4 Year Nursing Degree Programme (BSc Cur) General Nursing

NU4G02 -Growth and Development for Professional Practice (General Nursing) (5 ECTS)

Learning Outcomes

Following completion of this module the student should be able to:

• Critically reflect on clinical practice experiences using identified reflective frameworks.
  
• Critically discuss the role of personal responsibility in professional development in nursing.
  
• Examine personal and professional needs for development in the clinical environment.
  
• Consider clinical experiences in the contexts of political, legislative, social, environmental, economic and technological perspectives.
  
• Analyse clinical issues in the context of evidence-based practice.
  
• Identify and discuss the processes involved in role transition and career progression.
  
• Identify and develop the necessary skills to manage issues in role transition.

Module Learning Aims

This module will provide students with an opportunity to integrate previous learning and to consolidate
skills of critical inquiry, debate, problem solving and reflection that pertain to professional nursing
practice. Learning in this module occurs through active engagement with peers using the student’s
portfolio as a base for development. Frameworks of reflection underpin the module to enable students
to process learning in the clinical environment. The module focuses on the development of peer
learning and peer support networks for students during their internship. The module further aims to
empower students to link theory to practice through a collaborative process of co-facilitation of student
groups by academic and clinical practice staff.

• Overview of reflective frameworks
  
• Scope of Practice
  
• Clinical decision-making
  
• Personal and professional development
  
• Portfolio Development
  
• Student focused role transition issues including career planning, employment responsibilities, personal development, staff management
  
• Clinical Vignette presentation
  
• Expanded Roles of the Nurse
  

Recommended Reading List

Essential Reading

• Bulman, C. & Schultz, S. (2008) Reflective Practice in Nursing. (4thEdn.). Blackwell Publishing, Oxford.
  
• Rolfe, G., Jasper, M. and Freshwater, D. (2010) Critical Reflection in Practice (2ndEdn.).Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke.
  

Recommended Reading

• Duffy, A (2008) Guided reflection: a discussion of the essential components. British Journal of Nursing 17, (5): p. 334
  
• Hilliard, C. (2006) Using structured reflection on a critical incident to develop a professional portfolio. Nursing Standard, 21(2):35
  
• Johns, C. and Freshwater, D. (2005) Transforming Nursing through Reflective Practice. 2nd Edn. Oxford: Blackwell.
  
• Littleford, D., Halstead, J. and Mulraine, C. (2004) Career Skills. Opening Doors into the Job Market. London: Palgrave MacMillan.
  
• Newton, J. and Plummer V. (2009) Using creativity to encourage reflection in undergraduate education. Reflective Practice 10(1): 67–76
  
• Siviter, B. (2006) The Newly Qualified Nurses Handbook: A Survival Guide. Edinburgh: BailliereTindall.
  
• Trinity College Dublin (2012).The Careers Service Guide 2012.Dublin: TCD. www.tcd.ie/careers
  

* Additional readings will be given for each unit of learning.