2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HECS3294 Nursing: Dissertation

40 Credits Class Size: 280

Module manager: Helen Atherton
Email: h.l.atherton@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisite qualifications

Normally 120 credits at level 2

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

You will: - identify and critically analyse an area of nursing practice which has raised questions for you. - formulate a clear and appropriate research question - conduct a robust and structured literature search - critically appraise the evidence, including the evidence of research ethics - present a robust and coherent academic discussion - make recommendations for practice based on the available evidence understanding the implications for nursing practice and recommending areas for further nursing research and development

Objectives

Students will undertake a critical literature review to answer a research question based on an area of own nursing practice.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module students will be able to:

1. Identify and critically analyse an area of nursing practice which has raised questions for them

2. Formulate a clear and appropriate research question

3. Conduct a robust and structured literature search

4. Critically appraise the evidence

5. Present a robust and coherent academic discussion

6. Make recommendations for practice based on the available evidence understanding the implications for nursing practice and recommending areas for further nursing research and development

Skills outcomes

Apply critical appraisal and demonstrate analytical ability to practice-related situations, apply theory to practice and construct a coherent academic discussion.

Syllabus

Although the student will focus, primarily on their Final Year Project, this integrated module combines 4 strands central to nursing practice: professional practice; applied practice; the biopsychosocial-spiritual model of health and wellbeing; and evidence-based practice. Students will build on the work from the previous modules and undertake an in-depth examination of an area of nursing practice that needs improvement.

Professional Practice:
- Understanding of the principles of improvement methodologies, participating in audit activity and identifying appropriate quality improvement strategies
- Understanding the importance of evidence-based practice

Applied Practice:
- Identifying areas of improvement in practice
- Understand the role of and the difference between audit and research

Biopsychosocial-spiritual Model of Health and Wellbeing:
- Students will be expected to demonstrate their understanding of holistic care by including appropriate elements of the biopsychosocial-spiritual model of health and wellbeing. They should consider the impact of their recommended changes on people, their families, staff and service provision.

Evidence Based practice:
- Identify gaps in their knowledge, understanding and /or skills
- Formulate a research question based on a practice-related topic, using an acceptable framework.
- Undertake a robust and structured literature search and critically select appropriate literature.
- Select and rationalise choice of evidence which is relevant to a specific research question.
- Understand the research methodologies and research methods employed in their selected evidence.
- Understand the application of research ethics employed in their selected evidence.
- Select and use appropriate critical appraisal tools to determine the quality of their evidence.
- Synthesise the main findings/themes in a way that answers their research question.
- Be able to critically discuss key findings/themes and their application to clinical practice including understanding the potential impact any changes could make.

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
Library Session 1 1 1
Supervision 3 1 3
Directed Study 1 1 1
Directed Study 9 2 18
Individual Support 2 1 2
Lecture 1 2 2
Lecture 3 1 3
Tutorial 9 1 9
Private study hours 361
Total Contact hours 39
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 400

Private study

Private study will include extensive reading and appraisal of evidence, and analysis and synthesis of the information.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress is monitored first, according to attendance at timetabled teaching, by participation in tutorials and by individual supervisors during the period of group and individual supervision. Regular engagement with individual supervisors will enable students to obtain formative feedback. There are also a series of formative pieces of work that need to be completed and submitted to their individual academic supervisor for feedback. The purpose of this is to encourage the student to work on the dissertation in a timely and sustained way to support the student’s progress, dates would be agreed for completion of formative elements such as:
- the final research question and Gantt
- an outline of the proposed search strategy

Methods of Assessment

Coursework
Assessment type Notes % of formal assessment
Essay or Dissertation Final Year Project 6,000 words 100
Tutorial Performance FORMATIVE: Individual academic support (in line with the SoH academic support and feedback policy) 0
In-course Assessment FORMATIVE: Group academic support 0
In-course Assessment FORMATIVE: Submission of i)Submission of: i) final research question and Gantt ii) outline of proposed search strategy 0
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) 100

This module has one assessment only.

Reading List

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 4/29/2024

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team