Registry

Module Specifications

Archived Version 2006 - 2007

Module Title	Nursing Practic philosophical/ethical
Module Code	NS502
School	School of Nursing and Human Sciences
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Dr Donal O'Mathuna	Office Number	H234
Level	5	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None

Module Aims

To explore the relevance of selected elements of the fields of philosophy and nursing theory as a basis from which to identify conceptual and ethical issues in clinical practice. To equip the student with a firm grounding in analysis of the conceptual and ethical bases of clinical practice. To develop skills to support ethically sound judgements and decisions regarding these issues.

Learning Outcomes

7 Identify and critically apply key skills of philosophical analysis. . Analyse the structure of philosophical argument 7 Identify and critically appraise the current stage of development of nursing knowledge and selected nursing theories. 7 Critically evaluate the contribution of selected nursing theories / research to the developing conceptual basis of nursing practice and research. 7 Evaluate three theoretical approaches to ethical analysis in health care 7 Develop and apply valid and sound argument to a variety of clinical ethical problems 7Critically evaluate the processes involved in identification, analysis, judgement and decision making on ethical issues in nursing and health care practice. 7 Explore the nature and boundaries of the ethical domain of clinical nursing practice.

Indicative Time Allowances
	Hours
Lectures	28
Tutorials	4
Laboratories	0
Seminars	6
Independent Learning Time	37

Total	75
Placements
Assignments

NOTE

Assume that a 5 credit module load represents approximately 75 hours' work, which includes all teaching, in-course assignments, laboratory work or other specialised training and an estimated private learning time associated with the module.

Indicative Syllabus

Philosophical inquiry in nursing is a relatively new and developing field. Some notable authors in the area are Benner, Carper, Dunlop, Edwards, Kikuchi, Meleis, Paley, Sarvimarchi, Scott and Simmons. The work of a selected number of these authors will be examined in order to shed some light on the current stage of nursing knowledge development, and the contribution that this makes to the development of the discipline. In order to explore ethical issues in clinical practice students will be required to critically analyse the contributions which various ethical perspectives contribute to the moral debate: for example, Deontology, Utilitarianism, Virtue Theory and Care Ethics. In tandem with an exploration of the relevant ethical theories, the ethical principles that are claimed to underpin clinical nursing practice will be examined. The context of clinical practice will be explored from the perspective of, roles, professional socialisation, the organisation of care delivery and their impact on the ethical awareness, perception, judgement and decision making. The module will be presented in three parts: · Part 1: This part of the module will focus on the history and development of philosophical thought. It will provide the theoretical basis for the analysis, integration and theoretical development of parts two and three. · Part 2: From an exploration of basic concepts and structures in the philosophical literature the student will move on to consider nursing knowledge, including some of the key concepts claimed by nursing scholars to underlie or permeate clinical practice and / or research. · Part 3: The focus in the third part of the module will be on the analysis of the contribution that moral theory can make to nursing practice; and conversely the challenge which clinical practice and clinical issues can make to traditional conceptions of moral theory and models of moral decision making.

Assessment
Continuous Assessment	40%	Examination Weight	60%

Indicative Reading List

Essential: Beauchamp J, Childress (2001) Principles of biomedical ethics. 5th edition. New York: Oxford University Press. Benner P. (1984) From novice to expert: expertise and power in clinical nursing practice. Menlo Park, California: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. Or Benner P (1994) Interpretative phenomenology: embodiment, caring, and ethics in health and illness. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage. Or Benner P, Tanner CA, Chesla CA (1996) Expertise in nursing practice: caring, clinical judgement and ethics. New York: Springer Publishing Co. Or Benner P, Hooper PL, Stannard D (1999) Clinical wisdom and interventions in critical care: a thinking-in-action approach. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Company. Donnelly M. (2002) Consent: bridging the gap between doctor and patient. Cork: Cork University Press. Downie RS, Calman KCM (1994) Healthy respect. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Edwards SD: (2001) Nursing philosophy: an introduction. Basingstoke: Pelgarve Edwards S ed. (1998) Nursing ethics: a principled -based approach. London: Macmillan Thompson IE, Melai KM and Boyd KM (2000) Nursing ethics 2nd edition. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. Or Thompson IE, Melai KM and Boyd KM (1994)) Nursing ethics 1st edition. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Supplementary: Aristotle The Nicomachean ethics. Translated by LJ Achrill and JO Urmson. Oxford: World classics. Bandman E, Bandman B (1995) Nursing ethics through the life span. 3rd edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Baron M, Pettit P, Slote M (1997) Three methods of ethics. Oxford: Blackwell. Benn P (1998) Ethics. London: UCL Press. Edwards SD (1998) Philosophical issues in nursing. London: Macmillan Gillon R (1986) Philosophical medical ethics. Holm S (1997) Ethical problems in clinical practice. Manchester University Press. Johnstone M (1994) Bioethics for Nurses. Sidney: Churchill Livingstone. Jodalen H, Vetlesen AJ (1997) Closeness: an ethics. Stockholm: Scandinavian University Press. Lathamer J (2000) The Conduct of Care. Oxford: Blackwell Science. Leino-Kilpi H, Vdlimdki M, Scott PA (2000) Patients Autonomy, Privacy and Informed consent Biomedical and Health Research Vol. 40. Amsterdam: IOS Press. Martininch P (1997) Writing philosophically. Oxford: Blackwell Science. Monagle JF, Thomasma DC (1994) Health care ethics: critical issues. New York: Aspen Publishers. Omrey A, Kasper CE, Page GG (1991) In search of nursing science. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage. Pellegrino ED, Thomasma S. (1993) The virtues in medical practice. Englewood cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Reed J. and Ground I (1996) Philosophy for Nurses. London: Edward Arnold. Useful Journals Advances in Nursing Science, Aspen Cambridge Quarterly of Health Care Ethics, Cambridge University Press Journal of Advanced Nursing, Blackwell Publishing Journal of Medical Ethics, BMJ Publishing Journal of Nursing Scholarship, Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Ethics, Arnold Journals Nursing Inquiry, Blackwell Publishing Nursing Philosophy, Blackwell Publishing Philosophy and Medicine, Kluwer

Programme or List of Programmes

GNSAD

GD Nursing,Addictions/Substance-Related

GNSAMH

GDip Nursing - Acute Mental Health

GNSCMH

GDip Nursing - Community Mental Health

GNSGN

GDip in Nursing (Gerontology)

GNSID

GD Nursing (Int Disability Age Related)

GNSIDC