NS0423 - Practice Module 1: Becoming a Safe, Caring Professional

What will I learn on this module?

This practice module will provide you with a unique opportunity to develop skills and knowledge directly relevant to your current practice placement experiences. The practice module will both support your learning while you are in practice and provide an environment, within university, to consolidate the skills and knowledge necessary to progress effectively. By using a concept curriculum approach, the nursing practice module will support you to learn how to become an accountable professional, lead and manage nursing care, and work in teams.

During the first year, you will learn the fundamental skills that are necessary for safe, effective and professional practice.

During the majority of your first year clinical placements you will return to university for two days a week to reflect on your experiences. You will learn together with your peers and examine theoretical concepts such as professionalism, interprofessional learning, medicines management and safeguarding that will enhance your practice. Seminars and workshops will focus on a range of subjects that will enhance your professional nursing practice. Innovative teaching and learning strategies will be used to enhance your learning, This will include the use of digital educational resources to support your learning in relation to concepts such as medicines management.

You will learn how to develop your Ongoing Record of Achievement (ORA) and how to reflect on your personal and professional development. You will learn about the importance of patient centred and recovery focussed approaches and will be asked to reflect on feedback given by Experts By Experience (EBE). These skills are the start of your development as an evidence-based practitioner.

How will I learn on this module?

You will be empowered to become an independent learner through engagement with an evolving concept curriculum meeting the needs of individuals and families through innovation and the delivery of best practice.

You will learn through a variety of methods, which will include on-line supported learning, digital educational resources, seminars and workshops which will utilise Enquiry Based Learning (EBL) and coaching strategies. In addition, you will spend much of your time in practice placements developing and consolidating your learning.

During your time in university you will work with and learn from your peers and also be provided with the opportunity to link with fellow students on other health programmes to facilitate Inter-Professional Learning (IPL). This is a key aspect of the practice modules, facilitating future team-work and reflecting the realities of delivering care in practice.

You will be given the opportunity to engage with and benefit from our experienced student volunteers (Learning Leaders) from previous cohorts who will share their experiences, advising and assisting in your transition as a student nurse both in University and clinical practice.

In practice placements your Practice Supervisors, Practice Assessor, Academic Assessor and Practice Module Team will support and guide your learning opportunities, working in partnership with Practice Placement Facilitators (PPFs) to enrich your professional development through observation, role modelling and facilitated sessions.

Your learning environment, both in university and practice, will provide you with the opportunity to understand the theoretical background and rationale behind the practice you experience on your placement. This will be enhanced by developing your clinical and reflective skills linking theory and practice.

You will be expected to engage in self-directed study that helps construct knowledge in preparation for you to become a dynamic, safe and caring professional.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

A strength of this module is the collaboration between the university and the practice placement partners. This will provide you with a robust student support network whilst studying in clinical practice areas. You will be supported to work in partnership with your Practice Supervisor, Practice Assessor and Academic Assessor, to manage your development in both practice and in university throughout year one.

You will be allocated a Personal Tutor, who will meet with you regularly and provide you with consistent pastoral support and access to academic guidance.

You will have access to BlackBoard Ultra where you will find a range of learning materials, videos, workbooks and on-line supportive learning packages.

The module is assessed utilising a Pass/Refer based upon meeting the criteria outlined in the North East Electronic Practice Assessment Document (NEEPAD).

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. Further details of practice support can be found via the relevant link in the appropriate section of your programme handbook via the eLP.

Ask4Help, MyNorthumbria Student Portal, Student Programme Support and Wellbeing Services for example.

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?

Knowledge & Understanding:

1. Recognise and discuss evidence and research that underpins your clinical practice.
2. Understand the importance of self-reflection and be able to apply established models of reflection to your clinical practice.
3. Recognise the key NHS values including prioritising people and be able to discuss the importance of service user feedback.

Intellectual / Professional Skills & Abilities:

4. Develop an awareness of your own limitations, applying evidence to perform a range of fundamental practical skills in a safe and effective way.
5. Identify the impact of an effective nursing assessment on the health, wellbeing and safety of patients and clients.
6. Develop a knowledge and understanding of basic medicine calculations.

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

7. Value curiosity, reflect on personal values and develop your professional role and identity in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Standards (2018).
8. Demonstrate the ability to ensure practice is delivered in a compassionate, respectful way maintaining dignity and wellbeing for all service users and their carers through promoting individuality, independence, rights, choice and inclusion
9. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to reflect on self, personal and professional values, emotional intelligence and leadership attributes.
10. Demonstrate competence in consistently maintaining patient safety across all settings using appropriate evidence and guidance.
11. Be an advocate, when required, facilitating equitable access to healthcare making necessary reasonable adjustments to the assessment planning and delivery of patient care.

How will I be assessed?

You will be continuously supervised in your practice placements, this will generate feedback for your assessments.

Formative Assessment

You will undertake a a variety of formative and summative assessments, identified in the NEEPAD, which include episodes of care, medication assessments, written reflections and service user/patient feedback.

At the end of your first full placement you will reflect on your practice development and review your progress with your Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor.
(MLO’s 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10)


Summative Assessment

Pass/Refer –

Summative: Following feedback from your Practice Supervisors, your Practice Assessor and Academic Assessor will assess you against the proficiencies and evidence in the North East Electronic Practice Assessment Document (NEEPAD) document.
(MLO’s 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11)

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

This module spans the whole of your first year as a Student Nurse. It will help you develop the fundamental skills that are necessary for safe; effective and professional practice and give you the key skills enabling you to be successful in your nursing career. During this module you will attend clinical placement and university to support your practice learning. This will allow you to complete more theory and skills-based learning and to reflect on your clinical experiences. This will include learning together with your peers in workshops and seminars, all of which will help develop your understanding of the links between theory and practice. You will spend your time in a variety of outstanding practice placements, learning new clinical skills with an understanding of the theory underpinning them. Practice Supervisors and Practice Assessors will guide your learning opportunities, working in partnership with your academic team from the university. You will be required to attend all mandatory training prior to commencing clinical placements. This includes basic life support, moving and handling and the Oliver McGowan mandatory training on learning disability and autism.

Course info

UCAS Code B741

Credits 40

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 3 Years Full Time

Department Nursing, Midwifery & Health

Location Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2024 or September 2025

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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