NS0531 - Developing and Applying Knowledge and Skills for Nursing Care

A variety of different learning and teaching approaches will be used in this module to ensure your individual student learning styles are taken into account. You will participate in key note lectures which will be used to deliver the underpinning theory you require and you will be able to access other learning materials via technology enabled learning. Tutor guided directed and independent reading will also help you to expand your knowledge base further. We will deliver practical workshops in controlled environments to support your acquisition and development of clinical skills and allow you to practice clinical decision making in a safe and supported manner. Your participation in simulated learning activities will enable you to link theory to practice by developing your critical thinking and reasoning skills. Interactions and feedback with your peers and facilitators are key features of the practical workshops to support authentic learning. Your tutors will also facilitate problem based learning workshops to facilitate group learning with your peers. In these groups, you will engage with authentic case scenarios based on critical and emergency care practices and we will guide your discussions and support the exchange and sharing of ideas related to the professional role of the nurse within the context of emergency and critical care nursing activities. You will participate in workshops which will be a mixture of face to face attendance and electronic based delivery. A series of formative activities will support you to adopt skills in self direction, analysis and enquiry based learning. Formative activities will also give you the opportunity to practice clinical skills associated with the module content. All activities and supplementary material will be available electronically to support directed and independent learning.

University lecturers attached to this module will provide you with academic and practical support to help you meet the module learning outcomes. A technology enabled group tutorial will be provided to support you with the development of your module assignment. Library services provide a number of interactive services to help you develop your analytical and critical thinking skills. Reading material regarding academic writing will be included on the reading list for this module. Extensive support from the programme team such as your personal tutor and the programme leader are available to you throughout this module delivery. Your peers are also a key support mechanism within this module. Many activities undertaken within workshop sessions are aimed at facilitating peer discussion and learning from each other. Facilitators will also help and guide you through the practical workshops and enable you to practice your clinical skills safely. This will ensure that you are supported in developing the knowledge and skills required to meet the learning outcomes of 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)

By the end of this module you will be able to:
Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Apply knowledge of the pathophysiology underpinning illness and disease trajectories requiring emergency intervention in order to anticipate the needs of the patient including: children; adults and older people; people with mental health needs and people with needs associated with their learning disabilities.
2. Analyse and apply current evidence based frameworks that underpin contemporary emergency and critical care nursing.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Apply clinical judgement and problem solving skills when appraising options and providing care for the acutely or critically ill patient in order to recognise and respond to their changing needs.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity):
4. Recognise the impact of acute and critical illness episodes on the patient and their family.
5. Demonstrate understanding of ethical and legal frameworks underpinning your nursing care.

Formative assessment
This will be a continuous process throughout the module to prepare you for your summative assessment. You will receive feedback on your contribution to discussions and in workshops from facilitators, module tutors and peers. In addition, you will complete self-assessment activities which will be available electronically. (MLO 1-4)

Summative assessment
For this assessment you are required to write a 2500 word assignment analysing the nursing interventions and care delivery for a patient with an acute or critical illness. (MLO 1-5)

You will receive written feedback on your assignment to inform your ongoing learning.

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This module will provide you with the foundations on which to build your knowledge and skills in the safe nursing care of patients of all ages requiring, acute, critical or emergency intervention including: children; adults and older people; those utilising maternity services, people with mental health needs and people with needs associated with their learning disabilities. The module is designed to enable you to apply acquired research rich knowledge and skills to effectively to assess, plan, implement and evaluate the holistic, person-centred care of patients in critical and emergency settings due to its strong practice focus.
Taught by experts in the subject, engagement with this module will increase your knowledge of the evidence base for practice and your ability to analyse nursing interventions and make clinical judgements effectively. This will enhance your skills for employment as a nurse in diverse practice settings. You will be supported in your learning during the module through feedback on technology enabled and face to face formative assessment activities in order to prepare you for your summative assessment which asks you to examine the care of a patient in a an acute, critical or emergency situation.