Module: General Nursing 1

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	General Nursing 1
Module Code	NUR1014 (ITS: NS130)
Faculty	Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the key concepts associated with general nursing; facilitate development of a general nursing identity and enable an appreciation of person-centred, responsive care for patients across the lifespan. The module is delivered through a combination of face to face lectures, clinical skills practice sessions and online group tutorials.

Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss the core principles of general nursing, its origins and identity.
2. Identify different contexts and settings where general nursing is delivered.
3. Discuss the impact of physical illness on patients across the lifespan incorporating the very young to older people; their families and communities.
4. Describe frameworks used in the organisation and delivery of quality person- centred care spanning the very young to the older person, within the Irish healthcare system including introduction to the Irish National Early Warning System (INEWS)
5. Recognise the need for culturally sensitive, responsive care across the lifespan for respective patient groups they many encounter.
6. Identify mechanisms that develop nursing knowledge and support evidence-based practice.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	20	Face to face lectures.
Fieldwork	48	Directed self-learning incorporating preparation for module assessment by way of both individual and group work. Students will negotiate groupwork activities/workload allocation, preparation and retrieval of appropriate evidence to underpin assignment preparation.
Independent Study	50	Following a period of personal reflection the individual student may determine this time is afforded to the pursuit of activities motivated towards attaining module learning outcomes including engagement with online module resources, recommended reading and other opportunistic learning activities.
Tutorial	5	Small group online tutorials
Clinical laboratory	2	Practice of clinical skills associated with the module
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11237	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Anne Kirwan	Module Teacher	Ciara White

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	400 word formative assessment with audio & typed feedback provided within two weeks of submission	0%	Week 5
Portfolio	Students will work both individually and in groups on a eportfolio assessment consisting of two parts. Part 1 consists of a formative assessment piece upon which each student will receive audio & typed feedback. Part 2 of five different activities. Submission of the formative assignment is a pre requirement for the submission of the eportfolio	100%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

Contexts of general nursing practice (primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare)

Principles of general nursing practice including acute,chronic,medical & surgical nursing care.

Frameworks underpinning the organisation and delivery of collaborative person-centred care in general nursing contexts.

Fundamental care aspects related to general nursing care delivery including the Irish National Early Warning System INEW

Introduction to Evidence-based Practice: Developing and maintaining nursing knowledge for general nursing practice

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Brooker, C and Waugh, A. (Eds): 2013, Foundations of Nursing Practice: Fundamentals of Holistic Care, 2nd, Mosby Elsevier., Edinburgh., 978-0-7234-3661-4
Brady AM, McCabe C and McCann M (Eds): 2014, Fundamental of Medical-Surgical Nursing: A Systems Approach., Wiley Blackwell., W. Sussex, 978-0470658239
Brooker C, Nicol M and Alexander M: 2011, Alexander's Nursing Practice, 4, Churchill Livingstone, 996, 978-070205465
Lynda Juall Carpenito-Moyet: 2009, Nursing care plans & documentation, Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 9780781770644
Potter P. and Perry P.: 2009, Fundamentals of Nursing, 6th Edition, Elsevier Mosby, Missouri,
Peate I and Wild K: 2018, Nursing Practice: Knowledge and Care, 2nd, Wiley-Blackwell,

Articles:

Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland: 2025, Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives Incorporating the Scope of Practice and Professional Guidance, https://www.nmbi.ie/NMBI/media/NMBI/NMBI-Code-of-Professional-Conduct-and-Ethics.pdf?ext=.pdf, 518257
2011: Respecting dignity in care in diverse care settings: Strategies of UK nurses, International Journal of Nursing Practice, 17, 336, 518258, 1
An exploration of the 6Cs as a set of values for nursing practice.: British Journal of Nursing, 26(10), 558, 518259, 1, WileyOnlineLibrary@wiley.com
Worldviews on evidence-based nursing: March 2022, 3, 1545-102X, https://sigmapubs-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.dcu.idm.oclc.org/doi/pdf/10.1111/wvn.12595,

Other Resources

None

Summary information for Transcript of Training: The aim of this module is to introduce students to the key concepts associated with general nursing and to facilitate the development of a general nursing identity.