NURSING 746 : Evidence-based Practice and Implementation

Medical and Health Sciences

2022 Semester Two (1225) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Considers the types of evidence that inform nursing practice and implementation, and examines barriers and enablers to the application of evidence to practice. Provides students with the tools to locate and appraise evidence and requires the student to engage in research activities resulting in a substantial research essay.

Course Overview

This course is designed to build the student’s skills in locating and appraising research evidence for a range of clinical questions, assessing the applicability of that evidence to nursing practice scenarios, and planning for successful implementation of evidence-based change. Students are provided with the tools to appraise different types of evidence as well as frameworks to support theory-informed implementation planning. The final assessment requires students to select a clinical problem of interest to their clinical setting, obtain and appraise evidence to address the problem, and prepare an implementation plan that includes theory-based assessment of organisational readiness for change, implementation strategies targeted at the barriers and enablers identified, and a plan to measure implementation success. Emphasised throughout all course work are principles of implementing evidence-based interventions into practice in ways that engage stakeholders, eliminate health inequities and promote person- whanau- centred, evidence-based care.

Course Requirements

Restriction: NURSING 720

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. Develop searchable questions. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.2, 3.1, 5.2 and 5.3)
  2. Identify appropriate sources of information for relevant questions. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 5.1, 5.2 and 6.3)
  3. Demonstrate skill and understanding in critically appraising relevant types of research. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 6.3)
  4. Apply evidence to a relevant setting. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 5.1, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  5. Understand frameworks for implementing change in practice. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 5.1 and 6.3)
  6. Assess for barriers to implementation. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  7. Develop strategies for implementing evidence into practice. (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
Quizzes 20% Individual Test
Assignments 30% Individual Coursework
Assignments 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Quizzes
Assignments
Assignments

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 48 hours of lectures and 252 hours of reading and thinking about the content, including hours of work on assignments. 

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled study days.
Lectures will be available as recordings.
The course will include live zoom 'office hours' sessions with the Course Director. Zoom 'office hours' provide students with an opportunity to connect with the Course Director, asking questions about course content as needed.  Sessions are not recorded.
Attendance on campus is not required for assignment work completion. All assessments are via an electronically submitted work.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a block delivery.

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 746 under the Modules tab. It is expected that these readings will be referred to in your assignments and that you will access extra references pertinent to your writing. 

There is a highly recommended text for this course that will assist with the reading for each of the study days and course work. The text is:
  • Hoffmann T, Bennett S, Del Mar C. Evidence-Based Practice Across the Health Professions. (3rd Edn). Sydney, Churchill Livingstone. 2017.  
The text is available as an Ebook at the University of Auckland Library. It is also available to purchase either in store or online via this link 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.

Set evaluations not yet completed. Informal feedback via student discussion has been positive and does not indicate any concerns.

Other Information

Students should ensure they have access to a computer with the spreadsheet programme Excel to enable use of the clinical calculator tool required for the assignments.

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 coordinator. 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 22/10/2021 12:42 p.m.