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Nursing: Advanced Practice with Prescribing (Masters)

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Course Overview

NOTICE: This programme is not on offer For Entry 2019. Please visit this (replacement) course website instead.

This programme has been developed as part of the national consortium for Advanced Nurse Practitioner. In conjunction with the other consortium members (UCC, UCD, TCD), it aims to meet the educational requirements of nurses who seek to become Advanced Nurse Practitioners. It provides not only the theoretical requirements but supports the clinical development, particularly in relation to the physical assessment and pharmacology of the specialist area of advanced practice.

Outcomes of the programme include the development of the competencies of advanced practice and the Master’s qualification, as required by An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann. The programme also leads to registration as a nurse prescriber. The programme is part-time over two years and is delivered in a blended format.

Applications and Selections

NOTICE: This programme is not on offer For Entry 2019. Please visit this (replacement) course website instead.
Applications are made online via the NUI Galway Postgraduate Applications System. 

Who Teaches this Course

See full staff list here.

Requirements and Assessment

Modules are assessed using a combination of coursework, objective-structured clinical examination, and clinical assessment.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

For admission to the Master of Science in Nursing (Advanced Practice Nursing), applicants are required to:

  1. Have attained at least an upper Second Class Honours degree in Nursing or Nursing Studies at H2.1 or at H2.2 with appropriate experience, or a Higher Diploma in Nursing Studies with appropriate experience, or meet the required standard in the Master of Health Sciences Nursing/Midwifery Qualifying Examination;
  2. Be a registered nurse on the General, Mental Health, Midwifery or Learning Disability Nurse divisions of the register maintained by the NMBI;
  3. Have practised as a nurse/midwife for a minimum of five years post-registration, three of which include experience in the chosen area of expertise (exclusive of post-registration/educational programmes);
  4. Provide written evidence of support for the applicant from their Director of Nursing and written evidence of support for the applicant from an appropriate clinical supervisor.

Additional Requirements

Duration

2 years, part-time

Next start date

NOT ON OFFER FOR ENTRY 2019

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

10

Closing Date

Not on offer for entry 2019.

NFQ level

Mode of study

Blended learning

ECTS weighting

90

Award

CAO

Course code

1HV8 (Masters)

Course Outline

NOTICE: This programme is not on offer For Entry 2019. Please visit this (replacement) course website instead.

Theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of nursing practice; research methodology and evidence-based practice, practice development, and conduct of research form the framework for reflection on practice and exploration of aspects of practice. Specialist practice modules address the context of advanced practice and physical assessment skills. Substantive hours of clinical practice at an advanced practice level, and supervised by appropriate healthcare professionals over the two years, are integral to the programme.

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 (40 Credits)

Required NU6508: Decision Making, Nursing and Advanced Practice Professional Roles


Semester 1 | Credits: 10

Content covered will include case management; clinical decision-making; standards of care; ethics; cultural competence; person centred care. Advanced Practice role development; professional issues; theoretical perspectives informing advanced practice roles; and self-management (time and stress management). Contemporary issues in health care; the future of health service delivery. Opportunities will be provided to explore issues related to case management, major pathophysiologic disease processes as applied to clinical decision-making, and standards of care, ethics and role development. Research related to these topics will be used to highlight the changing nature of heath care. Analysis of the role of the advanced nurse practitioner will be emphasised. Within the clinical environment, candidates will expand clinical decision-making abilities and practice advanced, complex, case management under the supervision of a designated clinical supervisor. The theoretical component of this module is applied in clinical practice.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Design case management algorithms combining quality assurance standards, evidence based practice, and clinical guidelines to support decision analysis.
  2. Integrate advanced pathology and pathophysiology in diagnostic reasoning and case management.
  3. Apply advanced health assessment and communication techniques in decision-making processes.
  4. Evaluate external stimuli that determine direction of the advanced nurse practitioner role in the delivery of quality patient care.
  5. Explore the use of an evidence-based evaluation framework in the context of the advanced nurse practitioner role.
  6. Appraise the professional role of the advanced nurse practitioner combining a nursing framework with standards of practice.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module NU6508: "Decision Making, Nursing and Advanced Practice Professional Roles" and is valid from 2018 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU6507: Leadership, Quality Improvement and Governance


Semester 1 | Credits: 10

Overview of health care system and structure, developments and funding; analysis of health policies, structures and governance systems, and their implications for practice. Overview of the policy process. Strategies for planning service provision, implementing changes in practice, quality improvement. The role of evidence based practice, accreditation, regulation in quality improvement and patient safety. Clinical and professional development issues; leadership and management frameworks, which focus on the development of the Advanced Practice role nationally and internationally. Collaboration, communication, working in groups and team building in health care, and issues influencing the reality of working in an advanced practice role. The module introduces and further develops the knowledge, skills and attitudes of healthcare professionals in the context of clinical governance with specific emphases on leadership theory and skills, inter-organisational partnership principles and frameworks, the concepts of participation and principles of collaboration, team building and understanding individual and organisational change and how to implement change successfully. Students explore motivational models, performance appraisal systems and approaches to managing conflict.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Critically evaluate current developments in the Irish health case with a focus on Advanced Nurse Practice (ANP)
  2. Analyse the impact of international and national policy and policy formation on health service current and future provision
  3. Analyse and critically compare frameworks for partnership, quality and governance in different health care contexts including role change and collaborative practice
  4. Critically compare and contrast different leadership and management theories and apply these to practice settings.
  5. Evaluate quality improvement models and strategies and their application to effective management and quality improvement at individual and organisational levels
  6. Critically appraise the implementation and evaluation of different approaches, which enhance the professional development of one-self and others in nursing practice.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module NU6507: "Leadership, Quality Improvement and Governance" and is valid from 2018 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU502: Advanced Research Methods


Semester 2 | Credits: 10

This module focuses on developing further students understanding of the theoretical foundations of research, research methodologies and methods of data collection. The module has two major goals. Firstly, to provide students with the required knowledge and skills to interpret and implement research findings in their practice and secondly, to prepare students to undertake a piece of research. Students will be given an opportunity to recap on methodological approaches to quantitative and qualitative research. A key skill in promoting students independence is preparing students to complete their own research project under the supervision of a supervisor. Therefore, this module has a specific focus on providing students with the knowledge and skills of “doing” research.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Demonstrate that they have an understanding of what ‘evidence’ is and how to ssystematically search for evidence
  2. Discuss theoretical perspectives on research methodology
  3. Explain clearly the origins, underpinning philosophical assumptions, key characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies
  4. Articulate a research problem and formulate a research question or hypothesis as appropriate to guide the conduct of the study
  5. Justify the use of appropriate data collection, sampling, and data analysis methods for qualitative and quantitative research
  6. Create a plan with clear rationales for data collection, sampling, data analysis and rigour to be used when conducting a qualitative or quantitative study
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module NU502: "Advanced Research Methods" and is valid from 2017 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU631.II: Physical Assessment Skills


Semester 2 | Credits: 10

This module aims to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to obtain a comprehensive health history and complete a physical assessment on a patient in the clinical setting. This module will include clinical laboratory experience whereby students will have an opportunity to build on their existing knowledge and develop skills pertinent to physical assessment. Case presentation, the ability to prioritise patient’s problems, and plan intervention(s) will be a focus of this module.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Demonstrate the ability to review a patient’s health history
  2. Demonstrate clinical competence in physical assessment skills
  3. Critically analyse patient data and prioritise patient problems
  4. Explicate nursing interventions that meet the individual patient’s needs
  5. Integrate appropriate consultation skills with the patient and the multidisciplinary team for effective case management.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module NU631.II: "Physical Assessment Skills" and is valid from 2018 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Year 2 (50 Credits)

Required NU6515: Research Dissertation


Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 30

Students will be required to undertake a piece of primary research on a topic of relevance to their specialism. Students will be assigned a research supervisor who will support them in undertaking this work
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Developed a research question of significance to their specialist nursing practice.
  2. Identify the appropriate methodology to suit the research question and/or hypothesis
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of ethical requirements within the study
  4. Demonstrate the ability to review and analyse relevant literature
  5. Identify the most appropriate method for data collection to answer the research question
  6. Demonstrate the ability to draw a significant and meaningful conclusion from the data analysis
  7. Prepare a scholarly report, which will demonstrate accurate expression, analysis and synthesis of ideas
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module NU6515: "Research Dissertation" and is valid from 2016 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU010.I: Professional, Ethical & Legal Issues of Nurse and Midwife Prescribing)


Semester 1 | Credits: 10

The Certificate in Nursing (Nurse/Midwife Prescribing), Minor Award, is at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications. This six month programme is aimed at nurses and midwives working in the public, voluntary or private sectors. The programme aims to prepare nurses to prescribe safely, appropriately, cost effectively, legally and ethically. To increase programme accessibility, the programme will be delivered using blended learning. Blended learning will combine face-to-face teaching and facilitated on-line learning.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Understand and comply with the regulatory framework associated with medicinal product prescribing.
  2. Use evidence based knowledge to support their prescribing practice.
  3. Apply ethical principles and concepts in their prescribing practice.
  4. Analyse and form judgements on how to respond to ethical issues that may arise in practice.
  5. Undertake effective consultation with clients including appropriate history taking and assessment to inform diagnosis and prescribing practice.
  6. Demonstrate a client centred approach in their practice, emphasising personal choice and responsibility in line with best practice.
  7. Analyse and respond effectively to the factors that influence clients’ decision-making in respect to treatment regimes.
  8. Establish a support network, for example pharmacists, consultants or others, to support their prescribing practice.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module NU010.I: "Professional, Ethical & Legal Issues of Nurse and Midwife Prescribing)" and is valid from 2018 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU528: Clinical Assessment II (Advanced Practice)


Semester 1 | Credits: 0

Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module NU528: "Clinical Assessment II (Advanced Practice)" and is valid from 2014 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU011.I: Drugs, Patients and Illness


Semester 1 | Credits: 10

The increasing pace of change and complexity in clinical pharmacology has shaped the design of this module. The focus is on teaching principles to ensure students have the capacity to remain current and are capable of updating themselves on new drugs and methods of administration change. The goal is to teach for life-long learning. Therefore, the module has been carefully designed in stages (see Stages 1- 5) which build on one another with the aim of ensuring that students have a thorough understanding of and in-depth knowledge of the principles of drug action, and how these can be applied to the treatment of a number of commonly encountered diseases and conditions. These themes will be developed with particular relevance to the student’s work setting. Unit 4 addresses principles of prescribing in day-to-day practice.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Possess a firm understanding of the fundamental concepts of Pharmacology.
  2. Be able to use the autonomic nervous system to illustrate the mechanisms of drug action.
  3. Identify the composite features of the “pharmacology” of a drug, and apply these in their work setting.
  4. Be able to describe the pharmacological approach to a range of diseases and conditions.
  5. Be aware of the issues surrounding the pharmacological treatment of individual patients and their illness.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module NU011.I: "Drugs, Patients and Illness" and is valid from 2019 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU012: Competency Assessment


Semester 2 | Credits: 0

‘Practice’ is considered central to learning on this programme because it is only in practice that the ‘real’ curriculum will be experienced and operationalised. All modules will emphasise the application of what is learnt in class in practice and students will be challenged to critically examine the relevance and applicability of the content explored in class in their practice. Students are required to work for the duration of the programme in the specific area of practice in which prescribing is proposed. This allows students to ‘test’ out their learning in the reality of their practice. Students will be supported and mentored by a designated nurse/midwife/medical practitioner for the duration of the programme. During the timespan of the programme (26 weeks) the designated nurse/midwife/medical practitioner (the student’s mentor) will provide 12-days of formal direct supervision. It is anticipated that students will spend the majority of their placement in their own work setting. However, discretionary placement experience may be selected on the basis of identified learning needs of the student and the competence to be achieved.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Clinical learning outcomes will be individualised to the student and developed in consultation with the student, the mentor and programme director. Clinical learning outcomes will focus on enabling students to achieve competency and will focus on the principles of good prescribing and the prescribing pyramid (An Bord Altranais, 2003; National Prescribing Centre 1999).
  2. To be deemed competent, and thus eligible for entry on the Register, students must reach the level specified in each of the five Domains of Competence identified by An Bord Altranais (2007). The five domains of competencies are: Professional/Ethical Nursing Practice Holistic Nursing Care Interpersonal Relationships Organisation and Co-Ordination of Nursing Care Personal and Professional Development.
  3. Professional/Ethical Nursing Practice
  4. Holistic Nursing Care
  5. Interpersonal Relationships
  6. Organisation and Co-Ordination of Nursing Care
  7. Personal and Professional Development.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module NU012: "Competency Assessment" and is valid from 2018 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Graduates have found employment in the health services, and can pursue accreditation with An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann to register as an Advanced Nurse or Midwife Practitioner.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

 

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€

Fees: Tuition

€

Fees: Student levy

€

Fees: Non EU

€

Find out More

Catherine Meagher
T: + 353 91 492 829
E: catherine.meagher@nuigalway.ie

Downloads

  • Postgraduate Taught Prospectus 2020

    Postgraduate Taught Prospectus 2020 PDF (21 MB)