NS0526 - Nursing Skills 4: Enhancing Clinical Skills for Complex Care

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.

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 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 Disabled Student Support Recommendations (DSSR).

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)

Knowledge & Understanding:

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.

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 nurses 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).

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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. SafeMedicate 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.