NS0622 - Nursing Skills 5: Leading and Improving Safety and Care Quality

What will I learn on this module?

Nursing Skills 5 will build on the concepts from years 1 and 2 and further enhance your skills. The module focuses on aspects of leadership to build your competence in the delivery of safe and effective person-centred care. You will update and explore in greater depth skills you acquired in previous years, including mandatory skills and a range of more advanced techniques and procedures whilst preparing you for your role as a newly qualified nurse. In addition, you will build on your knowledge and experience of safe nursing practice, promotion of health and medicines management in relation to caring for people with acute, complex and advanced conditions. You will develop advanced communication and nursing procedure skills as appropriate to your field of nursing.

How will I learn on this module?

You will learn through a variety of methods, which will include practice learning, simulated practice, and Online Supported Learning (OSL). These approaches to E-learning 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 learn through the practise and rehearsal of specific advanced nursing skills. You will be using practice-based scenarios to practise, test and reflect on your acquisition of nursing procedures, leadership and team management skills. Collaborative student learning will be supported through a process of peer feedback informing your development and contributing to your future employability. You will also have access to our state-of-the-art Clinical Skills Centre, SMOTs, Immersive Suite and specialised clinical skills technologies to assist your development.

The module will be delivered using a blend of web-based resources and face-to-face seminars and practical sessions that are underpinned by online learning resources. BlackBoard Ultra will be used to provide access to both field essential learning and the opportunity to access learning that supports a greater depth of knowledge beyond your field specific content. You will also have access to a digital education resource to support your ongoing development of safe medicine practice.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

You will be supported by a module team of specialist nursing lecturers. You will receive ongoing guidance and feedback to effectively engage with concepts of leadership, care quality, pharmacology and medicines administration, and field specific advanced nursing skills to ensure evidence based safe nursing practice.

You will also be supported via the modules OSL 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 (SAP’s).

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?

Knowledge & Understanding:

1. demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the principles of pharmacology and evidence-based medicines administration.

2. articulate understanding of the legal and ethical complexity relating to the management of acute, complex and advanced needs in healthcare.

Intellectual / Professional Skills & Abilities:

3. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the transferability of knowledge and skills within acute, complex and advanced healthcare needs.

4. demonstrate capability for advancing practice in a range of clinical skills and safe delegation within a team.

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

5. demonstrate the capability of explaining the rationale that influences your judgements and decisions in routine, complex and challenging situations.

How will I be assessed?

Formative Assessment:
Formative assessment will be in the form of weekly medicines management quizzes, which will assess your knowledge and understanding in preparation for the module’s summative assessment (MLO 1, 2, 3 & 4).

Summative Assessment:

This will be a written online examination consisting of 2 parts.

Part 1: 30% weighting.
The exam will be 2 hours in duration and will consist of 20 drug calculations. You must achieve 100% in your drug calculations, this will equate to 30% of the overall module mark. (MLO 1)

Part 2: 70% weighting.
This part of the exam will consist of two scenarios focussing on knowledge and application of safe medicines administration, decision making, leading and improving care and ensuring safe practice as applied to your field of nursing (MLO 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5)
Students will be given 24 hours to complete the exam. The exam scenarios will be made available 2 weeks ahead of the stipulated exam time. On exam day, students will complete their written answers to previously unseen questions on a word document and will submit via Turnitin before the 24-hour deadline. Students may access any and all resources required to complete their assessment during this time.
The exam will be marked out of 100% and you will need to achieve a minimum pass mark of 40%. This will equate to 70% of the overall module mark.

Feedback will be provided online through Turnitin

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

Within your final year you will develop skills in leading and improving quality care in preparation for your future employability. Through skills rehearsal you will gain confidence and proficiency in nursing procedures and the interpretation of patient findings as appropriate to your field of nursing. Armed with these advanced nursing and leadership skills, you will be prepared for your role as a qualified nurse who can work autonomously. Within an ever changing and fast paced health care environment, you need to have the leadership skills to orchestrate efficient high-quality care, to improve patient experiences and contribute to the effectiveness of the healthcare team. This module helps prepares you for the challenge of the responsibilities you will take on when you become a Registered Nurse.

Course info

UCAS Code B741

Credits 20

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 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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