BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies (Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology)

Learning on the module will enhance your understanding of the structure and function of the human body. This module explores anatomy and physiology through an integrative systems approach. Through this you will be provided with opportunities to help you understand the complex relationship between health, anatomy, physiology and diseases that you may encounter whilst nursing patients of all ages with diverse health and nursing needs including: older people; pregnant and post-natal women; people with mental health needs and people with needs associated with their learning disabilities. This learning will be achieved through an exploration of diseases and conditions that arise from a malfunction of the systems of the body which will include an element of biochemistry and genetics. Pharmacology will also be examined in relation to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. You will also examine the role of the nurse in supporting an individual with illness. During this module you will explore topics such as: Body systems; Altered pathology and the relationship to disease and illness; and examine the role of the nurse in supporting an individual with illness in diverse nursing settings.

During this module you will explore nursing interventions required to support the acute and critically ill adult and child patient in various clinical settings. You will expand your knowledge and skills regarding the role of the nurse in providing safe and effective care to the acutely or critically ill patient by analysing nursing tools and frameworks and the wider evidence base underpinning practice. In addition, you will examine the cause of illnesses and conditions relevant to the stages of an illness trajectory and how to prioritise care. The module will support you to apply clinical decision making, problem solving and critical thinking skills to your practice in a range of settings with adults and children. During this module you will explore the following topic areas: The biological basis of illness and applied pharmacology to help you problem solve and anticipate the needs of the patient including managing the deteriorating patient; evidence based contemporary nursing interventions; management and governance issues related to providing safe, effective and ethically sound care in the critical and acute period of illness or accident. In addition, in this module you will be taught a range of vital clinical skills and the context of how to apply them in acute and critical scenarios using a range of simulation facilities.

During the module you will be supported and encouraged to engage with published research and other types of evidence that informs nursing practice. You will be given the opportunity to explore research terminology, methodologies and methods through the consideration of relevant research studies in an enquiry-based learning (EBL), workshop style approach. The aims of the module will be to support and develop your knowledge about research so as to increase your confidence as a consumer of the research evidence underpinning nursing practice. Skills will be developed that allow appreciation of the variety of approaches to healthcare research and you will be able to critically examine the quality of research and discuss its value within nursing relating to with people of all ages including: children; older people; pregnant and post-natal women; people with mental health needs and people with needs associated with their learning disabilities.
On this module you will explore the following topic areas:
• Research methodological approaches and their value to nursing and healthcare practice: Methodologies and methods used in research. Critical evaluation of research quality.
• Data Management and Metrics: Research Governance, ethics and protecting vulnerable people.
• Evidence Based Practice: This will include debate around the hierarchies of research evidence and the production of protocols and guidelines that inform nursing practice.
This module will enable you to further develop lifelong learning skills that will benefit your future career in nursing.

During this module you will be introduced to a range of topic areas related to caring for people across their life span. Your learning will be underpinned by contemporary research and evidence based practice, in order to support you to understand the complex and unique needs of a range of people including children, adolescents, adults and the older person. The module will support you to appreciate the demographic trends related to Maltese and international populations and you will develop an understanding of the associated implications these factors may have for nursing practice in diverse practice settings including mental health and learning disability care settings. You will be supported to develop compassionate values and attitudes towards a person’s life span and understand the requirement to implement a holistic, person and family centred and individualised approach to caring for people as they age. The module will explore relevant issues and health challenges related to different stages of a person’s life span, and this will be founded on the following broad topic areas:
• Biological, psychological, sociological and spiritual aspects of ageing.
• Mental health and learning disability influences on care provision, relationship centred, holistic and individualised approaches to caring for the life span of a person
• Pathophysiology of ageing and its impact upon the health of an individual.
• Contemporary evidence-based nursing care management
• Assessment strategies to identify risk and promote safe approaches to nursing care.

On this year long module you will learn a range of evidence based professional skills required for registration and employment as a nurse with people of all ages including: older people; people with mental health needs or needs associated with their learning disability and patients who are acutely unwell or need critical care intervention. You will build on the knowledge and skills that you have already acquired in year one of the programme. Specifically, you will be exploring further and refreshing your mandatory skills in safe moving and handling techniques including the bariatric patient; basic life support in hospital; first aid; principles of infection prevention and control; safeguarding vulnerable adults, including older people, children and people with reduced mental capacity and de-escalation. The module will also offer you the opportunity to enhance your understanding of professional practice and apply relevant theories, which will ensure further development of the skills and knowledge that are required for safe, effective and efficient practice leading to increased patient safety.