Course Information

MDP1 Master in Health Sciences (Perioperative)
Full Time
College of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Sciences
Course code(s): GYM22
Course Location: University of Galway - Main Campus
Start Date: 2021-09-01
MDP1

Module information for course: 'MDP1'


Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits
You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module
An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Optional
A module you may choose to study.
Required
A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Semester
Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year.

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Required NU6618: Specialist Module 2 - Prevention of anaesthetic complications


Semester 1 | Credits: 10

This module will discuss the prevention, recognition and safe treatment of anaesthetic complications. It will address the care of the patient in relation to general anaesthesia, regional anaesthesia, peripheral nerve blocks, local anaesthesia and recovery from anaesthesia.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Critically appraise the assessment, intervention and evaluation of patients undergoing general anaesthesia.
  2. Critically evaluate the assessment, intervention and evaluation of patients undergoing regional/local anaesthesia and peripheral nerve blocks.
  3. Critically review the assessment, intervention and evaluation of patients undergoing emergency anaesthesia.
  4. Critically appraise the assessment, intervention and evaluation of patients recovering from anaesthesia
  5. Recognise the precursors to catastrophic anaesthetic events.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
Reading List
  1. "“ASPASN’s 2019-2020 Perianesthesia Nursing Standards, Practice Recommendations and Interpretive Statements. Cherry Hill, New Jersey: American Society of PeriAnaesthesia Nursing." by American Society of PeriAnaesthesia Nurses
  2. "Drains Perianesthesia Nursing A Critical Care Approach." by Odom-Forren, J.
    Publisher: Elsevier Saunders.
  3. "PeriAnesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum: Preprocedure, Phase 1 and Phase 11 PACU Nursing. ." by Schick, L. and Windle, P.
    Publisher: Saunders
  4. "Stat Pearls: Content is King. Treasure island (FL):" by Stat Pearls
    Publisher: Stat Pearls Publishing.
The above information outlines module NU6618: "Specialist Module 2 - Prevention of anaesthetic complications" and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU623: Clinical Governance: Supporting Safe Practice


Semester 1 | Credits: 10

Errors are inevitable in healthcare systems (Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance, 2008). It is estimated that medical errors would rank 5 in the top 10 causes of death in the United States, ahead of accidents, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease, if included on the National Centre for Health Statistics’ list (Joint Commission, 2005 p.7). In Ireland, the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance (2008) acknowledge that healthcare will never be risk free but argue that it is critical that the systems in place are as safe as possible, that the right ‘checks and balances’ are in place and that learning results from mistakes. To ensure this happens it is important that programmes prepare nurses to promote and enhance clinical safety. The module is guided by the National Patient Safety Framework (The Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care, 2005) and the WHO Patient Safety Curriculum Guide for Medical Schools (World Health Organisation, 2009).
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Critique the concepts of ‘safety’ and ‘risk’ in context of their practice setting.
  2. Examine the concept of ‘clinical governance’ in the Irish healthcare system
  3. Identify and evaluate the factors that determine the quality and safety of healthcare from the perspective of (i) the nurse or midwife (ii) the client (iii) the multidisciplinary team and (iv) the wider healthcare system
  4. Identify local policies and procedures to improve clinical safety and apply safety principles in practice.
  5. Debate the tensions between ‘managing risk’ and ‘client autonomy
  6. Explore their role in promoting and enhancing safety as a member of the multidisciplinary team
  7. Complete a risk assessment relevant to their practice setting.
  8. Evaluate their contribution to quality improvement in their practice setting
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module NU623: "Clinical Governance: Supporting Safe Practice" and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU921: Clinical Competence 1


Semester 1 | Credits: 0

Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module NU921: "Clinical Competence 1" and is valid from 2014 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU616: Specialist Module 1 - Physiological effects of surgery


Semester 1 | Credits: 10

This module will focus on the development of knowledge and skills required to work effectively and safely within the complex perioperative environment. There will be particular emphasis on the physiological effects of surgery. Application of the knowledge will relate to the assessment, intervention and evaluation of patient care in relation to respiratory, circulatory, cardiac, renal and endocrine function. The physiological effects of surgery are explored in the context of the effects on these systems to include the metabolic changes induced by surgery/trauma, fluid and electrolyte imbalance and the inflammatory response.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Critically discuss the physiological effects of surgical trauma.
  2. Discuss the management of a patient undergoing general anaesthesia.
  3. Critically discuss the function and maintenance of cardiovascular integrity in relation to patient care intra operatively.
  4. Critically examine the role of the nurse in assessment, intervention and evaluation of the patients’ need for fluid balance to be maintained intra operatively.
  5. Critically discuss the management of clients with an endocrine dysfunction during the perioperative period.
  6. Critically articulate the prevention of injury related to positioning of the patient for surgical procedure.
  7. Critically discuss the care of patients requiring assistance with thermoregulation including prevention of malignant hypo/hyperthermia.
  8. Critically examine special considerations in Perianaesthesia care.
  9. Critically discuss the promotion of safety in the perioperative environment and analyse the potential of hazards to staff and patients and articulate the policies/procedures to minimise harm.
  10. Critically discuss the legal and procedural requirements related to safe perioperative care to include patient information and consent.
  11. Critically analyse the psychological impact of impending surgery on the adult and paediatric patient to include nursing assessment, interventions, and evaluation of nursing care to minimise psychological distress.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
Reading List
  1. "AFPP in your pocket- Perioperative Practice." by n/a
    Publisher: AFP
  2. "Standards & Recommendations for Safe Perioperative Practice." by n/a
    Publisher: AFPP
  3. "American Society of PeriAnaesthesia Nursing (2017) Standards of Perianaesthesia Nursing Practice 2017-2018. Cherry Hill, New Jersey: American Society of PeriAnaesthesia Nursing." by n/a
  4. "American Society of PeriAnaesthesia Nurses (2019) “ASPASN’s 2019-2020 Perianesthesia Nursing Standards, Practice Recommendations and Interpretive Statements. Cherry Hill, New York." by n/a
  5. "AORN (2019) AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice. Association of Perioperative Practice Registered Nurses: Denver." by n/a
  6. "Drains Perianesthesia Nursing A Critical Care Approach." by Odom-Forren, J.
    Publisher: Elsevier Saunders.
  7. "Nursing the Surgical Patient." by Pudner, R.
    Publisher: Elsevier.
The above information outlines module NU616: "Specialist Module 1 - Physiological effects of surgery" and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU6439: Service Improvement


Semester 2 | Credits: 10

This module will allow the student the opportunity to plan and implement, with their manager, and an academic facilitator, a service improvement initiative. The project will focus on an issue of relevance to client care or service improvement and must be supported by the student’s line manager and/or clinical facilitator. Examples of the types of projects include: completion of a defined literature review supporting some aspect of unit work, preparation of a patient education leaflet (supported by an evidence based rationale presented separately), development of a patient education pack (supported by an evidence based rationale presented separately), development of a strategy to reduce waiting time, an initiative that will improve patient/staff safety, development/implementation of guidelines/policies, an initiative that improves the quality of patient services or the work environment, an initiative that saves time/money or any issue/problem/change that can be addressed through action. This work must be completed within a calendar year.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Critically examine a practice issue and contribute to service improvement
  2. Integrate and apply learning from other modules
  3. Work collaboratively with peers and clients
  4. Become an autonomous and independent learner
  5. Develop the skills and knowledge needed to implement a change in clinical practice
  6. Develop their skills of analysis, critical thinking, problem-solving and reflection
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module NU6439: "Service Improvement" and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU6619: Specialist Module 3 - Prevention of surgical complications


Semester 2 | Credits: 10

This module will discuss the prevention, recognition and safe treatment of anaesthetic complications. It will address the care of the patient in relation to general anaesthesia, regional anaesthesia, peripheral nerve blocks, local anaesthesia and recovery from anaesthesia.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Critically discuss measures employed in the peri operative environment to reduce the risk of infection intra- operatively
  2. Critically analyse the aspects of infection controls employed in the perioperative environment
  3. Critically analyse the wound healing processes and factors that impede healing
  4. LO4 Critically articulate the care of instruments and equipment used in the perioperative area
  5. Critically discuss the management of the sterile field
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module NU6619: "Specialist Module 3 - Prevention of surgical complications" and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU502: Advanced Research Methods


Semester 2 | Credits: 10

. This module is designed to enable students to explore the methodological and practical issues of research. It will help students determine the appropriate research design for research questions in their practice and provides an opportunity for students to debate, challenge and clarify research issues. This module will also help students understand the systematic review process and types of reviews, Finally, the module prepares students to develop a research protocol
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of what is meant by ‘evidence-based practice’
  2. Discuss theoretical perspectives on research methodology
  3. Formulate an answerable clinical question using the PICO approach
  4. Develop a database search strategy
  5. Explain clearly the key characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of the main qualitative and quantitative research methodologies
  6. Articulate a research problem and formulate a research question or hypothesis as appropriate to guide the conduct of a study
  7. Justify the use of appropriate data collection, sampling, and data analysis methods for qualitative and quantitative research
  8. Discuss rigour in the context of quantitative and qualitative research
  9. Discuss evidence synthesis of quantitative and qualitative research
  10. Create a plan with clear rationales for data collection, sampling, data analysis and rigour to be used when conducting a primary qualitative or quantitative study or evidence synthesis
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module NU502: "Advanced Research Methods" and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU922: Clinical Competence 2


Semester 2 | Credits: 0

Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module NU922: "Clinical Competence 2" and is valid from 2014 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional RPL010: Recognised Prior Learning


Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 10

Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
The above information outlines module RPL010: "Recognised Prior Learning " and is valid from 2020 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional RPL020: Recognised Prior Learning


Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 20

Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
The above information outlines module RPL020: "Recognised Prior Learning " and is valid from 2020 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional RPL030: Recognised Prior Learning


Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 30

Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
The above information outlines module RPL030: "Recognised Prior Learning " and is valid from 2020 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Year 2 (30 Credits)

Required NU6515: Research Dissertation


Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 30

Students will be required to undertake a piece of primary research or an evidence synthesis on a topic relevant to their practice area. Students will be assigned a research supervisor who will support them in undertaking this work.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Demonstrated knowledge of ethical requirements and procedures by negotiating access to research site/participants by securing ethical approval from the appropriate Research Ethics Committee in the case of primary research. Or in the case of evidence synthesis/secondary data analysis, demonstrate knowledge in the process of negotiating access to full text data not available in the library databases.
  2. Developed a research question(s) of significance to area of of significance to their specialist nursing/midwifery professional practice or a problem statement(s) based on a review of evidence-based literature.
  3. Identified and apply an appropriate method(s) to achieve the objectives of the research question (s)/ hypothesis for primary data collection, or in the case of secondary data analysis, employ valid and reliable method(s) for processing and analysing archived research data
  4. Critically discuss research findings with reference to the methods used, current literature and professional practice.
  5. Prepared a scholarly report (Option A) research article (Option B) ready for publication which will demonstrate accurate expression, analysis, and synthesis of the research subject.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module NU6515: "Research Dissertation" and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional RPL030: Recognised Prior Learning


Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 30

Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
The above information outlines module RPL030: "Recognised Prior Learning " and is valid from 2020 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.