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Module Specifications

Archived Version 2012 - 2013

Module Title Humanities & Health
Module Code NS273
School School of Nursing and Human Sciences

Online Module Resources

Module Co-ordinatorDr Briege CaseyOffice NumberH212
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None
Description

This module will enable students to reflect on the complexity of the human experiences of health, illness, recovery, disability and death through studying the expression of these experiences in the arts and humanities. Students will engage with relevant literature and artwork and their own artistic creativity will be encouraged. The module will incorporate discussion seminars and workshops and work will be assessed by continuous assessment methods

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate enhanced sensitivity to the lived experiences of people in relation to health and illness.
2. Use a range of interpretative approaches to explore people s health and illness related experiences.
3. Through study of arts and media, discuss how contextual and cultural factors influence people s perceptions and articulation of health, illness, recovery and death.
4. Critique the portrayal of carers and helpers in the arts and media, focusing on the constructions and expectations of professional roles.
5. Explore the nature, experience and complexities of caring and being helped from recipient and care-giver accounts.
6. Use arts and humanities for personal creativity/ fulfilment and considered approaches to care.



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Seminars16No Description
Group work16Workshops
Assignment Completion5Presentation of work
Independent Study88Includes reading and project work
Total Workload: 125

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

Introduction to Humanities in Healthcare
The use and usefulness of humanities in healthcare contexts.•Interpretative approaches and their relationship to healthcare.

Health and illness in the humanities – contexts and cultures.
Concepts and meanings of health and illness as conveyed in arts and literature in relation to: •Gender •Culture •Age

Health and illness in the humanities – lived experiences.
Exploration of the following themes/ experiences as represented in the humanities: Disintegration, Being a patient, Being in pain, Being excluded, Living with disability, Experiencing beauty, Experiencing hope/ hopelessness, Living on the margins, Experiencing meaning/ meaninglessness, Being afraid, Feeling in control/ powerlessness, Recovery, Living with long-term illness, Feeling violated, Grieving, loss and dying, Experiencing caring, Experiencing the body,

Helping and caring in the humanities
Historical and modern portrayal of helping and caring •The experience of caring. •Roles of care-givers – complexities and ethical issues.

Artful and human practice
Skilled healthcare intervention as an art. • Creative/ artistic expression in healthcare workers. • Using the humanities in caring/helping practice.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment100% Examination Weight0%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
1 = A resit is available for all components of the module
2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module
3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
Unavailable
Indicative Reading List

  • Gunaratnam Y and Oliviere D (eds): 2009, Narrative and Stories in Health Care: Illness, Dying and Bereavement, Open University Press, Oxford,
  • Frankl V: 1987, Man’s search for meaning: an introduction to logotherapy, Hodder and Stoughton, London,
Other Resources

926, 0, A range of literary and artworks will be selected and used as the module progresses,
Programme or List of Programmes
BNGNBSc in Nursing (General)
BNIDBSc in Nursing (Intellectual Disability)
BNPYBSc in Nursing (Psychiatric)
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