Nursing Associate (Direct Entry) FdSc

1. Transition to level 5: review of personal learning style, personal responsibility; SWOT analysis of academic writing and study skills; searching for evidence; research awareness; review professional development, lifelong learning; critical reflection, self-awareness; self-management and motivation; digital literacy and technology; problem solving.  Preparation for employment; CV building, applications and portfolio development.
2. Review of the Professional regulations: Nursing and Midwifery Council, other regulatory bodies, codes of practice and professional regulation; consent; Role of the nursing associate as a role model; parameters of practice; Revalidation; Accountability.
3. Review of Probity: Professional morals values and beliefs; equality and diversity; cultural multiplicity, spirituality; ethics and law and vulnerable individuals as service users; service user and carer involvement; rights, dignity, respecting diversity.
4. Critical Reflection: self-awareness of own values and personal qualities; beliefs and values about health, professional boundaries; personal resilience, wellbeing and management of stress; kindness, compassion and respect. Learning from others; role of mentor, supervisor, lived experience connector; giving, receiving and acting on feedback.
5. Advanced Communication: review and reflection of communication strategies to date including effective communication to others and in differing environments; advanced techniques and strategies for communication (conflict and complaints); role modelling appropriate behaviour, methods and language (to meet the needs of a variety of service users, elder speak, tone, delivery, word choice); non-verbal and verbal.

To enhance and advance the students socialisation of professional values and responsibilities of the nursing associate role.

Module content will include:

1. Drug and medicines acts: role and function of bodies that regulate and ensure safety and effectiveness, legislation that underpins practice, ethical frameworks; Individual legal responsibility, personal accountability, regulatory requirements. Statutory requirements in relation to mental health, mental capacity, children and young people and medicines, National Service Frameworks
2. Use of medicines including: risks and benefits; controlled drugs; storage of medicines; administration of medicines under patient specific directions and patient group directives, self-administration; the use of medical devices; concordance; Rationale for invasive and non-invasive practice; commonly recognised approaches to symptom management, relaxation, distraction and lifestyle advice
3. Pharmacological considerations including: Impact physiological state of individuals on drug responses and safety to include; older adult, child, pregnant and breastfeeding women, significant pathologies (renal and hepatic); Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics; Management of adverse drug events, drug reactions, prescribing and administration errors, side effects, repercussions in terms of individuals, carers, families, teams, departments and organisations; The management of long term conditions; Public health
4. Communication and record keeping: in a variety of settings including acting upon concerns; Support for individuals’ families/carers receiving medical treatment
5. Numeracy and drug calculations.

The aim of the module is:

To develop a comprehensive understanding of medicines management as a nursing associate within a variety of healthcare settings

1. Socio economic factors determinants of health: Impact of illness and disability on the service user, family and carers; family history and other factors; population health and public health priorities
2. Structures and functions of human body: multi pathology and related conditions through the lifespan; renal; Hepatic; musculoskeletal; skin; urinary and digestive system.
3. Physiological and Psychological explanations of a variety of health and health behaviours across the age and ability continuum; common cancer; injury and falls, frailty, wound care; psychotic disorders; self-harm; suicide; service user perspectives.
4. Review of effective health and wellbeing promotion activities: behaviour and lifestyle choice; health policy strategies and care pathways; local and national public health interventions; brief interventions; contribution to education and promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals, families and or carers.
5. Applied Pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

The module aims to advance the students conceptualisation of care delivery enabling them to work across a range of health care settings and with a diverse group of clients appropriate to their parameters of practice. 

Module content will include:

1. Research awareness: importance of research, innovation and audit in improving quality of patient safety and care; role of nursing associate in supporting others and adoption of innovative practice and new technologies.
2. Evidence related to healthcare practice: search for evidence and use of databases; research governance and statutory and advisory regulatory bodies; policies and frameworks; service user choice; ethical and legal considerations; challenges to changing practice; audit and quality assurance.
3. Service improvement: search for evidence: use of audit data to inform practice: PDSA cycle; change management theory; analytical skills in a research/audit/service improvement context; articulation and presentation of service improvement.
4. The research process: audit and research methods; service user involvement; use of research and audit information to interpret and apply new knowledge.
5. Methods and techniques of dissemination: interpretation of results; information pathways; peer and user perspectives.

The aim of the module is to develop the students’ ability to contextualise evidence, research and audit into health care practice.

1. Supporting learning: teaching role; learning and teaching strategies; role modelling peer supervision; skills of teaching and facilitation, supervision.
2. Preparation for a teaching role: preceptorship; mentorship; mentorship role; role modelling and coaching as applied to health care.  
3. Transition to nursing associate role: leadership role and competencies; change management; time management; prioritisation and delegation, leadership styles and models, role modelling, supporting peers; embedding nursing associate role into workplace cultures and philosophy.
4. Team working: respect and values of team, development of team environment, MDT, culture of cares.

The trainee nursing associate will be able to articulate the principles underpinning leadership, team working and learning in practice. As part of the transition to nursing associate, the module aims to develop their leadership, team working and teaching potential.  

The content of the module will form the basis of theory which will be applied to practice in the workplace. The translation of skills acquired in an academic mode into one which is appropriate to employment is also part of the process in which the student will engage. Discussion between University tutors and students will facilitate the realisation and articulation of this content with reference to the particular project/activities selected which may include:

1. Critical reflection on progress as a student nursing associate: review of PAR: successes and challenges.
2. Development of a learning contract: SMART objectives.
3. Experimental learning in the workplace.
4. Review and evaluation of objectives: self-analysis; peer and supervisor review.
5. Domains and parameters of practice for nursing associates.
6. SWOT analysis of effectiveness.
7. Application to practice: programme domains; parameters of practice.

1. To facilitate the student to apply knowledge and skills to activities that the student will undertake in their work place.
2. To extend the student’s ability to relate theory and practice and to translate and reflect on the knowledge and skills they have gained into terms intelligible to an employer.