4 Year Nursing Degree Programme (BSc Cur)

NU3S06 -Psychology and Sociology as Applied to Nursing (5 ECTS)

Learning Outcomes

Following completion of this module the student should be able to

• Identify psychological issues in everyday nursing practice in their specific discipline
  
• Generate and compose psychological solutions to nursing problems in which psychological aspects play a role
  
• Critically review and integrate in communication the complex relationship between psychology and nursing, both orally and in writing
  
• Effectively communicate and collaborate in teams
  

Following the completion of Unit 2 Sociology, the student should be able to

• Define and discuss the social construction of the body, health, illness and disability within the context of the relevant discipline of Nursing
  
• Critically consider power, the body, health, illness and individual autonomy
  
• Critically consider the social processes underpinning expressions of intolerance to perceived difference within the context of the relevant discipline of Nursing
  
• Discuss issues relating to multiculturalism and health care provision in Ireland
  

Module Learning Aims

Learning Aims Unit 1 Psychology

The Psychology segment of this module addresses those aspects of psychology that emerge from the
different disciplines in professional nursing. Students will learn to analyse problems encountered in
clinical practice and suggest ways of addressing them by making use of psychological theory and
research.
The module will build on the knowledge and skills students have developed in the first two years. The
course will follow a practice oriented enquiry based learning approach in which a workbook will be used
which the students will complete during the course. Students will examine a series of problems and
scenarios nurses encounter, analyze the psychological aspects, integrate them, and develop practical
research based interventions. The scenarios will be different for each nursing discipline. The course
emphasises collaborative skills and communication around the application of psychology to nursing.
Psychology and nursing are addressed within the biopsychosocial framework.

Unit 2 Sociology

Building on the concepts explored in Years 1 and 2, this module will enable students to critically
understand the concepts of power and human agency as applied to issues pertinent to their discipline of
Nursing. This module will also enable students to understand the social processes underpinning
expressions of intolerance to perceived difference.

Recommended Reading List

Essential Reading (Psychology)

Peer reviewed publications on the cusp of psychology and nursing. Some sources are made available
through WebCT, others require the exploration of library and Internet websites for nursing and
psychology resources. All lectures notes and other sources addressed in first and second year will be
available to the student for consultation.

This includes:

• Ogden J. (2007) Health Psychology: a textbook, 4th edn. Open University Press, Maidenhead. Weiten W. (2008) Psyk.Trek 3.0: A Multimedia Introduction to Psychology, 3rd edn. Wadsworth, New York.

Essential Reading (Sociology)

• Cleary, A. & Treacy, M. P. (ed) (1997) The Sociology of Health and Illness in Ireland. Dublin: University College Dublin Press.
  
• Giddens, A. (2006 ) Sociology 5th ed. Cambridge: Polity.
  
• Hyde, A., Lohan, M., McDonnell, O. (2004) Sociology for Health Professionals in Ireland. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration.
  
• Share, P. Tovey H & Corcoran P. A Sociology of Ireland Third Edition. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan Ltd.
  

*A detailed reading list will be provided in class.