NURSING 701 : Research Project

Medical and Health Sciences

2022 Semester Two (1225) (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 course is structured to meet the requirements of a 30-point research component paper. 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.
Course work aims to develop the student’s knowledge and expertise related to a clinical issue within their practice area. 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. Assessment one involves a critical and comprehensive synthesis of relevant literature to gain an in-depth understanding of a complex clinical problem, identifying person- whanāu- centred, evidence-based solutions to a clinical issue and analysing challenges to implementing these solutions in the student’s healthcare setting. Assessment two requires the student to write a cohesive, evidence-based business case to support safe practice development and secure funding for the practice change proposed. Overall, students are required to demonstrate scholarship, innovation and a commitment to collaborate with all stakeholders. Students must also demonstrate a systematic approach to decision-making that is underpinned by critical appraisal of research evidence, and the ability to think critically, creatively and strategically when developing service-level recommendations for change.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Course Contacts

Course Director   
Dr. Cynthia Wensley 
 Email: c.wensley@auckland.ac.nz
Phone: 09 9234257

Course Administrator 
Betty Lin
betty.lin@auckland.ac.nz

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Master of Nursing

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate a systematic and rigorous approach to practice development. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  2. Demonstrate critical thinking and creativity when developing person- whanau- centred evidence-based solutions to a clinical practice issue. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  3. Demonstrate and apply understanding of different research designs when selecting and appraising sources of information for clinical questions. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 3.1, 5.1 and 6.3)
  4. Critically analyse policy, guidelines, legislation and research evidence in relation to health care practice. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 5.1, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  5. Develop a practice implementation strategy. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  6. Prepare a comprehensive and cohesive report for a change proposal. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignment 1 Critical Analysis of a Practice Issue 50% Individual Coursework
Assignment 2 Business Case Proposal 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Assignment 1 Critical Analysis of a Practice Issue
Assignment 2 Business Case Proposal

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. 

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

There are four study days organised in two-day blocks. Attendance is expected on the scheduled study days.  

 Weekly zoom "office" hours with the course director and one tutorial is scheduled between study day blocks. 

Lectures and tutorials will be available as recordings. Group work exercises conducted during the study days are not recorded. 

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.

You can access relevant readings and other resources in CANVAS Nursing 701 under the Modules tab. You will also access extra references pertinent to your writing.
   
The following text is highly recommended for assisting you to become confident and critical consumers of research:
  • Hoffmann T, Bennett S, Del Mar C. Evidence-Based Practice Across the Health Professions. (3rd Edn). Sydney, Churchill Livingstone. 2017.   
The textbook is available as an e-book from the university library or you can purchase it from the university book shop https://ubiq.co.nz/p/evidence-based-practice-across-the-health-professions-9780729542555

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.

Other Information

Please contact the course director at least six weeks prior to course commencement to obtain approval to enroll. Note that:
  •  this course can only be undertaken in the master’s component of post-graduate study, and preferably towards the end of the master's study (not as the first master's paper). 
  • students are strongly recommended to complete N746 Evidence-based Practice and Implementation prior to undertaking N701. 
Student supervision is structured around key aspects of coursework. More detail regarding this is provided on the Canvas course page. 


Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework 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. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Students who are concerned about a high similarity score upon submission of their assignment should email the course director. The email should include their assessment of reasons why the similarity score is high.  

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 course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 26/10/2021 12:00 p.m.