranais, 2003; National Prescribing Centre 1999).
2. To be deemed competent, and thus eligible for entry on the Register, students must reach the level specified in each of the five Domains of Competence identified by An Bord Altranais (2007). The five domains of competencies are: Professional/Ethical Nursing Practice Holistic Nursing Care Interpersonal Relationships Organisation and Co-Ordination of Nursing Care Personal and Professional Development.
3. Professional/Ethical Nursing Practice
4. Holistic Nursing Care
5. Interpersonal Relationships
6. Organisation and Co-Ordination of Nursing Care
7. Personal and Professional Development

Assessments

• Continuous Assessment (100%)

Teachers & Administrators

Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.

•  CATHERINE MEAGHER 🖂
  
•  LORNA CORMICAN 🖂