NURSING 795A/B : Dissertation

Medical and Health Sciences

2024 Semester One (1243) / Semester Two (1245) (60 POINTS)

Course Prescription

No prescription

Course Overview

The 60-point dissertation is conducted part-time over two semesters (3 study days per semester) and may take the form of a literature review (type to be decided by discussion with a supervisor) or the analysis of secondary data (either qualitative or quantitative) or a small research project.  Students will develop and research a topic based on their area of clinical practice or specialist interest. Students must work with a supervisor to complete the dissertation. Students will be assisted in locating a supervisor.
Study days will include information on the content and organisation of each dissertation chapter, as well as provide presentations by guest speakers with expertise in types of literature reviews, and qualitative and quantitative data analyses. Class group discussions sharing dissertation progress at each stage of the research process are included. These study days are designed to provide students with the guidance and skills to complete the dissertation, in addition to the guidance provided by their supervisor. Attendance and participation in each study day is vital for learning and is a significant component of the intensive learning process.
It is expected that most dissertations will be between 15,000 to 20,000 words, including tables, figures, references, and appendices. The completed dissertation is externally assessed.
Purpose / Aim: Successful submission of a dissertation in partial fulfillment of a Master’s degree.

Course Requirements

Restriction: NURSING 792 To complete this course students must enrol in NURSING 795 A and B, or NURSING 795

Course Contacts

Course Coordinator: Dr. Rosemary Frey r.frey@auckland.ac.nz
Co-Teacher: Mrs. Jo Agnew j.agnew@auckland.ac.nz
Programme Administrator: Ms. Aba Koomson   Nursing_subdoctoral@auckland.ac.nz 

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. Develop and demonstrate an understanding and clinical application of a specialist field of inquiry (Capability 1.3, 2.4, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1 and 8.1)
  2. Develop and demonstrate the ability to critically analyse and argue from the evidence (Capability 1.1, 2.4, 3.2, 4.2, 5.2, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assessment 100% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2
Assessment

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 60-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 24 hours of lectures, 90 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 100 hours of work on the dissertation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including study days to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars will be available as recordings.
The course will include live events including group discussions.
Attendance on campus is not required for the assessment of the dissertation.
The activities for the course are scheduled as three study days per semester.

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 Talis reading list includes key resources to assist with the completion of the dissertation including books providing an overview of the research process such as:
Essentials of Nursing Research, Appraising Evidence for Nursing Practice -

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.

Dissertation study groups will be encouraged to facilitate student support.

Other Information

The completed dissertation is externally assessed.

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 for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

You are not permitted to use AI for the completion of the dissertation based on the fact that the functions of AI overlap with the skills being assessed. Please read the university policy on the use of AI.

Advice for students on using Generative Artificial Intelligence in coursework

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/academic-integrity-copyright/advice-for-student-on-using-generative-ai.html

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 02/11/2023 08:55 a.m.