Module: Children's Nursing 1

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Children's Nursing 1
Module Code	NUR1021 (ITS: NS180)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module is designed through a research and enquiry based learning approach to enable students to develop an understanding of children and young people’s growth and development along with understanding the value of play and recreational activities for children and young people’s growth and development. Topics related to child development such as effectively communicating with children and young people and adopting a child focused and family centred nursing care approach when caring for children, young people and their families will also be explored by students throughout the course of this module.

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe theories, typical patterns of, and factors that influence, children and young people’s growth and development
2. Discuss the value and importance of play and recreational activities for children and young people’s growth and development and consider how these are relevant to nursing practice
3. Discuss the core elements and interpersonal skills required to communicate effectively with children, young people and their families
4. Articulate the value and principles of a child focused and family centred nursing care approach to caring for children, young people and their families in various health care contexts
5. Use research and enquiry techniques to investigate relevant topics

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Tutorial	16	Tutorial style workshops in which students work face-to-face in groups to discuss various topics following an enquiry based learning approach; these group interactions are facilitated by the module coordinator
Lecture	18	Fixed resource sessions will be delivered to support the students in their research and enquiry based learning.
Independent Study	91	As this is a research and enquiry based learning module, students will spend their independent learning time accessing information related to topics presented in class to stimulate learning in relation to children’s growth and development, play and recreational activities, communicating effectively with children and their families and delivering a child and family centred approach to nursing care; incorporating their new knowledge with existing knowledge bases and working together in small group
Clinical laboratory	2	Clinical Skills
Total Workload: 127

Section Breakdown
CRN	11247	Part of Term	Semester 1 & 2
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Fiona Hurley	Module Teacher	Colleen O'Neill, Gillian Paul, Veronica Lambert

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Group assignment	n/a	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

Children and young people’ growth and development
Children and young people’s holistic development - physical, cognitive, language, social and emotional etc; Theories of child/adolescent development - Piaget, Vygotsky, Chomsky, Erikson, Bowlby, Ainsworth, Pavlov, Skinner etc; Influence of family, social, cultural and environmental factors on children and young people’s growth and development; Role of the nurse in relation to children and young people’s holistic development

Play and recreational activities for children and young people
Defining play, types of play, stages of play etc; Value and importance of play and recreational activities to children and young people’s holistic development – taking account of diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity etc; Suitable play and recreational activities for promoting children and young people’s holistic development; Role of the nurse in promoting and using play and recreational activities when caring for children and young people in various health care contexts

Communicating effectively with children, young people and their families
Children and young people’s development in relation to their ability to communicate; Developmental approaches to communication techniques according to children and young person age and developmental stage; Engaging with parents, and siblings, of children with healthcare needs

Child focused and family centred nursing care
Introduction to the values, principles and philosophy of child focused and family centred nursing care for caring for children and their families in various health care contexts; including an introduction to the new model of care for paediatrics in Ireland

Research and enquiry techniques
Introduction to enquiry based learning and sourcing and reviewing various forms of evidence, including research

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Carter B, Bray L, Dickinson A, Edwards M, Ford K: 2014, Child-Centred Nursing, Sage Publications, London,
Howard J & Alderson D: 2011, Play in Early Childhood: from Birth to Six Years, Routledge, London,
Keenan, T. &Evans S: 2009, An Introduction to Child Development., Sage Publications, London,
Lambert V, Long T, Kelleher D: 2012, Communication Skills for Children's Nurses, Open University Press, England,
Moyles J: 2010, The excellence of play., Open University Press, England,
Santrock JW: 2011, Child Development, McGraw Hill, London,
Scarlett WG, Al-Solaim L, Naudeau S et al: 2005, Children's Play, Sage Publications, London,
Sharma A & Cockerill H: 2014, Mary Sheridan's from Birth to Five Years. Children's Developmental Progress, Routledge, London,
Sharma A & Cockerill H: 2014, From Birth to Five Years: Practical Developmental Examination, Routledge, London,
Smith L and Coleman V: 2010, Child and Family Centred Healthcare: Concept, Theory and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None