Module: The Child with Ongoing Healthcare Needs

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	The Child with Ongoing Healthcare Needs
Module Code	NUR1055 (ITS: NS380)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

Child specific module to explore and develop students knowledge of the needs of children and adolescents with ongoing healthcare needs

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically examine the underlying pathophysiological processes in the child with ongoing healthcare needs (altered genitourinary, endocrine, mental health conditions) and relate them to the delivery of nursing care.
2. Analyse the current and evolving role of the children's nurse in relation to the provision of care for the child/adolescent and their families with regards to altered genitourinary, endocrine, mental health with regards to altered genitourinary, endocrine, mental health conditions in a variety of health care settings.
3. Build upon knowledge and understanding of the social, economic, psychological and emotional impact on the child and family unit of a child with ongoing healthcare needs related to altered genitourinary, endocrine, mental health conditions.
4. Evaluate the role of the children' s nurse in meeting the health promotion and education needs of the child and their family along the life continuum.
5. Determine how and why to apply evidence based practice in relation to the nursing care of the child and family with ongoing health care needs in a variety of healthcare settings including the community.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	32	realted to the module learning outcomes
Clinical laboratory	4	clinical skills related to learning outcomes for the module
Tutorial	4	No Description
Independent Study	85	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	20825	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	100%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Lisa McIlmurray	Module Teacher	Yvonne Corcoran

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Formal Examination	End-of-Semester Final Examination	100%	End-of-Semester

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

The nature of disease and pathophysiological changes in the child and young person with ongoing healthcare needs
Revisit the anatomy and physiology of the renal and endocrine systems focusing on each system as the child grows and develops. The effect of disease and pathology on the normal functioning of the genitourinary and endocrine systems in childhood. The care associated with ongoing illness in the child and adolescent and their family including the physiological, psychological and social aspects of care.

Effects of ongoing illness on the child and family
Family centred care, facilitation of play and education in the healthcare setting. This will include health education and promotion and the role of the children’s nurse in the provision of health education and promotion to the child and family in a variety of settings.

Mental health issues in children and adolescents
The nature and range of mental health issues in childhood and adolescents will be explored, including care planning, care delivery and evaluation of care in both the acute and community setting. Mental health conditions to be explored include eating disorders, depression, anxiety and self-harm.

Disability in childhood
The effects of a range of physical and intellectual disabilities in childhood to include the care and support needs of the child with a disability and their family in the acute and community setting.

Pharmacological interventions
The principles of pharmacological interventions required most frequently in the management of children with endocrine, genitourinary and mental health conditions will be explored in detail.

Evidence based nursing interventions for the child and family with ongoing illness
Nursing assessment strategies, care planning, care delivery and the evaluation of care provided to the child and their family with acute and chronic genitourinary conditions, endocrine dysfunction, disability and mental health issues.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Jayne Price,Orla McAlinden,Zoë Veal: 2024, Essentials of Nursing Children and Young People, 2nd Edition, Sage, 9781529767339
Sonya Clarke,Doris Corkin: 2023, Care Planning in Children and Young People's Nursing, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 373, 9781119819622
Elizabeth Anne Bruce,Janet Williss,Faith Gibson: 2023, The Great Ormond Street Hospital Manual of Children and Young People's Nursing Practices, John Wiley & Sons, 839, 9781118898222
Hanas, R.: 2007, Type 1 Diabetes in children, Adolescents and Young Adults, 3rd edition, Class Publishing, London,
Thompson, M: 2012, Child and adolescent mental health: theory and practice, 2nd, Hodder education, London,
Thomas, N: 2014, Renal nursing, 4th, Wiley Blackwell, UK,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None