4 Year Nursing Degree Programme (BSc Cur)
NU1S07 -Foundations of Nursing (5 ECTS)
Learning Outcomes
Following completion of this module the student should be able to
Unit 1 Nursing and the nursing role
- Briefly describe the development of modern nursing in Ireland, and its contribution to contemporary nursing practice.
- Discuss the factors that influenced the development of the profession of nursing.
- Describe some examples of the role and function of nursing within the context of professional regulation and competence requirements.
- Describe some examples of the role and function of nursing within the organisation of healthcare.
- Describe, using examples, how modern nursing influences contemporary health care practice.
- Describe emerging challenges related to the nurse as member of the multidisciplinary team.
Unit 2 Nursing knowledge and practice
- Discuss the concepts of person, health, society, environment, nursing, and related concepts, such as caring, health and altered health.
- Describe the nature of nursing knowledge
- Explain how different forms of knowledge and knowing relate to nursing practice.
- Describe the phases of the nursing process.
- Identify models of nursing that guide nursing practice.
- Describe the nursing process and care planning using the Roper, Logan and Tierney Activities of Living model of nursing.
- Discuss decision making in nursing including the advantages and disadvantages of this concept.
- Discuss the relationship of Evidence Based Practice to nursing knowledge.
Unit 3 Legal perspectives in nursing
- Outline the structure of the Irish legal system.
- Distinguish between common law, civil law, criminal law, and human rights law.
- Describe the legislation governing nursing in Ireland and outline its application in governing professional practice, with particular reference to the role and function of Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann
Module Learning Aims
The aim of this module is to introduce the student to the nature of nursing and the role of the nurse by
exploring the concepts underlying the practice of nursing. The module will also introduce the student to
fundamental legal principles and to the legal framework that governs nursing practice. The module is
presented in three units of study, as follows:
- Unit 1: The Nature of Nursing
- Unit 2: Nursing knowledge and practice
- Unit 3: Legal perspectives in nursing
Recommended Reading List
Unit 1
- Government of Ireland (1998) Report of the Commission on Nursing: A Blueprint for the Future. The Stationery office, Dublin.
- Insight Media History of Nursing: The Early Years (2008) Insight Media/History of Nursing: The early years. Insight Media, Norwalk, CT.
- Insight Media History of Nursing: The Development of a profession (2008) Insight Media/History of Nursing: The Development of a Profession. Insight Media, Norwalk, CT.
- Treacy, M. P. (2005) Invisible nursing. In Care to Remember: Nursing and Midwifery in Ireland. (Fealy, G.M., ed.), Cork, Mercier Press pp. 42-53.
Unit 2
- Ellis, P & Standing M. (2014) Clinical judgement and decision making for nursing students, 2nd edn, Learning Matters, London.
- Ellis, P & Standing, M. (2013) Evidence based practice in nursing, Learning Matters, London.
- Holland K., Jenkins J., Soloman J., & Whittam S., (eds.) (2008) Applying the Roper Logan Tierney Model in Practice, 2nd edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.
- Howatson – Jones L, Standing M & Roberts, S. (2012) Patient Assessment and Care Planning in Nursing, Learning Matters, London.
Unit 3
- DiMeo Grant P. & Ballard D. (2013) Fast Facts About Nursing and the Law. Springer Publishing Company, New York.
- Dimond B. (2011) Legal Aspects of Nursing, 6th edn. Pearson Education Limited, Harlow.
- Doolan B. (2007) Principles of Irish Law, 7th edn. Gill and McMillan, Dublin.
* Additional readings will be given for each unit of learning