Postgraduate Course: Dissertation (MN Nursing) (NUST11102)
Course Outline
| School | School of Health in Social Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 60 |
ECTS Credits | 30 |
| Summary | This level 11 course is the dissertation for students undertaking the Masters of Nursing with pre-registration (Adult) programme and will provide students with the invaluable experience of designing, conducting, analysing and presenting a reflective, practice-based quality improvement project. This course enables students to work closely with both their academic supervisors and mentors in the practice setting in developing a range of skills whilst completing the dissertation. |
| Course description |
This course is the dissertation for students undertaking the Masters of Nursing programme and will provide students with the invaluable experience of designing, conducting, analysing and presenting a reflective, practice-based quality improvement project. This course enables students to work closely with both their academic supervisors and mentors in the practice setting in developing a range of clinically relevant graduate skills and attributes whilst completing the dissertation.
In discussion with an allocated supervisor, students select a relevant topic area for the project. The dissertation is situated within the practice setting of the year 2 of the MN. Students will be in practice over the course of the year and develop the QI project in this context. The project is conducted in the student's allocated placement area.
The aim of this course is for students to be able to identify an area of practice for quality improvement and justify that choice through both a critical review of the literature and a review of relevant national and local policies and data. Students will be expected to utilise a quality improvement framework in their project and to provide a reflective and critical account of the project in their dissertation. Whilst this is explicitly NOT a form of research and does not require NHS Ethics approval, it is recognized that projects must uphold the highest ethical standards in design and execution and that they will be subject to School ethical review and NHS QI review. The dissertation is an extended piece of independent work comprising of a portfolio of work to demonstrate the relevant learning outcomes.
Preparation for the dissertation will involve a short series of lectures on critical thinking, critical appraisal and quality improvement strategies. Students will also attend seminars where they will discuss their proposed work and also present their formative assessment. Additional supporting online resources will be made available to students.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | All placement learning costs to be met by the student. |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- The ability to undertake an extended piece of project work in nursing using a quality improvement framework.
- A critical discussion of the empirical and theoretical literature in the field.
- The development and conduct of a feasible quality improvement project.
- The design and application of an appropriate quality improvement framework, including a critical understanding of this framework.
- Communicate the outcomes of the project appropriately and effectively with professional, academic and lay audiences.
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Reading List
Hockley, J., Watson, J., Oxenham, D., & Murray, S. A. (2010). The integrated implementation of two end-of-life care tools in nursing care homes in the UK: an in-depth evaluation. Palliative Medicine, 24(8), 828¿838. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216310373162
Dixon-Woods M, McNicol S, Martin G. (2012) Ten challenges in improving quality in healthcare: lessons from the Health Foundation¿s programme evaluations and relevant literature. BMJ Quality and Safety ;21:876¿84.doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2011-000760
Curnock E, Ferguson J, McKay J, et al (2012) Healthcare Improvement and Rapid PDSA Cycles of Change: A Realist Synthesis of the Literature. NHS Education Scotland. http://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/media/1389875/pdsa_realist_synthesis.pdf
Toma M, Dreischulte T, Gray NM, et al (2018) Balancing measures or a balanced accounting of improvement impact: a qualitative analysis of individual and focus group interviews with improvement experts in Scotland. BMJ Qual Saf;27:547¿56.doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2017-006554
Moore G, Audrey S, Barker M, et al (2013) Process evaluation in complex public health intervention studies: the need for guidance. J Epidemiol Community Health Published Online First: 10 September 2013. doi: 10.1136/jech-2013-202869
Rycroft-Malone J, Harvey G, Kitson A et al (2002) Getting evidence into practice: ingredients for change. Nursing Standard. 16, 37, 38-43.
Alderwick H. Charles A. Jones B. Warburton W. (2017) Making the case for quality improvement: lessons for NHS boards and leaders. The King's Fund and The Health Foundation (http://www.health.org.uk)
The Health Foundation (2013) Health Improvement made simple. 2nd edn. The Health Foundation, London
NHS Education Scotland. Quality Improvement Zone available in TURAS with Learning Zone. https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/741/quality-improvement-zone
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
- Extensive and critical knowledge of the topic
- Ability to use a quality improvement framework
- Plan and execute a QI project
- Develop original and creative responses to problems and issues
- Deal with complex issues and make informed judgements
- Communicate with peers, more senior colleagues and specialists
- Exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in professional activities
- Demonstrate leadership and/or initiative and make an identifiable contribution to change and development in the
practice setting
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| Keywords | Dissertation,Quality Improvement,Project,Nursing |
Contacts
| Course organiser | |
Course secretary | |
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