Module: Practice Context & Professional Role Development

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Practice Context & Professional Role Development
Module Code	NUR1113 (ITS: NS5011)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10

Description

This module offers students the opportunity to examine their practice contexts and their own evolving professional roles employing a range of perspectives and evaluation frameworks. International and national perspectives will be addressed. Ownership of the new knowledge, skills and attidudes will develop in class debates and written submissions. Reflecting on personal and practice change will be nurtured throughout the course. Students will be expected to share knowledge and progress with the use of discussions, portfolio work, seminars, tutorials, lectures and assignments

Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss the impact of contemporary healthcare developments, policies and debates on local service ideology and practice
2. Analyse constructions of professional identity and role and factors that influence role performance and function
3. Examine ways in which professional knowledge and expertise are developed in healthcare practice contexts
4. Evaluate their own professional role in practice using relevant frameworks
5. Appraise professional and practice development that incorporates evidence based approaches and collaboration with relevant individuals/teams/services/users

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	10	Lectures in DCU
Group work	12	workshops
Tutorial	8	Tutor facilitated tutorials
Independent Study	160	independant learning time
Clinical placement	60	Supervised clinical practice
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	20834	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale		Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category		Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator		Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Portfolio	Practice evaluation through professional practice protfolio	40%	Week 12
Assignment	Assignments will be chosen and submitted both within the 12 weeks of the module and on completion of the module on week 12.	60%	Week 1

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

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Indicative Reading List

Books:

Haines A & Donald A: 2002, Getting Research findings into Practice, 2002, BMJ Books, London,
Higgs J, Richardson, B & Abrandt Dahlgren M: 2004, Developing Practice Knowledge for Health Professionals, 2004, Butterworth Heinemann, London,
Higgs J & Titchen A: 2001, Practice Knowledge and Expertise, 2004, Butterworth Heinnemann, Oxford,
Binnie A & Titchen A: 2003, Freedom to Practice The development of patient centred nursing, 2003, Butteerworth Heinnemann, Oxford,
Johns C: 2002, Guided Reflection: Advancing Practice, 2002, Blackwell Science, Oxford,
Craig, J.V., Smyth, R.L., .: 2007, The Evidence-Based Practice Manual for Nurses. Second edition., Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, Edinburgh,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None