NSB203 Inquiry in Clinical Practice

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This unit at a developmental level of your course, explores inquiry in clinical practice by examining the role of evidence-based practice and application of research processes in nursing practice further synthesised in your final year. Skills in interpretation of evidence will be developed and an overview of various approaches to research are examined to enable students to be effective consumers of research. The relationship between research, evidence, and safety and quality in health care is explored. This knowledge is foundational to all remaining units in the course. Contemporary nursing work requires the ability to seek, interpret, analyse, synthesise, and integrate evidence into practice. The facilitation of ongoing improvement in nursing practice requires critical thinking, broader perspectives, and decision making informed by evidence.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Explain the key concepts and principles of an evidence-based practice approach – including research processes – for provision of safe, person-centred care across the life span
2. Apply academic literacy and critical thinking skills to locate, seek, interpret, analyse, synthesise, and integrate evidence into practice
3. Apply knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research approaches to inform contemporary health care.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit will use a blend of face-to-face workshops and online learning. You will be expected to actively engage with, and take responsibility for, self-directed learning. You are encouraged to develop peer networks to support a collaborative approach to learning. You will be guided in your development through completion of online literacy tutorials such as the Study Smart module.

To appreciate the value of peers and the knowledge and experience they bring, small group tutorials will use structured exercises, readings, and resources to lead collaborative learning, encourage critical inquiry, and reflect on a range of issues.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will be provided with feedback and guidance to assist your learning throughout the semester through:

• Formative feedback online or in class interactions throughout semester, individually and/or as a group
• Immediate feedback on online quizzes, written summative feedback on digital presentation and case study
• The unit coordinator and tutors will be available for consultation throughout the semester in on-campus and online contexts

Assessment

Overview

The three assessment items in this unit progressively develop your conceptual knowledge of research principles and methods, and your ability to apply and evaluate different research methods through a contemporary clinical issue. This is followed by presentation of an evidence-based informational poster on an area of clinical practice.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Online Quizzes

Online quizzes drawn from workshop learning activities.

Assessment: Written Critical Analysis

You will compare and contrast the use of a quantitative and qualitative approaches to research and gain insights into a particular clinical issue.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Poster

Using a structured inquiry-based learning approach you will research and present an informational poster on a health-related problem from a global, national, or local perspective, drawing on evidence to support thinking.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. You will be made aware of evacuation procedures and assembly areas in the first few lectures. In the event of a fire alarm sounding, or on a lecturer's instruction, you should leave the room and assemble in the designated area which will be indicated to you. You should be conscious of your health and safety at all times while on campus. You can obtain more information on health and safety from http://www.hse.qut.edu.au.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

Registered Nurse Standards for Practice

1: Thinks critically and analyses nursing practice.

1. The RN accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings, for safe, quality practice
   Relates to: Online Quizzes, Written Critical Analysis, Poster
2. The RN contributes to quality improvement and relevant research.
   Relates to: Online Quizzes, Written Critical Analysis, Poster

3: Maintains the capability for practice.

1. The RN uses a lifelong learning approach for continuing professional development of self and others
   Relates to: Online Quizzes, Written Critical Analysis, Poster

4: Comprehensively conducts assessments.

1. The RN uses a range of assessment techniques to systematically collect relevant and accurate information and data to inform practice
   Relates to: Online Quizzes, Written Critical Analysis, Poster

5: Develops a plan for nursing practice.

1. The RN uses assessment data and best available evidence to develop a plan
   Relates to: Online Quizzes, Written Critical Analysis, Poster

6: Provides safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice.

1. The RN provides comprehensive safe, quality practice to achieve agreed goals and outcomes that are responsive to the nursing needs of people
   Relates to: Online Quizzes, Written Critical Analysis, Poster

7: Evaluates outcomes to inform nursing practice.

1. The RN evaluates and monitors progress towards the expected goals and outcomes
   Relates to: Online Quizzes, Written Critical Analysis, Poster

Course Learning Outcomes

NS42 Bachelor of Nursing

1. Apply scientific knowledge and skills from nursing and related disciplines to the provision of safe, person-centred, evidence-based nursing care across the lifespan
   Relates to: Online Quizzes, Written Critical Analysis, Poster
2. Apply critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and digital literacy skills to make evidence- based decisions and evaluate outcomes
   Relates to: Online Quizzes, Written Critical Analysis, Poster
3. Enact and sustain effective communication skills, therapeutic relationships, and professional capabilities to practice independently and in inter and intra professional teams, to ensure safe, person-centred care
   Relates to: Poster
4. Demonstrate developing socially informed leadership capabilities to achieve positive individual and community outcomes in dynamic healthcare contexts.
   Relates to: Poster