Bachelor in Nursing Studies Degree - BNS (Hons)
- Course Co-ordinator: Audrey Adams tel +353 1 8963020
- Executive Officer: Grainne Curistan tel +353 1 8963753
This one year part-time honors degree programme with start in September 2012
Aim
The overall aim of this degree programme is to provide nurses and midwives with an increased level of knowledge, skills and attitudes about the principles and processes of practice. The programme will develop students' knowledge concerning the nature of nursing and challenge their thinking and assumptions about their profession.
Rationale
Contemporary trends and developments in the delivery of health care have brought about an expansion of the nurse's role and responsibilities. These developments have resulted in the need to provide the nurse with a depth and breath of knowledge at graduate level. Therefore, the BNS programme is necessary because it will provide opportunities for students to acquire knowledge and skills across a range of subjects at degree level. In addition, the BNS will facilitate students to reflect on their beliefs, values and attitudes about nursing.
Structure of Programme
The Bachelor in Nursing Studies is a part-time modular programme, which is run once a year. This programme commences in October and ends in May. Lectures are provided initially over one full study week and following this on one full day per week in the University of Dublin, Trinity College. Successful completion of the programme will result in the award of a Bachelor in Nursing Studies degree (BNS).The entire programme is composed of five modules. All modules are compulsory.
This part-time course will in begin September 2 012 and end in April 2013. Lectures are provided on one full day per week and one study week in the University of Dublin, Trinity College.
Venue
The School of Nursing and Midwifery TCD, 24 D'Olier Street, Dublin 2
Entry Requirements
- Applicants must be registered nurses from either the General Division, Midwifery Division, Public Health Nurse Division, Psychiatric Division or Mental Handicap Division of the active register maintained by An Bord Altranais.
- All applicants must fulfil the University of Dublin Trinity College (TCD) entry requirements or be eligible for matriculation. Applicants over the age of 23 on 1 January of the year of admission are eligible to matriculate as mature students.
Access to Degree course: Applicants who did not undertake the Diploma in Nursing or equivalent must complete successfully the Access to Degree programme before applying for the Bachelor in Nursing Studies (BNS). The Access to Degree programme with start in September 2014.
Programme Content (There are no exemptions)
Module 1 Communication and the Facilitation of Learning for Nursing Practice (30 contact hours)
Effective communication and the facilitation of learning are essential for competence in nursing practice. It is acknowledged that nurses undertaking this course may already practice such skills, however competence is not static and the required competencies change over time. The aim of this module is to enable students to critically explore and apply the theoretical principles underpinning communication and the facilitation of learning in dynamic clinical practice settings.
Module 2 Contemporary Issues (30 contact hours)
Changing global trends such as demographic and transcultural diversity impact on healthcare planning, supply and delivery. Technological advances and advances in science, pharmacology and medicine also directly impact on societies expectations of healthcare performance and delivery; in turn these advances and expectations serve to focus the preparation, development and practice of the nursing profession. The aim of this module is to facilitate students to engage with contemporary nursing and healthcare issues from a global perspective.
Module 3 Healthcare Quality and Informatics (30 contact hours)
Nursing like other health professions is constantly undergoing change and development. Among the contemporary developments taking place in nursing is the introduction of health informatics. A second area of development is quality in health care. The aim of this module is to offer students an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in both of these areas.
Module 4 Leadership and Management for Nursing Practice (30 contact hours)
Effective leadership and management are essential to nursing practice as evident in recent reports including the Report of the Commission on Nursing (1998), Quality & Fairness A Heath System for You (2001) and the Action Plan for People Management (2002). Future developments recommended in these and other pertinent reports including the Report on Nursing Competencies (2000) and the Report of the Commission on Financial Management and Control Systems in the Health Services (2003) identify an increased emphasis on participation in the leadership and managerial aspects of health service delivery for all clinicians. The aim of this module is to facilitate students to further develop their knowledge of nursing and health services management in order to enhance their capacity to contribute to the attainment of excellence in nursing and health care.
Module 5 Research Methods (30 contact hours)
The nursing profession must endeavour to provide the highest possible standard of care. To achieve this challenge, research is important. Understanding the research process and being able to interpret research findings encourages nurses not only to think critically but also to discover new ways of improving patient care. The aim of this module is to assist students in developing an understanding of the research process and an appreciation of research paradigms and research methods. Through facilitation students will be able to apply this knowledge in preparing a research proposal.
Programme Assessment and Weighting
All modules are assessed by continuous assessment (assignments). Four of the modules carry a weighting of 16.667% these are Module 1: Communication and the Facilitation of Learning for Nursing Practice, Module 2: Contemporary Issues, Module 3: Health Care Quality and Informatics and Module 4: Leadership and Management for Nursing Practice. The final Module 5: Research Methods carries a weighting of 33.332%. To complete the programme successfully a student must obtain a minimum of 50% in each module.
Teaching and Learning
The principles of adult teaching and learning will be adopted throughout this programme. This means that students are encouraged to share responsibility for their learning, be self-directed in their studies and where appropriate participate during lectures.
A detailed reading list will be provided on commencing the programme.
Application Process and closing dates
Application must be made directly to the University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin. Information on applying for this course is available at the Admissions Office, Trinity College Dublin.
Please note that you will be required to submit the following documentation to complete your application:
- An Bord Altranais PIN No.
- Certified copies of educational awards (parchments)
- Certified copies of academic transcripts of educational courses
- Summary of your professional experience
- 2 Academic references
Note: The details outlined in this page are subject to change. The School of Nursing and Midwifery reserve the right to amend the contents of pages to reflect any curriculum and course management changes. The University of Dublin, Trinity College is not bound by errors in or omissions from this course information document.