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UCD SNMHS/2013

UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery


& Health Systems

Degree of Doctor of Nursing DN X472 DRLSC005

&
Degree of Doctor of Midwifery DM X473 DRLSC006

Course outline

UCD SNMHS/2013

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UCD SNMHS/2013

Aim
The aim of the professional doctoral programme is to provide nurses and midwives with a structured and
rigorous academic programme of research, training and applied practice. It will provide research training
and professional and leadership skills training to enable them to make a significant and more effective
contribution to their fields of professional practice in the areas of policy, clinical practice, service
development, continuing professional development and the development of their respective disciplines.

Doctorally-prepared graduates will make a significant original contribution to both theory and practice and
to the development of their professional practice by making a contribution to professional knowledge.
Students will undertake research, applied to their professional practice through work experience, and the
outcome of the research will contribute to innovation in their field of professional practice. The aim is
therefore to enable the student to demonstrate the ability to critically reflect and contextually embed such
developments in professional practice within a theoretical and academic framework.

Programme structure: Overview


The professional doctorate comprises three types of activities, namely: (i) research activity, (ii) taught activity
and (iii) professional practice. The research and taught elements will be credit bearing. The professional
practice activity will focus on work experience and will not be constituted as a distinct credit-bearing activity,
but will be integrated into both taught and research activity elements.

Credit weighting
The total credit volume is 270 ECTS credits, of which 135 credits are allocated to taught components
integrated and 135 credits are allocated to the research component, with both elements integrated with
professional practice (Table 1).

Table 1 Learning activities


Activity Credits Weighting
Taught (integrated with professional practice) 135 50%
Research (integrated with professional practice) 135 50%

Registration and staging


The period of registration for the DN or DM degree will be not less than three years full-time registration
and not more than six years part-time registration. Retrospective registration is not permitted. The doctoral
programme is taken in two stages During Stage 1 (masters mode) students will complete four modules and
a research proposal and must present their work for assessment to a Transfer Assessment Panel in order to
progress to Stage 2 (doctoral mode).

Where a student fails to satisfactorily progress to Stage 2, s/he may either transfer to another graduate
programme, or work towards the award of a masters degree, or have their registration terminated and be
awarded a certificate of credit for any modules for which credit has been awarded.

Module structure
The taught element is built on a modular structure, which is presented in thematic module suites. In stage 1,
the student completes one module from each of suites 1, 2, 3 and 4 (60 ECTS) at level 4 and completes a
thesis proposal (30 ECTS) at level 5. In Stage 2, the student completes one module from each of suites 1, 2, 3
and 4 (60 ECTS) and one other module from the list (15 ECTS) offered and completes a thesis (105 ECTS) all
at level 5 (Figure 1). For core and optional, students take a minimum of 45 ECTS and for elective modules,
students take a maximum of 30 ECTS (Table 2).

Table 2: Credits per stage


Stage Core Option Total
1 60 30 90
2 145 35 180
Total 205 65 270

The various modules are offered in either Semesters 1, and 2 and 3 and can be taken according to the
students date of registration on the programme (Figure 1).

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UCD SNMHS/2013

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4


Semester Semester Semester Semester
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
TM TM P TM TM TM TM TM P
Stage 1 Stage 2
Thesis Thesis
Transfer assessment, Stage 1 to Stage 2
Key:
TM = taught module
P = Professional portfolio submission
Figure 1 Programme structure

Assessment of learning
For the taught element, a variety of assessment methods are used. Most assessments are based on the fact
that the taught elements are integrated with the professional practice elements. Hence, assessments require
students to examine aspects of their practice and/or institute practice innovations. The assessment of the
research element is based on the work undertaken by the student in preparing a doctoral thesis. A transfer
assessment, based on preliminary chapters of the thesis is undertaken at the end of Stage 1 and the final
examination of the research element is an examination of the completed thesis that incorporates a viva voce
examination.
For further information contact:

Professor Gerard Fealy


Head of Research & Innovation/Course Coordinator
UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems
UCD Health Sciences Centre
University College Dublin
Belfield, Dublin 4
Tel: 01 716 6461
gerard.fealy@ucd.ie

or

Professor Abbey Hyde


Research Degrees Coordinator
UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems
UCD Health Sciences Centre
University College Dublin
Belfield, Dublin 4
Tel: 01 716 6415
abbey.hyde@ucd.ie

or

Asmahan McCambridge
Course administrator
UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems
UCD Health Sciences Centre
University College Dublin
Belfield, Dublin 4
Tel: 01 716 6415
asmahan.mccambridge@ucd.ie
Visit the School website at:
http://www.ucd.ie/nmhs/research_degrees.html

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UCD SNMHS/2013

STAGE 1
YEAR 1
Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 3
NMHS50040 Leadership and models of innovation (c) NMHS50050 Philosophy, science and practice (c) (15 NMHS50100 Scholarship of practice 1 (Professional
(15 ECTS) ECTS) portfolio) (c) (15 ECTS)

NMHS50120 Thesis proposal (c) (30 ECTS)

STAGE 1 STAGE 1 and STAGE 2 STAGE 2


YEAR 2
Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 3
NMHS50090 Researching professional practice: Theory NMHS50070 Researching professional practice: NMHS50130 International practicum S4 (o) (15 ECTS)
and method (c) (15 ECTS) Qualitative methods (o) (15 ECTS) or
or
ECTS)NMHS50080 Researching professional practice:
Quantitative methods (o) (15 ECTS)
NMHS50120 Thesis proposal (c) (30 ECTS) Transfer assessment (60+30ECTS) NMHS 5001R Research Activity (Thesis) (c)

STAGE 2
YEAR 3
Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 3
NMHS50020 Disciplinary knowledge in practice NMHS50010 Advanced leadership in healthcare (o) NMHS50110 Scholarship of practice 2 (Professional
development (15 ECTS) (15 ECTS) portfolio) (c) (15 ECTS)
or or
NMHS50060 Practice innovation (15 ECTS) (o)
or
NMHS50030 International practicum S3 (o) (15 ECTS)
NMHS 5001R Research Activity (Thesis) (c)

STAGE 1
YEAR 4
Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 3
NMHS50130 International practicum S4 (o) (15 ECTS)
or
NMHS 5001R Research Activity (Thesis) (c) Viva voce examination (105 ECTS)

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UCD SNMHS/2013

Module outline, Stage 1

Module title Level Semester Credits Indicative hours


Contact Independent
hours study

Student completes one module from each of suites 1, 2 3 and 4 (60 ECTS) and completes a thesis proposal (30
ECTS)

Suite 1: Researching professional practice


NMHS50090 Researching professional practice: 4 1 15 36 264
theory & method (c) (register in Year 2)
or
Approved elective in cognate subject (level 4) (o)
Sub total 15

Suite 2: Disciplinary development: knowledge and practice


NMHS50050 Philosophy, science and practice (c) 4 2 15 30 270
(Part shared with TBN) (register in Year 1)
or
Approved elective in gender and health 4
or
Approved elective in cognate subject (level 4) (o)
Sub total 15

Suite 3: Leadership and innovation


NMHS50040 Leadership and models of innovation 4 1 15 30 270
(Part shared with LHSD) (register in Year 1)
or 15
Approved elective in cognate subject (level 4) (o) 4 1/2
Sub total 15

Suite 4: Scholarship of practice


NMHS50100 Scholarship of practice 1 (register in 2 15 66 234
Year 1)
Sub total 15

Suite 5: Thesis
NMHS50120 Thesis proposal (c) (register in Year 5 2/3 30 48 758
2)
Total (stage 1) 90 204 1796

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UCD SNMHS/2013

STAGE 1
Module Title: Researching professional practice: theory and method

Module Code: NMHS50090


Module Coordinator: G Fealy

Credits: 15ECTS Level: 9 (UCD 4) Semester: 1

Module Places: 50

Module Dependencies:

Indicative Module Description:


This module examines the nature of scientific inquiry and it focuses on the history of ideas and philosophy of science the
relationship between theory and method in research. The module considers the relationship between philosophy,
epistemology, theoretical perspectives, methodologies and methods and their implications for research design in health
care and in nursing and midwifery. The module aims to provide the student with a basis for further study of individual
research methods and designs and their application in the conduct of an empirical study.
The module is shared in part or whole by the level 9 module NMHS40540 Research Methodologies

Indicative Learning Outcomes:


On completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Discuss the nature of scientific inquiry and the key ideas of the major thinkers in the history of science
2. Discuss the relationship between the theoretical and the empirical and their application to the scientific method
3. Critically examine and debate key movements in the history of science and philosophy, including logical positivism,
empiricism, social constructionist theory and phenomenology
4. Discuss the influence of movements in science on the development of quantitative and qualitative methods of
scientific inquiry

Indicative Student Workload: Indicative Hours

Class Contact: Lectures 12

Class Contact: Small Group (Discussion forum) 12

Class Contact: Practical

Specified learning activities: 12


Student-led research seminars (doctoral programme)
Autonomous student learning: 264
Assessment Strategies:
Examination: Critique of a research report (60%)
MCQ (40%)

Total Hours 300

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UCD SNMHS/2013

STAGE 1
Module Title: Leadership and models of innovation

Module Code: NMHS50040


Module Coordinator: G Fealy

Credits: 15ECTS Level: 10 (UCD 5) Semester: 1

Module Places 50

Module Dependencies:

Indicative Module Description:


This module critically examines theories of leadership and examines models of change and innovation. It is aimed at
providing students with a critical understanding of the nature and processes of leadership and with a range of
frameworks with which to develop and implement practice innovation in their area of professional practice. The module
will enable students to critically examine extant models of change and innovation and will offer a number of
frameworks, such as the action research model, for achieving change at local levels. The module also provides students
with an opportunity to provide teaching and learning sessions on aspects of leadership and change management.
This module is part or wholly shared with the level 9 module NMHS 40780: Leadership and Health Systems Dynamics.

Indicative Learning Outcomes:


1. Discuss and critically debate theories of leadership
2. Identify and discuss models of change and innovation
3. Compare and contrast models of change and innovation, with reference to their theoretical underpinnings, concepts,
constructs and assumptions and their application in real-world situations in health care.
4. Identify a practice innovation and devise a plan to apply a model of innovation to effect the innovation using the main
tenets of the model.
5. Offer a critique of the advantages and challenges of participating in and facilitating action learning sets.
6. Facilitate teaching and learning on aspects of leadership and change management.

Indicative Student Workload: Indicative Hours


Class Contact: Lectures 20
Class Contact: Small Group discussion or on-line 20
Class Contact: Practical workshops/teaching sessions 15
Specified learning activities 50
Autonomous student learning 270

Essay assignment: Week 12: Submission


Prepare a 5,0006000 word journal article suitable for submission to an agreed peer reviewed journal agreed with the
module co-ordinator (100%)

Total Hours 375

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UCD SNMHS/2013

STAGE 1
Module Title: Philosophy, science and practice

Module Code: NMHS50050


Module Coordinator: G Fealy

Credits: 15 ECTS Level: 10 (UCD 5) Semester: 2

Module Places 50

Module Dependencies:

Indicative Module Description:


The module critically examines philosophy and the nature of science and practice as they apply to a practice discipline
like nursing. It analyses and critiques disparate and competing philosophies that have influenced disciplinary
development in nursing science and practice. The utilisation of hierarchical disciplinary structures (e.g. metaparadigm
and paradigm and levels of theory) to explain nursing theory are also examined and the module enables the student to
explore historical and contemporary debates around disciplinary science and practice, in order to arrive at a critical
understanding of the distinctiveness (or otherwise) of nursing in contemporary society. Key to understanding a
discipline is the recognition of ideologies at work in shaping its trajectory and identity in the worlds of practice and
academe. This is possible by examining key developments in the disciplines history and by analysing and critiquing
public discourses concerning the discipline. The module also aims to provide the student with the critical capacities to
examine disciplinary development and identity by engaging with metatheoretical debates, drawing on the methods of
philosophical enquiry, and by using tools such as critical discourse analysis and historical inquiry.

Indicative Learning Outcomes:


1. Discuss and critically debate the relationship between philosophy, science and practice
2. Apply ideas in philosophy to practice disciplines and relate concepts and ideas about the relationship between science
and practice to nursing and midwifery
3. Discuss historical and contemporary movements in philosophy and science and associated social movements to the
disciplinary development of nursing and midwifery
4. Examine the various hierarchical disciplinary structures (e.g. metaparadigm, levels of theory) that have been used to
explain nursing and midwifery theory
5. Identify and characterise historical and contemporary philosophical debates about the nature of nursing theory and
practice and its disciplinary distinctiveness

Indicative Student Workload: Indicative Hours


Class Contact: Lectures 18
Class Contact: Seminars 12
Class Contact: Practical
Specified learning activities
Autonomous student learning 270

Essay assignment: (6000 words): Examination of contemporary debates about the discipline or about a clinical topic,
using the method of philosophic inquiry or critical discourse analysis.

Total Hours 300

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UCD SNMHS/2013

STAGE 1
Module Title: Scholarship of practice 1

Module Code: NMHS50100


Module Coordinator: G Fealy

Credits: 15 ECTS Level: 10 (UCD 5) Semester: 3

Module Places 50

Module Dependencies:
The student will be engaged in professional practice, employed in a clearly-defined professional role for a minimum of
0.5WTE and not less than a minimum of 720 hours in a single calendar year.

Indicative Module Description:


Linking taught and research activity with professional practice is a critical element of student learning. This module is
designed to provide academic structure to the students work experience during the first year following successful
progression to Stage 2. It provides an explicit framework with which to integrate professional practice with the taught
and research elements of the programme and it encompasses new skills training in the practicum, mentorship activities
and critical self-appraisal of the students own professional practice. The aim of the module is to enable the student to
locate and contextualise their own professional practice within its disciplinary context and within wider practice and
social contexts and to assist the student to identify and translate relevant research in their practice field. The
development of leadership skills is also a major outcome of this module.

Indicative Learning Outcomes:


1. Critically examine own practice with reference to existing skills set and identify practice-related learning needs as they
relate to research consumerism and leadership capacity.
2. In the practicum, communicate research and innovation evidence to peers and engage in critical dialogue with peers
and other professional disciplines in relation to practice development
3. Demonstrate leadership skills in the practicum in relation to aspects of ones own professional practice competencies
4. Articulate the unique nursing or midwifery contribution to clinical care (or to service development or to policy
development) through words and actions
5. Design and facilitate workshops for peers and professional colleagues aimed at enabling them to translate research
into practice

Indicative Student Workload: Indicative Hours

Class Contact: Lectures


Class Contact: Peer-led discussion fora 12
Class Contact: Practical
Specified learning activities (mentor meetings) 18
Specified learning activities (plan and lead workshops) 36 (24 planning + 12 workshops)
Autonomous student learning 234
(minimum hours dedicate to work-based experience) 720
Assessment Strategies: Professional portfolio
Module assessment: Professional portfolio Part 1: Structured portfolio of evidence of professional practice, including
evidence of contribution to practice development and innovation and evidence of leadership development. See
additional guidelines.

Total Hours 300

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UCD SNMHS/2013

Module outline, Stage 2

Module title Stage Level Semester Credits Indicative hours


Contact Independent
hours study
Student completes one module from each of suites 1, 2, 3 and 4 (60 ECTS) and one other module from the list (15 ECTS) and
completes a dissertation (105 ECTS). Core and optional: min. 45 ECTS. Electives: max. 30 ECTS

Suite 1: Researching professional practice


NMHS50080 Researching professional practice: 2 5 2 15 150 150
Quantitative methods: (o) (register in Year 2)
or
NMHS50070 Researching professional practice: 2 5 2 15
Qualitative methods (o) (register in Year 2)
Sub total 15

Suite 2: Disciplinary development: knowledge and practice


NMHS50020 Disciplinary knowledge in practice 2 5 1 15 80 220
development (o)
or
Approved elective in maternal & child health (0) 2 5 1 15
Sub total 15

Suite 3: Leadership and innovation


NMHS50010 Advanced leadership in healthcare 2 5 2 15 60 240
(c)
NMHS50060 Practice innovation (o) 2 5 2/3 15
or
NMHS50030 International practicum S3 (o) 2 5 2 15
or
Approved elective in cognate subject (level ) (o)
Sub total 15

Suite 4: Scholarship of practice


NMHS50110 Scholarship of practice 2 2 5 2/3 15 46 264
Sub total 15

Electives (Select one module from the list not already taken)*
or 2 5 1/2/3 15 c.40 c260
NMHS50130 International practicum S4 (o)
or
Elective module of own choosing (e) 1/2/3
Sub total 15

Thesis
NMHS 5001R Research Activity (Thesis) 2 5 2/3 105 48 758
Total ECTS credits 180 418 1894

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UCD SNMHS/2013

STAGE 2
Module Title: Researching professional practice: Quantitative methods

Module Code: NMHS50080


Module Coordinator: G Fealy

Credits: 15 ECTS Level: 9 (UCD 4) Semester: 2

Module Places 50

Module Dependencies: Students taking professional doctorate or PhD programme will have successfully completed
Stage 1
Indicative Module Description:
The aim of this module is to provide students with the critical skills to design and conduct a quantitative study in the
world of professional practice. The module focuses on quantitative research designs and it complements the work of
academic supervision. The module will critically examine instrumentation in the conduct of health care research and will
provide training into aspects of advanced data handling, including inferential analysis of empirical data. The module
may be part taken in part or whole with the module NMHS40580 Research Methods.

Indicative Learning Outcomes:


On completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Design a research protocol based on focused research questions, hypotheses and objectives.
2. Critically evaluate the use of various research instruments for measuring specific psychometric, clinical and social
variables
3. Plan procedures for data collection in the field, including sample recruitment, data collection and data
management and ethical conduct
4. Analyse empirical data using SPSS (or equivalent) software and prepare reports of the analysis
Identify

Indicative Student Workload: Indicative Hours

Class Contact: Lectures 18

Class Contact: Small Group

Class Contact: Practical 8

Specified learning activities (quantitative data handling) 24

Autonomous student learning 250

50

Module assessment: Research design and data handling: Examine relationships and differences in research data and
prepare a report of the findings. (100%)

Total Hours 300

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UCD SNMHS/2013

STAGE 2
Module Title: Researching professional practice: Qualitative methods

Module Code: NMHS50070


Module Coordinator: G Fealy

Credits: 15 ECTS Level: 9 (UCD 4) Semester: 2

Module Places 50

Module Dependencies: Students taking professional doctorate or PhD programme will have successfully completed
Stage 1
Indicative Module Description:
The aim of this module is to provide students with the critical skills to design and conduct a qualitative study in the
world of professional practice. The module focuses on qualitative research designs and it complements the work of
academic supervision. The module will critically examine methods of data collection in qualitative research, including
the depth interviewing, focus groups discussions, biographical interpretive method, documentary and discourse
analysis, in the conduct of health care research and will provide training into aspects of advanced data handling,
including inferential analysis of empirical data.
The module may be part taken in part or whole with the module NMHS40580Research Methods.

Indicative Learning Outcomes:


On completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Design a qualitative research protocol based on focused research questions and objectives.
2. Critically evaluate the use of various qualitative methods and approaches for generating qualitative data
3. Plan procedures for data collection in the field, including sample recruitment, data collection and data
management and ethical conduct
4. Analyse qualitative data using NVivo (or equivalent) software and prepare reports of the analysis

Indicative Student Workload: Indicative Hours

Class Contact: Lectures 18

Class Contact: Small Group

Class Contact: Practical 8

Specified learning activities (qualitative data handling) 24

Autonomous student learning 250

50

Research design and data handling: Conduct qualitative data collection, analyse the interview data using coding
framework and present a report of the findings. (100%)

Total Hours 300

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UCD SNMHS/2013

STAGE 2
Module Title: Disciplinary knowledge in practice development

Module Code: NMHS50020


Module Coordinator: G Fealy

Credits: 15 ECTS Level: 9 (UCD 4) Semester: 1

Module Places 50

Module Dependencies: Other programme modules are pre- or co-requisites

Indicative Module Description:


This module builds on the module NMHS50050 Philosophy, science and practice and it aims to provide the student
with opportunities to critically examine their own professional practice with reference to its disciplinary knowledge and
its distinct disciplinary contribution in health systems. The focus of the module is on theory-in-use and how practice,
learning and theory interact. The student will examine aspects of their practice that with reference to its disciplinary
distinctiveness and its interdisciplinary commonality. The aim is to enable the student to plan innovations in their
practice, drawing in the debates on what constitutes disciplinary knowledge and disciplinary identity. It aims to
integrate students existing knowledge and skills with learning from other programme modules and to develop
students capabilities to make a real difference to their own professional context in their current roles. The main vehicle
for achieving this aim is an Evidence-Based Initiative (EBI)
Indicative Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Identify and critically aspects of professional practice with reference to their disciplinary knowledge and the distinct
disciplinary contribution of their practice to health care and health systems
2. Critically examine the relationship between theory, practice and learning in a programme area applied to own
professional context
3. Examine and classify knowledge in use and relate this to disciplinary identity
4. Demonstrate effective information, project and time management skills
5. Initiate an evidence-based initiative (EBI) and prepare an implementation plan for the EBI

Indicative Student Workload: Indicative Hours

Class Contact: Lectures 8

Class Contact: Small Group discussion or on-line 12

Class Contact: Practical

Specified learning activities (presentations of self-appraisal, EBI 60


proposal, implementation plan)
Autonomous student learning 220
Assessment Strategies:
Continuous Assessment:
Self-appraisal, review and reflection (15%)
Proposal for Evidence-Based Initiative (EBI) (50%)
End of semester: Report on EBI implementation plan: 50%
Total Hours 300

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UCD SNMHS/2013

Module Title: Advanced leadership in healthcare

Module Code: NMHS50010


Module Coordinator: M Casey

Credits: 15 ECTS Level: 10 (UCD 5) Semester: 1

Module Places 50

Module Dependencies:
Students taking professional doctorate or PhD programme will have successfully completed Stage 1.
Indicative Module Description:
This module examines advanced leadership in health care and it aims to develop a range of skills needed for a
leadership role in healthcare. Topics covered in the module include clinical leadership, leadership in organisations and
leadership for the discipline. The relationship between leader and leadership development is explored and the methods
of leadership development, including pedagogical approaches, are critiqued. To more fully understand leadership
development among health professionals, each student will conduct a leadership development needs analysis in their
field of practice and propose a model for leadership development

Indicative Learning Outcomes:


1. Discuss the nature of leadership, with particular reference to clinical, organisational and disciplinary leadership
2. Analyse and discuss the empirical evidence for leadership and its modes of expression in individuals and
organisations
3. Discuss the methods of leadership development and identify critical leadership capacities in peers
4. Conduct a leadership development needs analysis in an area of practice among a multidisciplinary group of health
professionals and propose a method of leadership development based on the outcome of the analysis and on best
evidence

Indicative Student Workload: Indicative Hours


Class Contact: Lectures 12
Class Contact: Seminars 12
Class Contact: Practical
Specified learning activities (leadership needs analysis): Practicum. 60
Autonomous student learning 216
Assessment Strategies: Essay assignment
Essay assignment: Leadership needs analysis (c.8000) words or shadow a leader and prepare a report of the experience
(c.8000)

Total Hours 300

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UCD SNMHS/2013

STAGE 2
Module Title: Practice innovation

Module Code: NMHS50060


Module Coordinator: G Fealy

Credits: 15 ECTS Level: 9 (UCD 4) Semester: 2

Module Places 50

Module Dependencies: Making a Difference. Other programme modules are pre- or co-requisites

Indicative Module Description:


This module builds on the module Making a Difference and it aims to assist the student to develop the critical capacities
to innovate their professional practice and the practice setting in which they work and to develop the requisite
knowledge and skills to design, implement and evaluate a practice innovation. Building on Making a Difference (NURS
41420) and in consultation with their employing agency, each student will identify an area of practice that is in need of
innovation, will prepare a detailed project plan designed to address the identified need, will implement the plan, in
consultation with their employer and will evaluate its impact on client outcomes. Key transferable skills will include
ICT, using data information, evidence, collaboration, managing uncertainty and translating concepts into practice. The
module is designed to meet the needs of professionals from a range of practice settings, including clinical practice,
management and policy development.

Indicative Learning Outcomes: On completion candidates will be able to:


1. Critically analyse the features that indicate that an area of professional practice is ready for innovation
2. Select an area of practice suitable for innovation and critically evaluate the approaches and techniques that can
contribute to planning an innovation in professional practice
3. Discuss and defend the proposed practice innovation, drawing on relevant literature, research evidence, information
from local groups and identified consumer or client needs
4. Implement the innovation in practice, drawing on appropriate project management models.
5. Evaluate the impact of the innovation, using appropriate evaluation methodologies.

Indicative Student Workload: Indicative Hours

Class Contact: Lectures

Class Contact: Small Group discussion on-line 18

Class Contact: Practical

Specified learning activities (presentations of self-appraisal, 42


practice innovation proposal, implementation plan)
Autonomous student learning 240

Assessment Strategies: Course work assignment

Course work assignment, Part 1 (2000 words): The context for innovation (35%)
Course work assignment, Part 2 (3000 words): The innovation design (50%)
Self-appraisal, review and reflection (15%)
Total Hours 300

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UCD SNMHS/2013

STAGE 2
Module Title: Scholarship of practice 2

Module Code: NMHS50110


Module Coordinator: G Fealy

Credits: 15 ECTS Level: 10 (UCD 5) Semester: 2

Module Places 50

Module Dependencies:
Students taking professional doctorate or PhD programme will have successfully completed Stage 1. The student will be
engaged in professional practice, employed in a clearly-defined professional role for a minimum of 0.5WTE and not less
than a minimum of 720 hours in a single calendar year.
Indicative Module Description:
Linking taught and research activity with professional practice is a critical element of student learning. This module is
designed to provide academic structure to the students work experience during the second year following successful
progression to Stage 2 and builds on learning achieved in the module Professional practice 1. It provides an explicit
framework with which to integrate professional practice with the taught and research elements of the programme and it
encompasses new skills training in the practicum, mentorship activities and critical self-appraisal of the students own
professional practice. The aim of the module is to enable the student to locate and contextualise their own professional
practice within its own disciplinary context and within wider practice and social contexts and to assist the student to
identify and translate relevant research in their practice field. The capacity to lead others is also a major outcome of this
module.
Indicative Learning Outcomes:
1. Critically examine own practice with reference to existing skills set and identify practice-related learning needs as they
relate to research consumerism and leadership capacity.
2. In the practicum, communicate research and innovation evidence to peers and engage in critical dialogue with peers
and other professional disciplines in relation to practice development
3. Demonstrate leadership in the practicum in relation to intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary working
4. Articulate the unique nursing or midwifery contribution to clinical care (or to service development or to policy
development) through words and actions
5. Conduct a master class on an aspect of professional practice

Indicative Student Workload: Indicative Hours

Class Contact: Lectures


Class Contact: Peer-led discussion fora 12

Class Contact: Practical


Specified learning activities (mentor meetings) 18
Specified learning activities (plan and lead a master class) 36 (30 planning + 6 master class)
Autonomous student learning 234
(minimum hours dedicate to work-based experience) 720
Assessment Strategies: Professional portfolio
Professional portfolio Part 2: Structured portfolio of evidence of professional practice, including evidence of contribution
to practice development and innovation and evidence of leadership development and unique contribution to practice
(80%)
Design and conduct of master class (20%)

Total Hours 300

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UCD SNMHS/2013

STAGE 2 (elective module)


Module Title: International practicumS3

Module Code: NMHS50030


Module Coordinator: G Fealy

Credits: 15 ECTS Level: 10 (UCD 5) Semester: 2

Module Places 50

Module Dependencies:
Students taking professional doctorate or PhD programme will have successfully completed Stage 1.
Indicative Module Description:
This module offers students an opportunity to undertake a short practicum in another country. Experiencing the health
systems of another country provides the student with an opportunity to experience firsthand the structures and
processes involved in a planning and delivering health care in a different country. In this way, the student is enabled to
make critical comparisons of the health systems of two countries and thereby to better equip the student to critique the
health system in which s/he works. A subsidiary benefit of the international practicum will be the opportunities
presented for future networking for the purpose of research and practice innovation.

Indicative Learning Outcomes:


1. Critically examine health systems of another country with particular reference to the structures and processes of
health care organisation and delivery and the enablers and barriers to effective health care delivery
2. Critically analyse and compare the health systems of a host country with health systems in Ireland, with reference to
historical, social, political and economic influences on their development
3. With a selected aspect of clinical practice (or service management, or policy development), discuss the key features of
professional practice and the key practitioner attributes associated with that practice

Indicative Student Workload: Indicative Hours


Class Contact: Lectures
Class Contact: Seminar 4
Class Contact: Practical
Specified learning activities (two-weeks work experience) 36 (two weeks)
Autonomous student learning 60
Assessment Strategies: Essay assignment
Essay assignment: Comparative health systems (3000) words

Total Hours 100

17
UCD SNMHS/2013

STAGE 2 (elective module)


Module Title: International practicumS4

Module Code: NMHS50130


Module Coordinator: G Fealy

Credits: 15 ECTS Level: 10 (UCD 5) Semester: 2

Module Places 50

Module Dependencies:
Students taking professional doctorate or PhD programme will have successfully completed Stage 1.
Indicative Module Description:
This module offers students an opportunity to undertake a short practicum in another country. Experiencing the health
systems of another country provides the student with an opportunity to experience firsthand the structures and
processes involved in a planning and delivering health care in a different country. In this way, the student is enabled to
make critical comparisons of the health systems of two countries and thereby to better equip the student to critique the
health system in which s/he works. A subsidiary benefit of the international practicum will be the opportunities
presented for future networking for the purpose of research and practice innovation.

Indicative Learning Outcomes:


1. Critically examine health systems of another country with particular reference to the structures and processes of
health care organisation and delivery and the enablers and barriers to effective health care delivery
2. Critically analyse and compare the health systems of a host country with health systems in Ireland, with reference to
historical, social, political and economic influences on their development
3. With a selected aspect of clinical practice (or service management, or policy development), discuss the key features of
professional practice and the key practitioner attributes associated with that practice

Indicative Student Workload: Indicative Hours


Class Contact: Lectures

Class Contact: Seminar 4


Class Contact: Practical
Specified learning activities (two-weeks work experience) 36 (two weeks)
Autonomous student learning 60
Assessment Strategies: Essay assignment
Essay assignment: Comparative health systems (3000) words

Total Hours 100

18

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