Undergraduate Course: Nursing Honours Dissertation (NUST10038)

Course Outline
School	School of Health in Social Science	College	College of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)	SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate)
Course type	Dissertation	Availability	Not available to visiting students
SCQF Credits	40	ECTS Credits	20
Summary	In this critical assessment of practice the student will be required to identify an issue in practice, review the literature in the field, and to provide a reflective and critical account of their current observations in the practice area that is informed by the evidence base for practice. The dissertation aims to enhance the studentżs abilities to be reflective within a specialist practice area and to locate these reflections within the practice evidence base. The choice of topic may be student driven but there may also be suggestions of areas for review from practice based colleagues. The course begins with introductory lectures on choosing a topic, formulating an aim and / or questions, skills of critical appraisal, literature searching and reporting of this, structuring the dissertation, integration of practice review and research literature, negotiating access and ethical issues. The dissertation is however mostly a self-directed, extended piece of work. Students have an academic supervisor and negotiate a practice based liaison person. Students receive one to one and/or small group supervision sessions throughout the academic year.
Course description	Not entered

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites		Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations		Other requirements	None

Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered

Learning Outcomes
Theoretical: On completion of the course students will have acquired the ability to: * Demonstrate general and specific subject related knowledge, skills, and understanding of the art and science of nursing * Prepare a clearly structured critical assessment of nursing practice * Review critically the relevant literature and research in the chosen area of nursing * Address practice issues through the application of research to practice * Demonstrate awareness of ethical issues that may arise in the course of their studies of nursing practice/issues * Discuss critically the potential implications for nursing practice, and the advancement of nursing knowledge Practice: * Visit and observe relevant practice settings to gain knowledge about the area for research * Shadow relevant practice staff to gain insight into the research problem or question