NURSING 701 : Research Project

Medical and Health Sciences

2025 Semester One (1253) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A personal scholarly exploration of an area of clinical nursing practice that reflects an understanding of research purpose and process. The project includes a critical and comprehensive review of relevant literature which results in new insights and understandings and considers how the application of these might affect existing service delivery or clinical practice models.

Course Overview

This Level 9 course is structured to meet the requirements of a 30-point research component of the Master of Nursing (taught option). It is designed for nurses in advanced practice roles undertaking clinical project work. Nurses in these roles are expected to demonstrate independence in practice and clinical decision-making as well as the ability to think critically and creatively to develop person-centred, evidence-based solutions for complex clinical problems. Evidence-based solutions involve integrating research evidence with clinician expertise, patient values or care preferences, and information from the practice context when making decisions affecting the quality, safety, and experience of care.

Being a Level 9 course, we are committed to support RN students in their abilities of:
  • Knowledge - highly specialised knowledge, some of which is at the forefront of knowledge, and a critical awareness of issues in a field of study or practice.
  • Skills - display skills in research and /or advanced scholarship by developing and applying new skills, techniques, and knowledge to existing or emerging problems. Master of the field of study or practice to an advanced level.
  • Application (of knowledge and skills) - independent application and / or development of highly specialised knowledge and skills in research and / or advanced scholarship within a discipline or professional practice.  Some responsibility for leadership within the profession or discipline.

 Emphasised throughout the course are principles of implementing research into practice in ways that engage with all stakeholders, eliminate health inequities and ensure the routine provision of evidence-based care to prepare RNs to be future Nurse Practitioners to lead quality outcomes of healthcare. 

Coursework aims to develop the student’s knowledge and expertise related to a clinical issue within their practice area and is comprised of these two assessments:
  1. Assessment one involves a critical and comprehensive synthesis of relevant literature to gain an in-depth understanding of a practice or clinical issue, identifying person-centred, evidence-based recommendations.
  2. Assessment two involves a critical analysis of the practice or clinical issue and with reference to a published theoretical model or framework that informs the development of a plan to lead evidence-informed practice change in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Course Contacts

Postgraduate Nursing Enquiries:  
  • Email: postgradnursing@auckland.ac.nz 
Course Administrator: 
  • Betty Lin 
  • Email:  betty.lin@auckland.ac.nz
Course Director:
  • Louise Carrucan-Wood
  • Email: l.carrucan-wood@auckland.ac.nz
Note.  Concession approval is required to enter Nursing 701. Therefore, interested students are to email the Course Administrator and Director with their University of Auckland student ID number and brief information about their career goal.

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Master of Nursing

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify and compare opportunities to demonstrate responsiveness to Māori and reduce inequities in health outcomes for Māori. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 8.2)
  2. Evaluate a defined practice or clinical issue by conducting a systematic search and appraisal of literature sources. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.2 and 6.1)
  3. Critically analyse policy, guidelines, legislation, and research evidence in relation to the evaluation of the defined practice or clinical issue. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1 and 4.2)
  4. Evaluate people-centered evidence-based solutions to the defined practice or clinical practice issue (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 and 8.3)
  5. Demonstrate a systematic and rigorous approach when developing a plan to lead the implementation of evidence-informed change in a practice or clinical area (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assessment 1 65% Individual Coursework
Assessment 2 35% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Assessment 1
Assessment 2

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 32 hours of lectures and 268 hours of reading and thinking about the content, including hours of work on assignments. 

A formative assessment precedes each assessment to ensure students receive feedback to guide their scholarship.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience or Online

This course is offered in two delivery modes, often referred to as blended delivery:

Campus Experience

  • Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including two study days at Grafton Campus [study block one] to complete components of the course. Lectures will be available as recordings. 
  • The activities for the course are scheduled as a block delivery.

Online

  • Attendance is expected at scheduled online activities including two further online study days and online forums will be scheduled to support students to complete components of the course.
  • The course will include live online events including group discussions, tutorials, lectures and these will be recorded.
  • Student group supervision is structured around key aspects of coursework and offered online. 

Please note:

  • Where possible, study material will be released progressively throughout the course.
  • This course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

The following text is highly recommended for assisting you to become confident and critical consumers of research:
  •  Hoffman, T., Bennett, S., & Del Mar, C. (2024). Evidence-Based Practice Across the Health Professions (4th ed.). Elsevier Australia. 
The above textbook is available as an e-book from the university library, can be purchased from the university book shop.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Students rate this course favourably because of the resources, quality of teaching and support they experience while they complete what they describe as a challenging course.


Other Information

Nursing 701 has a refreshed delivery to ensure that the course contributes to RNs' preparation for registration as a Nurse Practitioner by providing evidence related to competency to lead and improve the quality and outcomes of healthcare. It can only be undertaken in the Master of Nursing (Taught option) and preferably before students enter the Nurse Practitioner Training Programme (Nursing 743 and Nursing 740). Students are strongly recommended to complete Nursing 746 prior to undertaking N701.


Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.