NS0711 - Developing Nursing Practice through Research

The module offers a variety of strategies to assist your learning, and support you to undertake your dissertation. This includes a range of e-lectures, practical workshops and regular meetings with a named supervisor. ELP/Blackboard Ultra will be the platform on which your learning material will be presented as well as face-to-face workshops, of which some will be academic led and others student led.
You will be encouraged to work and learn collaboration with peers to build your knowledge and understanding. You will also be provided with the opportunity to link with fellow students in other fields of nursing and Allied Health Professionals. This will introduce you to principles of partnership, collaboration and team-work, which is so important when conducting successful nursing research.
These learning opportunities are designed to provide you with the knowledge, confidence and guidance to develop research skills and an in-depth understanding of the generation of evidence-based practice.

You will be supported by an experienced module team comprised of research and academic staff with knowledge of the teaching and conducting of research. You will receive ongoing guidance and feedback to ensure you are able to engage with research concepts and the academic rigour of the module. Scheduled workshops and regular supervision meetings with an allocated supervisor will be provided to support you in the development of your dissertation.

You will also be supported via the modules Online Supported Learning systems and digital resouces in addition to face-to- face teaching and more formal classroom arrangements. You will also support each other via peer support, through engaging in discussion and debate to enhance your learning.

Contact with the module team is available in person, via telephone, email 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. Additional relevant materials, including the electronic reading list and other teaching and learning methods, will be available Blackboard Ultra/library services to enhance and support your learning. All support will be in line with any Student Accessibility Plan (SAP) guidance.

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.

Knowledge & Understanding:

1. Critical appreciation and understanding of the theory and practice of applied healthcare/nursing research.
2. Critical analysis of a research topic/issue of the student’s choice.
3. Critical understanding of the complexity of health research.

Intellectual / Professional Skills & Abilities:

4. Conceptualise a research proposal and establish its relevance to your field of nursing.
5. Demonstrate the skills in undertaking a series of research activities that mirror the practice of research in the real world.

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

6. Appraise, develop, synthesis a topic of the student’s choice.
7. Confidently defend informed judgements about the way research is planned and conducted ensuring Professional values and accountability are articulated in academic practice

Formative Assessment:
Provision of formative feedback on performance will be an ongoing process through group/ class discussion in formal scheduled teaching and will align to the criteria of the summative assessment. Working in small peer groups you will formally present your your chosen research study. You will receive peer and facilitator feedback against the assessment criteria (MLO’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7).

Summative Assessment:

Will be by a 12,000 word dissertation in the form of either a Systematic Appraisal or an Empirical Project. Submission and feedback will be via Turnitin.

( MLO’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7).

None

None

Within this module you will be able to experience and develop first hand practical research skills. You will have the opportunity to apply principles of partnership, collaboration and interagency working to research and the development of a research idea. You will be encouraged to understand health legislation and current health and social care policies, which influence health research and research priorities. You will be provided with the principles of health economics as an area of health research and explore other areas and research methodologies. These areas of knowledge will be used to inform a dissertation designed to explore an area of challenge when providing safe, effective and person-centred nursing care for people of all ages. This is a year long module providing the time to develop a research topic, which reflects the complexities of providing mental, cognitive, behavioural and physical care in the clinical settings most relevant to your field of registration. You will have the opportunity to work alongside research staff, assess and direct the development of your research skills and present your research proposal in both written and verbal forms. You will develop the confidence and ability to think critically and contribute to the development expert evidenced based care to become a future nurse who is able to deftly combine knowledge and skill to lead excellence in nursing.