DA5063 - Nursing Skills 4: Enhancing Clinical Skills for Complex Care

What will I learn on this module?

The content of Nursing Skills 4 will be informed by the proficiency standards outlined in Annex A and B in ‘Future Nurse: Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurse’ (NMC, 2018).

This module will build upon your knowledge of medicine administration whilst being exposed to the challenges of complex care needs. You will learn about nursing interventions associated with people of all ages with complex care needs exploring the principles, approaches and concepts of safe nursing practice and the delivery of holistic care. You will build your knowledge of safe ethical medicines management with an emphasis on the clinical application of these skills and understanding. There will be a particular focus on the challenges of medicines optimisation in people with complex care needs, which requires understanding of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Alongside this you will learn to develop professional accountability to ensure safe administration of medicines including competency in drug calculation. You will continue to develop your understanding of team working and its importance in nursing practice.

How will I learn on this module?

You will learn through a variety of methods, which will include practice learning, simulated practice, and Online Support Learning (OSL) that will be supplemented by websites and training packages, which will include access to the Department’s specialist Skills4Practice website: https://www.s4pwebsite.com/

Specific to this Nursing Skills module, you will continue to build on your intermediate nursing and team working skills to enable you to demonstrate a greater depth of knowledge and more advanced skills required to meet the specific care needs of people in your chosen field of nursing practice. Learning to enhance your skills for approaches to working in professional teams through the practice and rehearsal of a diverse range of communication skills. Using simulation, you will learn how to deliver therapeutic interventions in complex care.

The module will be delivered using a blended approach of face-to-face practical sessions underpinned by online learning resources contained within the BlackBoard Ultra site. BlackBoard Ultra will also provide you access to both field essential learning and the opportunity to access learning that supports a greater depth of knowledge beyond your field specific content

How will I be supported academically on this module?

A module team of specialist nursing lecturers will support you. You will receive ongoing guidance and feedback to effectively engage with concepts of complex care, pharmacology, and medicines administration to ensure evidence based safe nursing practice.

You will also be supported via the modules Online Supported Learning systems in addition to face-to- face teaching and more formal classroom arrangements.

You will be able to contact the module team in person, by email or phone and through BlackBoard Ultra. Skills Plus, the university library’s collection of online learning materials can be used to support the development of your academic skills. Further support for your learning is provided with a 24 hour IT Helpline and the student support and wellbeing service at Northumbria are excellent points of contact for assistance for queries regarding disability, faith, counselling, mental health support, finance, and welfare issues. You can access these services via email on your student portal, by telephone or through the help desk staff based within university libraries.

You will also support each other via peer support, through engaging in discussion and debate to enhance your learning. Additional relevant materials will be available via BlackBoard Ultra. These will include the electronic reading list, PowerPoint presentations, recorded lectures, and interactive learning packages. The University Libraries at both Coach Lane Campus and City Campus offer an extensive collection of material, both hard copy and electronic, access to international databases and training in information retrieval. All support will be in line with any Student Accessibility Plans (SAPs).

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. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

What will I be expected to achieve?

1. Develop a knowledge of the principles of pharmacology and apply this knowledge to the administration of medicines in nursing.

Intellectual / Professional Skills & Abilities:

2. Develop your skills in a range of assessment approaches that are applicable to those service users with complex care needs.

3. Demonstrate safe, effective and evidenced based medicines administration.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

4. Explore the values and ethical practice that underpins safe nursing interventions.

How will I be assessed?

Formative Assessment:

In small tutorial groups, you will explore the assignment case studies to develop your understanding of pharmacological processes. Using this knowledge discuss the nurse’s role in optimisation of medicines and ensuring safe / ethical practice. (MLO 1, 3, 4).

Summative:

Your summative assessment will consist of a critical discussion of a field specific case study. These patient/person focused case studies will be provided for you and allow a choice of one from two. The 2500-word critical discussion will focus on the application of nursing assessment to demonstrate understanding of medicines management, including pharmacological processes and the role of the nurse to ensure safe, ethical practice. (MLO 1, 2, 3 & 4).

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

This module builds on your learning from Nursing Skills module 3. You will learn about the nursing interventions associated with people with complex care needs. You will explore the principles, approaches, and application of safe nursing practice in medicines administration. A digital educational medicines management resource will be used to assist your learning of medicine administration and accurate drug calculations for a range of medications. Through skills rehearsal you will gain confidence and proficiency in the full range of medicines administration and management techniques, as appropriate to your field of nursing. Medicines management is a key part of safe and effective nursing care; this module prepares you for your chosen career as a future nurse.

Course info

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 18 months full-time

Department Nursing, Midwifery & Health

Location Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

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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