Nursing (Adult)BSc (Hons)

Foundations of Professional Practice

Foundations of Professional Practice module introduces students to the standards of conduct, performance and ethics required in the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code (2018). The module aims to provide students with a knowledge of contemporary issues in nursing practice including legislation, professional accountability, ethics, and the use of an inter-professional working and multidisciplinary approach.

The module will integrate a person-centred framework to develop students’ skills in communication to support patients, clients, service users and their families, promote inter-professional working, and leading others. It will introduce the concept of continuing personal and professional development (CPPD) and explores tools for effective reflection on practice and the requirement for career-long learning.

Introduction to Adult Nursing in Primary, community and social care settings

This module will introduce students to nursing in the local community, considering the roles that nurses in GP practices, district nursing, health visiting, occupational health and social care nursing play in supporting primary health care and care close to, and in the home.
It will give students to explore the current legal, regulatory and ethical governance of care close to home, using recent legislation to understand the benefits of home and community care.
The module also aims to give students the opportunity to explore the landscape of social care nursing, considering contemporary issues such as the spread of Covid-19 in care homes, and the funding of both social and primary care systems in relation to nursing care across the lifespan, and across fields of nursing care.

Introduction to Biosciences in Nursing

This module introduces students to the anatomy and physiology of the human body in health and disease. The module aims to provide students through lectures tutorials and practical classes, with a sound knowledge of human body structure, using appropriate anatomical nomenclature and an understanding of the physiology of body systems and the pathology of selected conditions.

The module will also aim to introduce the concept of immunology and its role in health and disease. Students will

You will learn about anatomical language used in the health care sector as well as the role of homeostasis within physiology considering the changes that healthy aging can bring and the results of failures in homeostasis that contribute to disease development and prognosis.

Practice 1

Students will complete the pan London electronic Practice Assessment Document (ePAD) which is designed to support and guide them towards successfully achieving the criteria set out in the Future nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses, and the Standards framework for education and training (NMC 2018). The ePAD makes up a significant part of the overall assessment of clinical practice and will be processed through formal University systems.

Continuous assessment is an integral aspect of assessment in practice and students will be expected to show evidence of consistent achievement. Students should engage positively in all learning opportunities, take responsibility for their own learning and know how to access support. Students will work with and receive written feedback from a range of staff including Practice Supervisors and Practice Assessors and are required to reflect on their own learning.

Students are responsible for raising concerns with a nominated person in the practice setting in a timely manner. They should also alert staff to any reasonable adjustments that may be required to support their learning.

Students should ensure that they are familiar with the university assessment and submission processes and contact the relevant academic member of staff (Course leader or link learning facilitator), or refer to the University pages (https://student.londonmet.ac.uk).

The Ongoing Achievement Record (OAR) is integrated within the ePAD and is a summary document that records your achievements in each placement, providing comprehensive record of your professional development and performance in practice.

Students are responsible for the upkeep of their ePAD. Practice Supervisors, Practice Assessors and academic assessors have independent access to the ePAD to review progress.

The ePAD should not contain any patient/service user/carer identifiable information. Contents must not be disclosed to any unauthorised person or removed, photocopied or used outside the placement or university. People must be offered the opportunity to give and if required withdraw their informed consent to student participation in their care and staff in practice will provide guidance as required.

Before approaching any patient/service user/carer for feedback students must discuss with your Practice Supervisor/Practice Assessor who will facilitate consent.

In Practice 1
Students will:
1. Complete and reflect on their achievement of the part one care assessments as set out in the ePAD
2. Be assessed as proficient in the skills outlined in part one and the crossover part one and two ePAD
3. Apply the NMC code to their practice: demonstrating professional values in all dealings with patients, service users, carers and colleagues
4. Identify Personal learning outcomes and develop plans to meet these under the supervision of a practice assessor
5. Make a record of, and have validated all practice placement hours, contributing to an overall programme requirement of 2300 hours.

Please note:
Students will be allocated placements with our practice learning partner organisations by the practice placements team.

Students are responsible for contacting placements in advance to gain their off-duty and identify instructions for day one of the placement

The suitability of placements will be assessed jointly by link learning facilitators and practice partners using the pan London Practice Learning Group (PLPLG) Practice Learning Environment Approval documentation.

All placements must meet health and safety requirements and demonstrate sufficient learning opportunities and personnel working in practice assessor and practice supervisor roles to support the requirements of the number of students allocated, and the level at which they are performing.

Those studying on a Student Visa will only be able to complete a work placement if it meets UKVI monitoring requirements including: approval of the placement dates and hours by the Placement Officer prior to starting the placement, submission of weekly timesheets for the hours undertaken, signed by their line manager/supervisor and continued engagement with the Placement Officer as well as the International Student Support and Compliance Team.

Understanding and Promoting Health and Wellbeing

This module aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the principles of health promotion, public health and wellbeing within the context of nursing practice. Students will learn the principles of health promotion and wellbeing, and how to prevent ill-health by demonstrating the use of contemporary approaches to behaviour change that enable people to use their strengths.

The module will also provide an understanding the factors that impact upon health and wellbeing including inequality, environment, long term health conditions, culture and behaviour.

Students will assess the role of the nurse in promoting health and wellbeing considering the roles and responsibilities of general and more specialist nurses.

Developing Adult Care in the Acute Sector

The focus in this practice module is on the acute care of people. Acute care generally takes place within a hospital setting and can include people who have significant care needs in surgical or medical specialties, or those in mental health crisis. The module focuses on early detection and management of acute deterioration in patients with respiratory, cardiac, neurological or renal insufficiencies.

In the module students will explore care needs in a range of acute patient care settings including medical, surgical, critical care and critical mental health care. Students will consider the disease process in commonly encountered conditions, alongside complications that may arise such as sepsis, and the requirements for surgical intervention where necessary. Relevant anatomy and physiology will be taught to underpin experiential knowledge.

Drawing upon the understanding of regulating homeostasis gained in year one and understanding of vital signs and their assessment, students will work through person-centred scenarios such as the pre-operative assessment of the patient for surgery, care of the deteriorating patient, and scenarios requiring application of basic life support. Students will be prepared for experiencing such patient care requirements through your simulated practice placements.

The module prepares students for placements in more challenging health care environments by promoting the planning, implementation and evaluation of the care provided. Students will draw upon examples of care delivered or observed in clinical and simulated practice placements and reflect on the quality of care and its outcomes, as well as debriefing from complex cases.

Nursing Consultation

In this module you will develop an understanding of the advancing skills required for body systems and whole person assessment. You will be introduced to a range of commonly encountered mental, physical, behavioural and cognitive health conditions (including learning disability and autism), medications and treatments and consider priorities in managing symptoms, monitoring progress and evaluating the outcome of care. You will build upon your experience of person-centred care and using the ABCDE assessment approach when assessing people in acute and homecare environments. For example, you will explore the principles of patient and service user consultation across different specialities and fields of nursing practice, considering adaptations required for assessment of patients with language differences, learning disability, or communication impairment. We will introduce the concept of telehealth and telemedicine and the role of the expert through experience using the London Met People with Lived Experience group (‘BeSpoke’).

You will learn advanced skills for assessing body systems such as assessing cardiac health through ECG monitoring and auscultating the chest to assess for respiratory issues. You will also be introduced to skills such as cannulation and taking blood for analysis through venepuncture and male and female catheterisation. You will also develop skills in assessing commonly occurring mental health issues and provide basic interventions such as mental health first aid to augment your physical, social and emotional consultation and assessment skills.

This module runs alongside Practice module 2 (NR5W02) where you will have opportunities to practice and develop the skills and knowledge in simulated and clinical practice settings.

Pharmacology and Medicines Management

This module is designed to further students’ knowledge and proficiency in drug calculation, medication administration, and the evaluation of the effectiveness of medications. From the starting point of working to the NMC Code students will be introduced to the rules and regulations surrounding drug administration including legal and safety precautions, drug storage and disposal. The module focuses on medications prescribed in commonly encountered patient conditions; focusing on safe administration of drugs through oral, Intravenous, intramuscular, topical and subcutaneous routes, with opportunities to practise these skills in context offered in the year 2 simulated and clinical practice placements (NR5W02).

Knowledge of pharmacology and the ability to recognise the effects of medicines, allergies, drug sensitivities, side effects, contraindications, incompatibilities and adverse reactions. Antimicrobial stewardship is also key: we will build upon knowledge from year one of the course to explore infection prevention and the appropriate use of anti-biotics in the context of reduced immunity to certain infections such as MRSA. We will address the mis-prescription of antibiotics in disease where virus or fungal infection, rather than bacterial infection is present, and why this occurs. The module will explore pandemic response and other health surveillance (communicable diseases).

The module will also discuss the impact of prescribing and administration errors and the impact of age, co-morbidity, polypharmacy, illicit drug and over the counter medication usage. It explores how the NMC duty of candour must be used supportively to declare medication administration and prescribing errors, promote patient safety and learn from mistakes.

The concept of concordance will be explored and give consideration to promoting this in patients and service users with a range of mental, physical and learning disabilities, enabling them and their carers to manage their medication independently in the home environment.

Practice 2

In part two of the programme students are expected to undertake both simulated and clinical placements in a range of health care settings. The focus on placements in year two is nursing in hospital and acute settings and your clinical placements will reflect this theme.

Students will complete the pan London electronic Practice Assessment Document (ePAD) which is designed to support and guide towards successful achievement of the criteria set out in the Future nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses, and the Standards framework for education and training (both NMC 2018). The ePAD makes up a significant part of the overall programme assessment. It will need to be assessed in practice and through formal University systems.

Continuous assessment is an integral aspect of assessment in practice and students are expected to show evidence of consistent achievement. Students are expected to engage positively in all learning opportunities, take responsibility for their own learning and know how to access support. Students will work with and receive written feedback from a range of staff including Practice Supervisors and Practice Assessors and you are required to reflect on practice-based learning.

Students are responsible for raising concerns with a nominated person in the practice setting in a timely manner. They should also alert staff to any reasonable adjustments that may be required to support their learning. Students should be familiar with the university assessment and submission processes for the ePAD, and contact the relevant academic member of staff (Course leader or link learning facilitator), or refer to the University pages (https://student.londonmet.ac.uk).

The Ongoing Achievement Record (OAR) is integrated within the ePAD and is a summary document that records your achievements in each placement, providing comprehensive record of your professional development and performance in practice.

Students are responsible for the upkeep of their ePAD. Practice Supervisors, Practice Assessors and academic assessors have independent access to the ePAD to review progress.

The ePAD should not contain any patient/service user/carer identifiable information. Contents must not be disclosed to any unauthorised person or removed, photocopied or used outside the placement or university. People must be offered the opportunity to give and if required withdraw their informed consent to student participation in their care and staff in practice will provide guidance as required.

Before approaching any patient/service user/carer for feedback you must discuss with your Practice Supervisor/Practice Assessor who will facilitate consent.

In Practice 2 you will:

1. Identify the appropriate knowledge base required to deliver safe, person-centred care under minimal guidance of your practice supervisor and practice assessor.
2. Develop and utilise appropriate skills in the delivery of person-centred care in commonly encountered situations, with minimal guidance from your practice supervisor and assessor until assessed as proficient.
3. Demonstrate positive engagement with your own learning and display appropriate professional values in delivering person-centred care.
4. Undertake workplace assessments as required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council including assessment of and critical reflection on patient care, recording of practice hours worked, medications management and assessment of professional values.

Please note:

Students will be allocated placements with our practice learning partner organisations by the practice placements team.

Students are responsible for contacting placements in advance to gain their off-duty and identify instructions for day one of the placement.

The suitability of placements will be assessed jointly by link learning facilitators and practice partners using the pan London Practice Learning Group (PLPLG) Practice Learning Environment Approval documentation. All placements must meet health and safety requirements and demonstrate sufficient learning opportunities and personnel working in practice assessor and practice supervisor roles to support the requirements of the number of students allocated, and the level at which they are performing.

Those studying on a Student Visa will only be able to complete a work placement if it meets UKVI monitoring requirements including: approval of the placement dates and hours by the Placement Officer prior to starting the placement, submission of weekly timesheets for the hours undertaken, signed by their line manager/supervisor and continued engagement with the Placement Officer as well as the International Student Support and Compliance Team.

Working with the Evidence Base and Beyond

This module will enable students to recognise the value of research evidence to nursing and interdisciplinary practice. Students will be able to identify useful and relevant sources of evidence and develop effective strategies to search for, and access literature. Through a range of learning and teaching strategies, developing the skills to read, appraise the quality of different types of evidence, for the implementation of evidence-based practice.

Students will explore the importance of patient and service user choice and preference in ascertaining the acceptability of implementing research findings and consider alternatives to promote best practice in delivering care.

Leadership, Collaboration and Integrated Care in Practice

The aim of this module is to prepare students to work in partnership with people with complex needs, their family and friends, and other health professionals across health and social care. The module is driven by changes in care provision and delivery outlined in the integrated care bill (2022). The development of local integrated care boards, whose remit is to bring care closer to home (NHS 2019), has changed the ways in which health care professions work together with people to create person-centred care. Integrated care is implemented for frail older people, people with chronic disease, long term health and social care needs, people with urgent and /or medically complex problems and those at the end of life. The aim of such care is to improve the coordination of services across acute, primary care, community health, social services, allied Health Professionals and the voluntary sector to improve clinical and social outcomes of care.

You will consider the philosophy of integrated care and explore various examples of local, regional and national schemes. We will consider how success can be defined and measured, considering the person as the organising principle for care. We will explore the policy backdrop enabling integrated care and discuss how integrated care can be achieved in different areas of care and for different populations by aligning system incentives.

Practice 3

In part three of the programme students are expected to undertake both simulated and clinical placements in a range of health care settings.

In Practice Part 3 students are expected to confidently deliver safe, person-centred care, with minimal supervision and in multi-agency care settings. The focus on placements in year three is leading, managing and providing integrated, collaborative care. Clinical placements will reflect this theme as students take further responsibility for care and organisation within placement settings. Students will apply principles of leadership and management in simulated and clinical settings and demonstrate their fitness to be admitted to the NMC register. Students will complete the pan London electronic Practice Assessment Document (ePAD) part 3, which is designed to support and guide towards successfully achieving the criteria set out in the Future Nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses, and the Standards framework for education and training (both NMC 2018).

The ePAD makes up a significant part of the overall programme assessment. It will need to be processed through formal University systems. Continuous assessment is an integral aspect of assessment in practice and you are expected to show evidence of consistent achievement. Students should engage positively in all learning opportunities, take responsibility for their own learning and know how to access support. You will work with and receive written feedback from a range of staff including Practice Supervisors and Practice Assessors and you are required to continue reflecting on your learning and practice.

Students are responsible for raising concerns with a nominated person in the practice setting in a timely manner. Students should also alert staff to any reasonable adjustments that may be required to support their learning. Student familiarity with the university assessment and submission processes for this document is essential. Students may also contact the relevant academic member of staff (Course leader or link learning facilitator), or refer to the University pages (https://student.londonmet.ac.uk) for support or advice on specific University procedures.

The Ongoing Achievement Record (OAR) is integrated within the ePAD and is a summary document that records student achievement in each placement, providing comprehensive record of professional development and performance in practice. In part 3, the OAR must be successfully completed by student, practice assessor and academic assessor in order that a recommendation for registration on the NMC register be made.

Students are responsible for the upkeep of your ePAD. It may be shared with Practice Supervisors, Practice Assessor and Academic Assessor, who will have will have independent access to the ePAD to review your progress.

The ePAD should not contain any patient/service user/carer identifiable information. Contents must not be disclosed to any unauthorised person or removed, photocopied or used outside the placement or university. People must be offered the opportunity to give and if required withdraw their informed consent to student participation in their care and staff in practice will provide guidance as required.

Before approaching any patient/service user/carer for feedback students must discuss with their Practice Supervisor/Practice Assessor who will facilitate consent.

Please note:

Students will be allocated placements with our practice learning partner organisations by the practice placements team.

Students are responsible for contacting placements in advance to gain their off-duty and identify instructions for day one of the placement.

The suitability of placements will be assessed jointly by link learning facilitators and practice partners using the pan London Practice Learning Group (PLPLG) Practice Learning Environment Approval documentation. All placements must meet health and safety requirements and demonstrate sufficient learning opportunities and personnel working in practice assessor and practice supervisor roles to support the requirements of the number of students allocated, and the level at which they are performing.

Those studying on a Student Visa will only be able to complete a work placement if it meets UKVI monitoring requirements including: approval of the placement dates and hours by the Placement Officer prior to starting the placement, submission of weekly timesheets for the hours undertaken, signed by their line manager/supervisor and continued engagement with the Placement Officer as well as the International Student Support and Compliance Team.

Principles of Professional Leadership and Management

Research, Innovation and Improvement (Dissertation)

The aims of this module are aligned with the qualification descriptors within the Quality Assurance Agency’s Framework for Higher Education Qualifications. Specifically, the module aims to introduce, and enable the student to acquire, skills and capabilities appropriate to conducting nursing research, practice development and innovation projects.

Students will develop a critical appreciation of the process of research and practice development an emphasis on care improvement. Students will explore bias, confounding factors, validity, reproducibility and precision. They will integrate knowledge, skills and values acquired in practice and other modules in choosing a dissertation topic. The module draws upon learning from year two to support students to search, access and retrieve background information using appropriate databases such as CINAHL, Web of Knowledge and MEDLINE. Synthesis and implementation of research findings will be explored from a research and practice perspective.

This module will provide students with the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment: requiring the exercise of personal responsibility; undertake decision making in complex and unpredictable contexts; synthesise results from research of a varied and variable nature and demonstrate the learning ability needed to undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature.