Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE NUR1120

 
TITLE Practical Placement 1

 
UM LEVEL 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 10

 
DEPARTMENT Nursing

 
DESCRIPTION During this study-unit, the student will be required to develop competence and safe practice in all the year 1 domains of competence as delineated in the student's practical portfolio.

The domains of competence include:
1) Personal and Professional Development;
2) Communication, Teamwork and Cooperation;
3) Organisation and Delivery of Nursing Care;
4) Knowledge and its Clinical Application; and
5) Ethical and Legal Aspects of Care.

This placement consists of 2 parts: the first will be a 3 -5 week (approximately 40 - 60 hour) observation placement, whilst the second will be a 10-12 week (approximately 240 – 260 hour) placement in an acute or chronic ward setting. In order to be eligible for assessment students must complete at least 220 hours by the end of the placement period.

The grand total number of hours for this study-unit is 300 hours, which must be achieved by the end of the study-unit. The student is responsible for keeping accurate attendance sheets to capture the required number of hours as well as submitted them to the Clinical Administrator’s office by the stipulated deadline.

In order to be eligible for assessment students must:
i) complete a minimum of 190 hours (per mentored placement); and
ii) satisfactory completion of the documentation required for year 1 (The Practice Portfolio).

Study-Unit Aims:

The aim of this study-unit is to introduce the student to clinical practice, whereby they will be able to observe and practice the specific performance indicators and subsequently demonstrate safe practice at the required level of competence, as specified in the Practice Portfolio.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Identify own learning needs through discussion and feedback and respond to learning opportunities;
- Discuss nursing care delivered, to improve own practice and meet learning needs;
- Understand the importance of prioritising nursing care appropriately;
- Discuss nursing care of patients and identify the need for re-evaluation of plans of care;
- Understand the importance of being pro-active in patient care;
- Recognise urgent situations (e.g. acute deterioration or crisis) and to promptly summon appropriate assistance;
- Recognise improvement and amelioration in patients;
- Apply knowledge to clinical nursing skills in various common situations and circumstances affecting patient care; and
- Discuss ethical and legal challenges associated with the delivery of nursing care.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Demonstrate a professional attitude and professional behaviour;
- Communicate in a professional manner with nurses, other health-professionals, patients and relatives;
- Give important information to patients and relatives with regards to nursing interventions being performed;
- Integrate at a basic level with health-care professionals, patients and relatives;
- Cooperate and work well as part of the health-care team;
- Participate in the assessment and identification of patient needs from various sources including medical history, interviewing and assessment;
- Deliver safe nursing care and acknowledge the importance of organisational guidelines to guide the delivery of nursing care;
- Evaluate the nature and quality of nursing care delivered by self or others;
- Participate in the delivery of physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual patient care at each stage of the nursing process (assess, plan, implement and evaluate);
- Correctly apply basic theoretical knowledge to practice, according to the specific clinical setting;
- Competently apply a range of basic clinical skills throughout the placement, with intermittent help and supervision from a qualified member of staff;
- Demonstrate an understanding of nursing responsibilities and practices within professional boundaries;
- Act lawfully and ethically, with reference to the code of professional practice; and
- Demonstrate responsibility and accountability in patient care.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Altman, Gaylene, Patricia Kerestzes, and Mary A. Wcisel. Fundamental & Advanced Nursing Skills. 3rd Ed., International ed. Delmar, 2010.
- Brunner, Lillian Sholtis, Doris Smith Suddarth, and Suzanne C. O'Connell Smeltzer. Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-surgical Nursing. - 12th Ed. Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2010.
- Burnard, Chapman, and Chapman, Christine M. Professional and Ethical Issues in Nursing. 3rd ed. Baillière Tindall, 2003.
- Dougherty, Lister, West-Oram, Dougherty, Lisa, Lister, Sara E., West-Oram, Alex, and The Royal Marsden, NHS Foundation Trust. The Royal Marsden Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures. 9th ed. Wiley Blackwell, 2015.
- Hogston, Richard, and Penelope M. Simpson. Foundations of Nursing Practice : Making the Difference. 2nd ed. Palgrave Macmillan, 2002.
- Elkin, Perry, Potter, Perry, Anne Griffin, and Potter, Patricia A. Nursing Interventions & Clinical Skills. 4th ed. Mosby Elsevier, 2007.
- McCormack, B. & McCance, T. (2016) Person-Centred Practice in Nursing and Health Care: Theory and Practice.
- Perry, Potter, Ostendorf, Potter, Patricia Ann, and Ostendorf, Wendy R. Clinical Nursing Skills & Techniques. 8th ed. Elsevier/Mosby, 2014.
- Randle, Coffey, Bradbury, Randle, Jacqueline, Coffey, Frank, and Bradbury, Martyn. Oxford Handbook of Clinical Skills in Adult Nursing. Oxford U.P., 2009. Print. Oxford Medical Publications.
- Toca, Carmen. Skills Performance Checklists for Clinical Nursing Skills & Techniques. Mosby, 2010.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Placement

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Competencies See note below Yes 100%
Note: Assessment due will vary according to the study-unit availability.

 
LECTURER/S Trevor Abela Fiorentino

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

Study at UM

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit