MH0613 - Theory 5: Transition to Accountable Practitioner in Mental Health Nursing

What will I learn on this module?

The module builds on the skills and knowledge that you have developed during the programme and supports your transition towards becoming a confident accountable practitioner. Scholarship within mental health nursing will be embraced; this will enable you to critically analyse and challenge the status quo, demonstrating courage and professional curiosity. The module content encourages independent thinking skills and creativity. Research and practice development philosophy is explored, which will support your summative assessment which is a Practice Project Proposal.

You will critically reflect upon a presenting operational, practice, or leadership challenge within a clinical setting. In order to do this, you will explore contentious elements of mental health practice including consent & capacity, advocacy, global health priorities and health economics. Patient safety and cost effectiveness are competing forces in mental health practice, and you will examine this paradox alongside the maintenance of high-quality care with finite resources. You will also understand human factors within organisations and/or systems are paramount to its success, and appraise the evidence, particularly in relation to working within teams, utilising archived serious case reviews, critical incidents and ‘never events’. By critically appraising pertinent literature you will promote understanding of organisational culture and compassion fatigue, increasing your determination and resilience to become a competent accountable practitioner. Moreover, research and practice development provide rich evidence to support innovation and action. This module will develop your ability to analyse and select appropriate methods of research/practice development to fulfil the summative assessment requirements and prepare you for the future.

How will I learn on this module?

Throughout this module, you will engage in a variety of learning and teaching approaches. Taught sessions will include individual work, group discussion and debate. You will be encouraged to consider competing perspectives, share opinions, work with Experts by Experience (EBE’s) and develop a greater understanding of the complexity of transitioning to an accountable practitioner.

You will be engaged in enquiry-based learning in exploring personal narratives to examine the assumptions and values related to transitioning to an accountable practitioner. Workshops within the module will develop your project management skills, leadership attributes, and knowledge of legal and ethical issues relating to clinical, evidence-based practice and governance. To further support the transition to accountable practitioner, Local, National and International legislation and policy will be critically evaluated within workshops.

You will continue to be engaged in a variety of learning and teaching approaches, delivered using a blend of web-based resources to support face-to-face workshops and seminars, underpinned by the ‘flipped classroom’ approach (Bergmand & Sam’s, 2012). Again, it is crucial that you engage with both the directed and self-directed study outside of the face-to-face sessions to ensure that you are fully prepared for all facilitated sessions. This is non-negotiable and sets the expectations of becoming an accountable and professional nurse.

In addition, in this year of study, the directed activities you will complete within the ‘Study & Research Skills’ Workbook, will focus on developing your project/ research proposal skills, culminating in the submission of your project proposal.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

You will be supported by a dedicated and highly motivated module team of mental health nursing lecturers with knowledge of the concepts and perspectives considered within the module. You will receive ongoing guidance and feedback to support you to engage with the module. Contact with the module team is available in person, via telephone, email and Blackboard Ultra.

All students are encouraged to access individual academic support via a tutorial with their allocated supervisor. Academic support aims to engage the student and the marker in constructive discussion regarding the chosen area of practice and relate this to the assessment criteria. The use of peer support is a vital component of critical discussion and generating ideas, this is utilised during this module.

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 materials packages.

Support for your overall student experience is also offered via the 24-hour IT Helpline, Student Support and Wellbeing Services, Library Services and Skills Plus and the Helpdesk Service. You will be encouraged to support one another within your group and to seek guidance from Practice Supervisors in relation to applying the key theoretical concepts within your placement.

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 context specific scholarship

Intellectual / Professional Skills & Abilities:

2. Critical analysis of the evidence base for practice

3. Begin the process of transitioning to Registered Nurse (Mental Health)

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

4. Values and accountability are articulated in professional practice
5. Demonstrate leadership attributes in preparation for registration

How will I be assessed?

Formative assessment:
You will obtain evidence that supports the viability of your project (the idea), before you generate the proposal. This feedback will ensure that your idea is supported by service users/carers and clinical staff via standardised documents such as a SUE Q or witness testimony. This could also be used as evidence for your NEEPAD (MLO’s 1,2,4)

Summative assessment:
You will submit a 6000-word practice project proposal via Turnitin which will address all of the (MLO’s 1-5).
Feedback will be provided electronically.

Criteria for assessment;
Critically reflect upon an operational, practice, or leadership challenge (MLO 1 & 3).
Critically evaluate a range of philosophical practice development /research approaches and apply these to your chosen issue (MLO 2).
Critically reflect upon leadership within a project in terms of the strengths and limitations of research/practice development in practice. (MLO 4 & 5).

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

This module will focus on your transition from an undergraduate Student Nurse to graduate NMC Registrant. You will be consolidating and advancing your knowledge, skills, abilities and professional values. This will ensure your responsiveness in relation to the ever-changing local, national and global health care landscape and the dynamic needs of those accessing mental health services, their families and their communities.

You will develop a practice-based project proposal that reflects the real world of nursing practice and the user/carer experience. Through your project proposal, you will understand and experience the various stages of research, enquiry, project management and governance. The module provides an exciting opportunity to facilitate the creativity and independent thinking that are central to professionalism. This will enhance your role transition and preparation for employability as a Registered Nurse. This module will develop and further your understanding of research-rich learning, the research process and its application to current mental health nursing practice as you transition to an accountable practitioner.

Course info

UCAS Code B740

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 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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