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Module Specifications..

Current Academic Year 2023 - 2024

Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title Core Nursing Skill
Module Code NS105
School 38
Module Co-ordinatorSemester 1: Ciara White
Semester 2: Sean Duffy
Autumn: Sean Duffy
Module TeachersSean Duffy
Ciara White
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 10
Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None
None
Description

This year long module will introduce students to the knowledge and skills that relates to the health and safety of patients in practice settings. It also introduces students to the theoretical components and practical clinical skills related to meeting the core needs of patients. A strong emphasis will be placed on the mandatory skills required for students to complete prior to attending clinical practice which are; people handling, managing challenging situation in practice, infection control and cardio pulmonary resuscitation. Students will also be required to undertake current child protection education. Failure to attend any of the mandatory skills will result in the student not attending clinical placement in semester one. Alongside the mandatory skills, students are expected to attend a number of other skills workshops. These skills will be required for students to assist with providing care to patients in a variety of health care setting. To complement the skills delivery a number of lectures, small class room teaching and on-line work will be provided. This year long module will also enable the student apply the knowledge gained from semester one and begin to appreciate the complexity of the provision of nursing care in semester two. Students are also expected to use the Clinical Education Centre outside of the timetabled skills workshops times so that they can practice these skills unsupervised.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand hazards that are potentially threatening to the safety of the patient in the health care setting
2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the safety issues encountered in a healthcare setting
3. Examine the theory underpinning the nurse’s role in assisting patients in meeting their safety needs
4. Identify the core fundamental nursing skills of patients in the health care setting
5. Describe the basic theory underpinning the nurses role in assisting patients in meeting their core nursing skills
6. Practice the core nursing skills necessary for assisting patients in health care settings



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture40Introduction to the theory underpinning the skills taught in the module
Clinical laboratory20Mandatory Clinical Skills Workshops
Clinical laboratory30Clinical Skills Workshops
Laboratory30Self-Directed Clinical Skills Practice
Laboratory20Self-Directed OSCE )Objective Structured Clinical Examination) Clinical Skills Oractice, Recording and Uploading
Independent Study105Overview of module theory. This includes revision for MCQ's and time allocated for the MCQ's (2 Multiple Choice Question Exams during the module)
Online activity5Undertake and complete Health Service Authority E Learning Module Children First
Total Workload: 250

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Irish Health and Safety Legislation
Overview of Irish Health and Safety Legislation

Professional Frameworks and Guidelines in relation to Health and Safety
Manual Handling and Patient Handling (People Handling)

Safe Environment
Managing Challenging Situations in Practice (MCSIP)

Safe Environment
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Infection Control
Hand Hygiene, Personal Protective Equipment, Standard Precautions, Introduction to Aseptic No Touch Technique (ANTT), Basic Wound Care

Safe Environment
First Aid - An Introduction

Observations
Temperature, Pulse, Respirations and Blood Pressure (TPR & BP)

Safe Environment
Introduction to basic safety assessment in healthcare settings, including safety aspects to consider while making unoccupied bed

Personal Hygiene
Personal Hygiene including making Occupied Bed

Nutrition and Hydration
Nutrition and Hydration (Eating & Drinking)

Introduction to Medication Management
Key Principles, Rights, Abbreviations, Routes, Calculations

Elimination
Elimination and Specimen Collection

Mobilisation
Mobilisation including Complications and Patient Positioning

Respiratory Therapy
Respiratory Therapy

Nursing Process
Nursing Process - An Introduction

Skin Integrity
Skin Integrity - An Introduction

Pre and Post Operative Care
Pre and Post Operative Care

Pain Management
Pain Management - An Introduction

Child Protection
Child protection in the context of the protection of the safety and well being of the child, HSE Children First training, E-Learning module or subsequent updated child protection course.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment100% Examination Weight0%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Written Exam2 OSCE's 2 Quizzes100%n/a
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
1 = A resit is available for all components of the module
2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module
3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1
Indicative Reading List

  • An Bord Altranais: 2007, Guidance to nurses and midwives on medication administration, An Bord Altranais, Dublin,
  • Dougherty, L., Lister, S., West-Oram A.: 2015, The Royal Marsden Hospital Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures., 9th, Wiley-Blackwell, England, 978-1-118-746
  • Weller, B.: 2014, Bailliere’s Nurses’ Dictionary: For Nurses and Healthcare Workers, 26th, Balliere Tindall, London, 10:0702053287
  • Alfaro-Lefevre, R.: 2014, Applying Nursing Process: The Foundation for Clinical Reasoning, 8th, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 978-160913697
  • American Heart Association: 2015, Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED Student Workbook, American Heart Association,
  • Chris Brooker, Maggie Nicol, Margaret F. Alexander.: 2014, Alexander's Nursing Practice, 4th, Edinburgh; Churchill Livingstone, Philadelphia, 9780702054655
  • Brunner, L.S. & Suddarth, D.S.: 2013, Textbook of Medical Surgical Nursing, 13th, Lippincott, London, 1451130600
  • Kindersley, D.: 2009, First Aid Manual 9th Edition Irish Edition, 9th, Dorling Kindersley; Irish edition edition (1 Jun. 2009), UK, 78-1405345323
  • SARI: 2005, Guidelines for Hand Hygiene in Irish Health Care Settings, Health Service Executive / Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Dublin,
  • HCAI: 2015, Guidelines for Hand Hygiene in Irish Health Care Settings, Health Service Executive / Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Dublin,
Other Resources

61920, Website, Health Service Executive, 2015, Aseptic non Touch Technique. The ANTT Clinical Practice Framework... For Surgery to Community Care, http://www.hse.ie/eng/health/hl/hcaiamr/healthcareassinfection/preventing, 61921, Website, ANTT, 2013, Aseptic non Touch Technique. The ANTT Clinical Practice Framework... For Surgery to Community Care, London, The Association for Safe Aseptic Practice (ASAP), www.antt.org, 61922, Website, Health Service Executive, 0, Children First, Health Service Executive, www.hse.ie/childrenfirst,
Programme or List of Programmes
BNCGBSc in Children's & General Nursing
BNGNBSc in Nursing (General)
BNIDBSc in Nursing (Intellectual Disability)
BNPYBSc in Nursing (Mental Health)
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