Module: Contemporary Issues

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Contemporary Issues
Module Code	NS4017 (ITS) / NUR1064 (Banner)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health
Module Co-ordinator	Martina Conway
Module Teachers	Michael Mckeon
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Coursework Only
As above

Description

The aim of the module is to consolidate the students learning over the previous 3 years. This module prepares the student for their internship. The student will have an opportunity to critique and respond to the current trends in caring for people with intellectual disabilities across the lifespan in a variety of settings. The module pays particular attention to the intellectual disability nursing contribution to health and social care.

Learning Outcomes

1. Domain 1: Professional values and conduct of the nurse competences Knowledge and appreciation of the virtues of caring, compassion, integrity, honesty, respect and empathy as a basis for upholding the professional values of nursing and identity as a nurse.
2. Domain 2: Nursing practice and clinical decision making competences Knowledge and understanding of the principles of delivering safe and effective nursing care through the adoption of a systematic and problem-solving approach to developing and delivering a person-centred plan of care based on an explicit partnership with the person and his/her primary carer.
3. Domain 3: Knowledge and cognitive competences Knowledge and understanding of the health continuum, life and behavioural sciences and their applied principles that underpin a competent knowledge base for nursing and healthcare practice.
4. Domain 4: Communication and inter personal competences Knowledge, appreciation and development of empathic communication skills and techniques for effective interpersonal relationships with people and other professionals in health care settings.
5. Domain 5: Management and team competences Using management and team competences in working for the person’s wellbeing, recovery, independence and safety through recognition of the collaborative partnership between the person, family and multidisciplinary health care team.
6. Domain 6: Leadership potential and professional scholarship competences Developing professional scholarship through self-directed learning skills, critical questioning/ reasoning skills and decision-making skills in nursing as the foundation for lifelong professional education, maintaining competency and career development.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	28	Lectures
Laboratory	18	clinical nursing skills
Independent Study	154	student self direction
Online activity	10	Accessing materials on Loop, HSeLand e-learning
Group work	40	Teaching a clinical skill video and teaching plan
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

Contemporary issues
Intellectual disability contemporary issues including: advocacy, person-centred practice, HIQA standards, models of living, employment, social inclusion, belonging, e-health care, Disability Quality Improvement.

Clinical Topics
Consolidate clinical skills knowledge; teaching clinical skills to junior colleagues

Health in Intellectual Disability
Explore current health trends for people with intellectual disabilities; access to healthcare, hospital passports, reasonable adjustments, chronic disease management, Sepsis signs and symptoms, role of the Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) and the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), breaking bad news, loss and bereavement.

The future development of intellectual disability nursing
Future trends in intellectual disability nursing. Career pathways.

Personal Development, a key to professional development
The importance of personal, and professional development over the course of their professional career, raising concerns, interdisciplinary working, working with families and carers.

Models of learning and service change.
Ways of learning in practice, HSE change management, negotiation skills.

Preparing for the Internship
Preparing for the internship/practice placements, policy and legal issues, organisation and administration, leadership skills, person-centred cultures of care.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Assignment	Clinical Skills video and written assignment	100%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Doody, O., McMahon, J., Lyons, R., Moloney, M., Hennessy T. and Ryan, R.,: 2021, Presenting problem/conditions which result in people with an intellectual disability being admitted to acute hospitals, Health Service Executive, Limerick, 9781911620280
McCormack, B., McCance, T., Bulley C., Brown , D., McMillan, A ., Martin, S.: 2021, Fundamentals of Person-Centred HealthCare Practice, 1st, WILEY BLACKWEL, London, 9781119533085
McKimm Swanick,: 2010, Clinical Teaching Made Easy, Quay Books, 978-1856424080
Moulster G, Iorizzo J, Ames S & Kernohan J: 2019, The Moulster and Griffiths Learning Diisability Nursing Model, Jessica Kintgsley Publishers,
Northway , R., and Hopes, P.,: 2022, Learning Disability Nursing, 1st, Section 1, 2 & 3, Critical publishing, Great Britain, 9781914171352
The Regulatory and Quality Improvement Authority: 2018, Guidelines on Caring for People with a Learning Disability in General Hospital Settings,, The Regulatory and Quality Improvement Authority, Belfast,
Tuffrey-Wijne, I.: 2011, How to Break Bad News to People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Guide for Carers and Professionals,, 1st, Jessica Kingsley, London, UK, 9781849052801
Whitehead. B. & Brown. M.: 2017, Transition to Nursing: Preparation for Practice, Open University Press,
Wilson, B., Woodlands, A., Barrett, D.: 2019, Care Planning A guide for Nurses,, 3rd, Routledge, Oxon, UK, 97811386421]

Other Resources

None